Howard The Duck #1

This is one of the comics in my collection that I was so happy to add. Growing up in the 1980s, Howard the Duck was all over the place, but got relegated to second-tier status, mostly because of the less than amazing film that he starred in. But that didn’t stop me from having a fondness to the waterfowl.

Howard the Duck #1 isn’t the first appearance of the character, but his popularity lead to him getting his own series. Howard comes across odd, even for someone living in the Marvel Universe. The story told here pretty much sets up the direction the series would take.

Howard just goes around the country solving mysteries and having adventures. He meets nude model Beverly Switzler who becomes his friend/travel companion and spends the rest of the issue trying to save her from the evil wizard/accountant Pro-Rata. The diminutive duck does get some assistance from Spider-Man along the way.

It’s a fun issue and I really want to read more of the character. Steve Gerber writes this character so well; there’s a certain absurdity and seriousness to it that reminds me of Dave Sim’s Cerebus the Aardvark.

Friday Fights #5: Howard The Duck vs. Donald Duck

 

This week we discuss who would win the battle of toughest waterfowl–Howard the Duck vs. Donald Duck. These two have been feuding on and off over the years; there was even a lawsuit between their respective parent companies Marvel and Disney. So what would happen if these two pants-less ducks did battle?

Neither one has a size or physical advantage over the other. Howard is known for chain-smoking cigars, so that may have some stamina issues. Over the years, we’ve learned that Donald Duck is pretty lazy so I would assume he isn’t in the best physical shape.

So do either duck have any fighting abilities? Howard is the master of the martial arts fighting style known as Quack-Fu. Donald doesn’t have any formal fighting skills, although I would assume that he did learn some combat skills over the years. He did serve in the navy during the DuckTales cartoon series. That said, Howard would have the fighting advantage.

But who would I put my money on?

Donald. He’s ruthless. I imagine–thanks to years of cartoon watching–that he would run around throwing things and punching poor Howard. Imagine a duck version of the late Bruiser Brody. WINNER: Donald Duck