Deadpool The Duck #1 Review: A Simple Body-Meld Or Something More?

Typically, the Deadpool miniseries are decent, but almost all of them have one minor flaw: it takes a bit of time for the plot to get underway. This isn't necessarily an issue when you're reading a trade collection, but for the individual issues, it does make the story seem slow, initially. This is still true for this particular issue, but that doesn't make it bad. It just leaves you wanting more.

So far, the plot seems to be fairly simple: Deadpool is looking for some kind of alien menace and his newfound 'spirit animal,' Wolverine, is advising him on house decorating matters in a temporary facility. It's weird, but it's a Deadpool product, so I've learned to expect that.

Meanwhile, Howard is feeling depressed due to some recent calamities in the world and trying to snap himself out of it. He's trying to get away from all the chaos and find a quiet location. Just some peaceful contemplation and relaxation, basically.

Rocket Raccoon interrupts Howard's melancholy state, saying that something has been done to him. Before he can elaborate further, he goes feral and starts repeating 'space rabies.' They accidentally collide with Deadpool's potential new residence, and a mistake with the Merc With The Mouth's old teleporter mashes up Howard and Deadpool.

It almost strikes me that the concept could be a reflection of the manic-depressive state, or bipolar disorder. Deadpool would represent the manic side, full of excitement, recklessness, and most definitely a hallucination or two. The Wolverine 'spirit animal' definitely proves that. Howard would represent the other side of the coin, the depressive state. As noted earlier, he is definitely in the onset of a depression slump and taking steps to alleviate the affects. The literal combination of the two could be a depiction of it, but it's also possible that I am reading too much into it.

Despite the slow start, it is a good story. I appreciate the way that it sets up Deadpool and Howard's current emotional states. I'm not sure precisely what will happen with 'Deadpool The Duck' in the rest of the miniseries, but if I'm being perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind a whole series just of Deadpool as a duck going on various adventures. The art is also great, providing a clean, clear cut feel to the story.

Deadpool The Duck #1 is written by Stuart Moore and drawn and colored by Jacopo Camagni and Israel Silva. You can find it at your local comic book shop.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or Harry Potter books.

Comics That Didn't Suck 2016

And we're back with things that didn't suck in 2016! Yesterday we gave you a few smatterings of good news from the year, but today we're giving a doozy of a list! Check out Critical Writ's Comics That Didn't Suck in 2016 below!

• In a world of madness, a talking duck is (seemingly) the only one advocating for sanity, albeit delivered grumpily. No, (INSERT POLITICIAN HERE) isn’t an Animagus, I’m talking about Howard The Duck! Throughout 2016, Chip Zdarsky provided a breath of fresh air to anyone who was tired of massive events, overpowering darkness, or typical superhero stories. (Zachary) 


• Although it was released long before the initial teasers for DC Rebirth started popping up, I still feel that Poison Ivy: Cycle Of Life And Death holds up as a wonderful miniseries focused on the premiere plant-based antagonist in the DC universe. (Sorry, Floronic Man.) Specifically, it reminded me of the excellent Gotham City Sirens, which was ironically cancelled for the New 52. It has some great character moments with Poison Ivy and Catwoman, especially with Pamela’s relationship with her Sporelings. Additionally, a background photo shows Harley in her classic jester outfit, so I’m considering it the lost finale arc to Gotham City Sirens. Definitely check it out for a bounty of flowers and a suspenseful mystery! (Zachary) 


• The intersectional feminist historical AU you didn’t know you needed—issue after issue, DC Bombshells continues to impress. The plot gives a lot of room for its leading ladies to find their place in WWII and assert their agency. Rather than affirming the usual “straight until proven otherwise” standard, we're made to expect every main character falls into the LGBTQ spectrum, from the usual suspects (Batwoman, Harley, Ivy, Alysia Yeoh) to the surprises (Big Barda, Dr. Light, Mera) and a canonically bi Wonder Woman before her sexuality was declared canon across the multiverse. It’s a story of badass ladies, solidarity and hope—something we all desperately need. (Stephanie) 


