Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Ch'p and Howard The Duck


Many a superhero fan began their love of comics with funny animal characters.  It's not surprising that animal heroes would strike a chord with them as they are a bridge between the two genres.  The question is, how realistic to depict them?  For me, it's different for each character - I prefer a more cartoonish Howard and a more naturalistic looking Ch'p.

19 comments:

Bob Greenwade said...

Well, at some point you're just going to have to partner up Ch'p with Rocket Raccoon.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't the Silver Age Ch'p a sentient raccoon?

Ross said...

Bob, they already met on the blog. Issue #1514

Carycomic said...

@Anon: he certainly resembled one on the cover of STF #644.

David Welsh said...

Ch'p was always a squirrel. He started out as a realistically drawn one by Don Newton. Joe Staton turned him into a funny animal type.

Bob Buethe said...

@Anon: He was supposed to be a sentient chipmunk; hence, his name. Maybe it was the mask that made him look like a raccoon. What a great disguise!

@Ross: To me, the appeal of Howard was the fact that he was a funny animal drawn realistically, in a realistic, Gene Colan (or Frank Brunner) world. A cartoonish Howard has no appeal for me. It makes him just another funny animal. Ch'p, on the other hand, I prefer somewhere in-between. I found Joe Staton's version too cartoonish, but Cully Hamner's more naturalistic version didn't work for me either. I think Gil Kane got him just right.

Bob Buethe said...

Just want to point out that his name is Ch'p, from the planet H'lven (Alvin), and his best friend on his homeworld was named D'll (Chip and Dale).

Anonymous said...

Like the furniture factory...or the (ahem!) nightclub?

Carycomic said...

@Anon: Seriously?!

Glenn said...

Ch'p should meet Squirrel Girl.

Ross said...

It happened in STF #644, Glenn

Glenn said...

Thanks Ross. I must have blanked it out since it was part of a Two Pack. Should have checked for Ch'p's previous appearances like II usually do.

Bob Greenwade said...

Re: Ch'p and Rocket -- so they did. I should have checked.

Anonymous said...

Now, if Ch'p could just meet the critters from THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE.

Anonymous said...

My bad! That should have read "...critters from OVER THE HEDGE."

Haste does, indeed, make waste.

Carycomic said...

Is that image of Dr. Bong a slightly altered Dr. Fate? I only ask because of the blue-and-gold costume.

Ross said...

No It was actually Dr. Bong

Bob Buethe said...

@Anon #2: I'm probably being whooshed, but on the chance that I'm not...

No, like the Walt Disney chipmunk duo.

Anonymous said...

@BB: Ohhhh! Thanks for the update. :-)

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