It's time for the self-aware, no-nonsense Howard the Duck to get his own MCU TV show. Created in 1973 by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik, Howard the Duck joined Marvel's catalog of anthropomorphic animals as a supporting character in the Man-Thing comics. Shortly after, he got his own newspaper comic strip and comic book series, where he mocked the tropes of the horror genre, cartoons, other comic books, and pop culture in general. Howard is known for his existentialist outlook on life and his tendency to tackle mature themes with his signature brand of cynical humor.
Howard the Duck was a surprise success for Marvel, and despite some hesitation from the House of Ideas, Howard garnered a loyal audience that demanded more content featuring the character. Unfortunately, creator Steve Gerber faced legal disputes with Marvel and the quality of Howard's comic books soon dropped, which was followed by their cancellation and the disastrous release of Lucasfilm's 1986 Howard the Duck movie, which had its own share of logistical problems.
Since then, Howard the Duck has popped up every now and then as a guest character in other superheroes' comic books and as the protagonist of some Howard-centric stories. The talking duck made his MCU debut in Guardians of the Galaxy as a prisoner in The Collector's museum, followed by a brief appearance in the Ravagers' party at Contraxia in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo during the final battle against Thanos and his army in Avengers: Endgame. As fun as these nods to the character have been, the MCU may be wasting the potential of an innovative character who could inject a new dose of drama, humor, and adventure in his own successful MCU series. Here's why.
A big part of the success of Fox's Deadpool movies, besides the charisma of Ryan Reynolds, was their perfect blend of self-aware humor and R-rated action, Now that Reynolds' Deadpool is confirmed to be coming to the MCU soon — and with the She-Hulk Disney+ show integrating the character's 4th-wall-breaking antics into the MCU as well — Howard the Duck's self-awareness would be welcome, but not as groundbreaking. However, Howard would have the advantage to apply his meta-humor to the MCU's cosmic side. While Deadpool and She-Hulk comment on the craziness of Earth, Howard could be poking fun at the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, Loki, Captain Marvel, the Skrulls, and myriad other characters.
Howard would also be able to go on adventures across the galaxy and meet obscure characters in a remote corner of outer space with more freedom. Howard doesn't carry the X-Men baggage that Deadpool does, which would make a Howard the Duck series would more of a blank slate with plenty of opportunities to tell an original story with as many or as few in-jokes and references as Howard wants. He could mock Zeus while hanging out with Man-Thing at Sakaar or visit Earth and comment on Steve Rogers' retirement. The possibilities are endless.
Not only is Howard the Duck's humor self-aware but also cynical and slightly dark. Howard often criticizes the tropes of the medium he's in, but he mostly focuses on the absurdity of life itself as if he jumped out of the comic book panels and immersed himself in one of Jean-Paul Sartre's works. While Deadpool jokes about Ryan Reynolds and the messy continuity of the X-Men franchise, Howard mourns the impossibility of death in a superhero universe and condemns the egocentrism that the "hairless apes" called "humans" show in believing they're nature's favorite species.
At first sight, a Howard the Duck series would seem too goofy to be adapted to live-action — even more so with the precedent of the unintentionally silly 1986 movie — but if the show were to stick to the core themes of the character, it would actually be a more mature MCU release than most. To fit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Howard the Duck would probably need to abandon his smoking habit, cut back on the booze, and avoid diving too deep into the bleak futility of life. Considering Marvel Studios' track record when it comes to adapting ambitious properties, Howard the Duck could present the opportunity to enter the realm of multilayered satires. The MCU's Howard the Duck series could be a more literal version of Alejandro Iñárritu's Birdman, with a jaded Howard failing to live up to the superhero archetype.
The wide variety of themes that Howard the Duck encompasses don't lock the feathered hero into a single genre, as his comic book appearances have demonstrated throughout the years. Howard began as a supporting character in the horror-inspired Man-Thing comics before teaming up with characters like Spider-Man and Squirrel Girl for more lighthearted adventures. Howard's solo appearances are often more serious, while his MCU cameos have been comedic. An ideal Howard the Duck show would mix the MCU's signature superhero spectacle with Howard's irreverent comedy and existentialist drama plus a tinge of sci-fi and a bit of murder mystery. Howard could even play into the craziness of the MCU's Multiverse and become the spokesperson for Duckworld.
As with Loki, who debuted as the tragic antagonist of the Shakespearean action-adventure Thor, followed by his supervillain role in The Avengers before becoming the anti-hero protagonist of the mind-blowing sci-fi Disney+ series Loki, or like Wanda Maximoff, who went from a creepy sorceress in Avengers: Age of Ultron to the sitcom star of WandaVision and ultimately the ominous Scarlet Witch, Howard the Duck could have many different facets. Some of Marvel's most unique comic book characters coexist in the MCU's Phase 4. A CGI duck with a suit and tie can be hilarious, but he can also be taken seriously.
Concepts like Alligator Loki and a hilariously drunk "magician" Vision would have been unfathomable during the earlier phases of the MCU. Now that the foundations for those kinds of stories are there, Marvel's wildest characters and concepts hold immense potential for unique and innovative titles. Additionally, Marvel's immersion into the long-form storytelling of Disney+ shows allows for fresh ways to adapt comic book storylines. Howard wouldn't seem out of place in Loki's Void alongside Throg and the Thanos-Copter. Why not his own show? And if a live-action Howard the Duck doesn't fit the MCU's current plans, he could always star in a series with the same animation style as What If...? (where Seth Green is confirmed to be reprising his MCU role as Howard the Duck) or the style of Hulu's MODOK - a show that provides a similarly cynical point of view at the Marvel universe.
Although Howard is more independent than most other Marvel characters, he could be connected to several already-established MCU figures. If the rumors of Rocket Raccoon dying in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 are true, Howard would be Rocket's ideal successor — and not only because he is an anthropomorphic space outlaw with anger issues. Rocket's MCU arc is based on his insecurities as the result of a twisted experiment, which left him feeling like he doesn't fit anywhere. Yet, Rocket Raccoon finds his purpose as a hero and likely finds closure when he faces his tragic origin. Similarly, Howard could be lost in a quest for meaning in a universe that doesn't understand him, but he could expand his worldview when a bigger purpose calls for him. A Howard the Duck series isn't the next obvious step for the MCU, but now is the perfect time for the nihilist bird to get his redemption more than three decades after starring in Marvel's first-ever theatrical feature-length movie.
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