• It feels like I’ll never write that Nighthawk review and will instead keep writing new mini-reviews. Regardless, it’s still the most important comic Marvel published this year, tackling systemic (and regular) racism, with a Batman-like vigilante at the center of it all. Its cancellation after a single story-arc remains an unspoken tragedy, but at least David F. Walker will get to continue Kyle Richmond’s story in Occupy Avengers, a similarly socially-conscious comic. (Dominik) 


• This year, DC’s Rebirth is rightfully getting praise for fixing many of the issues of the widely-loathed 2011 reboot. But the most interesting thing the publisher did in 2016 was launching a mini-imprint helmed by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. Kicked off by Way and Nick Derrington’s Doom Patrol, Young Animal is a small, surreal niche for weird and exciting titles, bringing back DC’s weirdest and most obscure characters. It even started their own ones with Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards’s Mother Panic. The bleak and depressing final quarter of the year was immeasurably lighter due to the existence of Shade, the Changing Girl and Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye. The best part of the imprint is that it sometimes feels like anything can happen in its titles—and that it will be wondrous, insane and fun. (Dominik) 


• Harper Row actually said she was bi in Detective Comics #945. I know that we’ve had bigger heroes with better brand recognition get confirmed queer this year, but for certain personal reasons the little blue-haired electrician who idolizes Batman is very dear to me. Also unlike a lot of DC’s bisexual lady leads, she actually said she was bi in the pages of the comic rather than being declared bi by an author in an interview. (Miz Opifex)


• Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston’s Black Hammer is one of the best comics Dark Horse published this. While in many ways it’s a superhero story, it takes a group of Golden Age inspired characters (for instance: a female Captain Marvel stand-in and a gay Martian Manhunter) and puts them into a setting similar to Twin Peaks. All that filtered through Lemire’s somber and melancholic writing, and depicted in Ormston’s style, for a result quite unlike any modern superhero story. (Dominik) 


• The financial operations of Wall Street always seem occult in nature, as if people working there conduct their own black magic rituals to shape the world to their will. Jonathan Hickman’s newest creator-owned title, The Black Monday Murders, makes that concept real and, through the author’s usual deft world-building, crafts an alternate universe of mysteries and dark magic, where corporations succeed thanks to ominous rites and elaborate deals with devils. We explore this world—which is presented like a noir film by Tomm Coker—through the eyes of a black male police detective and the prodigal lesbian daughter of one of the families controlling the world from the shadows. (Dominik) 


• Traditionally, Western fantasy settings take Celtic-German influences to craft a Tolkien-inspired world. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda took a more creative route, by creating a setting inspired heavily by Eastern stories—and mixing a little cosmic horror for good measure. In Monstress, Maika Halfwolf’s search for her mother’s mysteries is an exciting, fantastically written story with a compelling, driven and imperfect protagonist. It’s also a tale of prejudice and how xenophobia and religious fanaticism can break the world. All that is drawn in Sana Takeda’s detailed, amazing style. (Dominik) 


• While Brandon Graham’s 8house initiative didn’t pan out, a few good comics did come out of it. One of them is Mirror, an ongoing series written by the talented artist Emma Rios and similarly skilled Hwei Lim. It’s a beautiful fable, telling a science-fantasy story of humans and uplifted animals. It’s a delightful tale, gorgeously rendered with Hwei Lim’s masterful art. (Dominik) 


• Simon Spurrier is one of the industry’s rarely spoken-about, extremely talented individuals. In 2016 he finished his amazing The Spire and wrote Weavers, a Boom! miniseries mixing a mob story with cosmic horror. But by far my favorite of his new series was Cry Havoc, which told the story of a lesbian werewolf (...sort of) going to Afghanistan as part of a special, occult task force. It’s probably the most creative and intelligent urban fantasy published by Image, mixing real world politics with insanely diverse bestiary of mythical creatures this genre has ever seen. (Dominik) 


