Automatons were humanoid robots active in the future, at a time in which animal life was believed to be completely extinct. When burglar Johnny Philpot accidentally activated a time machine, he was transported into the Automatons' native time. Fascinated by their discovery, they captured him and subjected him to a series of electric shocks, as this was how they recharged themselves and believed that it was what he meant by his pleadings for food. Just as Johnny was about to receive a second series of shocks, the effects of the time machine wore off and he was transported back to his own time. (COMIC: The Unwilling Traveller)