When Disney imposed Marvel pants on its character Howard Duck

A comic book character created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerick, Duck Howard first appears in the comics. Adventure in Fear # 19 Published in December 1973 by Marvel Comics. A curious and even parody anthropomorphic creature, he is light years away from the other superheroes in the Marvel galaxy, most often with all his overdeveloped muscles and, of course, superpowers.

In 1986, with the blessing of George Lucas, his (un) adventures will be adapted into a movie. Directed by Willard Hickey (American Graffiti and Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom screenwriter), Howard, the other variety of characters will be a complete crash; Feature, Critical and Commercial. With a $ 21 million deficit, the economic sanction would be such that Lucas would be forced to sell Pixar (under the name). Graphic group At the time) Steve Jobs, head of Apple.

Slightly overly cult duck

It can not be said that the Disney firm did not really appreciate this character born in the competition. In fact, he thought he looked very much like one of his favorite mascots: Donald Duck. Their annoyance was also not entirely unfounded: the character traits angrily resembled his model at Disney, to the point that it almost looks like an alleged parody of the original model created in 1934 by animator Dick Land.

Like his famous model, Howard the Duck was dressed in a top (shirt, costume, tie, etc.) but always without pants. This picture is so associated with the Disney mascot that it is even told in Hungarian as an anecdote: “Donald Casa Zasi “ Means “to walk in a shirt without pants and underwear.”

And yet, the threat of a lawsuit between Disney and Marvel for plagiarism As if in shape. If … the deal offered by Disney was this: The company agreed not to file a complaint, on the condition that the Howard Duck be converted into a pair of pants. Moreover, with good care of a recycled firm with big ears!

Marvel agreed. Prior to that, it was necessary to justify, scripturally, this significant change in character design. This was done under the pen and pencil of Bill Mantlo, Gene Colan and Klaus Jansson in the 1979 issue of the comic book dedicated to the character.

In it, Howard is forced by demonstrators to be shocked without animal pants; Howard turned it on. Things escalated into a mess, Howard is forced to abstain from a clothing store where he makes a variety of fittings. From there the plate, which you can see below, on which you mark, in box N ° 2, a copy of Donald Duck carbon!

This is remembered in the 1986 film. “His hobby? Cigar and sex” The sound fell into the trailer. Howard will be really sensitive to the charm revealed by Leah Thompson, but she will always keep her pants in any situation!