# Monty and...E.B.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919 "2009-06-06T13:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/1 "2009-06-06T13:07:48Z")
Talking about the strip. I haven’t followed it much until the past year or so, when I rejiggled my Chron queue and added it on a lark. The [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_(comic_strip)#Characters) article implies that the syndicate forced the creator (Jim Meddick) to deep-six the Robotman character [2001] because they were apparently finding it hard to sell the strip to papers, or something. Fast forward to '09, and the strip now contains a mad scientist of sorts, and…his robot sidekick “E. B.”. Drawn differently than the original Robotman character, but pretty much the same character. Did Meddick do this basically as a “f\*\*\* you” to the syndicate? Does the syndicate only care what the title of the strip is? Not sure what the initials stand for. If **Biffy** (old pal) or someone knows more, enlighten me please. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/2 "2009-06-06T16:50:56Z")
I wondered that too. Robotman/Monty has been my fave for lo these many years, and I remember being wicked confused when Robotman disappeared. And now he’s back. Whoa. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/3 "2009-06-07T03:59:06Z")
It’s been at least 7 years since Robotman was removed from the comic. I’s find it hard to believe that E. B. (Professor Xemit’s little assistant) was planned specifically as a replacement. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/4 "2009-06-07T05:06:03Z")
I really liked Robotman when it became Monty, I became bored with it. It’s gotten better over the past few years ---
**Author:** ![Pfedorch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Pfedorch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pfedorch)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/5 "2018-06-25T12:26:07Z")
So what does EB stand for in Robotman’s name? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/6 "2018-06-25T12:36:43Z")
> [@Pfedorch](#): > > So what does EB stand for in Robotman’s name? Did a bit of the ol’ web searchin’, and couldn’t find a direct answer, but according to GoComics, EB is actually named EB3, so I’m betting it’s like R2-D2 (also sometimes shortened to R2). SO my guess is “Random Robot Designation”, not an acronym. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/7 "2018-06-25T13:45:35Z")
When did this whole switchover start, btw? Were Chimpy, Mr Pi and those characters phased out or did they just get abducted like Robotman? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-and-e-b/498919/8 "2018-06-25T18:04:35Z")
I believe that “E. B.” stands for Electronic Brain. Chimpy, I think, was just phased out; I think Mr. Pi actually had a genuine departure story, but I don’t recall it at the moment.