Back in 1980 a little boy found a box of comic books in his mom's closet & the 1st comic book he saw was Howard the Duck #1 with Spiderman also on the cover. Now here it is 2021 and i still have that same comic book after all these years. Howard The Duck made me fall in love with comics .All i got to say is Thank you Mr Steve Gerber for such a amazing character & also thanks mom for helping a little guy for opening up his imagination
A long, long time ago a sailor walked through an old town at night. Turing the corner into an alley he saw the figure coming toward him as only he could see the red dot of a cigar. A midget? He thought. Then into the light waddled Howard as he passed by the sailor blowing the smoke of the cigar into his face
Oddly enough, I discovered Howard"s comics when his movie was in theaters. I much prefer the duck in the comics! I could kind of relate to him. I sometimes feel like I'm a bit of a misfit. The only person who really understood him was Steve Gerber. I still dig the duck who is trapped in a world he never made!
I feel like the most we can hope for is an MCU movie that's directed by someone that actually does understand and care about the character, that also doesn't have the standard 'quirky' humor that a lot of modern comedy movies have. I don't know if people would be too happy with seth green voicing him though, it seems like he's lost his original accent.
Great video. I love the Howard the Duck comic book series by Steve Gerber. Every time I go back to them, I always have a great time with them. It’s such a shame when people think of Howard the Duck, they only think of his infamous film(which most like they think negatively of it), and never think of the comic book series which makes it seem very obscured :(
Well, the film was fun.....but it didn't come anywhere near the comic, because Steve Gerber wasn't in charge of writing it or producing it. The comic remains literally the *only* Marvel comic I ever had much interest in, because it went somewhere the others didn't or couldn't go. It was great social satire.
@@georgecoventry8441 Don't get me wrong, I love the Howard the Duck movie for what it is, even though the Howard the Duck comics by Steve Gerber are superior. I just find it annoying majority of the people makes fun of Howard or talk crap on Howard's legacy because of the 1986 film, when really as much as I love the film, is not much of a faithful adaptation of the comics and doesn't represent the Howard the Duck franchise entirely. The Howard the Duck comic book series is really amazing and timeless. And I bet the people who make fun of Howard and say that "Howard the Duck doesn't have potential to have a great film" never read the comics. Cool to know you enjoy the Howard the Duck comics :) That's exactly the same case with me. The Howard the Duck comics is the only Marvel comic book franchise I'm really into and the most fan of. The Howard the Duck comics does have really great stories and the satire is overall top-notch. Another reason why I'm more fan of the Howard the Duck comics more than any other Marvel comic book series is I honestly find Howard the Duck comics to be more relatable and down to Earth. Unlike other Marvel superheroes, Howard is just a normal guy who's trying to search for ways to find a good life in a world that's alien to him. Howard himself is picked on and treated down upon by other people in the stories because people see him as an alien and don't treat him normally. One of the only people who treat Howard with respect and are close friends to him are his girlfriend Beverly Switzler, Winda Wester, Paul Same, Claude(Cleveland Engineer), and Beverly's uncle, Lee Switzler. I think we can all realate to Howard due to his down to Earth nature. We all do our best trying to find good life in this crazy world and we all question ourselves what's our purpose in life here in earth and why we're here exactly in a same way as Howard. Steve Gerber did a really great job creating really great, relatable and charming characters which are overall really greatly written with deep and engaging stories.
@@retrofan4963 - That's exactly how I feel about it. Howard becomes the everyman (everyduck?) and so the reader can relate to him really well, because we all feel much the way Howard does a good deal of the time. This is the great strength of intelligent, talking animal characters inserted into a human drama....that they can take on any human's role exactly because they are not tied to an outwardly visible and limiting human outer identity. Their "race" doesn't matter. Their color doesn't matter. Their height, weight, and general appearance don't matter. Their nationality doesn't matter. They can adapt to any and all human roles precisely because they're aren't outwardly human. I have stories about a talking Chimpanzee (Chongo Chimp), and he serves the same purpose extremely well. He faces all the difficulties and frustrations we humans do....in addition to being seen as "alien" and "weird" just because he's a Chimpanzee among humans. His chosen role models are Humphrey Bogart, above all....(from the private eye movies)...the private eye novels by Raymond Chandler (he sees himself as Bogart or as Phillip Marlowe)...and his idea of Christ (or God) is King Kong (who died tragically on behalf of the collective sins of humanity and apes alike). His favorite cultural era is the 1930's and 1940's....the era of Duesenbergs, Tommy Guns, slinky "dames", and Prohibition....and he's obsessed with "specism" (species prejudice), as is practiced by so many insensitive humans against apes and monkeys. He's also running for president of the USA. Like Howard the Duck, he smokes cigars, has a cynical sense of humor about human foibles, and has found a human woman who loves and respects him for his true value...and his courage. Quite the character! :-)
@@georgecoventry8441 Exactly, you hit the nail right in the head. I really like that you mention of the point of that it doesn't matter of race or appearance because at the end of the day, we're all the same. We all share the same goals, the same feelings, the same motives and capacity. That's a great point because that's exactly the social commentary of Howard the Duck in a sense that it made a social commentary of racism and discrimination. Because Howard is an anthrophomorphic duck, he's treated differently like he's some kind of monster, when really he's just like everyone else who share the same capacity and traits as any human. People in any race or nationality have that same experience that still happens to this very day because people are treated differently based on their appearances, and stereotype them of how they are and treat them less than human. So Howard the Duck made a pretty deep outlook of the flaws behind society. Never heard of Chongo Chimp,I love to check out the stories of that character, sounds awesome. Yeah, definately is a lot like Howard the Duck, really great comparison. I love these kinds of stories so I definately going to look more into it with this character. I actually heard of a Chimpanzee character made by DC that's a lot like Howard the Duck come to think of it. Which is called the Detective Chimp, is it him? I can be wrong.
