Howard the Duck: Marvel’s first movie is one they want to forget

Last Updated on October 9, 2023

Howard the Duck was one of the biggest financial flops of the 1980s. It did so poorly that the two heads of the studio allegedly got into a fistfight over who greenlit it. But what does that have to do with Marvel? Let us explain.

Before there was an entire money-making studio dedicated to pumping out movies and TV shows based on the vast and ever-expanding catalog of Marvel Comics characters- we were seeing the likes of Sam Raimi making the Sony Spider-Man trilogy and Johnathan Hensleigh delivering an exciting take on The Punisher. Even before that, we had the iconic Blade movies and some solid X-Men fare- all movies we’ve covered in previous show episodes… Or have we?

See, it’s easy to do a Marvel series that praises the Raimi trilogy and roasts the goofiness of the Tim Story Fantastic Four films- but, today is going to be one hell of a throwback for any Marvel fan who grew up in the 1980’s. Before the dawn of mutants and the day-walking vampire hunters, there was a much different Marvel hero blasting their way into the zeitgeist and giving us what many consider to be the true beginning of Marvel Cinema… I guess, not including the 70’s Japanese Spider-Man film or the small-screen Captain America joint. 

So, let’s wind the clocks back to 1986 and revisit the first theatrically released film based on a Marvel character. It’s a story about belonging, fulfilling your purpose against all odds, and a women’s biker gang called Satan’s Sluts. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I guess I’ll just start by saying… In the beginning, there was Howard the Duck!