He is a supporting character in Marvel's Spider-Man series and is depicted as the son of Robbie Robertson, and the husband of Janice Lincoln.

He was the first African-American among Peter Parker's friends,[1] and was introduced in a storyline about student unrest at college, a move by Marvel to be more in touch with the teenagers of 1968.

[2] Randy's father, Robbie, was a high-ranking editor at the fictional Daily Bugle whose storylines didn't draw attention to his race; his portrayal was criticized by one letter-writer who said, "It seems to me that your Negroes are merely white people drawn by the artist with their skins darkened by the colors.

[3] In 1971, Randy played a similar role, acting as a voice of the people in an argument with Norman Osborn about drug abuse: "It hurts us more than anyone else — 'cause too many of us got no hope — so we're easier pickin's for the pushers.

A boisterous hothead unlike his even-tempered father, Randy quickly became involved in student activism, albeit usually as the voice of moderation to the more radical Josh Kittiling.

The crime boss Kingpin interrupted their demonstration to steal the lifeline Tablet, allegedly containing the secret to longevity.

Randy pursued graduate studies in social work at Pittsburg State University, where he met and married fellow student Mandy Batavides, a Jewish woman.

and the family was soon reunited when Robbie, after escaping death at Tombstone's hands during a forced prison break, received a pardon.

When Mandy received a job offer in California, the younger Robertson couple relocated to the West Coast, but various factors strained their marriage, and Randy returned to New York alone following their divorce.

[6] The two men became roommates, although Randy tended to spend more time with their mutual friends Glory Grant and Jill Stacy, little realizing the hazards he and Peter were sharing such as nocturnal experimentation by the extraterrestrial Brll'nah>zhhk< and drugged toothpaste from the Green Goblin.

[7] Following a direct encounter with Green Goblin, Randy sought advice from Robbie as his father had significant experience with super-villains from his Bugle position.

[11] Randy recently reappeared in The Amazing Spider-Man and began dating a reporter from the Front Line named Norah Winters.

When Alistair Smythe’s minions attack the Front Line offices Phil breaks a support beam.

[15] Randy and the rest of the civilian population were eventually cured when Spider-Man uses Doctor Octopus' Octo-Bots to disperse the antidote.