Howard

Howard was born on Earth-791021. His homeworld was populated by intelligent humanoid ducks whose society closely resembled human civilization. A dimensional disturbance connected to the demon Thog tore Howard away from his world and carried him into the Florida Everglades. He became involved with Man-Thing and the sorcerers Jennifer Kale and Dakimh during their struggle against Thog before another dimensional passage left him stranded on Earth-616.

Howard eventually reached Cleveland with no money and no clear way home. He was captured by the financial sorcerer Pro-Rata and forced to search for the missing key to the Cosmic Calculator. Another captive named Beverly Switzler helped him survive the ordeal. Spider-Man later assisted them in defeating Pro-Rata. Beverly gave Howard a home afterward and remained beside him through battles with Doctor Bong and the Space Turnip and numerous other unusual threats.

Howard spent years moving between ordinary employment and dangerous adventures. He briefly entered politics and survived supernatural conflicts involving Doctor Strange and Man-Thing. He eventually established Howard T. Duck Private Investigations and began taking cases that brought him into contact with criminals and aliens and powerful beings. Despite his frequent complaints about Earth he continued protecting people whenever their troubles drew him into another crisis.

Appearance: Howard the Duck has white feathers and a short compact build with a rounded torso and stubby limbs. His dark eyes sit beneath thick white brow feathers. A small swept tuft rises from the crown of his head. His broad orange bill has a slightly curved upper edge and a squared tip. His orange webbed feet are wide with three long forward toes.

He wears a brown fedora with a dark band around the crown and a short curved brim. A pale yellow collared shirt covers his upper body with the sleeves rolled to the elbows. A red necktie runs beneath the collar. A fitted brown vest covers the shirt with a row of dark buttons down the front.

Matching brown trousers cover his legs and widen slightly near the ankles. The waistband sits beneath the pointed lower edge of the vest. The fabric has simple seams along the sides and front. His feathered hands extend from the rolled sleeves with narrow fingers and small pointed claws.

Personality: Howard is cynical and irritable because he views Earth as irrational even when its inhabitants insist that their behavior is normal. He argues openly with heroes and villains alike and rarely hides his frustration. His harsh attitude conceals a strong conscience. Howard repeatedly risks himself for people in danger even when helping them offers no reward and creates further problems for him.

Beverly Switzler is Howard’s closest companion and most enduring love. She gave him shelter when he was homeless and accepted him without treating him as a curiosity. Their relationship has survived poverty and separation and manipulation by enemies such as Doctor Bong. Howard can be defensive around Beverly because he fears losing the most stable connection he has found since being taken from Duckworld.

Howard shares a lasting bond with Man-Thing and Jennifer Kale because they were among the first allies he found after leaving his world. Doctor Strange respected Howard enough to teach him aspects of the mystic arts. Spider-Man has helped him during several crises despite often struggling to understand Howard’s methods. Howard tends to mock conventional heroes but will cooperate with them when innocent lives are threatened.

Howard possesses no consistent superhuman powers. His body is normal by the standards of Duckworld though his small frame and unusual proportions make his movements difficult for human opponents to predict. Master C’haaj trained him in Quak-Fu through an accelerated course that gave Howard extensive martial arts knowledge within a short period. Howard is also an experienced private investigator with strong instincts for interrogation and deduction and deception.

Howard has carried a powerful firearm known as the B.F.G. when facing enemies beyond the reach of ordinary weapons. His studies with Doctor Strange allowed him to create and use several mystical artifacts though magic has never become his primary method. He normally survives through Quak-Fu and quick thinking and improvised equipment rather than superior strength.