Marvel Facsimile Comics Review: Howard the Duck #1, Uncanny X-Men #137, and True Believers Edition Eternals

Facsimile Howard the Duck #1

This was the first facsimile I bought.  The moment I saw it on the shelf, I jumped on it.  I’d only ever read a couple of issues of the original series.  Howard was quite the comics icon in the 70’s.  Unfortunately, when I showed this book to a co-worker, all he remembered about the character was the George Lucas produced movie from the 80’s, widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever.  His cameos in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies might be some rehabilitation. 

Another co-worker assumed Howard was related to Disney’s Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge.  He’s more accurately a parody of them.  Disney actually sued Marvel at one point over the character.  Given that Disney owns Marvel, why hasn’t this natural crossover happened yet?  (Disney’s “funny animals” have interacted with regular humans before.  There was a Mickey Mouse spy story where all of the characters were human.  It did look a little odd.  No, I wasn’t on LSD at the time I read it.)  

Howard’s had an interesting existence.  This is not the first appearance of the character.  He debuted in the Man-Thing horror comic of all places.  With little in the way introduction, this comic starts off with Howard trying to kill himself.  Not exactly a heroic entrance.  

Soon enough, he’s introduced to a babe and a funky villain.

Then he’s suddenly transported to a fantasy world.

Then, Howard crosses over with Spider-Man, a rite of passage for any new Marvel character through the 70’s and 80’s.  For an encore, he accidentally sets fire to the a river outside of Cleveland.  (I guess the real-life lake fire had burned itself out.  Yes, that really happened.)

You can see the quality of the artwork for yourself.  Howard’s original run was blessed with some top notch talent.  Steve Gerber, the creator and writer, saw Howard as an instrument of social satire and personal expression.  Unlike modern comic book writers, Gerber never let that get in the way of producing an entertaining comic book.  The subtext probably went safely over the head of any kids reading.

I’m really wishing I had this book, and the preceding one, Origins of Marvel Comics.  The Bicentennial calendar was part of the pervasive year-long merchandising in 1976 for the country’s 200-th birthday.  It was everywhere at the time.

I actually got the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle for that Christmas.  It worked pretty impressively doing jumps.  I never saw the rest of the advertised toy line for it.

Facsimile Uncanny X-Men #137

It’s the Death of Phoenix story.  This classic needs no introduction.  If you want to consider any comic book important, this has to be on the required reading list.  I’d read this issue in the trade paperback version.  I don’t know why I got rid of it.  (What was I thinking?)  I also read the original version of the story that was printed years later (The Untold Story of . . .  was something like the title).  Jean Grey was meant to survive, just minus her Phoenix powers.  She was even going to marry Scott Summers in the next issue.   

I remember Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter read the original and didn’t think the story resolved appropriately given that she’d blown up a planet.  He sent the guys back to change the ending.  These two pages were where the stories diverged.  Instead of the X-Men being defeated and Jean being depowered, the Phoenix force returned and everyone was in danger.  Rereading the comic, I forgot how dramatic it got. 

After this, you know the rest (or should).  The ending was pretty hardcore, if a little rushed.  They probably would have set things up better if they’d known ahead of time what ending they were going to use.  Regardless, the death of a major long-standing character like Jean Grey was nearly unprecedented.  It must have been an incredible shock to the readers at the time. 

Amazingly for a superhero, Jean stayed dead for years.  Unfortunately, she was brought back under questionable circumstances.  The Phoenix force certainly should have come back, as per the proverbial name, but there was no reason to bring Jean back.  It ruined one of the most poignant moments in Marvel’s history, which had continuous repercussions for the X-Men.  Bringing Jean back to life actually robbed her of her potential literary immortality.     

Unlike Phoenix, Captain Marvel is one of the few superheroes who has stayed dead (though there have been recent rumors).  I’m sure this thoroughly canonical short episode was one of the Captain’s greatest triumphs.  If only they’d kill off the Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) Captain Marvel in the movies, so we could all lament her passing too.  

Did anyone ever order these playsets/games?  I admit they excited my imagination in my youth, but I never sent off for them.  I had a friend who ordered that footlocker of toy soldiers that was advertised all through the 70’s.  They were 2-d flats and disappointing.

Ruining the cover of this issue is that hyperbolic proclamation that, “This comic could be worth $2500 to you!”  The details inside announced an essay-writing contest.  By virtue of all the small print, the real challenge would be following the rules.  

You can tell a newsstand comic of the time by the inclusion of an ad for novelty gags and pranks.  I think that same friend above ordered a few of these things too.

True Believers Edition: Eternals

This reprint was another in the Jack Kirby tribute series.  I remembered picking up the first issue of the Eternals limited series in the 80’s.  I can’t remember any of it, so it made no impression on me.  Later, I think it was compared to a “Poor man’s New Gods,” which Kirby had created for DC earlier.  This one, though, was more inspired by the Chariots of the Gods phenomenon of the time, which is still going on, thanks to Ancient Aliens on cable (one of my favorite shows).  Continuing on with cosmic, mythological themes, Kirby also did a 2001: A Space Odyssey continuing series.

I admit to not being the biggest Kirby fan, mostly because I was put off by his blocky, heavily shaded art style.  Then I saw these pages and immediately reconsidered my bias.  This is some really impressive stuff.  The story inside was bursting with ideas.  It was at least an interesting start, but it didn’t last long. 

There were several pages of interesting text about the Eternals in the back.  Neil Gaiman called the original concept flawed when he did a rewrite of the concept in 2006.  Part of that was that the Eternals weren’t originally part of the Marvel Universe.  It was meant to stand alone, but was shoehorned in against Kirby’s wishes.  If it had been created to fit, it probably should have included the mutants and the Inhumans as part of their origin.  (Some of that was done retroactively.)    

The Eternals will be in an upcoming MCU movie, probably based on Gaiman’s version.  Conceptually, they’re already in the movies.  The Celestials have been introduced and Thanos was an Eternal.