Info Wanted on Whitman's The Black Hole Disney adaptation issues 5 & 6 0

[HugoDeVries]

I’m a big fan of the underrated Disney sci-fi movie The Black Hole and while i collect a range of merchandise from it I’m particularly interested in the comic book series, even lucky enough to own art from it,

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryRoom.asp?GSub=74628

 

Now here’s my question has anyone ever seen or own an English language copy of issue 5 and 6 of the comic????

 

The comic was published around the world with many variations and over the years i found out a range of things,

 

Publicity material for the film states that 6 issues were planned, however they were published in many versions internationally and the 6 issues have varying rarity.

 

The first three issues very common as they were pre-packed together. The first two issues adapted the movie (also published together as Disney Showcase issue 54).

 

The art for the movie adaption has several variations; in the published US comic many of the characters faces are notably different and cartoony from the movie characters, especially Anthony Perkins Dr Durant and Ernest Borgnines Harry Booth. The original art pages for the series had much more detailed and movie accurate faces however they were altered e.g. Durant given glasses and a moustache etc, probably for licensing reasons. The UK movie magazine is different again with redrawn art and rearranged panels, with most pages set out differently and Durant US comic losing his moustache.

 

The series then continued as Beyond the Black Hole, with the crew’s adventures through the Black Hole, while the pre-packed issue 3 is very common issues 4, 5 and 6 are not.

 

Issue 4 is the infamous US issue whose rarity was highlighted in an Overstreet guide article, which estimated around 200 copies existed, unlikely given the frequency of copies appearing for sale (1 or 2 appear each year on ebay, though a decent copy still fetches around $100). Its rarity is likely due to the commercial failure of the film and also that issue being late published due to delays with the cover artwork, (notation on the back of the original cover art). The issue was published in other languages around the world, (as were most issues) with South America having a version with the same cover that’s even harder to find.

 

Issue 5 and 6 – merchandising brochures for the film stated that Whitman planned to publish 6 issues in the US. Instead the stories were published as part of the German comic series. It lasted for 3 issues, each double length (issue 1 has the movie adaption; issue 2 has the US issues3&4 while issue 3 has unreleased issues 5&6). These were not drawn solely for the German market, as the art style and story matches and continues the US one (it concludes their adventures in the alternate universe, meeting Kate's father who Max kills and the 2nd death of Hans who turns out to be a robot!).

 

Now does anyone know of ANY English language versions of issue 5 & 6???, have ANY foreign language issues? own ANY original art from the series?

 

Basically any Black Hole information is appreciated...now just don’t get me started on the animation series!!!

 

[bellrules]

I actually own two pages of art from issue #6. I too am a fan of the movie. (Sweet cover art from issue #4 BTW) Don't think that it was ever published in the U.S. or Canada. They are from the Random House Archives.

 

[CheezyWhiz]

Awesome OA Hugo!!

 

<3 The Black Hole! Even had the branded bedsheets when I was a kid and one of those plastic model kits of Vincent.

 

I'm amazed that art exists for issues #5 and 6! Thanks for posting, Bellrules! Would be great to see all the pages scanned and collected together so we could read the story. If issue #4 is any indication, I'm sure it would suck -- but I want to read it all the same.

[bellrules]

Those two pages are the only ones I've ever seen up for sale so I swooped in and bought them. You are probably right about it being sub-par in terms of story though.

[HugoDeVries]

Always glad to know there are fellow Black Hole fans out there, the movie had a real range of merchandise produced for it, some of it common as dirt and over produced (topps cards, mego figures, whitman books etc) but most pretty obscure and not widely reported but then if everyone stopped looking for star wars stuff and started looking you never know what would turn up!!

 

Really nice to see those two pages and yes they were published in German and yes the story is not that great, though its a bit hard to write a comic called the black hole when the later stories dont feature a black hole, the beauty of the movie was its location, atmosphere and design, once you move away from the Cygnus it just looses it somehow. But at least they came up with ways to keep the characters, even those dead, in the story. The german issues are quite an easy find, often appearing on Ebay germany should you have an urge to translate and read the story!

 

 

[RockMyAmadeus]

The Black Hole was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I have refrained from seeing it as an adult, due to the Poseidon Adventure effect.