• Marguerite Bennett has had a good year. While Angela: Queen of Hel met an untimely end, she got to continue the ever delightful DC Comics Bombshells, write classic characters like Red Sonja and Josie & the Pussycats. But most importantly, she continued writing creator-owned stories at Aftershock, with InSeXts and newly started Animosity, drawn respectively by Ariela Kristantina and Rafael de Latorre. Both series—the first tells the story of shape-changing lesbian lovers in Victorian London, while the other is a post-apocalyptic tale of uplifted animals—are a masterful mix of righteous anger at injustices both past and current with her signature sense of humour. Both are definite standouts of Aftershock’s catalogue and a must-read for fans of socially-conscious and fun comics. (Dominik) 

Did we miss any? Probably lots! Let us know what your favorite comics of 2016 were, in the comments below! 

Howard The Duck #11 Review: Why Howard Fits The Bill

With Howard The Duck #11, Chip and Joe have finally unleashed the culmination of over a year’s worth of careful scripting, planning, and making Spider-Man cry like a baby. It’s emotional, wonderful, and typically hilarious. Not only does it have a satisfying conclusion for Howard’s latest emotional and physical journey and a tease of potential tales to come, but it has some great character moments. Here’s a roundup of my favorite moments, not counting Tara’s multiple costume shifts, including parodies of comics from other companies and her Fantastic Four suit, and Howard calling for the Avengers to assemble.

In a moment made of enough awesomeness to rival Bruce Banner turning into the incredible Hulk, Tara-Former makes her glorious return!

Cosplayers, you have your new assignment. Recreate this scene in any medium of your choosing and send pictures to me.

Not to ruin the moment of the intrinsic coolness of the All-New-Squared Wolverine, but I do have to question why Howard would be in Hell along with Chipp and Jho. I know he's a jerk, but is he really that bad of a guy?

Is it too late to work that into the final issue of Tom King's Vision comic? Aranwe, you're with me on this, right?

And so, Image Comics was born. Wait, what?

Ever since the character’s creation in 1973, Howard the Duck has been used as a mouthpiece for some semblance of normality in a world populated with monsters, super-powered beings, and villains bent on conquering the world. As such, it makes sense that the one seemingly normal being would be an anthropomorphic duck with anger issues from a dimension where animals were the dominant species, not hairless talking apes.

His function has always been to act as an angry voice of reason, pointing out all the hypocrisy and bizarre actions not only in the Marvel world, but also in our world. In a comic book store full of superheroes having adventures and dealing with their personal problems, Howard The Duck revolved around subverting all of that in favor of wacky adventures, occasionally delving into fourth-wall breaking. From a certain point of view, Howard was Deadpool before Deadpool existed, a fact that has not been lost in a recent Deadpool issue.

Coincidentally, that story also had some weighty themes about fictional characters, existentialism, and poop jokes.

In fact, in a defining moment of the original series, Howard refused to have a stereotypical comic book fight scene, leading the comic itself to force him to have one while he gives a lecture on philosophy. Not many people know that Steve Gerber actually made a pretty intelligent comic disguised as a Disney satire.

A more recent one-shot, Spider-Man: Back In Quack, also has an excellent example of how Howard subverts the status quo. Howard and Beverly become brainwashed by S.O.O.P.H.I., an evil organization that wants to use them for a marketing scheme. The organization actually appeared in the original run as S.O.O.F.I., group that wanted to rub out anything remotely controversial “for the children.” We’re talking actual censorship, not what people complain about in Internet comment sections.

They were shortly revealed to be murderous terrorists, outright bombing a rock concert for corrupting teens.

This new version plans on marketing an allegedly hip and modern version of Howard to the public, one who has traded smoking and grumping for rapping and dancing. Same stupid mask, different agenda. After a motivational speech from Spider-Man, Howard and Beverly break free from the effects of the brainwashing.

Seen here, an exclusive image from Disney's DuckTales reboot. Woo-hoo?

It’s interesting to note that Howard actually has a fairly long connection with Spider-Man. He guest-starred in the first issue of the ongoing series, co-starred in several issues and specials to follow, and is a recurring character for the majority of Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones’s work. In fact, even when he’s not there, Aunt May is typically appearing in the comic, working as Howard’s assistant.

