In Uber!verse, the frontlines of the war inside Robbie’s head change wildly from story to story.
Uber!verse assumes that Robbie’s deal with Eli in ANGR #12 was a kill code: he’ll let Eli have fun killing people, but only if they’re really, really bad.
After Vengeance, Robbie decides that he doesn’t have to follow his deal with Eli, because Eli is an asshole acting in bad faith, and killing people doesn’t satisfy his unconscious Ghost Rider instincts to avenge the innocent. Robbie briefly entertains the idea of being a straight-up hero, but the Rider isn’t built for saving people because he’s weakened when he’s not angry or scared enough.
After Incredible, Edible, Robbie tables the idea of finding someone to separate him from Eli, and begins to believe Eli when he says that Robbie is also a killer. Because Robbie, uh, totally killed a guy here. Robbie contemplates and rejects suicide. Robbie also saved like thirty people from a human trafficking situation, but somehow that doesn’t count in Robbie’s book.
As of Totally Awesome Automotive Diagnostic Tool, Uberverse!Robbie has reached a fucked-up state of illusory equilibrium. He believes his psyche has been irrevocably contaminated by exposure to Eli’s serial killer bullshit, and that he’s lost the moral high ground. On the other hand, he realizes that he’s in control of his own actions and can stop at any time.
Currently, Robbie has drawn a false moral equivalence between himself and Eli; he considers himself to be equally “bad,” but less dangerous to the general public and necessary for Gabe’s wellbeing. He is now treating Eli like a cougar who happens to be trapped in the apartment with him and Gabe. Cougar needs food. Cougar needs stimulation. Cougar needs living space. Cougar needs to be confined to Robbie’s room so it doesn’t maul Gabe, because it’s just a cougar and it doesn’t know any better. He’s cutting Eli a lot more slack because he’s resigned himself to living with him indefinitely, and if he feels like he’s the one “taking care” of Eli, providing him small favors in exchange for tolerable behavior, Robbie feels more in control of his situation.
Eli is fine with Robbie thinking he’s in control of the situation.
