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So Who Is That Guy in the End Credits of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'?
by Ethan Anderton
August 4, 2014
While the scenes that played after the end credits of Phase One of Marvel's cinematic universe all teased the next film up to bat whether it was Thor or Captain America: The First Avenger or even just The Avengers themselves. However, the teases in the end credits of the films in Phase Two haven't always been as forthcoming about hinting at what's to come in future films. Iron Man 3 was just an amusing little scene between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, but Captain America: The Winter Soldier upped the ante with a big tease of what's to come in The Avengers: Age of Ultron and even Captain America 3. As for Guardians of the Galaxy though, the tease was surprising to say the least, and also pretty cool when you think about it.
**SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy from here on out, don't ready any further!**
No, we're not talking about the cute scene with tiny Groot dancing to "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5. We're talking about the scene all the way at the end of the credits. In this scene we see The Collector (Benicio del Toro), a bandage on his head, his collection on Knowhere in shambles behind him due to the destruction of the Infinity Stone brought to him by the Guardians of the Galaxy, which enticed his pink-skinned assistant with power and resulted in a massive explosion of energy. The space dog Cosmos (which is a nice nod to a character with ties to Rocket Raccoon in the comics) comes up and starts licking his face. Then out of nowhere, Howard the Duck appears behind him from under the debris.
Yes, Howard the Duck, the mallard star of the 1986 film of the same name that is regarded as one of the worst movies of all-time. He pops up and with a voice from Seth Green says, "What do you let him lick you like that for? Gross." And that's it. Now many people might have been expecting a teaser for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, especially since that's what happened with the last Marvel film that hit theaters in Phase One before The Avengers arrived the following year. But you know what, there's something about this that seems infinitely cooler than a tease for next summer's sequel (especially since we'll get a trailer for that anyway).
First, for those who don't know, Howard the Duck (pictured above from the 1986 film directed by Willard Huyck) is another ill-tempered, sarcastic, anthropomorphic animal just like Rocket Raccoon. However, instead of being a genetic experiment, Howard the Duck was born on Duckworld, a planet in another dimension where intelligent life evolved from waterfowl instead of primates. The planet is basically an alternate Earth that resembles mankind in many ways, except the world is run by ducks who speak English instead of humans. But through a series of mishaps, Howard ends up stuck on Earth, and most of his adventures involved satire or parody as he tries to live amongst humans, getting into various bits of trouble.
Unlike Rocket Raccoon, there's not much special about Howard the Duck other than being a walking, talking bird. As the Marvel Database notes, Howard "possesses no known superhuman or superduck powers," but he "has some knowledge of the little known martial art called Quak-Fu, and hence is a surprisingly formidable opponent in hand-to-hand combat." However, the mystical hero Doctor Strange reveals that Howard is capable of learning to do magic, but the impatient and uninterested duck wasn't up for becoming his apprentice. Is it a coincidence that Marvel has Doctor Strange in the works for Phase Three, or that Disney now owns Lucasfilm, who made the Howard the Duck movie?
Funnily enough, Marvel and Disney had a bit of a kerfuffle after the creation of Howard the Duck in 1973. Business Insider notes that The House of Mouse threatened Marvel with legal action claiming the character's design bore a striking resemblance to Donald Duck. They also note a weird deal that was struck between Marvel and Disney which had the character completely redesigned. Here's a before (left) and after:
In an interview from 2001, Howard the Duck co-creator Steve Gerber explained:
"To avoid litigation, Marvel's old management signed an incredibly stupid agreement with Disney. Under its terms, all future appearances of Howard must conform to a set of designs that Disney provided for the character. You've seen this design. It's the one from the black-and-white HTD magazine, with the ghastly swollen beak, the beady eyes, and the baggy trousers that make the duck look like a derelict. What's absolutely astonishing, though, is that the Disney agreement is worded in such a way that Marvel isn't even permitted to create a new, alternative design for the character, even if that design bears no resemblance to Donald."
Now before we get too ahead of ourselves, this could just as easily be a fun little joke that Marvel put in the end credits for comic book fans. But the fact that they chose to include a character like Howard the Duck like this is indicative of the weird places they're willing to go as a studio, especially after audiences just accepted a walking, talking giant tree that only says "I am Groot" and his anthropomorphic, scoundrel raccoon sidekick named Rocket. And they absolutely loved it. If audiences are willing to accept something as out of this world (literally and figuratively) as Guardians of the Galaxy, then there just might be a place for Howard the Duck to thrive again on the big screen. We'll be watching for any news. Your thoughts?
