Compelling Characters: The Cyborg

The Cybernetic Outcast: A Symbol for the Futurist

3 to 4 min read

Victor Stone, the Cyborg, always comes across as a bit of a miserable bastard because he is, literally, the internet on legs. To be realistic just trying to log on to my bank is a right pain in the arse! Could you imagine all the popups and ads this bloke must get when he's just trying to buy himself a new waterproof coat? Yes, he's science and technology incarnate, but is that necessarily as glorious as they try to make it seem? If he already is the symbol of what we are becoming his head must be so Tik Tok sodden, Pornhubbed up to the temporal lobes, 4channed to the point of social media psychosis. Yes, he may well be beyond GCHQ, Mossad, MI6 and every other secret service, but this bloke'll be taking more pop-ups than anyone: constant invitations to try male enhancing pills, personality quizzes and not to mention years worth videos showing imbeciles punching each other in the crown jewels, because that's the internet! All that porn and the onlyfans flirts — this man has no cock or bollocks! No wonder he's packing disappointment.

In those shit Justice League films, and the improved Snyder cut offering, we understandably see Cyborg struggle. Come on? he's not just adapting to his cybernetic enhancements, but having to come to terms with the obvious, a truth even Wonder Woman avoided like the plague. Merely by showing willing to try and use his powers for the greater good is outstanding for anyone in his situation. He is a great example of the estranged outcast, self-ostracised or the proverbial lone wolf, but he is primarily emasculated, but we all ignore that! He tries, in the Justice League films to make bonds with Flash and Wonder woman somewhat, but not so much with Batman or Superman the most manly characters because of banter, I guess. However, like the man of Steel (a name that adds insult to injury for the poor sod) and Lantern, he can fly! Yes, we saw him weaponise his cybernetic body, turning his arm into a rifle, but not a fun gun. So bloody bleak.

In Teen Titans Go!, the series by Marv Wolfman and George Perez,  Cyborg is quite funny, to say the very least! He's an animated singing and dancing, crime-fighting comedian, who loves pie! Totally different to the movie, as expected. I've watched hours of this show with our little ones, for me it's all about the caricatures, especially of Batman and Gordon, but I do like Beast Boy and Cyborg. 

During the war with Darkseid, Cyborg and the rest of the Justice League, fought bravely. This other castrated comic version of Victor Stone was holding his own, then smash! I was quite surprised, I thought he was going to die! He took a nasty hit. The incident was also in the corresponding Justice League: War animated movie. I am glad he was added to the league roster, he works well but seems to be a tad bit of a token black guy? No? Everyone else in the team is white, no Japanese, Pakistani or Nepalese people in sight. Cyborg has become increasingly more popular over the last decade; he also appeared in the animated Justice League movies as well as the Doom Patrol show, which I was so tempted to watch but thought better of it and declined; he looked terribly done. More like a school costume competition that a member of the world's leading superhero team. The animated movie gave me diarrhea, well logorrhea, I couldn't stop ranting at the television. 

His tragic backstory in the comic books and cinema are slightly different. A horrible accident leaves him profoundly worse for wear and disabled. His life, however in the comic books, is saved by his father's proficiency with advanced technology, yes: his dad built the Cyborg. 

The movies implementation of an advanced technological mother box from the planet Apokolypse is a great backstory. Superduper self-aware alien tech that merges with a eunuch, making a trans-human. I love it. The older comic versions hold little to no believability, but to say a single human created all of Victor Stones cybernetics means he retains his junk in one expression, because in the accident he has his legs and groin in place. In print you can analyse both Stones!

Speaking of performance, I've heard people say that Cyborg has always played an important role in the portrayal of disabled people in comics. No he hasn't! He can fly, and punch through walls, I promise you he would not qualify for personal independence payments or disability living allowance. His stories of adaptation and overcoming obstacles might resonate well with many readers but other characters do the same! I think Barbara Gordon is a better candidate for people with disabilities, given how she was shot and had to use a wheelchair for ages!