Yes, the movie was great! Of course the comics are way better - but the movie was a pretty good adaption imHo. I never understood the hate the movie's getting.
Not too many people are posting videos about Howard the duck and your last one was the most informative. Thank you so much for re-making it and fixing the audio. as always top notch content. =]
Great video! Gerber's realization of the Howard the Duck character was the key that made it work, and I loved the original Howard the Duck in the Marvel issues, because he satirized and exposed the frequently insane and ridiculous nature of modern human society so well. This, of course, was subversive and revolutionary....something that Disney and other large corporate entities do not like in the least. Howard questioned everything. So should we. But that is not what the corporate "overlords" want. They just want empty spectacle and distraction..."sound and fury, signifying nothing". The real Howard would regard them with sarcastic disdain, and he'd walk away from them without looking back. And so should we.
What a bittersweet ending for the REAL Howard the Duck. I found a few of those last issues that Gerber wrote. The artwork is incredible! I didn't know he passed shortly after that.
My first issue of Howard was right after Steve Gerber was off the series. Then back to the Treasury Edition. Now I have all the Gerber issues and I'm working on collecting all of Gerber's oeuvre.
Great video! I’m an huge HTD fan. Although nobody could write Howard like Steve Gerber, I thought Christopher Stager’s writing in issue #33 was hilarious.
Or just make an MCU Howard the Duck film that's taken from the stories of the Howard the Duck comics, and faithfully capture the magic what made the Howard the Duck comics great.
@@thewolfofwallstreet627 That's a great idea too. That's originally supposed to happen, but Marvel unfortunately cancels in the last minute, hopefully they bring that idea back and make it come true. An adult Animated Howard the Duck series would be really amazing.
Excellent vid! I had no idea of the legal struggles that plagued this poor duck. (For years I thought the Howard the Duck film was a fever dream I had as a kid XD)
I don't think I can overstate how much of an effect Howard and by proxy Gerber had on me, reading a Marvel Essentials copy of HTD in my teens. Along with Judge Dredd, it showed me how messy and strange life can be if you look hard enough
This is a great video. I collected all the original Howard the Duck by Steve Gerber and thought they were great - I knew Gerber fell out with Marvel over the IP to Howard, but did not know all the other stuff in this video. Thanks.
Last month I re-read my collection of Howard The Duck comics. I have most of his run and I still enjoy them. I have less tolerance for Howard's infantile rants at age 56 than I did at age 10 but the stories remain solid.
I liked Gerber, a talented guy. I think his three issue run on Mister Miracle at DC in 1978 was one of the best updates to Kirby's Fourth World series . . . . .
Wow! Well done. Very informative and to the point. Howard the Duck Master works vol. 1 was just published this year. Would you happen to know if a Vol. 2 will be published? I don't know if you are privy to that info, but wanted to ask. Thanks in advance.
I have most of his original series some of the large size annuals ,mags (I'm a 70s kid) and I loved this strange tell like it was duck. He was just too much!!, I hope Disney/marvel doesn't end the GOTG series so fast where howard and rocket could work together and verbally assault each other between scenes like Howard would do in his books. Thank you Mr gerber.
A text less man-thing story sounds like it could be spectacular. Howard the Duck is one of my favorite comic book characters. He's such a wonderful little weirdo.
Okay, maybe it didn't have the cutting edge satire that Gerber brought to it, but I thought the magazine series was a lot of fun. What's wrong with FUN instead of existential dread?
Along with some other great under the radar characters like Solomon kane,kull,paladin,Jack of hearts,the Texas twister,and a few more too many to mention. Make mine Marvel....
Certain characters had a poignancy in the time and place that shaped them. For dear old Howard, both have changed too much for him to mean anything in the present day.
Zdarsky's run/technically runs are really good, I think and have some of Howard's best appearances. I don't really have a desire to see Howard in live action again outside of cameos, I think the character works best inside a comic book, maybe an animated series could work. But If I seen another Zdarsky run I would definitely consider picking it up. Great video!
A Marvel Special Presentation akin to Werewolf by Night or the Guardians Holiday Special could be fun, but a whole film idk. Kevin Smith was working on a Howard cartoon for Hulu before that quietly got cancelled
@@7elevenqt Yeah, now that you bring it up, that could definitely work. An hour long wacky fun special in the vein of the Guardians Holiday Special sounds quite fun! The animated hulu show sounds like it would've been fun too, a shame it got shot down.
It is a hard story if you love dreamers, independent thinking and creativity. But Steve and his friends did influence industry practices and inspire some brilliant anarchy.
Howard has no superhuman powers, but he is skilled in the martial art known as Quak-Fu, enough to defeat, or at least to hold his own against, far larger opponents. He has shown some degree of mystic talent in the past, to the point that Stephen Strange taught some spells to Howard and even offered to train him, but Howard declined
Being a child of the 70s, Howard was amazing to read, given he was drawn by Gene Colan (who was also drawing Tomb of Dracula at the time) and being so similar to a certain Disney Duck, actually gave me an appreciation for the work of Carl Barks, which remains to this day.
well said. I agree there are not enough stories not conforming to the norm and trying to WAKE people to free speech and independent thought these days.
I think it’s a bit of a small win that Howard is more duck-like in GOTG2 and onward in the MCU. Still doesn’t fix all the stuff Gerber was put through, but it was something.
