#robert vance

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Robert Vance

Software maven Robert Vance was a genius programmer who created the hugely successful and cutting edge technology firm Vance Industries.  In his later years, Vance was diagnosed with an incurable neurological disease.  This prompted him to digitize his cerebral infrastructure to create an artificial intelligence based on his knowledge, attitudes and business acumen.  This A.I. program was meant to serve as a guiding force in the continued running of Vance Industries.  Following Vance’s death, however, his son and the board of directors chose to disable the program and run the company on their own.

Many years later, Vance’s son passed away and controlling shares of the company were inherited by his Vance’s grandson, Bobby Vance.  Bobby ended up turning the A.I. program back own seeking advice on how to run the company.  

Although the program initially seemed benevolent, it was soon revealed to possess nefarious intentions.  Based entirely on the engrams of Robert Vance, the program could not endure being an incorporeal entity and it put in motion a plan to have its consciousness implanted into Bobby (a process that would overwrite ad effectively murder Bobby).   

The programs exploration of how it could control computer based devices and mechanisms through Neo Gotham ultimately prompted an investigation by Batman that led the Tomorrow Knight to Vance Industries.  The program found that it could infiltrate and fully control Batman’s bionic suit and Terry would have been killed had Bruce not activated an emergency shut-down procedure.  

Ultimately Batman discovered the program was vulnerable to high burst electromagnetism and he was able to save Bobby’s life by administering an electromagnetic pulse that had the effect of completely deleting the artificial intelligence.