“Great Scott! I've got it!”
—Doc Tobei
Doc Tobei is a character from the Near Future chapter, The Outsider. He is an old inventor and owner of Timeless Wonders Antiques, where he watches over the Steel Titan. He can tinker with Akira's items, turning them into new ones.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Doc Tobei is a short, elderly man with white hair and a long mustache. His most distinguishing feature is his entirely cybernetic skull, encased in a glass dome, which he had personally replaced his old head with. His clothing is, in stark contrast, more humble, consisting of a purple robe, a small fur vest, and a pair of sandals. He carries a cane with him stylized after a wolf.
Personality[]
Doc Tobei is a very intelligent and kindhearted, but thoroughly eccentric individual. He is a good friend of the Bright Sparks Orphanage, repairing their broken appliances free of charge, and is always willing to employ his incredible knowledge when asked. As the caretaker of the Steel Titan, he is very devoted to and protective of the ancient mech, but allows Akira and Lawless to use it in times of need. He does, however, have a habit of neglecting to wash his hands after using the washroom.
History[]
The Near Future: The Outsider[]
In the past, Tobei was employed at the Tsukuba Research Facility, working alongside Doctor Livingstill. From there he acquired his knowledge on both modern robotics, and the process of liquefaction (disassembling a living organism to enhance their psychokinetic potential).
At some point, Tobei discovered the Steel Titan, an ancient Babylonian mecha. He kept the giant hidden in an underground hangar beneath his antiques shop, In his spare time, he tinkered with the Titan to upgrade its capabilities, but was unable to learn the method to operate it. Tobei hoped that if he could get the Titan working, he could use it to attract visitors to from across the globe to his shop.
When Kaori's pet turtle, Tarokichi, falls deathly ill, Akira visits Tobei at his antiques shop to request his assistance. Happy to help, Tobei visits the Bright Sparks Orphanage: to enact his plan. He puts the turtle (which he dubs Taroimo) through the process of liquefaction, and infuses him into an advanced mechanical body, effectively turning the turtle into a robot. Through doing this, he finally realizes the method to control the Titan is psychokinesis, and eagerly returns to his shop.
Akira, possessing psychic powers himself, volunteers to Tobei to move the Steel Titan. Intrigued, Tobei allows him to try, but is unperturbed when the teen unfortunately fails. Afterwards, Tobei volunteers his services to tinker with Akira's items. If Akira brings him an item, Tobei will attempt to refine it into a brand new one, perhaps one more powerful then before.
When the conspiracy to summon Odeo is discovered, Tobei realizes the Steel Titan may be their only hope. He attempts to dissuade Lawless from attempting to control the Titan himself, but is stunned when Lawless, and later Akira, are able to successfully control the mecha. Tobei, along with the personnel of the Bright Sparks Orphanage, watches from afar as Akira pilots the Titan to Odeo Temple and destroys Odeo.
Final Chapter: The Dominion of Hate[]
Tobei makes a brief appearance in the true ending. He attempts to demonstrate his teleportation machine to the children of the orphanage on Taroimo, only for the machine to explode, leaving the robot covered in soot.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- His appearance shares many features with scientists from anime and video games of the 70's and 80's.
| The Near Future: The Outsider |
|---|
| Characters |
| Akira • The Steel Titan • Lawless • Taroimo • Kaori • Doc Tobei • Taeko • Tadashi Tadokoro • The Crusaders • Conspirators • Odeo |
| Locations |
| Bright Sparks Orphanage • Timeless Wonders Antiques • Public Park • City Docks • Tsukuba Research Facility • Matango Paradise • Odeo Temple |
| Enemies |
| Crusader Thug • Crusader Enforcer • Crusader Road Captain • M-1 RC Car • M-1 Lariat Unit • M-2 RC Car • M-1 Kyokushin Unit • M-1 Komatsu Bulldozer • M-3 Lariat Unit • M-1 Hebel Slab • M-1 Psycher • M-2 Kyokushin Unit • Tense Suit • Dobermann Alpha • Private Security • Commander • M-93 MBT • Roaring Thunder • LH Combat Unit W1 • Vengeful Dragon • The Great Inko |
| Music |
| Go! Go! Steel Titan! • Wait for Truth • Playing with Psychos • Playing with Psychos on Matango |
| Transcripts |
| 2022 (English) • 1994 (English, Japanese) |