Howard the Duck was a brilliant pioneering character from a different age of comic publishing and publishing in general. Subversive material has largely gone online. Then, comics and illustrated periodicals were collected fanatically and discussed very pretentiously (I was one kid who did it!) , but with sincerity. Howard was the first real social commentary character in a mainstream non-independent title (like MAUS or CEREBUS or even HEAVY METAL) and he could flout the literally totalitarian Comics Code Authority rules because he wasn't human. So Howard could be the victim of discrimination, persecution, false arrest and spurious medical diagnosis, racism, police brutality, official and judicial corruption and anything else otherwise Code-forbidden under the cover of exaggerated comicbook caricature. Personally I think Steve Gerber was a genius and, like the unregulated periodical format MAD Magazine so popular at the time, he subverted every established norm of American life (with an eye on the whole world generally) in the guise of silly superhero adventures. In reality it was very meaningful political and social and economic commentary from an outstandingly intelligent and insightful writer. Apart from a few like Garth Ennis and Neil Gaiman and Maryjane Satrapi and Jamie Delano and Alan Moore, there are not many genuine radicals and incendiaries in mainstream comics today; and it's depressing. It's that calibre of writer that a character like Howard needs and so perhaps better to lay him to rest.
My friend David Anthony Kraft and Jim Salicrup are the original Mad Genius company that made and processed orders for Steve's 1976 Presidential buttons. They and my friend Mary Skrenes worked on the button mail after hours. Mary also wrote one original issue I have yet to read and collect.
Howard The Duck always struck me as an "underground comix" character trying to cope in a superhero universe....Like, what if Robert Crumb had attempted to do a Marvel story? Within the Comics Code? It might have looked something like what Gerber created....
Good video, I enjoyed that. Thanks. I’m guessing Howard is going to pop up again in Gotg3 and hopefully he will have a few lines, now that Marvel is heading cosmic..
A big clue to why the modern comics version, along with most things out by modern "writers", is the evident laziness. 16:45 for example. we see the duck stating he has no friends instead of showing why he has no friends. Simply saying cliches isn't good writing, and seeing what is being pushed out of the "artist" mill i'm not sure it's going to get any better. The newer attempt is Howard the Duck like excrement smeared on a canvas is art.
well done, might've mentioned the origin of Destroyer Duck tho, created to help fund Gerber's lawsuit against Marvel. as for the movie, Gerber got into an argument with the producer when he told her HTD is about existentialism, and she said "no it's about a talking duck". of course she was wrong, and that's why the movie, despite its positive aspects failed. Still hoping for a new HTD film true to Gerber's vision, but not holding my breath. also I loved the magazine. must recommend not reading a bunch of it right before bed though. cheers.
#16 is really fun and interesting- its unique format epitomizes the rather non- corporate creative mentality that I love in this era. I almost had my own copy- One day! I don't just buy - I hope to make the acquisition, special. I realize how much of the creative work follows the strong- willed whims, damn the consequences. What you say about chances at the end had made me sad. It's true that you would have to have your nervous system and intellect in tune with an idiosyncratic viewpoint reflecting the times, to homage the energy of Howard the Duck. It's probable that energy is found in other media besides modern corporate comics. The format, and the opportunity to create at a scrappy hybrid like 70s Marvel- to be small and personal while satirizing and utilizing a successful business- is not quite there. It's got to be expressed other ways. But wrapping one's head around what made the phenomenon work is still valuable, even if the means is not replicatable. Howard wasn't an imitation either. Who could rework the intellectual cast of doomed Mersault into a funny, poignant and darkly- edged comic book? The movie- which I have not watched- overshadows a cultural milestone.
This is one of the most depressing videos I've ever seen on RUclips. Shoot- I stopped drinking beer a long time ago, but I'm about to purchase a six-pack. I'm a vegetarian, but I think I'm going to have a pork chop tonight. This is soul-wrenching. Thanks! I'm going to save this and put it on my playlist! I am reluctantly masochistic after all. :P
Well, at least we get to see him in the What If series on August. I hope we see more of him in the Phase 4. Maybe in the She-Hulk series. Or GTOG Vol. 3.
The correct answer is the most logical one in the context of Howard's previous history: Gerber refused to utilize the Disney-fried version of HtD any more than absolutely necessary so he satisfied himself by having Howard spend most of the story as... well. anything but a duck, but especially as a distant relative of one M****y M***e!
@@citysmall3427 Your guesses have something to them - mainly moxie, as they mostly merge into the malady Madre called monkey mange, and they are, to put it mildly, merde. Apparently it's too much to ask to risk* actually counting out the correct number of letters! D'you think you could take this motley melee and modify maybe? Otherwise you'll have a mutiny movie on your hands! *(asterisk)
Wow! I never knew howard the duck was a comic. But it came out when i was a kid and i wasn't allowed comic books. Through my teens i couldn't afford comics and as an adult they're difficult to find for me ... Anyways i saw the movie i actually liked it. Thanks for vid
@@bejjinks I mean at least Marvel Studios will get Howard right in his new animated show coming to Hulu which will be Bojack Horseman meets Deadpool. Howard was there in Guardians 1 and 2, today audiences are ready for a talking raccoon.
@@Johnlindsey289 I haven't seen the Hulu one so cannot comment. In Guardians though, he barely showed up. He was so easy to miss that you can't even tell it was Howard unless someone told you that it was.
@@Johnlindsey289 Unfortunately they cancel the idea of the Howard the Duck animated series. Man did I look forward watching it :( I'll say the show should be brought back rather than it being a lost media and Marvel Studios make a new Howard the Duck film.
