John Brown lives in Riverton, Ohio, with his niece Penny and her pet beagle Brain. Dreaming of becoming a police officer, John works as a security guard for the Bradford robotics laboratory. Artemus Bradford and his daughter Brenda are designing a lifelike robotic foot as part of the Gadget Program, designed to add android officers to the Riverton Police Department. Sanford Scolex, a tycoon, steals the foot to build an army of androids from its technology, assassinating Artemus. John chases after Scolex's limousine in his hatchback, but both vehicles crash. John is blown up in his car by Scolex, but a bowling ball launched from the wreck crushes Scolex's left hand. Scolex receives a mechanical claw from his associate Kramer, taking on the alias “Claw”.
