Steve Gerber is Trapped in a World He Made

Steve Gerber must be pissed this month. Why, because Marvel recently released two blasphemous ripoffs of his most popular creations in the same week, Howard the Duck and Omega the Unknown. Gerber, a St. Louis native, is famous for being one of the first highly publicized comic writers to take one of the major comic companies, Marvel, to court for "creative control" of his character Howard the Duck. The case was eventually settled out of court.

Howard the Duck was a satirical, ill tempered water-foul famous for being trapped in a world he never made. The most remembered of all his adventures was his failed run for president in 1976 as part of the "All-Night Party." He was also a master of Quack-Fu, had a relationship with "hairless ape" or human Beverly Switzler, and lived in Cleveland, Ohio. Howard the Duck was made into a terrible cult movie in 1986.

The new Howard the Duck series is written by Ty Templeton, with art by Juan Bobillo. Howard returns, more gruesome looking then ever, as a taxi driver being hunted by two reject scientist. Issue one has both a regular and zombie cover!

As for Gerber's other series Omega the Unknown, it never reached the popularity of Howard. Omega the Unknown only ran for 10 issues in 1976-77 before cancellation, but for those who remember it has become something of a legendary cult classic. For its time, the series took the unusual wrought of focusing on a 12 year old boy named James-Micheal Starling and his connection with superhero Omega. By the 10th issue Omega was killed and the story was left unresolved. Writer Jonathan Lethem was a teenage fan of the orginally series an has embarked on a new 10 issue limited series to reprise Gerber's Omega.



Gerber was notably outraged about the new omega project and ask on his blog that banners noting that Omega was one of his creation be posted. So here is ours:



So if you check out the new series make sure to pick up the Essential Howard the Duck as well. It's great stuff!

Waaugh...

-Jon