@@Johnlindsey289 I personally like the film for what it is :) but yeah, the film did not do justice on the Howard the Duck comics much. I love the Steve Gerber Howard the Duck comic book series, they're really ahead of its time, has great stories, great characters, and the writing is superb. The film didn't capture what the comics is about for the most part, making it feel like a unfaithful adaptation. I still find the film fun though, and still enjoy it to this day. But I seriously want Marvel Studios make a really great and faithful adaption Howard the Duck film. Howard made lot of cameos in quite a lot of films, especially Gaurdians of the Galaxy films, and they didn't do much with him other than that. What's stopping them giving Howard a spotlight for his own film or have a large role in the MCU to redeem his reputation from his 80's film?
I wonder if Roy Thomas killed off HtD because he knew there would be issues with Disney eventually? I also wonder if the Man-Thing book was cancelled back in 1975 because they needed to make room for the HtD book? Man-Thing was still a monthly book when it was cancelled and was one of the last Giant-Sized books put out on a regular basis in 1975.
There's no reason to kill Howard the Duck. He's a really great character. And the Howard the Duck comic book series is the best comic book series ever in my opinion.
Howard teamed up with Spidey in marvel team up. They ouned man thing. How many of y'all have cap-wolf? Man thing had cap turned into a werewolf while fighting swamp zombies. Thanks Mr Gerber for that.
Wow. Marvel screwed Steve Gerber pretty hard, didn't they? I've always wondered why Howard didn't become a successful character. And now I know why. Howard the Duck has always been a favorite of mine, and learning this only adds to my admiration for him as a character.
Steve Gerber is a supreme giant of artistic talent one of the shining lights if the other writers didn’t appreciate him poking fun at them TOUGH SHIT the cream rises to the top in capitalism that’s ALL thier is to it !!!!
Back in 1980 a little boy found a box of comic books in his mom's closet & the 1st comic book he saw was Howard the Duck #1 with Spiderman also on the cover. Now here it is 2021 and i still have that same comic book after all these years. Howard The Duck made me fall in love with comics .All i got to say is Thank you Mr Steve Gerber for such a amazing character & also thanks mom for helping a little guy for opening up his imagination
Great story.
A long, long time ago a sailor walked through an old town at night. Turing the corner into an alley he saw the figure coming toward him as only he could see the red dot of a cigar. A midget? He thought. Then into the light waddled Howard as he passed by the sailor blowing the smoke of the cigar into his face
Oddly enough, I discovered Howard"s comics when his movie was in theaters. I much prefer the duck in the comics! I could kind of relate to him. I sometimes feel like I'm a bit of a misfit. The only person who really understood him was Steve Gerber.
I still dig the duck who is trapped in a world he never made!
Vincent Franklin ggxzxzfjderz
Howard The Duck needs to get a decent comeback by someone who can understand the character.
I feel like the most we can hope for is an MCU movie that's directed by someone that actually does understand and care about the character, that also doesn't have the standard 'quirky' humor that a lot of modern comedy movies have. I don't know if people would be too happy with seth green voicing him though, it seems like he's lost his original accent.
@@davide.9576
How about the writers of Bojack do him?
I heard Lea Thompson wants to direct a remake herself
Has anyone read Zdarsky's take on Howard the Duck ? How does it compare? Do you like it ?
Thanks in advance.
@@forsakenV12 it’s very good! more emotional than it is satirical, but very worth the read
Disney presents: Deadpool vs. Howard the Duck: 3D
Actually, Stuart Moore's "Duckpool" was the only take on HtD that gives any hope of him surviving SG's passing...
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!
Fox and Marvel having him in Deadpool 3 with Mojo
How about Deadpool and Howard the Duck team up?
I wouldn’t hate that
Great video. I love the Howard the Duck comic book series by Steve Gerber. Every time I go back to them, I always have a great time with them. It’s such a shame when people think of Howard the Duck, they only think of his infamous film(which most like they think negatively of it), and never think of the comic book series which makes it seem very obscured :(
Well, the film was fun.....but it didn't come anywhere near the comic, because Steve Gerber wasn't in charge of writing it or producing it. The comic remains literally the *only* Marvel comic I ever had much interest in, because it went somewhere the others didn't or couldn't go. It was great social satire.
@@georgecoventry8441 Don't get me wrong, I love the Howard the Duck movie for what it is, even though the Howard the Duck comics by Steve Gerber are superior. I just find it annoying majority of the people makes fun of Howard or talk crap on Howard's legacy because of the 1986 film, when really as much as I love the film, is not much of a faithful adaptation of the comics and doesn't represent the Howard the Duck franchise entirely. The Howard the Duck comic book series is really amazing and timeless. And I bet the people who make fun of Howard and say that "Howard the Duck doesn't have potential to have a great film" never read the comics. Cool to know you enjoy the Howard the Duck comics :) That's exactly the same case with me. The Howard the Duck comics is the only Marvel comic book franchise I'm really into and the most fan of. The Howard the Duck comics does have really great stories and the satire is overall top-notch. Another reason why I'm more fan of the Howard the Duck comics more than any other Marvel comic book series is I honestly find Howard the Duck comics to be more relatable and down to Earth.
Unlike other Marvel superheroes, Howard is just a normal guy who's trying to search for ways to find a good life in a world that's alien to him. Howard himself is picked on and treated down upon by other people in the stories because people see him as an alien and don't treat him normally. One of the only people who treat Howard with respect and are close friends to him are his girlfriend Beverly Switzler, Winda Wester, Paul Same, Claude(Cleveland Engineer), and Beverly's uncle, Lee Switzler. I think we can all realate to Howard due to his down to Earth nature. We all do our best trying to find good life in this crazy world and we all question ourselves what's our purpose in life here in earth and why we're here exactly in a same way as Howard. Steve Gerber did a really great job creating really great, relatable and charming characters which are overall really greatly written with deep and engaging stories.
