NEW SEED
Membership: David Bowman, Woodrow Decker, Vera Gentry, Harvey Norton, Gordon Pruett, presumably other unnamed and unrevealed sentient beings
Purpose: Inconceivable to human minds but in times past they have been observed exploring the Universe and the life within it as well as creating life.
Affiliations: Monolith (creator); (one New Seed): Deadpool, Odin, Ruler of the Earth
Enemies: None
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout the universe
First Appearance: (film) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); (Marvel) 2001: A Space Odyssey Treasury Edition (October, 1976)
Powers/Abilities: Despite their infant-like appearance, each New Seed possesses great cosmic power, the extent of which is unknown. They can travel through outer space at the speed of light, project powerful blasts of energy, defend themselves with an energy shield which is practically impenetrable, and have been seen to convert the bodies of humans into life-giving energy.
History: (2001: A Space Odyssey/2001: A Space Odyssey Treasury Edition)- In the year 2001, astronaut David Bowman journeyed within the mysterious Monolith. The Monolith created an artificial environment for him, where he eventually died. Upon his death, he was reborn as the New Seed.
(2001: A Space Odyssey#1) - Later in 2001, while exploring an asteroid, astronaut Woodrow Decker leapt toward the Monolith to escape a crumbling structure and was transformed into a New Seed. After the change, the New Seed flew through the cosmos.
(2001: A Space Odyssey#2) - Some time later, astronaut Vera Gentry, escaping from alien invaders on Ganymede, entered the Monolith to escape them and was transformed into another New Seed. The New Seed then set off into space.
(2001: A Space Odyssey#4) - Two-star general, space explorer, and commander of the space station "Liberty" Herb Marik encountered the Monolith in space, but he failed to transform into a New Seed. Following the failure, a New Seed was seen skittering around the Monolith, but it shot away from the Monolith, eager to discover the wonders of the Universe.
(2001: A Space Odyssey#6) - In 2040, before astronaut and comic freak Harvey Norton succumbed to fatal injuries dealt by hostile aliens, he was changed into a New Seed by the Monolith, which was near Norton during his imminent death.
(2001: A Space Odyssey#7) - After astronaut Gordon Pruett was transformed into a New Seed, the Monolith expelled him from itself, and this New Seed roamed the cosmos: racing with meteors, encountering both new planets teeming with life and old planets permeating with death, passing gigantic technological achievements, as well as experiencing the explosive, destructive beauty of a nova. Next, the New Seed observed the events taking place upon a war-torn world. Here the New Seed watched as the last of the planet's humanoid, sentient species destroyed itself. The New Seed changed the remains of the the last two members of the species, a man and a woman, into a single golden energy ball. Towing the energy ball through space, the New Seed took it to the Epsilon Eridan star system and deposited it on a nascent planet within the system. By transplanting the elemental energy ball within the planet's vast, sterile waters, the New Seed provided the vital catalyst for life to begin on the fertile planet. The New Seed then left the planet to explore more of the cosmos.
(Deadpool
V#20) - A New Seed (identity unrevealed) appeared once a cosmic
puzzle (possibly a time-travel device) had been put together by
Deadpool in 1968 (topical) at the command of the Ruler of the Earth.
The two were then transported to Asgard by Odin brefore the Ruler of
the Earth. There, the New Seed (dubbed "Cosmic Baby" by Deadpool)
excreted cosmic poop that would power Asgard for 1,000 years.
Corroborating with the New Seed, the Ruler then left with the New Seed,
using the power cosmic to fix the moon (destroyed accidentally by
Deadpool).
Comments: Created by Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick. Adapted by Jack Kirby.
The plural form of New Seed, New Seeds, would be more apropos when describing more than one New Seed.
New Seed was a name given only in exposition/narration and was never stated by any characters.
Although issues#8-10 of 2001 which introduced Machine Man definitely occurred on Earth-616, it is unlikely that the first 7 issues took place in the main Marvel Universe. For one thing, Earth-616's space travel is (STARCORE aside) nowhere near as advanced as what was seen in 2001.
Marvel also adapted the film 2010 in a 2-issue limited series, and the Monolith reappeared in X-51#11-12.
In X-51#12 (July, 2000) written by Karl Bollers and illustrated by Joe Bennett, Uatu reveals that the Celestials created the Monoliths. The Brazilian artist Joe Bennett was heavily influenced by Jack Kirby and used Kirby's Kracles in the story.
--Quiof Thrul
To learn more info about the novel and film 2001: A Space Odyssey check out the 2001: A Space Odyssey Internet Resource Archive.
Profile by Kyle Sims and Prime Eternal. Deadpool update by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The New Seed should not be confused with:
The Monolith should not be confused with:
Appearances:
2001: A Space Odyssey Treasury Edition (October, 1976) - Jack Kirby (writer/pencils/editor), Frank Giacoia (inks)
2001: A Space Odyssey#1-2 (December, 1976 - January, 1977) - Jack Kirby (writer/pencils/editor), Mike Royer (inks)
2001: A Space Odyssey#4 (March, 1977) - Jack Kirby (writer/pencils/editor), Mike Royer (inks)
2001: A Space Odyssey#6-7 (May-June, 1977) - Jack Kirby (writer/pencils/editor), Mike Royer (inks)
Deadpool V#20 (February, 2014) - Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn (writers), Scott Koblish (art), Jordan D. White (editor)
First Posted: 11/07/2003
Last updated: 11/09/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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