New Howard the Duck

[Jack Napier]

Are there any Howard fans out there?

I thought the new series has started out great! In many ways much like the old stuff. It's super that Steve Gerber has decided to start writing Howard stories again.

If there are people out there who are interested pick up The essential Howard the Duck collection that Marvel will be releasing soon. It's very ahead of it's time especially for Marvel.

Jack Napier

[Calhoun07]

What will be included in the Essential Howard the Duck? I missed out on the comic book series (it was a tad before my time, I'm afraid) but I did pick up several issues of the magazine from ebay recently. The comic stories I read were quite great, but I didn't care too much for that movie, tho.

[Jack Napier]

I'm not exactly sure what it has but I believe it will probably re print the first appearances of Howard from the comic Man Thing. Also the movie is absolute garbage compared to the comic...

Jack Napier

[Joe Tully]

I stole this from marvel.com regarding the 528 page Essential


Steve Gerber is at his madcap best, pushing the envelope of satire with the cigar-smoking fowl named Howard! Reprints HOWARD THE DUCK #1- #27, MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #12, and GIANT-SIZE MAN-THING #4 and #5.

No Giant-Size Man-Thing jokes, please.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Just a warning to those who don't know, Marvel's "Essentials" books are in black and white, and on rather cheap paper.

That said, I love the Essentials line.

[Jack Napier]

Giant sized man thing...

I don't get it...


What?

Jack Napier

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Leaping Larry Jojo
Just a warning to those who don't know, Marvel's "Essentials" books are in black and white, and on rather cheap paper.

That said, I love the Essentials line.

And they can't afford to put color in these books for what reason?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Essentials are meant to be a cheap alternative to their Masterworks, which reprint old titles in colour and hardcover, but they cost around $40. Essentials are about $12-$15 U.S., and with 528 pages, they are a good deal if you want to read a lot of content.

[Samhaine]

Originally posted by Calhoun07


And they can't afford to put color in these books for what reason?
The Essentials are made to get the material out there, cheap. And really, price-wise, it's the only way we're gonna get a deal out of Marvel. Generally, their TPBs, like the one for "E is for Extinction", which collects 4 issues, is about $15. 4 issues! The four alone cost less than $10. So, in essence, the Essentials are good reading copies.

[Joe Tully]

I've got to agree with you guys. I love the Essentials line. The idea behind it isn't that Marvel can't afford color---it's that you wouldn't be able to. You're getting 528 pages for $15...it's hard to find a deal better than that.

[Dub]

Having never had the chance to pick up Howard The Duck before in any kind of variation, I have to say that this was one of the funniest comics I've read in ages :D

I LOVED IT ^^ (of course...that may be because I have a thing for talking ducks...)

But otherwise, I will most definetaly be picking up the essentials and even a Masterworks if they decide to make one ^____^

I always wondered why something titled "Essentials" was printed on such flimsy paper and no color, but I guess that explanation makes sense now that you think of it.

[CadaverousEyes]

What's wrong with black and white anyway? I prefer it.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by CadaverousEyes
What's wrong with black and white anyway? I prefer it.

I guess it depends. I have the Howard the Duck magazines which are just fine in black and white, but I have a couple Fantastic Four essentials books and I have to say I think that Jack Kirby's artwork needs color. I think for me it's just I would like to see the comics as they originally appeared, with the same colors and all.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

It depends. The Essentials are where you can appreciate who were really good inkers during that time. Kirby's stuff looked really crappy in black and white when inked by Vince Colletta, but Joe Sinnott made his art look superb in black and white. It's a matter of knowing light sourcing, and here you can see who was able to use chiaroscuro techniques to its fullest effect.

For people who want to learn inking techniques, the Essentials are surprisingly good inking guidebooks...showing both good inkers and bad inkers.

I can't stress how underrated the inker is in the art process. An inker can make a poor artist better and a good artist mediocre.