TV-Series
Description
Dr. Isaac Gilmore, born January 25, 1938, specializes in cybernetics. A Holocaust survivor whose family was killed by Black Ghost, as referenced in a confrontation with their leader Skull, his age and ethnicity vary across continuities—portrayed as 63 in the 2001 anime and 77 in "God's War," with the anime identifying him as a Russian Jew, aligning with Shotaro Ishinomori's "God's War" concept notes.
He joined Black Ghost in 1961 after a failed artificial heart surgery in Moscow led to a patient's death. Professor Brown, a Nobel-winning scientist presumed dead, recruited him by showcasing advanced heart blueprints, appealing to Gilmore's ambition for scientific advancement without ethical constraints. During his early tenure, he assisted in converting subjects into cyborgs, designing cybernetics for Françoise (003) and overseeing Ivan Whisky's (001) transformation, prioritizing scientific achievement over morality and ignoring ethical concerns like Dr. Whisky's exploitation of his infant son.
A moral crisis erupted decades later during Geronimo Jr.'s (005) conversion. Black Ghost insisted on using a cheaper, inferior artificial heart, dismissing Gilmore's concerns about patient survival. This triggered a hallucination of his younger, arrogant self mocking his newfound conscience. The stress induced a heart attack. While recovering, he witnessed the agonizing conversions of subsequent cyborgs (006–008). This culminated in his defection; he allied with 001 to free cryogenically stored cyborgs (001–004) and orchestrated the escape of the newly created 005–009.
After defecting, Gilmore became the cyborgs' primary technical support and mentor, maintaining their cybernetic systems and providing strategic guidance during missions. He openly expressed regret for his role in their creation, framing his support as atonement for enabling Black Ghost's atrocities. His relationship with the group evolved into a surrogate familial dynamic, particularly with Ivan (001), whom he often protected. In later storylines like "Call of Justice," he continued aiding the cyborgs against new threats despite their public vilification.
His title alternates between "Doctor" and "Professor" across translations due to the Japanese term "hakase" accommodating both interpretations.
He joined Black Ghost in 1961 after a failed artificial heart surgery in Moscow led to a patient's death. Professor Brown, a Nobel-winning scientist presumed dead, recruited him by showcasing advanced heart blueprints, appealing to Gilmore's ambition for scientific advancement without ethical constraints. During his early tenure, he assisted in converting subjects into cyborgs, designing cybernetics for Françoise (003) and overseeing Ivan Whisky's (001) transformation, prioritizing scientific achievement over morality and ignoring ethical concerns like Dr. Whisky's exploitation of his infant son.
A moral crisis erupted decades later during Geronimo Jr.'s (005) conversion. Black Ghost insisted on using a cheaper, inferior artificial heart, dismissing Gilmore's concerns about patient survival. This triggered a hallucination of his younger, arrogant self mocking his newfound conscience. The stress induced a heart attack. While recovering, he witnessed the agonizing conversions of subsequent cyborgs (006–008). This culminated in his defection; he allied with 001 to free cryogenically stored cyborgs (001–004) and orchestrated the escape of the newly created 005–009.
After defecting, Gilmore became the cyborgs' primary technical support and mentor, maintaining their cybernetic systems and providing strategic guidance during missions. He openly expressed regret for his role in their creation, framing his support as atonement for enabling Black Ghost's atrocities. His relationship with the group evolved into a surrogate familial dynamic, particularly with Ivan (001), whom he often protected. In later storylines like "Call of Justice," he continued aiding the cyborgs against new threats despite their public vilification.
His title alternates between "Doctor" and "Professor" across translations due to the Japanese term "hakase" accommodating both interpretations.