Essentially, this final issue encapsulates everything that made the original series great. For what it’s worth, I think that Chip and Joe are some of the best comedy writers in the business. RIP, Howard, may you have a long and happy life off-panel before Marvel brings you back. Fear not, readers, my Howard The Duck-related reviews will be back in January with the next Deadpool miniseries, Deadpool The Duck. Until then, face front, make mine Marvel, and let’s end with a hearty WAUGH!

Howard The Duck #11 can be found at your local comic book shop.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or Harry Potter books.

Howard The Duck #10 Review: Chipp And Jho's Excellent Adventure

In the final page of the prior issue, alien parodies of Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones, the respective writer and artist for the series, were revealed to be orchestrating the entire events of Howard’s life. The A-plot for this issue expands on that revelation: Chipp and Jho are members of an alien race who alter the lives of every comic book character in the history of Marvel.

Oh, I've read that comic! It's where the Skrulls disguise themselves as the Badoon and the heroes trade places with the villains. Meanwhile, the Badoon act as Earth's heroes while the villains play chess and I've gone cross-eyed.

Sounds familiar? It’s a clever spin on the concept of having comic book characters meet their creators, especially with the alien race being portrayed as the quintessential comic book company. It allows for clever satire of some current Marvel events and the recent trends in comic books. Additionally, you might recognize a face or two in the Sparkitect building. I won’t ruin who, because it’s really funny, you might be able to guess if you think back on Chip’s frequent collaborations. 

The issue comes to a climax with Mojo, Howard, Tara, Chipp, and Jho all battling it out on Earth. Mojo wants revenge against Chipp and Jho, while Chipp just wants to force Howard to keep having “exciting” and life-threatening adventures. Howard, for his part, wants out. He’s sick of being manipulated and used as a tool. As for Tara, she just wants to survive and Jho wants to hang out with Biggs.

Comic books, perfectly summed up.

It’s chaotic, fun, and pure Howard. I really thought that the satire in the series couldn’t get any better, but then they start outright mentioning people in the comic book business, albeit in a slightly altered fashion. I’m finding it difficult to come up with new ways of saying just how much I appreciate the comic in my reviews. It’s just so clever. Chipp and Jho come off as a disturbingly violent Rick And Morty-type duo, the guest stars are goofy, and the plot continues to be advanced. Nothing feels like filler and it’s all exciting. Please, pick it up. The final issue comes out next month and you’re not going to want to miss it.

Howard The Duck #10 is available at your local comic book store. It is written by Chip Zdarsky and drawn by Joe Quinones.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.

Howard The Duck #9: Questioning Reality On The Road To The Finale

The cover is marvelous, hinting at the comic’s conflict and eventual reveal with a simple shot of Howard stuck in an old-fashioned television. The attention to detail is incredible, ranging from the slightly bent antennae to the television’s shadow on the ground. At the bottom, we see the blurb for Lea Thompson’s cameo, big enough to be attention-grabbing, but not big enough to overshadow the the shadow (heh) cast by the TV.

With all the Civil Wars and Rebirths going on in comics, sometimes you just need a break. Howard The Duck #9 provides the perfect rest from crossover events with a hilariously meta adventure. It’s the ultimate combination of a classically goofy Howard adventure and a romp through the weirder parts of the Marvel universe. Chip Zdarsky also manages to tie the current story arc into essentially the entirety of his run with the character, making it simultaneously an enjoyable standalone story arc and an interesting finale for the series. I was happy to see a certain television-happy X-villain in the series, as I've always found him interesting.

As for Joe Quinones’s art, I continue to love it. It continues to give Howard The Duck the proper level of cartoonishness while giving Lea Thompson an appropriately realistic feel. Adding to it, the comic is just pleasant to read, with colorful creations dancing across the page. For example, Tara Tam, an underrated new character in the Marvel Universe, finally gets a superhero costume and it’s awesome.

