Did S.H.I.E.L.D.'s '4,722 Hours' Take Inspiration From Jack Kirby's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY?

Did S.H.I.E.L.D.'s '4,722 Hours' Take Inspiration From Jack Kirby's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY?

It may seem like a dumb question, but it is one worth exploring. While there was an obvious 2001 nod in the episode, were there deeper connections to Jemma's time on the alien world? Hit the jump to read the evidence of this brilliant new theory. SPOILERS follow.

Editorial Opinion
By GliderMan - Nov 07, 2015 09:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Source: Superhero Hype

Greetings everyone, glad you could make it. I'm writing this article not because I want to, but because I have to. You see, I'm not a huge comic fan; there are people on this site who read whatever they can get their hands on, and I just ain't that guy. But while I do like to read certain things here and there from time to time, what I absolutely MUST, without question HAVE TO DO is read the comics that certain Marvel productions are based on. I've done it since Marvel's The Avengers, and although you don't need to read them to enjoy what you're viewing, it does make for a richer experience.


So for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3, I read the complete Secret Warriors series (one of my favorites), as well as the first several issues of Inhuman, which featured the villain Lash. Imagine my surprise when I come across an article on Superhero Hype, (how the [frick] did they beat us to this?) which broke down several scenes with Agent Simmons and compared them to Jack Kirby's 2001: A Space Odyssey comic adaption. I was stunned!


For the uninformed, Jack Kirby did a lot of work with Marvel and is a hero in his own right. After awhile though, he moved to the dark side over at Disappointing Content, before returning back to Marvel after six years. Part of his new deal with Marvel was to create a comic book adaption of the Space Odyssey film. But he didn't stop there, oh no. He wrote an additional ten issues after the film adaption expanding the mythology of the story. And that's apparently where Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. comes in.

Now, the whole episode is an ode of sorts to science fiction movies, specifically space exploration movies. We all know the writers were nodding to the 2001 film when they had Will Daniels leave Earth that year, but it looks like there was actually even deeper connections than that. In the comic, astronaut Woodrow Decker (who has the same initials as Will) also left Earth in the year 2001. Below is a comparison between Decker and Simmons both being transported through the Monolith.
 

I'd seen several people post pictures of the comic book Monolith in the comment section here on CBM, but I never knew what comic they were from or if there was any connection between it and the show at all. You may be wondering if this is all a nutty comic-conspiracy-theory or if the comic is even relevant at all. Well, this comic and this Monolith are what brought Machine Man to the Marvel Universe, so don't discount it just yet!

One great piece of evidence is both Decker and Simmons are attacked by similar-looking tentacle monsters out of water, as seen below. Both of them attacked the monster with a rock as well, though Simmons was the only one successful with that particular weapon.

Anyway, you can click on the source for a more in-depth look at the parallels between the comic and the show. Reading it blew my mind and I had to share it with you guys to see what you think. It could all be bullshit, of course, but I prefer to think the little Easter eggs were on purpose..

So what do you think, fellow users? Bullshit or cool shit? Let me know what you think in the comment section!


 

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Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 11/7/2015, 3:10 PM
Even though I am someone who regularly reads the comic, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY never crossed my mind when watching AoS. That may be partly because I've never read the Marvel adaptation, but I have seen the original film (which was a Stanley Kubrick masterpiece). This article was an interesting read.
MileHighRonin
MileHighRonin - 11/8/2015, 8:35 AM
Someone mentioned this before in the comments section of an AoS article, and they are correct.

I actually read it as a kid and they use some aspects of the story for sure. No Will, but definitely astronauts that venture through and become new seeds.
MileHighRonin
MileHighRonin - 11/8/2015, 8:39 AM
They (astronauts) are distracted while this other being slowly kills them and recreates them as new seeds to venture the cosmos. So the thing on that planet could be similar to the comic.

Thought I would clarify the new seed comment.
MileHighRonin
MileHighRonin - 11/8/2015, 10:19 AM
@GliderMan if they do the new seeds I will literally tear up. The only reason I read the comic was because my great grandfather had the comic and he loved Kirby. So seeing that on screen will be a special moment for me.
EricBorder
EricBorder - 11/8/2015, 5:17 PM
EricBorder
EricBorder - 11/9/2015, 10:08 AM
@GliderMan

"For the uninformed, Jack Kirby did a lot of work with Marvel and is a hero in his own right. After awhile though, he moved to the dark side over at Disappointing Content, before returning back to Marvel after six years."

^ That's how it's relevant, aside from your feelings about DC, or Kirby's stay there, New Gods was a masterpiece, and influenced a great number of amazing artists within the industry, and his work at DC has become a staple within it's lore and mythology

Just giving Kirby props and respect
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