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While the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become the biggest cinematic franchise of all time, its first-ever movie from 39 years ago is a bizarre film that is often overlooked. Howard the Duck, released in 1986, is a live-action movie produced by Lucasfilm and is Marvel’s first-ever feature film.
The movie stars Howard the Duck, a character from Marvel Comics who is an anthropomorphic duck navigating a human world. Despite being a hit among comic book fans in the late 1970s, the character’s popularity had declined by the time the movie was made. The film departed from the source material, portraying Howard as a more amenable character and focusing on the absurdity of the duck’s adventures on Earth.
Despite its bizarre premise, Howard the Duck has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than some recent MCU movies, including Madame Web with 13% and 11%, respectively. However, the movie was critically lambasted and earned four Razzies and seven nominations.
The existence of Howard the Duck is all the more bewildering considering the success of the MCU today. The franchise has started to push the boundaries of its concepts, using the multiverse to venture into weird and wonderful territory like Werewolf by Night and Marvel Zombies. However, this confidence is built on the back of the success of the MCU’s back catalog.
Howard the Duck has recently returned in a more comic-accurate capacity in the MCU, voiced by Seth Green. The character has appeared in Avengers: Endgame and What If…?, but it is unlikely that he will contribute to the MCU in a more meaningful capacity.
The movie’s failure is a reminder that even the most beloved franchises have a rough start. However, Howard the Duck remains a fascinating footnote in the history of the MCU, a reminder of the risks and challenges that come with adapting comic book characters for the big screen.