@@retrofan4963 - That's exactly how I feel about it. Howard becomes the everyman (everyduck?) and so the reader can relate to him really well, because we all feel much the way Howard does a good deal of the time.
This is the great strength of intelligent, talking animal characters inserted into a human drama....that they can take on any human's role exactly because they are not tied to an outwardly visible and limiting human outer identity.
Their "race" doesn't matter. Their color doesn't matter. Their height, weight, and general appearance don't matter. Their nationality doesn't matter.
They can adapt to any and all human roles precisely because they're aren't outwardly human.
I have stories about a talking Chimpanzee (Chongo Chimp), and he serves the same purpose extremely well. He faces all the difficulties and frustrations we humans do....in addition to being seen as "alien" and "weird" just because he's a Chimpanzee among humans.
His chosen role models are Humphrey Bogart, above all....(from the private eye movies)...the private eye novels by Raymond Chandler (he sees himself as Bogart or as Phillip Marlowe)...and his idea of Christ (or God) is King Kong (who died tragically on behalf of the collective sins of humanity and apes alike).
His favorite cultural era is the 1930's and 1940's....the era of Duesenbergs, Tommy Guns, slinky "dames", and Prohibition....and he's obsessed with "specism" (species prejudice), as is practiced by so many insensitive humans against apes and monkeys. He's also running for president of the USA. Like Howard the Duck, he smokes cigars, has a cynical sense of humor about human foibles, and has found a human woman who loves and respects him for his true value...and his courage. Quite the character! :-)
@@georgecoventry8441 Exactly, you hit the nail right in the head. I really like that you mention of the point of that it doesn't matter of race or appearance because at the end of the day, we're all the same. We all share the same goals, the same feelings, the same motives and capacity. That's a great point because that's exactly the social commentary of Howard the Duck in a sense that it made a social commentary of racism and discrimination. Because Howard is an anthrophomorphic duck, he's treated differently like he's some kind of monster, when really he's just like everyone else who share the same capacity and traits as any human. People in any race or nationality have that same experience that still happens to this very day because people are treated differently based on their appearances, and stereotype them of how they are and treat them less than human. So Howard the Duck made a pretty deep outlook of the flaws behind society. Never heard of Chongo Chimp,I love to check out the stories of that character, sounds awesome. Yeah, definately is a lot like Howard the Duck, really great comparison. I love these kinds of stories so I definately going to look more into it with this character. I actually heard of a Chimpanzee character made by DC that's a lot like Howard the Duck come to think of it. Which is called the Detective Chimp, is it him? I can be wrong.
Yes, the movie was great! Of course the comics are way better - but the movie was a pretty good adaption imHo. I never understood the hate the movie's getting.
Not too many people are posting videos about Howard the duck and your last one was the most informative. Thank you so much for re-making it and fixing the audio.
as always top notch content.
=]
Great video! Gerber's realization of the Howard the Duck character was the key that made it work, and I loved the original Howard the Duck in the Marvel issues, because he satirized and exposed the frequently insane and ridiculous nature of modern human society so well. This, of course, was subversive and revolutionary....something that Disney and other large corporate entities do not like in the least. Howard questioned everything. So should we. But that is not what the corporate "overlords" want. They just want empty spectacle and distraction..."sound and fury, signifying nothing". The real Howard would regard them with sarcastic disdain, and he'd walk away from them without looking back. And so should we.
What a bittersweet ending for the REAL Howard the Duck. I found a few of those last issues that Gerber wrote. The artwork is incredible! I didn't know he passed shortly after that.
I discovered and loved Howard The Duck as a preteen while I also discovered Nietzsche , Saki and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
And I bet you're glad you did! Hmmm?
Howard is actually Nietzche! CANON! :)
Saki is a wonderful writer. Very underrated.
TBH, I’m unapologetic in my love for the live-action film.
You're not alone....love that film!
One of my favorite childhood movies, still watch it a lot.
One of your best videos yet!
My first issue of Howard was right after Steve Gerber was off the series. Then back to the Treasury Edition. Now I have all the Gerber issues and I'm working on collecting all of Gerber's oeuvre.
Great video! I’m an huge HTD fan. Although nobody could write Howard like Steve Gerber, I thought Christopher Stager’s writing in issue #33 was hilarious.
Howard should appear in the Deadpool movie series,it is the right place for him now!
Or just make an MCU Howard the Duck film that's taken from the stories of the Howard the Duck comics, and faithfully capture the magic what made the Howard the Duck comics great.
@@retrofan4963 nah give him his own adult hulu series.
@@thewolfofwallstreet627 That's a great idea too. That's originally supposed to happen, but Marvel unfortunately cancels in the last minute, hopefully they bring that idea back and make it come true. An adult Animated Howard the Duck series would be really amazing.
@@thewolfofwallstreet627 boy do I have bad news for you
Or even in dr strange along with a cameo of son of satan....
" Now Howard the Duck and Mr. Stress both stayed
'Trapped in a world that they never made' "
Well, isn't that Precious!
Excellent vid! I had no idea of the legal struggles that plagued this poor duck.
(For years I thought the Howard the Duck film was a fever dream I had as a kid XD)
You just kind redid your original Howerd video with a few additional rid bits. Still a fun little video.
Thank god, I wasn't the only one who noticed. I almost thought it was another Berenstain Bears reality shift.
Another reality shift
I hope he continues the doom patrol series and going into the Grant Morrison series
The Russian ComicBook Geek are you planning on doing more Moon Knight?
