Howard The Duck #1 - Marvel Comics

HOWARD THE DUCK No. 1, January 1976

Undoubtedly one of the most controversial comic book titles of the Mid-Seventies, this “fabulous First Issue of Marvel’s most sensational new super-star” supposedly caused quite a stir upon its publication in September 1975, not least because Ed Shukin “didn’t have much faith in the new series” and therefore only ordered a print run of 275,000 copies; “Marvel’s minimum at the time for a standard-size colour newsprint comic.” As a result Howard’s sword and sorcery stand “side-by-side with the Amazing Spider-Man”, swiftly sold out, causing the circulation director to acknowledge he had “underestimated that duck” and the 25¢ cover priced nineteen-page periodical to be ‘marked-up’ 5,000 percent amongst back-issue dealers to a staggering $12.50 by 1977.

Fortunately however, “Howard the Barbarian” is a superb example of Steve Gerber’s zany writing at its very best, and features a plot packed full of action, satire, as well as fantasy adventure, with the three-foot tall anthropomorphic duck even breaking the fourth wall by turning to the reader in one panel, cigar in bill, and saying “I realize this is strange, folks… But what the heck?” Little wonder perhaps that “comic-book collectible dealers reportedly snapped up every copy they could find through newsstand vendors and distributors” in order “to hoard the books and then sell them at vastly inflated prices.”

Admittedly the audience’s introduction to the cynical fowl is a rather depressing one, with the title’s opening panel, a stunning splash illustration by co-plotter Frank Brunner, depicting Howard disconcertingly contemplating suicide on the bank of the Cuyahoga River. Yet this gloomy start is arguably typical of the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Famer's writing, and events soon ‘pick up’ as the “funny animal” explores a “nutty tower”, discovers a scantily-clad Beverly Switzler and battles a ferociously-fanged hound with a “ceremonial axe” he can’t even lift. Indeed, the Missouri-born author’s script becomes increasingly amusing as it unfolds and ultimately concludes with a genuinely tongue-in-cheek solution by portraying the duck outwitting sorcerers, warriors, living stone statues and giant flying lizards not by sword and might, but with a simple flick of his stogie…

This comic also enjoys some excellent artwork by Frank Brunner, who is responsible for both its drawing and colouring, as well as Steve Leialoha’s great inking. There’s a real Robert E. Howard sword-and-sorcery pulp fiction feel to the artwork, especially with Switzler’s Hyborian maiden costume and Howard’s resplendent horned barbarian helmet. Certainly it should come as no surprise that these days the American illustrator is perhaps better known for having illustrated many of the covers for the 1974-1995 black and white magazine series “The Savage Sword of Conan”.

Writer: Steve Gerber, Illustrations: Frank Brunner and Inker: Steve Leialoha