Machine Man (comic)

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Machine Man
Format Ongoing comic series
Reprint of Machine Man  vol 1
issues 10-19
Original run 1979-1981
First TFUK appearance Issue 1
Final TFUK appearance Issue 25
Machine Man
Format Limited comic series
Reprint of Machine Man  vol 2
issues 1-4
Original run 1984-1985
First TFUK appearance Issue 27
Final TFUK appearance Issue 42 (regular)
Issue 329 (reprint)

This is the story of X-51—a thinking computer in the form of a man. As Aaron Stack, he tries to find a place in a world that's not quite ready for his kind—but will he find it as friend, foe, or the greatest hero of them all?

Stan Lee Presents: MACHINE MAN, THE LIVING ROBOT!

History

Created by Jack Kirby,  "Mister Machine" first appeared in the pages of Marvel's 2001, A Space Odyssey issue 8  in 1977, the first of a three-issue story arc that would close the series. "Mister Machine" was X-51, the last surviving member of a group of experimental robots created by the U.S. government, all of which were ordered destroyed after a number of them turned violent due to suffering existential crises. X-51 would avoid such a fate, first due to the influence of Doctor Abel Stack, who raised him as his son Aaron, and second due to the intervention of a mysterious Monolith that wordlessly guided and counselled him – the premise of the 2001 comic being an anthology showing the Monolith's interaction throughout human history.

2001, A Space Odyssey wasn't in continuity with other Marvel books – a character even compares Aaron to a Marvel superhero at one point – but Kirby would bring Machine Man into Earth-616  in a self-titled solo series  in 1978. Aaron's only wish was to live just like Johnny Average, but he was ruthlessly pursued by the forces led by Colonel Kragg,  who had lost an eye to an X-series robot. As a fugitive, Aaron's only salvation came after a chance meeting with psychiatrist Peter Spalding, who would shelter him from his pursuers, teach him how to live among humans, and eventually come to see him as a close friend.

Kirby's time on the book would come to an end with its ninth issue. After a three-issue guest spot in the pages of The Incredible Hulk,  Machine Man would return in his own series, now written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Steve Ditko. Their first issue was written as a jumping on point for new readers, as it recapped Machine Man's origin, streamlined his abilities, and established a new status quo, with Aaron taking on a day job at Delmar Insurance. Tom DeFalco would take over writing duties from issue 15, coinciding with (and probably a result of) Wolfman leaving Marvel for DC. This post-Kirby era of Machine Man ran from 1979 until 1981,[1] and the titular character would go on to make guest appearances in Avengers-related books.

In 1984, the Machine Man title returned as a second volume,  this time a four-issue limited series by DeFalco, Herb Trimpe, and Barry Windsor-Smith. It saw Aaron revived by Midnight Wreckers in the far future year of 2020, after over thirty years in storage. On the run from a technocratic megacorporation and encountering friends and foes both new and familiar, Machine Man must solve the mystery of his deactivation. As part of Marvel's general categorisation that all depicted futures are possible futures, this story took place in the divergent reality of Earth-8410,  but for us in the robot universe, it's proper canon. Elements from the second volume would go on to appear in Earth-616, such as Baintronics and Arno Stark; the 2020 setting would become a big influence for Marvel UK, as you can see on our Iron Man page; and the use of the second Machine Man volume would begin a general trend of The Transformers reprinting limited series rather than ongoings, allowing the back-up strip to constantly refresh rather than have a series outstay its welcome.

Machine Man stories in TFUK

From vol. 1

The Transformers made use of the jumping on point created by Wolfman and Ditko taking over the book to reprint their tenure on the strip. Their first story, "Renewal!",  was edited into a Machine Man primer.

The final part of "Jolted by Jack O'Lantern!" was accompanied by "The New Machine Man", a prose summary of Machine Man's exploits from outside his solo title, to contextualise the second volume.

From vol. 2

The second volume launched alongside the new look, revamped The Transformers in issue 27. This era of the book was defined by its weekly publication, full colour printing, and reduction of back-up material to one serial at a time. From this point, The Transformers had outgrown its awkward early days and had become the format it would remain in for much of its lifespan.

As if to bring things full circle, the entirety of Machine Man volume 2 was reprinted again in the final year of the comic, reflecting the renewed interest in the cyberpunk 2020 setting that was in the air in the early 90s.

Reception

  • In issue 4's Openers, Malcolm (Scrap the Machine Man) Stone from Weybridge in Surrey writes in to say that Machine Man "is a big let down in your magazine. Why not trade this character for some other robotic hero? For example, I think 'Rom'  or the 'Vision',  or better yet, the 'Silver Surfer'  would improve the overall quality of the comic." (Your TFUK Appendix editors will take a moment to note that only one of those characters is a robot.)
  • In issue 8's Openers, Captain Doodlebug of Linsdale, Bedfordshire responds to "Malcolm (I should be in a straitjacket) Stone": "Machine Man is the reason I buy this mag," says Doodlebug, suggesting the addition of a third story in the form of either Silver Surfer or Micronauts. 
  • Young Andrew Price was inspired to send a drawing of Machine Man in to the comic, and it was printed in issue 14.
  • In issue 16's Openers, Jaime Ward of Winchester writes in to say they thought "Kill Me or Cure Me" was brill, and that they want to see more of Gears Garvin. In a P.S., Christopher Toynbee of Romford, Essex, says he loves Machine Man, "especially when he was joined by the Human Torch and The Thing!"
  • Machine Man catches a stray bullet in issue 20's Openers, as Lewis Mills of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, writes in to complain about the "babyish" Planet Terry, saying "It's okay having Machine Man as a back-up strip but Planet Terry isn't needed".
  • In issue 21's Openers, Simon Keeling (aged 14) of Littleover, Derby, writes in with a list of bests and worsts: "Worst Things Ever Done in The Transformers: 1. Putting the price up 2. Matt And The Cat 3. The Chromobots 4. Machine Man". He also offers some constructive criticism: "Best Thing That Could Be Done In The Transformers: More of Planet Terry and The Transformers and no Matt And The Cat, Chromobots and Machine Man."
  • In issue 22's debut Soundwaves, Ryan Gogherty of Cardiff lists Machine Man as one of the book's extraneous back-up stories and features "wasting valuable Transformer space". Elsewhere, Richard Hunt of London NW2 calls it "grippin' stuff!"
  • In issue 24's Soundwaves, David Jenkins of Gosport, Hampshire, expresses enjoyment of all The Transformers's stories, "with only Machine Man failing to come up to the normal Marvel standard."
  • In issue 25's Soundwaves, Jason Morris of Virginia, U.S.A. says he's "not too keen on Machine Man, Matt and the Cat, and Chromobots".

References

  1. ↑ Give or take – the final issue was published in November 1980, but its cover date meant it was on stands until February 1981.
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