Never forget Frank Brunner. Great review.
Thanks. This was really well presented. Learned lots
I had all the Gerber/ Howard comics before the movie came out. Those comics were brillant!
They are :) I highly agree.
when I hear Dr Bong I do not think of a bell, Anybody with me?
I didn't know about a Howard syndicated strip! Have those been collected?
Delaying that movie would have been a net-plus for human culture. Avoiding it completely might have been one of the great moments in human history.
Marvel: Howard the duck is too silly of a concept
Also Marvel: Let’s explore the tragic backstory behind the talking raccoon with a gun.
Hey, rocket is one of their finest creations if you ask me
I don't think I can overstate how much of an effect Howard and by proxy Gerber had on me, reading a Marvel Essentials copy of HTD in my teens. Along with Judge Dredd, it showed me how messy and strange life can be if you look hard enough
This is a great video. I collected all the original Howard the Duck by Steve Gerber and thought they were great - I knew Gerber fell out with Marvel over the IP to Howard, but did not know all the other stuff in this video. Thanks.
The 1st video I ever watched from this channel… and it’s on arguably the most OUTRAGEOUSLY AWESOME character in Marvel History: Howard the Duck!!!
Last month I re-read my collection of Howard The Duck comics. I have most of his run and I still enjoy them. I have less tolerance for Howard's infantile rants at age 56 than I did at age 10 but the stories remain solid.
Truly in a world he never made, WAUGH!!!
I liked Gerber, a talented guy. I think his three issue run on Mister Miracle at DC in 1978 was one of the best updates to Kirby's Fourth World series . . . . .
I enjoyed your video so much that I Liked and Subscribed. Thank you for making the video, the research, editing and great narration.
Wow! Well done.
Very informative and to the point.
Howard the Duck Master works vol. 1 was just published this year. Would you happen to know if a Vol. 2 will be published? I don't know if you are privy to that info, but wanted to ask.
Thanks in advance.
Why isn't he in a DuckTales episode yet?
Pwease, pwease, PWEASE don't give em ideas!
@@dolliesdieyes5590 How is that a bad idea? Also, I love Howard the Duck comic books.
Man-thing was the protector of the Nexus of all realities. There could have been alot of awesome stories told about that.
I have most of his original series some of the large size annuals ,mags (I'm a 70s kid) and I loved this strange tell like it was duck. He was just too much!!, I hope Disney/marvel doesn't end the GOTG series so fast where howard and rocket could work together and verbally assault each other between scenes like Howard would do in his books. Thank you Mr gerber.
This was such a good video I learned a lot, thank you for making this
A text less man-thing story sounds like it could be spectacular.
Howard the Duck is one of my favorite comic book characters. He's such a wonderful little weirdo.
Au contraire. Howard's the normal one in a MAD world...
Okay, maybe it didn't have the cutting edge satire that Gerber brought to it, but I thought the magazine series was a lot of fun. What's wrong with FUN instead of existential dread?
This had to be done. Howard deserves the respect of all bird watchers. Also I need some Kill Raven in my life.
Along with some other great under the radar characters like Solomon kane,kull,paladin,Jack of hearts,the Texas twister,and a few more too many to mention. Make mine Marvel....
Certain characters had a poignancy in the time and place that shaped them. For dear old Howard, both have changed too much for him to mean anything in the present day.
Zdarsky's run/technically runs are really good, I think and have some of Howard's best appearances.
I don't really have a desire to see Howard in live action again outside of cameos, I think the character works best inside a comic book, maybe an animated series could work. But If I seen another Zdarsky run I would definitely consider picking it up.
Great video!
A Marvel Special Presentation akin to Werewolf by Night or the Guardians Holiday Special could be fun, but a whole film idk. Kevin Smith was working on a Howard cartoon for Hulu before that quietly got cancelled
@@7elevenqt Yeah, now that you bring it up, that could definitely work. An hour long wacky fun special in the vein of the Guardians Holiday Special sounds quite fun!
The animated hulu show sounds like it would've been fun too, a shame it got shot down.
Ive always been incredibly intrigued by this character. Especially at 12 when i just got into marvel comics. Thanks for the video
This was really good! Thanks for this.
I love his Soofi battle and the Blandatron. Good point of how it's drawn.
Oh! Kudos for the Nevada connection!
It is a hard story if you love dreamers, independent thinking and creativity. But Steve and his friends did influence industry practices and inspire some brilliant anarchy.
He looks similar to Donald Duck
Well, Howard is based on him.
I think that everyone can infer that
Oddly
That's Donald the Duck to you sir
Disney sued Marvel in the 70’s for miming Howard’s look after Donald but the case was thrown out. Disney bought Marvel in 2010.
I loved the Max series. Turning Howard into a rat was great satire. Also, it made me realize I am not alone in my distaste for Oprah.
Will you tackle the Topps Duckman comic in the future or Topps Dracula/Vlad the Impaller?
Howard has no superhuman powers, but he is skilled in the martial art known as Quak-Fu, enough to defeat, or at least to hold his own against, far larger opponents. He has shown some degree of mystic talent in the past, to the point that Stephen Strange taught some spells to Howard and even offered to train him, but Howard declined
I mean, yeah, when the story thought that was cool or interesting. Which was very, very rarely.
@@MarkAndrewL The Howard the Duck comic books are really great.
...Howard's superpower was always his innate intelligent skepticism and, ironically, his empathic essential Humanity...
Being a child of the 70s, Howard was amazing to read, given he was drawn by Gene Colan (who was also drawing Tomb of Dracula at the time) and being so
similar to a certain Disney Duck, actually gave me an appreciation for the work of Carl Barks, which remains to this day.
