Way back in 1986, when George Lucas was still high on the fumes generated by all that Star Wars money, he started a little journey to bring Marvel Comics’ Howard the Duck to life. To help hype the movie, Universal created a 900 line where people could call in to get a taste of what was to come…
Or – “What Do These Characters Have In Common?”
I don’t know if it’s coincidence that Marvel has revamped their old-school Frankenstein the same month that DC gave their Frankie his own limited series, but in any case, it’s fun to see this many 70s characters together in a book that isn’t written by Bendis. And while I’m still a little bit shaky on the entire ‘Fear Itself’ event, it would probably require some sort of injunction to keep me away from a book where 80% of the cast was created, defined or written by Steve Gerber…
Or – “WAAAUUUUUGH!”
Of all the heroes of the various comic book universes, I find myself drawn to those who are the most human in their makeup. I’m not talking about “Batman Doesn’t Have Any Powers” human, but the characters who are able to express real human emotions in a way that I find relatable. Honestly, normal humans don’t lose a parent and then vow to spend their entire life fighting crime, they usually descend into booze, drugs, and unhealthy relationships which leave them scarred for life. I appreciate Bouncing Boy’s struggle to fit in with the cool, thin kids. I appreciate the ways that Bruce Banner has to deal with the curse of the Hulk. I love the fact that Luke Cage’s first thought when he got superhuman powers was how to make a buck off them. Today’s entrant is, in an Alanis Morrisette ironic kind of way, the most human of all and his adventures are among the most unique in comics history. Trapped in a world he never made, he still had to fight to survive, dealing with issues of money, sex, identity and mental instability just like the rest of us. This, then, is your Major Spoilers Hero History of Howard, who fell through a dimensional portal one afternoon, and ended up in the middle of a battle to save the universe, and has become forever known to the hairless apes of his new home world as Howard The Duck!
It seems a little sureal having Howard the Duck reminding you to vote, but considering this is one of the most important things you can do as a citizen of the United States, I’m gonna go with the flow.
For those of you in other countries, do your comic book heroes remind you to vote too?
Not a huge week of sneak peeks from Marvel, but a good dozen should keep you busy for the rest of the weekend. Arriving in stores next week: EXILES 99, FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK 4, HOWARD THE DUCK 1, IRON MAN: ENTER THE MANDARIN 2, MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN 32, MS. MARVEL 20, OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #1, SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 3, SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP/MODOK’S 11 4, UNCANNY X-MEN 491, WOLVERINE ANNUAL 1: DEATHSONG
Have you had your fill of Marvel Zombies? Apparently not, as Marvel is dishing up two variant covers to Ms. Marvel #20 and Howard the Duck #1 that will arrive in stores October 3.
Take the jump for some twisted, twisted stuff, that isn’t even done by Arthur Suydam. I love it!
We last saw Howard the Duck in Civil War: Choosing Sides, and in Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness. Interest in the pantless duck must be picking up, as Marvel is releasing new tales of the feathered fowl from another planet.