 

I had (and still have, somewhere) the Black Hole Book & Record set. I listened to that thing a billion times.

 

[HugoDeVries]

Man i love the Poseidon Adventure, both as a kid and an adult hmmm got to be careful i dont drag this way off topic, but at least they both star Ernest Borgnine and Roddy McDowall so theres kind of a link...just! But nothing beats Anthony Perkins getting shredded by Maximilian, childhood bliss

[CheezyWhiz]

Came across some Black Hole action figures in a thrift store recently. Can't help but laugh at them. The Vincent and Maximillian figures are nice, but the human figures are barely recognizable as the characters from the movie. Not nearly as cool as Star Wars figures.

 

"What do you want for Christmas, Billy?"

"I want the Harry Booth and Charlie Pizer action figures, Mom!"

 

Check them out here:

http://www.action-figures.ca/the_black_hole.htm

 

[CheezyWhiz]

Side topic.. I read a movie review today that says that Reinhardt hides inside Maximillian's body at the end to try and ride out the Black Hole. As a kid, I always thought that there was some kind of evil mind-melding going on -- as if Reinhardt died, went to hell, and was merged with Maximillian. That was a freaky scene for me as a 9-year-old.. and apparently I misinterpreted it. Was I the only one?

 

I'm going to run out and pick up the movie this week. Gotta watch it again as an adult.

[HugoDeVries]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

[CheezyWhiz]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

So I did remember correctly. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:

[akaSteveRogers]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

So I did remember correctly. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:

 

How long before a Hollywood remake?

 

[CheezyWhiz]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

So I did remember correctly. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:

 

How long before a Hollywood remake?

 

 

Apparently it's underway. Same crew that did Tron Legacy.

 

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=14767

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1561766/

 

[RockMyAmadeus]

Man i love the Poseidon Adventure, both as a kid and an adult hmmm got to be careful i dont drag this way off topic, but at least they both star Ernest Borgnine and Roddy McDowall so theres kind of a link...just! But nothing beats Anthony Perkins getting shredded by Maximilian, childhood bliss

 

I loved PA as an 8 year old...

 

Then made the mistake of buying it in college on VHS.....

 

It is horrid. Just awful. As cheesy as it could possibly be.

 

[CheezyWhiz]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

I watched the film again. Wow, that ending is a mind trip, alright. It's all scifi up until the last 5 minutes when it turns into Hellraiser-in-Space. I actually found the 'floating' of Reinhardt into Maximillian very awkward.. Don't know if this was the intention, but it almost looks like Maximillian is laying down Hans on an off-camera bed for some sexy time.

 

Here's the ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Xwu-1PDzo

 

What does it mean? I'm guessing that the Black Hole was a gateway to Hell. The merged Reinhardt and Max were so evil that they were given special treatment in the underworld and now have a middle-management position. The Palomino crew didn't belong in Hell, so an angel escorts them through a gothic vaulted tunnel until they emerge in another universe.. I would say that it's Heaven, but VINcent is there.. why would a robot go to Heaven? Then again, why would the innocent, tortured crew of the Cygnus be left in Hell with Reinhardt? Makes no sense, but I love it.

[CheezyWhiz]

Found a great thread discussing the ending. The guy has some excellent theories:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078869/board/flat/97072628?p=1

 

Then another guy has more insights and rebuttals:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078869/board/flat/97072628?p=2#108615433

 

 

[HugoDeVries]

The film does or was planned to included more religious references, as Booth refers to the Black Hole as something out of Dantes Inferno (one of many quotes in the film most kids would never get) and the shot but sadly cut opening (one of 2 deleted scenes) would have given more info and character background.

 

The Christmas Eve Opening – the start of the film was originally longer, with more dialogue and character points before the discovery of the Black Hole. It establishes when the events are happening (possibly making the religious symbolism at the end stronger and explains the nature of the meal Reinhardt serves them) and more motivation, the failure of their mission hanging heavy on Durant (explaining his eagerness to follow Reinhardt to discovery) and also the romance between Holland and Kate.

