Howard the Duck

shaneb · March 2015

This is basically just to kick off a discussion about what people think. I generally felt disappointed, but I'm not sure what I expected it to be. It is a tired character that doesn't really have anything interesting about it, there have been characters doing the whole "Howard the Duck" shtick for a long time now. The art and writing are fine, but I just couldn't connect with it. This kind of discussed it:
Howard the Duck #1 Review

What do people think?

David_D · March 2015

I didn't read it, so I don't have a lot to add, other than I feel like anyone trying to do Howard the Duck material is doing so in a huge shadow. I feel like, more than it is usually the case, people felt like Howard the Duck = Steve Gerber. It was his voice, his point of view. And maybe the character should therefore be put to rest.

And, of course, it is corporate comics and there are all sorts of examples of characters strongly associated with one creator, but then later someone else does something great with them. I get that. But I feel like in this case, with such an esoteric character, and because the character is basically a close to the vest, comedic point of view, that it is harder to someone else to take that and run with it. It is basically trying to do another comedian's material. And I feel like that is a bigger challenge than trying to, say, tell a new adventure story with Howard's Conan, you know what I mean?

Torchsong · March 2015

I'm giving the first issue a day in court (got the blank variant so I can deface it and sell it because regardless of writing Howard's fun to draw! :) ), but folks have tried to bring Howard back into the fold before and haven't gotten far. Have to wait until this month's DCBS box shows up before I pass judgement.

It's tough for anyone to break free of the Gerber-era, because it was awesome. I did enjoy the B/W magazine with Mantlo at the helm, because I love pretty much all things Mantlo and the artwork was great. Anything after that? It's clear they didn't get what Howard was about.

It'd be more interesting to see Marvel give us "the next Howard" rather than go back to the well. Sometimes you can only bottle lightning once.

WetRats · March 2015

I had no intention of buying this, but the tagline on the cover made me laugh ou loud in the store, so I picked it up.

I haven't read it yet*, so that's all I've got at the moment.

*Why should I treat it differently than the rest of my comics? The unread stack has long-since reached absurd heights.

nweathington · March 2015

Well I have read it, and it was... not bad. I'll give it another couple of issues to fully win me over or not.

Brack · March 2015

Not sure if I was reading Howard's dialogue in Gilbert Gottfried's or Curtis Armstrong's (specifically his Dan Vs.) voice. Anyway, enjoyed it. Even the super-duper stretch to get it tie in with the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

phansford · March 2015

I have to agree with Torchsong…… Howard was great in the 1970's (I was actually buying them off the spinner rack at the local 7-11 HaHa). Howard = Gerber. And if you've ever read any of Gerber's other work, you'll soon realize that Howard was his best work…… second only to his run on Man-thing in Fear. IMHO. Reading Howard 30 years later is well….. painful. It really was of its time. Some things need to just be part of their era and be left alone.

Brack · March 2015

phansford said:
I have to agree with Torchsong…… Howard was great in the 1970's (I was actually buying them off the spinner rack at the local 7-11 HaHa). Howard = Gerber. And if you've ever read any of Gerber's other work, you'll soon realize that Howard was his best work…… second only to his run on Man-thing in Fear. IMHO. Reading Howard 30 years later is well….. painful. It really was of its time. Some things need to just be part of their era and be left alone.

This Howard The Duck is definitely part of this era of Marvel Comics. The era of She-Hulk (who makes an appearance), Hawkeye, Daredevil, Ms. Marvel, Superior Foes, Squirrel Girl, Cyclops, and the thing that prompted this comic, the Guardians of Galaxy movie. As with all those comics, the influence of free-wheeling 70s Marvel comics are there (along with the influence of Spider-Man), but they all are very much of now (MARVEL NOW!).