A lot of things had to go just right in order for this to work as well as it needed to, but the pieces have all fallen into place and this is a very, very effective introduction to a character who, statistically speaking, barely anyone likely remembers from anything more than a one-off cameo. Whether youve been down with the Duck for years, or had to lean over to ask your friend why they were laughing so hard at the end of Guardians, this issue is a fantastic introduction to one of Marvels most painfully put-upon characters and a great sign of things to come. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck #1 might be the best superhero book on the stands this week and that's nothing to quack at. It's not concerned with crossovers or big events but even if it was, the creative team has created a unique lens to see those events through. Howard's a very lovable curmudgeon that is sure to worm his way into the hearts of even the most hardened Marvel fan and it's his view of the Marvel Universe that really informs the book. Combined with Quinones' art and Zdarsky playful riffs on fan favorite characters (his work with Spidey is particularly funny), Howard the Duck stands to be a breakout hit. Read Full Review

The original Howard the Duck lampooned comics sure but it mostly used satire to poke fun at society. This current run is funny and dripping in sarcasm but most of its lampooning is aimed directly at Marvel itself. Not so much comics as a 'thing' or the foibles of society. The MAX series was aimed directly at 'grim n gritty' and Vertigo, the original series took a lot of shots at the horror and sword n sorcery magazines of that era. I think if Marvel continues to go down this route this book might be able to provide a release valve from the occasional ridiculousness of the Marvel Universe while maybe taking shots at its competitor's weirdness as well. Really good first issue despite a few panels of nonsense or cringe inducing exposition. I'm looking really looking forward to the future. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck is back! And he's better than ever. Having warmed the hearts of fans new and old in the Guardians of the Galaxy post credit scene, this talking duck proves why he's an entertaining character, with the events of this tale being sensational. The wonderful cameos, and hilarious plot will also leave fans returning for more, with this series being a must have. Read Full Review

A fantastic first issue and worthy successor to guest star She-Hulks own late lamented book for its sly sense of humor and sharp bite, Howard the Duck #1 is off to a rip-roaring start with both Zdarsky and Quinones giving us their all. Cant wait to see what pervy jokes and off kilter reckonings they have in store for us next month. Read Full Review

Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones make a great team. Not only have they successfully revived a walking punch line but they've done so in hilarious style, their debut as entertaining as it is self assured. Time will tell how well the book's rampant absurdity will hold up, but as far as new debuts go, it's tough to find one more fun than this. Read Full Review

The cartoony art is a great fit to the series too. It adds a layer to the already wonderful story, and Howard the Duck really comes to life in this day and age. This really is one of the best new comic series I've read in the longest time, and I'm glad Marvel can give a looney character like Howard an opportunity to shine. Read Full Review

This is not just a must-buy but, I predict, a must-follow. No super powers. No super friends. But this Duck definitely has potential. Read Full Review

Whether you know Howard the Duck from any of his prior series or from the "worst movie ever made," I believe Zdarsky's tale of this offbeat character is off to a promising start. I'm glad Marvel decided to dust off this B-list character for his own series again and give him an A-list creative team to make it happen. They've offered up a story that is fresh and original and, I suspect, is only the tip of the iceberg for what they have planned. Howard the Duck may be grudgingly "trapped in a world he never made," but this issue is so much fun that I look forward to being trapped in the world that Zdarsky and Quinones are creating. Read Full Review

A hysterical issue that feels like nothing else at Marvel right now Read Full Review

Honestly, I haven't had as good a laugh from a comic book in quite a while, and for that alone I would recommend Howard the Duck. However, I recommend it with the caution that if you're not a big Marvel fan, and you're really only familiar with the character through his film appearance(s), you might not get the joke. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck's unlikely comeback is already one of the success stories of 2015. Read Full Review

I'm not completely sold on the series yet - the first issue is all about setting up the framework, so we'll see how it goes from here - but that final page (and the teaser for next issue) certainly are enough to bring me back for more. Read Full Review

Finally, Zdarsky and Quinones poetically, ironically and comically bring the events of this issue full circle before wrapping up this impressive debut. As a character, Howard the Duck has seen a lot of misfires over the past few decades, but this "Howard the Duck" comic is not one of them. Read Full Review