 

There was also a planned ending that was even weirder, instead of emerging from the black hole and flying off into the sunset the camera pans back revealing the ceiling of the Sistine chapel with an image of Kates face amongst the paintings and Kate herself back on earth looking up at it.

 

The cut scenes can been seen in various Black Hole merchandise, inc the Power Centre escape, (topps cards etc) while the Sistine Chapel ending is referred to in the book that comes with deluxe VHS tin set.

 

Disney also did at least 10 (there may be more) Black Hole cartoon film strip stories as part of their educational media company for schools

 

Space Mission: Reading kit had 5 stories, three ‘prequel’ adventures of the Palomino before they reached the Black Hole (investigating an deserted alien craft on a acid planet, food tampering on a space station and that sci-fi classic sentient computer guarding an ice world!) that expanding on their movie mission of finding ‘habitable life’ and 2 unseen stories from when they were aboard the Cygnus (one where VINcents memory is wiped and Pizer is sent to the Cygnus ‘hospital’ another from when they are exploring the ship with Kate finding her father’s diary and a flashback to the original crew mutiny!!).

 

Space Mission: Maths schools kit 5 are (4 prequel stories, the Palomino transporting children to a colony, Pizer being trapped in a mine, the crew searching for a cure for colonists stuck in suspended hibernation and helping a primitive race protecting their crops from a volcano. Plus one story, probably the best of them all, set during the film, when the crew first board the ship they are spied upon by sentry's and Dr Durant disappears, it also includes later scenes from the film including the Old Bob and VINcent laser fights and their confrontation with Maximilian).

 

The kits contain the film strips, audio kits, teacher notes booklet and a selection of worksheet masters sadly these school sets are VERY rare and anymore info on them is tough to find, cels and drawings from them do crop on ebay from time to time (there’s one on CAF sadly not mine-( )

 

Again ANY info on Black Hole merchandise is always appreciated it’s a real weird gem of a film

 

[ComicConnoisseur]

Ahhh the ending, that been much discussed, a 2001 space odyssey style mind trip where the crew of the Probe Ship see visions of heaven and hell as they journey through the black hole, its truly a freaky way to end what should be a family film. He doesn’t escape at the end instead they 'see' the wild haired body of Reinhardt 'float' into Maximilian, his eyes come alive inside him and he takes up position atop a mountain overseeing hordes of the dammed marching up its slopes, the dead crew of the cygnus perhaps.

 

Really give the film another go, there’s lots to enjoy like some bizarre mix between alien, star wars and 2001, the opening third is the best like a gothic haunted house movie in space and the score and production design are superb.

 

So I did remember correctly. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:

 

How long before a Hollywood remake?

 

 

Apparently it's underway. Same crew that did Tron Legacy.

 

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/rorschachsrants/news/?a=14767

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1561766/

 

Sounds awesome! looks like 2012 for the premiere, I remember loving this as a kid and also watching the Buck Roger Gil Gerard tv show, I remember having action figures of both and they would fight my Star Wars and Micronauts figures.

Edited May 5, 2010 by ComicConnoisseur

[CheezyWhiz]

Speaking of black holes..

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1269288/STEPHEN-HAWKING-How-build-time-machine.html

 

Stephen Hawking is my hero. He has such a knack for making incredibly complex phenomena understandable to everyone. Fantastic article

 

[ComicConnoisseur]

Man i love the Poseidon Adventure, both as a kid and an adult hmmm got to be careful i dont drag this way off topic, but at least they both star Ernest Borgnine and Roddy McDowall so theres kind of a link...just! But nothing beats Anthony Perkins getting shredded by Maximilian, childhood bliss

 

I loved PA as an 8 year old...

 

Then made the mistake of buying it in college on VHS.....

 

It is horrid. Just awful. As cheesy as it could possibly be.

Just saw it with my nine year old son over the weekend. It was as you said cheesy, with the best thing being the robots, my son was not as kind and said it looked fake and had bad special effects, he got bored with it and in a half n hour and was asking me when he could watch Avatar on the blu-ray again, the only saving grace I could tell him about the film was Hollywood is remaking it like the Clash of Titans.

oh well at least Maximillian still looked cool.

 

Edited May 18, 2010 by ComicConnoisseur