31 Comments
1
....so did Vin Diesel just have to record on line for this movie? Was he involved in any mo-cap or other off-screen acting?
TheOct8pus on Aug 4, 2014
2
He did variations on the line depending on the scene, and for different languages.
John Everitt on Aug 4, 2014
3
Gotcha. Thanks. Sounds like a nice gig for Diesel
TheOct8pus on Aug 4, 2014
4
...and for us since Diesel can't act.
Gary on Aug 4, 2014
5
You are just full of niceness today.
Brian Sleider on Aug 4, 2014
6
It's the troll in me.
Gary on Aug 4, 2014
7
I do believe he did some limited mo-cap stuffs.
avconsumer2 on Aug 4, 2014
8
I loved the Howard the Duck bit. I would definitely be up for a new Howard movie.
Astroboy3000 on Aug 4, 2014
9
Off topic,but I wonder what happened to the Aether, the other "infinity stone" entrusted to the Collector at the end of THOR the Dark World? Once his "museum" was demolished to the point that Cosmo and Howard were out and about, it stands to reason that the Aether might have been released as well.
theslayer5150 on Aug 4, 2014
10
Also, weren't Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch in his collection?
Mason on Aug 4, 2014
11
no they were with the Hydra barron what's his name at the end of Winter Soldier.
michael interbartolo on Aug 4, 2014
12
Why do people keep spinning this into some great thing? The Howard the Duck scene was pointless and absolutely stupid. It was a waste of film.
Gary on Aug 4, 2014
13
I feel like you might be the guy who hates balloons at a birthday party.
Brian Sleider on Aug 4, 2014
14
Hey, it's Enrico Pillatzo!!
Frank Drebben on Aug 4, 2014
15
Enrico Pillatzo!! Enrico Pillatzo!!
avconsumer2 on Aug 4, 2014
17
Loved the Howard nod. I laughed out loud and clapped. In that regard, I was just about alone in the entire audience though.
Zen on Aug 4, 2014
18
So the guy at the end of the credits is the guy who is shown in the picture? Seems like a spoiler before you wrote SPOILERS.
Brian Ricci on Aug 4, 2014
19
As a spoiler policeman... he did have a bit part in one of the end credit scenes of... I forget which one... but one of the previous Marvel movies - to indicate his involvement in a future Marvel film. But that's not the "guy" they're referring to. If you saw the "SPOILERS" and didn't scroll down, you're fairly safe. Would be a minor infraction regardless. I'll let it slide this time.
avconsumer2 on Aug 4, 2014
20
The Collector was at the end of Thor 2, when the drop off the Aether.
Brian Sleider on Aug 4, 2014
21
No, that's not the spoiler part at all, because The Collector is in the film itself and has appeared in the Thor: The Dark World credits scene.
Ethan Anderton on Aug 4, 2014
22
Some douchy teenagers in the theater I saw GotG in were legitimately angry at the end credits scene. They didn't get it. I laughed and saw it as Marvel throwing a bone to us old farts who sat through that 1986 crapfest. James Gunn is awesome.
Nick Perkins on Aug 4, 2014
23
The only reason nobody liked the HTD movie is that they didn't read the comics before watching the film which, got to admit, is a bit of a leap without proper background. Howard and the Evil Overlord segments are funny, violent, and a total gasser. Sorry to all the nopes out there.
Robert Deardorf on Aug 6, 2014
24
wasn't the more important point of that scene that the cocoon (supposedly Adam Warlock's) that was first scene in Thor 2 stinger was now open and empty thanks to the infinity stone destruction.
michael interbartolo on Aug 4, 2014
25
HOLY DAMN! Didnt even notice, i was to busy freaking out about Howard.
Sky on Aug 4, 2014
26
Hell Yeah. Bring forth the DUCK!
DAVIDPD on Aug 4, 2014
27
HAHAHAH i loved it so much lol i would love to see Howard The Duck hit the screen again , the original was so crappy but so amazing at the same time hahah
Splinter on Aug 4, 2014
28
Hell yes! I want me some more Howard the Duck!
Gex on Aug 4, 2014
29
So are we ready for a remake of "Howard the Duck" movie?
Satansrevenge on Aug 5, 2014
30
made me wanna poop
mudbutt jones on Aug 7, 2014
31
What in the duck is going on? "Aflac!"
Michael on Aug 9, 2014
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