2001: A Space Odyssey (comics)

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2001: A Space Odyssey
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First appearance	(1976)
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Formats	Original material for the series has been published as a set of ongoing series and one-shot comics.
Genre	Science Fiction
Publication date	Treasury 1976 Series December 1976 - September 1977
Number of issues	Treasury 1 Series 10
Creative team
Writer(s)	Jack Kirby
Penciller(s)	Jack Kirby
Inker(s)	Treasury Frank Giacoia Series Mike Royer
Letterer(s)	Treasury John Costanza Series Mike Royer
Colorist(s)	Treasury Marie Severin Jack Kirby Series George Roussos Janice Cohen Glynis Wein Petra Goldberg
Editor(s)	Treasury Jack Kirby Series Jack Kirby Archie Goodwin

2001: A Space Odyssey was the name of an oversized comic book adaptation of the 1968 film of the same name as well as a monthly series, lasting ten issues, which expanded upon the concepts presented in the Stanley Kubrick film and the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Jack Kirby wrote and pencilled both the adaptation and the series, which were published by Marvel Comics beginning in 1976.

[edit] Treasury edition

Marvel published the adaptation in its then-common treasury edition format featuring tabloid-sized pages of roughly twice the size of a normal comic book. The story is a close adaptation of the events of the film, but differs in the fact that Kirby incorporated additional dialog from two other sources: the Clarke/Kubrick novel, and a copy of an earlier draft script of the film that included the more colloquial-sounding version of HAL 9000, as originally voiced by actor Martin Balsam before Douglas Rain took over. In addition, the comic narrative captions describe the characters' thoughts and feelings, a significantly different approach from that taken by the film.

The treasury edition also contained a 10-page article entitled 2001: A Space Legacy written by David A. Kraft.

[edit] Monthly series

Shortly after the publication of the treasury edition, Kirby continued to explore the concepts of 2001 in a monthly comic book series of the same name, the first issue of which was dated December 1976. In this issue, Kirby followed the pattern established in the film. Once again the reader encounters a prehistoric man (Beast-Killer) who gains new insight upon encountering a monolith as did Moon-Watcher in the film. The scene then shifts, where a descendant of Beast-Killer is part of a space mission to explore yet another monolith. When he finds it, this monolith begins to transform the astronaut into a star child, called in the comic a New Seed.

Issues 1-6 of the series replay the same idea with different characters in different situations, both prehistoric and futuristic. In #7, the comic opens with the birth of a New Seed who then travels the galaxy witnessing the suffering that men cause each other. While the New Seed is unable or unwilling to prevent this devastation, he takes the essence of two doomed lovers and uses it to seed another planet with the potential for human life.

In issue #8 of the comic, Kirby introduces Mister Machine, who is later renamed Machine Man. Mister Machine is an advanced robot designated X-51. All the other robots in the X series go on a rampage as they achieve sentience and are destroyed. X-51, supported by both the love of his creator Dr. Abel Stack and an encounter with a monolith, transcends the malfunction that destroyed his siblings. After the death of Dr. Stack, X-51 takes the name Aaron Stack and begins to blend into humanity. Issues 9 and 10, the final issues of the series, continue the story of X-51 as he flees destruction at the hands of the Army. These issues contain no further appearances of the monolith and are better considered as the first installments of X-51's own Kirby-created series, Machine Man, which began the next year.

[edit] Clarke and Kubrick's thoughts on the series

It's well documented that Kubrick never approved any spinoffs or sequels to the original film, but licensing was not under his control.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999, Clarke was contacted by Simon Atkinson, illustrator for 2001: Filming the Future and a regular on sci.space.history regarding his thoughts on the comic series. Clarke, however, remembered the series was printed, but had no recollection of ever having read it.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (January 2008)

In Fantastic Four #176, when Impossible Man demands to have his own comic, Jack Kirby offers to put him in either Eternals or 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

This section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (June 2009)

• 2001: The Comic Book? A Look at Jack Kirby's Controversial Adaptation, Sci.Fi Dimensions
• Alexander, John P. Grafitti On The Moon: Kirby Vs. Kubrick, Jack Kirby Collector #31