Please, for the love of all that is the Mighty Thor, stop reading this post if you don’t want the post-credits stinger for Guardians of the Galaxy spoiled. There be a casting reveal below and we don’t want anyone getting upset that we didn’t warn you. So consider yourself warned.
Are you good? Are we good? Good.
Seth Green was the voice of Howard the Duck in the post-credits stinger. The Robot Chicken co-creator, Family Guy voice actor, and once and future Oz lent his voice to the cantankerous mallard in the final scene set in the Collector’s lair. So is Green’s work here just a one-off or a herald of more Howard to come? Personally, I’d love for the character to return somewhere in the Marvel Cinematic U and dug the little bit of time Green had with Howard.
It is believed Howard was the larger role originally offered to Nathan Fillion that James Gunn previously spoke of, but the actor passed hoping to play a larger role in the physical Marvel Cinematic Universe. What that role might one day be is yet to be decided, but with Joss Whedon and James Gunn directing Marvel films, it’s hard to imagine a world where Fillion doesn’t eventually show up.
For those of you going “Howard who,” the character was created in 1973 by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik over in the pages of Adventure Into Fear of all places. In the comics, Howard was from a world populated by duck-people, dragged to our through a portal in the middle of the Everglades thanks to a Man-Thing adventure gone awry (as one will do).
It’s not so weird seeing Howard out in the depths of space: Gerber and subsequent writer would plug Howard into superheroic and cosmic adventures, which would in turn serve as a platform for Howard’s often misanthropic rants against human nature, politics, the economy, and the media.
Many of you probably know this isn’t Howard’s first time on the big screen: he was voiced by Chip Zien in the 1986 film produced by George Lucas.
Doesn’t he look a lot like Donald Duck? Disney seemed to think so, and for a while – before the studio bought out Marvel – Howard’s design had to be tweaked so he wouldn’t resemble pop culture’s other other angry bird (let’s not forget Daffy). First, Marvel put him in pants, then later gave him a drastic makeover in the fourth volume of his comic under artist Juan Bobillo.
But since the buyout, Marvel’s been free to use the original Howard look in comics and once again, on the big screen.
What do you think? Would you want more Seth Green as Howard? Sound off in the comments.
The first time I saw the film, I was certain that Alex Hirsch (creator of Gravity Falls and voice of Grunkle Stan) had lent his voice to Howard. Being a huge fan of both Howard the Duck and Gravity Falls, I thought it was an awesome move. The second time I saw the trailer, I realized I was wrong, which is why I came here. I don’t know why – I have nothing personal against Seth Green – but it really disappointed me that they chose him for this role. It’s funny how some voices just seem so right for a character that it irks me when the casting folks “get it wrong”. No bad on the part of Seth Green or Howard – I’ll take what I can get. Any chance of a CGI 80’s Lea Thompson making a cameo? Anybody????
Worth noting that Seth Green voiced Rocket Raccoon in some of the Marvel cartoons. I wouldn’t be surprised if he auditioned for Rocket in the movie and Gunn gave him Howard as a consolation prize.
Howard’s cool…Seth Green is awful how this hack keeps getting chances is unbelievable
Yeah, I know. He’s so awful. Like how he’s managed to convincingly play several characters in movies and shows like Austin Powers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to horribly lending his voice to a variety of different animated characters full of personality in everything from Mass Effect to Family Guy.
Oh, wait, cause he’s super skilled and still pretty hot. That’s why.
Obviously it’s a hint that they’re thinking of making Marvel Zombies volume 5 into a film.Which would be awesome.
Howard was just there to distract you from Warlok’s cocoon getting blasted open.
Why not just let Howard cameo in a cage during the movie along with the dog, the Dark Elf, and the Chitauri? Waiting through the credits for that stinger – which seemed like a one-off gag – was a letdown. When I took my kids to see it the next day, I didn’t even bother to have them wait to see it. Though, that was probably my only disappointment with this movie.
i mean, really, i’m just tired of hearing seth green’s voice. kinda gets on my nerves.
saw the movie on thursday night. thought it was useless at the end of a good movie. could have had something for the sequel or another marvel movie . . before the movie started there was a girl tellign people how she knew all about this comic series and her marvel unlimited account to anyone who would listen . after the movie she was heard saying ” what the hell howard the duck . that was stupid”
Hated it. I mean really. I didn’t like Howard in the comics as a kid and I don’t like him now. I walked out of the theater pissed. I waited all that time just to see Howard the fuck?
Howard wasn’t meant for kids. That’s why he had his own black and white graphic novels that were VERY adult.
Really, you sat through a great movie and walked out pissed off because of a post credit scene? Adjust your fedora and get over it.
I would be able to die happy if we got like, a made for TV or Netflix Howard the Duck movie set in the Marvel cinematic universe.
No puppet or die!
Howard the Duck is awesome. He was ALWAYS so much more than the Lucas movie. Gerber was a helluva a writer and the original comics were hilarious. I would LOVE to see more Howard the Duck in future Marvel Movies.
Heck to the yes I want some more Howard the duck!! I almost fainted when I saw him!
Not gonna lie, I was rooting for a Ms. Marvel lead in when Marvel was being all secretive about the scene. It was a funny scene, I just kinda wanted more.
I understand the want, but there is so much groundwork and back story you would have to lay out before just throwing Ms. Marvel in. There are some huge events that led up to any version of that character coming into existence.
Howard is the Jar Jar Binks of the Marvel Universe.
Care to say more about that?
He’s beloved of people with intelligence and disliked by people with pedestrian tastes…
Disney hurt Howard and Steve Gerber very badly. Now they OWN Howard, and they continue to avoid paying the various artists who created the Marvel characters. I wish the fans would slow down a moment to remember that.
You’re not wrong. Considering everything Disney did to destroy the character,its beyond ironic that he wound up in a Disney movie(with his more-or-less original look). Howard the Duck was an amazing character/comic and Gerbers work deserves to be honored and remembered. Hopefully,in time,credit will wind up where credit is due,but until then theres no reason to banish the character into non-existence. I would love for Gunn to work him into the plot of Guardians 2 and hopefully find a way to keep Howard around the MCU for a long,long time.
You speak the truth
The bit was hilarious and unexpected, and worked well as a one-off sort of gag, and in my opinion should stay that way. But what do I know..
Given the number of viewers who are not familiar with Howard, I don’t think it will work well as a one-off. They need to do more with the character in order for the scene to not become the most useless after credits scene in the MCU.
I think that was part of the point. They first trained everyone to expect these scenes post credits, and this was there way of reminding us that they can put what they want there. I enjoyed it, and it felt as existential as Howard always has.
Only thing that would have made good ol’ Howard look even better (and he looks awesome here) would have been his trademark stogie!
As a child of the 80s who was a little in love with Howard The Duck (yes I know the movie was terrible but I was young!!) the final scene actually made my heart sing and I left the cinema with a very big smile on my face – I would love to see more Howard, and I hope we do.
Nathan Fillion WAS in there. He is the giant blue beast that gets his ass kicked in Kyln.
Stab me in my eyes and tear out my cerebellum Howard the Duck needs to never ever be mentioned ever
The Transformers have been a part of several cinematic abortions. No one should ever bring them up again either.
That explains why you chose his name for your avatar.
Yrs yes please god yes!
Did not Recognize 😀 One of the most memorable stingers ever!