24 Years Ago, a Cult Marvel Character Finally Returned After Two Decades (And He’s Still Underrated)

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Twenty-four years ago, a beloved but lesser-known Marvel character made a comeback, launching his first solo comic series in over two decades. Marvel has a vast roster of heroes, and sometimes characters lose popularity – whether due to poor sales, fan dissatisfaction, or other reasons. Often, these characters are sidelined for years before Marvel attempts a revival. But in one particular case, it’s surprising this character went so long without a series, especially after starring in his own movie in the 1980s.

After a long hiatus, the popular comic book character Howard the Duck returned with his own solo series on January 23, 2002. Fans had been waiting since 1981 for the animal detective to star in his own title again.

Howard The Duck Returned 24 Years Ago After A Long Absense

Howard the Duck first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1973, in the comic Fear #19. He came from a different universe where ducks had evolved into the dominant intelligent species, much like humans on Earth. But he was unexpectedly brought to our world by the demon Thog the Nether-Spawn. Finding humans in charge here, Howard became a strange oddity. Before getting his own comic series in 1976, he also made appearances in stories about Man-Thing.

The comic Howard the Duck originally ran for 32 issues, concluding in 1979, with two additional special issues appearing in 1986. A second series, Howard the Duck Vol. 2, followed in 1979 but only lasted nine issues, ending in 1981. After that, Howard Duck made occasional appearances in other comics, notably as a supporting character in Sensational She-Hulk, and also in Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, and Generation X.

For many years, Howard the Duck rarely appeared in Marvel comics. Throughout the 1990s, he was only featured in a total of 27 issues. This is surprising considering he’s one of the few Marvel characters to have his own movie, which came out in 1986. While the film wasn’t successful at the time, it has since gained a dedicated following, and its failure may have contributed to his reduced presence in comics.

Everything shifted on January 23, 2002, with the release of Howard the Duck Vol. 3, brought to life by Steve Gerber and Phil Winslade. This new series was part of Marvel MAX, known for its mature and darker stories – it felt more like a sharp satire than a typical comic book. The six-issue run focused on Howard and Beverly’s life together, and the return of Dr. Bong as the antagonist. The series ultimately explored the idea of being ‘hired’ to do work, both in terms of Steve Gerber creating comics for Marvel, and a deeper question about creation itself, referencing a moment where God tells Howard he was created as a work for hire.

At the conclusion of the miniseries, Howard had returned to his normal life, but the character experienced a renewed surge in popularity. Bringing Steve Gerber, who originally created the character in the 70s and 80s, back to work on Howard the Duck was a clever move. He successfully honored the original while updating him for a modern audience. Just two years later, Howard appeared in another series, and Marvel has continued to feature him in various comics ever since.

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2026-01-23 23:11