I went into this book expecting little and got a lot. The story was captivating, the characters memorable, and the art stunning. I can't wait to see where this comic goes, and I hope it goes far. Howard the Duck may not have had the most impressive past (I'm still trying to forget that movie ever happened) but I believe this is the start of a new chapter. Howard the Duck #1 is an enjoyable read that I'd recommend to anyone. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck #1 is a pretty solid start for this new series. It's a good introduction to the character, the writing is pretty solid, the comedy works, and the artwork looks great. This might be one of the better non-flagship titles that Marvel has made in a long while, so keep your eye on this one. Read Full Review

This is a laugh out loud funny comic book, and gives you yet another layer (mainly of jokes) on each re-reading. Full of familiar faces and interesting new characters, this is the start of an enjoyable ride. WAUGH! Read Full Review

Zdarsky's script is chock-full of jokes and visual humor, and whilst not every joke lands (a training montage sequence feels especially derivative), Howard the Duck #1 is still a hugely enjoyable first issue. Read Full Review

This is a weird review for me to write. It's a good comic overall and a bonus for being a genuinely funny comic. Chip Zdarsky at times seemed to be adjusting to a tone of either being funny or serious and having trouble with that balance. By the end of the issue I felt as though he started to get a handle on it. Howard the Duck is going to be a rough sell in the long haul but I feel as though this series could have legs. I'm sticking with it for awhile as I did enjoy the issue for the most part despite tonal issues here and there. The potential is great with this one and it is some of the best Howard the Duck material I have seen in a long time. I wish this creative team luck and if they can grow from this issue, I think we'll have a winner here. Read Full Review

A solid issue of character-building, capped off with a pretty stunning cliffhanger… Good stuff! Read Full Review

Howard the Duck will probably surprise you with how good it is. Chip Zdarsky turned in a really funny script that will make you cackle and smile at least a few times. The art by Joe Quinones and Rico Renzi fits the story telling well and really makes you nostalgic. Overall this was a good read and more importantly, it was fun. Read Full Review

Howard The Duck is a strange idea. However, the book is a good read that provides a nice introduction to the character, the plot and other characters for Howard to bounce off of throughout the book. This comic book looks to be a book to keep your eye on. It might very well become a hit. I recommend checking this out. Read Full Review

Artist Joe Quinones gives Howard the grumpiest face ever drawn. Its a constant expression that brings levity to every scene. Howard the Duck #1 is an even mix of modern visual storytelling with a silver-age feel. Spider-man in particular looks rippedstraight out of the old cartoons. Rico Renzi uses a very bright colours reminiscent of Munsta Vicentes work on She-Hulk. The style is fun, but its not very dynamic or exaggerated, which is a missed opportunity for a comedy book. Read Full Review

Maybethat was unavoidable. The days when Howard was a constantliability for Marvel are long, long gone, especially now that Disney " the company that once tried to sue Marvel over copyright infringement " ironically owns the duck they once successfully censored. (That's whyHoward's adorabletail is hidden beneathrumpled slacks.)The bite hasbeen taken out ofthe duck, but fortunately his snark remains. And though he'sasmuch the sourpuss as he was in the glory days, Howard'sbecome the mascot Steve Gerber never intendedhim to be. Sadly, he's trapped in a worldthat no longer cares. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck and Tara are on the case and while Heroes for Hire they aren't, they will still charm the socks right off of you and will probably end up stealing them because, you know, people need socks. Howard the Duck #1 might have sounded like a flop in the making a year ago, yet under the smartass pen of Chip Zdarsky and the always fun Joe Quinones and Rico Renzi, this debut issue hits all the right notes and the right time. After the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, all sorts of weirdoes and reprobates waugh'ed for a new Howard movie. While that seems less and less likely, we have the best possible alternative in the form of Howard the Duck #1. Howard may have had his fleeting time in the limelight of the silver screen, but it's only when he's in the funny pages that this long-suffering mallard feels truly at home. Read Full Review

And for what it's worth, “Howard the Duck” #1 does have a lot of that unique darkish humor. And, occasional quirky randomness aside, Zdarsky does a solid job of introducing everything we need to know about Howard with the same type off-color humor you'd expect from a guy who looks amazing in a Garfield costume. But, for my money, this book could not exist without Joe Quinones. Not only does he have the smart sense of layout, design, and movement that make for a compelling book but he is straight crushing it on the humor. He takes his time with a lot of the non-verbal humor and, in each panel, seems to find a new way for Howard to look absolutely flustered and fed up. Read Full Review

