Comic Book Review – Howard the Duck #1

Howard the Duck #1

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Joe Quinones
Color Artist: Rico Renzi

After appearing in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel thought it would be a good idea to give this feathered fella his own ongoing series. It may seem laughable at first, but wait until you read this damn issue. This was easily one of my favorite comics so far this year, up there with Ant-Man #1 and last week’s All-New Hawkeye #1.

This issue sees Howard struggling as a down on his luck private investigator. That is until being released from jail, where Howard meets a girl named Tara and his luck takes a turn for the better. It is a wild and fun ride from start to finish. There are some really great jokes littered throughout, and a handful of guests from the Marvel Universe.

There is a scene with Spider-Man that had me laughing out loud. The characters we know like She-Hulk and Spider-Man are written spot on. I loved the training montage. My favorite thing about this issue is how well Zdarsky balances the humor with the seriousness, so you end up rooting for this duck. The plot of this issue flows naturally and I like the pacing. I like the threads introduced and think this series is going to be a lot of fun.

I love Joe Quinones artistic style; it is a great fit for this book. Art-wise, the only thing I found strange is that Felicia is in her old Black Cat costume. Maybe it’s laundry day? Her new costume as seen in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man and Hawkeye vs. Deadpool has really begun to grow on me. Either way, the art looks good on every page. The line work is great and the colors are very appealing and do not overpower the art. The end result is one good looking book.

Rating: 7 (Out of 7)