I grew up in an anti-Disnite house in the 70s, and everyday I am reminded why pops hated them so much!
Disnite?
@@moa9188 as in Seinfeld; the anti-dentite.
@@Sincopare so your family hates brushing their teeth.
well said. I agree there are not enough stories not conforming to the norm and trying to WAKE people to free speech and independent thought these days.
"...and a nerd riot was averted!..." Best original understated line! >__< :D ^___^
I always enjoyed the original character, read him in my teens. Here's one for you, Howard! Keep on duckin'...
I think it’s a bit of a small win that Howard is more duck-like in GOTG2 and onward in the MCU. Still doesn’t fix all the stuff Gerber was put through, but it was something.
Like if your favorite marvel character is Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck was a brilliant pioneering character from a different age of comic publishing and publishing in general. Subversive material has largely gone online. Then, comics and illustrated periodicals were collected fanatically and discussed very pretentiously (I was one kid who did it!) , but with sincerity. Howard was the first real social commentary character in a mainstream non-independent title (like MAUS or CEREBUS or even HEAVY METAL) and he could flout the literally totalitarian Comics Code Authority rules because he wasn't human. So Howard could be the victim of discrimination, persecution, false arrest and spurious medical diagnosis, racism, police brutality, official and judicial corruption and anything else otherwise Code-forbidden under the cover of exaggerated comicbook caricature. Personally I think Steve Gerber was a genius and, like the unregulated periodical format MAD Magazine so popular at the time, he subverted every established norm of American life (with an eye on the whole world generally) in the guise of silly superhero adventures. In reality it was very meaningful political and social and economic commentary from an outstandingly intelligent and insightful writer. Apart from a few like Garth Ennis and Neil Gaiman and Maryjane Satrapi and Jamie Delano and Alan Moore, there are not many genuine radicals and incendiaries in mainstream comics today; and it's depressing. It's that calibre of writer that a character like Howard needs and so perhaps better to lay him to rest.
My friend David Anthony Kraft and Jim Salicrup are the original Mad Genius company that made and processed orders for Steve's 1976 Presidential buttons. They and my friend Mary Skrenes worked on the button mail after hours. Mary also wrote one original issue I have yet to read and collect.
Howard The Duck always struck me as an "underground comix" character trying to cope in a superhero universe....Like, what if Robert Crumb had attempted to do a Marvel story? Within the Comics Code? It might have looked something like what Gerber created....
Good video, I enjoyed that. Thanks. I’m guessing Howard is going to pop up again in Gotg3 and hopefully he will have a few lines, now that Marvel is heading cosmic..
A big clue to why the modern comics version, along with most things out by modern "writers", is the evident laziness. 16:45 for example. we see the duck stating he has no friends instead of showing why he has no friends. Simply saying cliches isn't good writing, and seeing what is being pushed out of the "artist" mill i'm not sure it's going to get any better. The newer attempt is Howard the Duck like excrement smeared on a canvas is art.
What makes Rocket Raccoon no different?
well done, might've mentioned the origin of Destroyer Duck tho, created to help fund Gerber's lawsuit against Marvel. as for the movie, Gerber got into an argument with the producer when he told her HTD is about existentialism, and she said "no it's about a talking duck". of course she was wrong, and that's why the movie, despite its positive aspects failed. Still hoping for a new HTD film true to Gerber's vision, but not holding my breath. also I loved the magazine. must recommend not reading a bunch of it right before bed though. cheers.
I know it is hard to fathom for Disney but a reboot of howard the duck will probably need a hard R rating.
#16 is really fun and interesting- its unique format epitomizes the rather non- corporate creative mentality that I love in this era. I almost had my own copy- One day! I don't just buy - I hope to make the acquisition, special.
I realize how much of the creative work follows the strong- willed whims, damn the consequences. What you say about chances at the end had made me sad. It's true that you would have to have your nervous system and intellect in tune with an idiosyncratic viewpoint reflecting the times, to homage the energy of Howard the Duck. It's probable that energy is found in other media besides modern corporate comics. The format, and the opportunity to create at a scrappy hybrid like 70s Marvel- to be small and personal while satirizing and utilizing a successful business- is not quite there. It's got to be expressed other ways. But wrapping one's head around what made the phenomenon work is still valuable, even if the means is not replicatable. Howard wasn't an imitation either.
Who could rework the intellectual cast of doomed Mersault into a funny, poignant and darkly- edged comic book? The movie- which I have not watched- overshadows a cultural milestone.
It's always 2008 isn't it.
Shout out to the guy that sent marvel a dead duck lmao
Would it be crazy in 2019 if Disney owned ducks? :P
Howard Duck could easily be made into a crossover between Marvel's cinematic universe and Ducktales.
If only Ducktales got another season.
I had the first dozen or so 'Howard the Duck' comics.
No idea what happened to them :-/
They need to make a Howard the duck show lol
*Another Movie*
Marvel ought to do more deliberately limited or maxi series. Kind of like what Valiant was doing: 12-14 issues planned.
Seems like they already do everything in arcs of 6 or multiples of 6. Designed to fit the TPB reprint market...
Great job.
How come he was a mouse in Gerber's last run?
In 2001, it was a jab against Disney who said Howard looked like Donald Duck by making him look simile to Mickey Mouse.
@@eyeseer1 thank you!