Howard the Duck #1 hops all over the place in its plot, humor, and characterization, but it's fun ride and different from most Marvel books not named Deadpool. Read Full Review

The most impressive thing about Howard The Duck is that it feels like a creator-driven project. There's no getting around the fact that Howard's appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy is why we're getting this book, so it could've easily been a heartless cash grab. Thankfully, Zdarsky's style manages to strain just enough against Marvel's committee to turn in a comic that brims with creativity and passion. Between that and the supreme detail and effort put in by Quinones and Renzi Howard, The Duck is a great first issue and triumphant return for Marvel's strangest character. Read Full Review

Overall, the first issue isn't quite what I expected. It's not a bad first issue, but also didn't quite blow me away either, and seems to really take a left turn towards the end. We'll see where the series goes, and I'm willing to give it at least the first trade to see how it pans out. While it's an entertaining throwaway read, it's also not quite the superstar debut of the next big thing. Read Full Review

If you’re looking for a good laugh, look no further. Whether you like ducks or not, Howard the Duck will bring you all the laughs you’ve been looking for, but could never find. Read Full Review

That's not to say this is a bad comic, it just doesn't really stand out in the pack of similar comics. For one thing, Zdarsky doesn't actually play much with the fact that Howard is a walking, talking duck. He makes some duck jokes, and has Howard point it out to people, but everybody treats him like just a regular guy. Everybody already knows and is familiar with Howard the Duck in the Marvel Universe. He's not weird, he's just a guy in the MU. That treatment kind of robs the series of its one defining weird trait. Even the tattoo girl, Tara, is totally 100% fine that she's making friends with a little duck man. This is a weird waste of Howard's potential. Read Full Review

The art is a real selling point, but the story feels off. It seems like there are so many opportunities for different "takes", whether that's something satirical, something noir, a slice-of-life, a mystery, he's on his own but he's in the midst of superheroic Manhattan " but nothing quite gels. There's indeed a lot of humor here, but the sarcasm is too much, the duck jokes are too often, and a few real bombs. Overall, it's not quite gripping because I'm not sure what to hold on to. Read Full Review

Both in art and tone, this is by far the closest thing that fans of the gone-too-soon Superior Foes of Spider-man will have as a spiritual successor to that series. If the first issue is any indication, Zdarsky and Quinones' Howard the Duck will be a fun and well-paced departure from the super-powered antics of the rest of the Marvel universe. Read Full Review

Unexpectedly very good. Excellent first issue.

I liked this comic way more than I thought I would. It's one of the funniest comics I've read in awhile and it reads like an 80's sitcom episode, remember Alf? I can only imagine the next issue where you pair Rocket with Howard. It's gonna be fun.

That's a pretty good beginning for the series. I read this book for sooo many times and it's still good. Yeah, it's full of fan-service, but cut Chip some slack - he definitely just tried to demarginalize Howard and make his solo series interesting for all readers. It's a 100% success - super funny and entertaining. It'll be only better in the future issues. Chip understood Howard as a character and gathered a very solid selection of side characters for him to work even better.

Wow, this was way better than I think anyone was expecting. It's extremely funny and even though it relies too heavily on other Marvel entities, the stuff with Spider-Man is pure gold! The art fits the book nicely too.

An impulse buy. Not bad at all.

It's good, but focuses too much on the trendiest characters of the Marvel Universe, instead of trying to build a unique story. Also, I dislike how much this borrows from Guardians of the Galaxy the movie.

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• eVanDiesel

Ultimate Goblin - May 19, 2023

The previous attempts of writers to create unique stories for Howard were... very arguable. I think this character really works only when he's constantly connected with "normal" Marvel characters, it creates a funny chemistry for them and adds a variety of moments for jokes. Comedian comics work for Howard much better, than the serious and edgy ones.

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Culture heavy references, one hit and done punchlines, along with cheap tricks are good for a fun entertainment romp. However at the end of the day there is not much here you could easily get from a Deadpool book. This issue makes it appear that Howard's very existence is only worth how many other Marvel stars he can interact with, because he cannot carry the story in an interesting fashion on his own.
His "companion" holds more charisma than he ever could. Perhaps that is on purpose. I might check this series out if I get to read a frien copy or once it shows up on Marvel Unlimited, but the well rendered art alone is just not worth the price tag.
Apparently, not only does a water roll off a duck's back but deeper meaning and themes do as well. more