Hey, Marvel, maybe Chip can write a "Great Lakes Fantastic Four" comic with Tara as the lead.

Don't throw stones, Howard. Remember "Iron Duck?"

I might be slightly biased because I miss the Fantastic Four, but you can’t deny that it still looks neat. The shifting colors create a kaleidoscope-esque image and go with her powers. Tara can shapeshift into various creations, including the pigment of her clothes, so why not make that a facet of her uniform? Speaking of colorful transformations, just look at this!

Transformers, more than meets the eye! Wait, would that be Taraformers? Terraformers? Hey, Chip, are you accepting fan submissions for Tara's superhero name?

Isn’t it wonderful? Finally, the lettering keeps the comic looking neat. Travis Lanham’s work efficiently makes sure that the appropriate amount of dialogue can be put in without coming off as too wordy or taking up too much space.

To conclude, Howard The Duck #10 is a visual and literary treat. I highly encourage picking it up as well as the remaining issues of the run. Who knows, maybe if the final copies are incredibly successful, Chip and Joe will end up working on more Howard projects. If not, then maybe James Gunn can work in another cameo appearance in the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.

Howard The Duck #8 Review

Presenting the greatly-anticipated return of Howard’s old companion, Beverly Switzler! (Great, now I want to read some fanfiction with Howard The Duck as Doctor Who. Internet, get on that.)

For those of you who have only read the newer adventures of everyone’s favorite waterfowl, he hasn’t always known Tara. Back in the early days, he hung out with Beverly Switzler, a dancer. They would go on adventures together, mostly due to dumb luck or some cosmic accident causing them to get into trouble. An old villain of Howard’s named Doctor Bong had a creepy crush on her and has tried to kidnap her on at least one occasion. For the most part, Beverly stopped being used in the eighties, despite being a regular character and appearing in the maligned film adaptation of the comic. To start off, just look at that gorgeous cover. Apart from being beautifully drawn and colored, it perfectly encapsulates Howard’s point of view. He’s in a strange world, one of a kind, and constantly looking to get back to his own dimension. There he is, sitting by a lighthouse, watching the skies, where you can see Beverly’s silhouette looking downward, obviously upset about something. As for the actual reunion, I found it to be a touching and heartfelt story. While it does feel too short, although that could be my own bias, it provides a plausible explanation for her absence and some character development. It’s even bookended by classic panels from the original Howard The Duck series, or at least new panels that were altered. I haven’t read Marvel Essentials: Howard The Duck in a long time. It even sets up a possible reason for her to return to the series. Now, the ending to this issue was revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. As such, I’m going to go over it here, but I warn you SPOILERS AHEAD!

Are you ready? Good.

Howard is secretly a member of A.I.M....

No, that’s not what happens.

Actually, not one, but two Beverly Switzlers return in this issue. Lea Thompson appears as herself, mysteriously in the Marvel Universe. She appeared as Beverly Switzel in the Howard The Duck theatrical film. Her appearance seems promising. I hope that the upcoming three-part story arc is as good as Chip Zdarsky promises. If it’s anything like this issue, it most certainly will be.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.

Howard The Duck #7 Review

To start off, I would just like to clarify that this is another standalone issue, presumably taking place before the current arc. The cliffhanger from issue five will be continued in the eighth issue. Now, on to the official plot.

In “Howard the Duck Volume Six, Issue Seven!” (No, really, that’s the official title), Howard, his human/Skrull shapeshifter pal Tara, Old Man Rogers, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and She-Hulk all end up in the Savage Land! Right off the bat, this makes me happy. Lately, I’ve been feeling like the Savage Land hasn’t been getting as much focus in the Marvel Universe. Instead, Weirdworld has been the new, well, weird land for Marvel heroes to explore. It just feels odd for Weirdworld to take its place, seeing as the actual comic’s plot revolves around the protagonist being trapped in Weirdworld and unable to escape. It makes seeing heroes traipsing in and out harder to understand.

