This marvelous Machine Man Cake Figure was made by Karen Geraghty from Bake Cake Create in Dublin, Ireland. Machine Man is a Marvel Comics character, so all the drawings that Karen had to work from were 2-D. Karen’s first goal was to take the 2-D drawings and create a 3-D figure. But, Karen did something even more amazing than that. If you look at her figure, Machine Man looks like a 2-D drawing. The way Karen sculpted Machine Man’s left arm reaching out looks like foreshortening instead of actual 3-D. Simply amazing.
Here is a close-up of Machine Man where you can see the detail on his face.
Karen created Machine Man for the Jack Kirby – A Tribute in Sugar Art collaboration.
The most interesting Machine Man story didn’t appear in a comic, instead it the true story of how Machine Man was created. The movie and book 2001: A Space Odyssey were extremely popular. At the time those were released, Marvel was publishing giant sized comic books called treasury editions. Marvel had Jack Kirby create a 2001 treasury edition.
This is the cover to the treasury edition. It was drawn by Jack Kirby and inked by Dan Adkins. The treasury edition was sold enough that Marvel also published a 2001 comic book series that lasted 10 issues. Jack Kirby also wrote and draw the 10 issue comic book series. In issue 8, Jack Kirby introduced Mister Machine. The last three issues of the 2001 comic book series focused on this character. By the end of the series, he had changed his name to Machine Man. After the 2001 comic book series, Machine Man got his own comic book series. The Machine Man series lasted 19 issue, Jack wrote and drew the first nine.
Marvel didn’t own 2001: A Space Odyssey, so both the treasury edition and comic book series were licensed from MGM. But, the Machine Man comic book takes place in the Marvel Universe and Machine Man has appeared in a bunch of Marvel’s super hero comics. The question remains, who owns Machine Man? 2001: A Space Odyssey is currently owned by Warner Brothers. Last year, DC Comics, who are also owned by Warner Brothers, contacted Marvel Comics and pointed out that since Machine Man first appeared in a licensed 2001: A Space Odyssey comic book that they owned Machine Man, not Marvel. I don’t think this has been resolved yet because currently Marvel still owns Machine Man.
Looking for more marvelous creations from the Jack Kirby – A Tribute in Sugar Art collaboration?
This fantastic Invisible Woman Cake was made by Joan Valenciano-Estabillo.
This cute H.E.R.B.I.E. Cake was made by Cake Pop Designs By Victoria.