This is one of the most depressing videos I've ever seen on RUclips. Shoot- I stopped drinking beer a long time ago, but I'm about to purchase a six-pack. I'm a vegetarian, but I think I'm going to have a pork chop tonight. This is soul-wrenching. Thanks! I'm going to save this and put it on my playlist! I am reluctantly masochistic after all. :P
nice video..good job
The narrator is off key with tha magazine series, I enjoyed the stories
The Omnibus is coming out. Near Mint Condition just announed it
Well, at least we get to see him in the What If series on August. I hope we see more of him in the Phase 4. Maybe in the She-Hulk series. Or GTOG Vol. 3.
It's confirmed recently Howard the Duck will appear in the She Hulk series in Disney+.
So nobody's gonna ask why a Rat has replaced Howard on all the covers at 15:38?
The correct answer is the most logical one in the context of Howard's previous history: Gerber refused to utilize the Disney-fried version of HtD any more than absolutely necessary so he satisfied himself by having Howard spend most of the story as... well. anything but a duck, but especially as a distant relative of one M****y M***e!
@@kenlieck7756 money mime? Many more? Mommy Manny? Monty mole?
@@citysmall3427 Your guesses have something to them - mainly moxie, as they mostly merge into the malady Madre called monkey mange, and they are, to put it mildly, merde. Apparently it's too much to ask to risk* actually counting out the correct number of letters! D'you think you could take this motley melee and modify maybe? Otherwise you'll have a mutiny movie on your hands!
*(asterisk)
@@kenlieck7756 something to do with Max comics i take it...
@@citysmall3427 Hint: your name sounds like his girlfriend's name. Mini Mass, er, I mean Minnie Mouse! The opposite of a Max-ie Pad!
Wow! I never knew howard the duck was a comic. But it came out when i was a kid and i wasn't allowed comic books. Through my teens i couldn't afford comics and as an adult they're difficult to find for me ... Anyways i saw the movie i actually liked it. Thanks for vid
Great Video!!! 💯💯💯👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 New Subber!!!
Don't criticize the movie too bad. It may not be the best version of Howard but it had enough of the Howard quality that it was mildly enjoyable.
What about in Guardians of the Galaxy or the Marvel Studios?
@@Johnlindsey289 Howard is barely noticeable there.
@@bejjinks
I mean at least Marvel Studios will get Howard right in his new animated show coming to Hulu which will be Bojack Horseman meets Deadpool.
Howard was there in Guardians 1 and 2, today audiences are ready for a talking raccoon.
@@Johnlindsey289 I haven't seen the Hulu one so cannot comment.
In Guardians though, he barely showed up. He was so easy to miss that you can't even tell it was Howard unless someone told you that it was.
@@Johnlindsey289 Unfortunately they cancel the idea of the Howard the Duck animated series. Man did I look forward watching it :( I'll say the show should be brought back rather than it being a lost media and Marvel Studios make a new Howard the Duck film.
I remember watching the movie as a kid and as I go down this rabbit hole and see the live action I’m fucking terrified, that shit was creepy
When you mentioned the movie MY eyes turned red.
The movie was not a good representation of the character eh?
@@Johnlindsey289 I personally like the film for what it is :) but yeah, the film did not do justice on the Howard the Duck comics much. I love the Steve Gerber Howard the Duck comic book series, they're really ahead of its time, has great stories, great characters, and the writing is superb. The film didn't capture what the comics is about for the most part, making it feel like a unfaithful adaptation. I still find the film fun though, and still enjoy it to this day. But I seriously want Marvel Studios make a really great and faithful adaption Howard the Duck film. Howard made lot of cameos in quite a lot of films, especially Gaurdians of the Galaxy films, and they didn't do much with him other than that. What's stopping them giving Howard a spotlight for his own film or have a large role in the MCU to redeem his reputation from his 80's film?
@@retrofan4963
What about having Bojack Horseman writers do him justice?
@@Johnlindsey289 Great idea :)
Great and sad history
I think Howard Should Get A TV Show On Disney +
I wonder if Roy Thomas killed off HtD because he knew there would be issues with Disney eventually? I also wonder if the Man-Thing book was cancelled back in 1975 because they needed to make room for the HtD book? Man-Thing was still a monthly book when it was cancelled and was one of the last Giant-Sized books put out on a regular basis in 1975.
There's no reason to kill Howard the Duck. He's a really great character. And the Howard the Duck comic book series is the best comic book series ever in my opinion.
you left 0ut soiderman #92-93 for NOT having the Cca seal
Howard teamed up with Spidey in marvel team up. They ouned man thing. How many of y'all have cap-wolf? Man thing had cap turned into a werewolf while fighting swamp zombies. Thanks Mr Gerber for that.
My favorite marvel character
Howard the Duck vs Scrooge McDuck. The crossover you'll never see! ;-)
You did
So we did see it
I suggest a howard the duck / the mighty ducks cross over cartoon mini series on disney+
Wow. Marvel screwed Steve Gerber pretty hard, didn't they? I've always wondered why Howard didn't become a successful character. And now I know why. Howard the Duck has always been a favorite of mine, and learning this only adds to my admiration for him as a character.
Cool character
Steve Gerber is a supreme giant of artistic talent one of the shining lights if the other writers didn’t appreciate him poking fun at them TOUGH SHIT the cream rises to the top in capitalism that’s ALL thier is to it !!!!
I'm assuming Howard the Duck was Marvel Comics unexpected successful experiment.
Howard the Duck comics turn out successful and are overall really great.
How many Howard the ducks were there in the series of comics
To the best of my knowledge there's just the one Howard.
This makes me want to see a LOBO the Duck video from your channel
The movie was a good Start 👍🏾 comedy relief, like Stan's Cameos
I think that was the best comic ever 😎😎😎😎😐😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
I love the Howard the Duck comics :) Really great series.