Unfortunately, the guest stars aren’t enough to make up for a rather flimsy issue. The main conflict is resolved with a rather weak twist and the character interactions just felt disappointing. It is especially irritating because the main arc had a great balance between character interactions and genuinely interesting news. For example, the absolutely heartbreaking second issue of the post-Secret Wars reboot that featured clones of Howard and Rocket Raccoon.

While I do enjoy the wacky humor and satirical nature of Chip Zdarsky’s writing, I miss the genuine character moments. Believe it or not, it is possible to have those with Howard. After all, he’s an outsider in the Marvel Universe, just trying to live a normal life until he can get back to his home dimension. I am just feeling burned out with the breaks from the main storyline.

On the plus side, the issue features some great moments from Tara. She has shape-shifting powers from accidentally eating some food that was tainted with Skrull meat, leading to a lot of funny moments with her desperately wanting to be a hero. If you’re a completionist, I advise that you read this issue. If not, I feel fairly confident in saying that you can skip it until the next trade arrives at the library.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.

Howard The Duck #6 Review

Previously on...Animal House!

-The Deltas were placed on “double-secret probation” by the Dean!

Previously on...Animal House (the Marvel Comics storyline)!

-Howard the Duck tried to kidnap Nancy’s cat, mistaking it for a different cat.

-Squirrel Girl, being Nancy’s college roommate, stopped him and agreed to help him find the missing cat, Biggs.

-Kraven the Hunter returns, now in his Kra-Van, kidnapping Howard The Duck for his employer.

-His employer turns out to be Shannon Sugarbaker, who, despite her sweet (heh, puns) name, is an awful human being. She has collected superhero weapons and knockoff Doombots to cosplay with, but they actually work.

-Howard The Duck is dumped with Beast, Biggs (now altered to be a cyborg), Rocket Raccoon, and Weapon II, aka a Squirrel Wolverine. Shannon wants to hunt them for sport, as anthropomorphic animals are a “legal grey area” in the justice system.

-Squirrel Girl arrives to save Howard. Kraven refuses to hurt her, so Shannon knocks both of them out and consigns them to be hunted. They awaken in a forest, just as the hunt begins…

To put it simply, this is a glorious crossover. Chip Zdarsky is a brilliant satirist, making him the perfect person to write for Howard The Duck; the original series being based in satirizing comics, American life, politics, and whatever Steve Gerber was annoyed about at the time. Complementing him, Ryan North is just hilarious in general, especially with character interactions.

Putting together a grumpy duck-detective and an optimistic hero creates a great comedy duo. If Squirrel Girl is the Kimmy Schmidt of superheroes, then Howard the Duck is George Constanza. He is constantly complaining about his lot in life, being rude to almost everyone, and definitely neurotic. However, for all his faults, there is some justification, at least a mild one. He’s trapped on the 616-Earth, away from his family and friends.

Meanwhile, Squirrel Girl is optimistic to a fault. While she definitely believes in the right thing and that almost everyone can be good, she isn’t naive enough to discount a serious threat. When you pair the two heroes together, it creates an interesting dynamic. As much as I want to see an actual plot, I would be perfectly content with seeing them locked in a room, simply engaging in a philosophical debate. (Marvel- call me. Make Mine Machiavellian, a series about supervillains in therapy.)

As for the actual plot, it’s pretty straightforward. Squirrelverine, Squirrel Girl, Howard, Kraven, Beast, and Rocket Raccoon have to escape from Shannon and send her to jail. It’s not bad, but it does highlight one of my small issues with the storyline. Howard The Duck is more of a humor comic, so some of the side characters, like Beast and Rocket, were really just used for one-note jokes. I would have enjoyed seeing everyone form a trap together. Shannon’s eventual defeat is engaging, especially with some meta nods to DC Comics, but it lacks the teamwork usually shown in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Additionally, I would have liked to see more of Howard’s friend, Tara. I feel that it was a missed opportunity to not have more of the characters from both series interact. Overall, I still recommend Howard The Duck #6. It is well worth your time. It feels truly collaborative, such as when the standard text jokes from Ryan’s comics appear in this comic, complete with commentary from both writers.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.