Best of 2023 :: Published/Unpublished Comic Book Pin-Ups, Illustrations, Trading Cards

Howard the Duck meets Humphrey Bogart: Howard the Duck Magazine #7 by Marie Severin

Owner: Mark Howland
Artist: Marie Severin (All)

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Additional Images:

The Maltese Falcon

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Artwork Details

Title:	Howard the Duck meets Humphrey Bogart: Howard the Duck Magazine #7 by Marie Severin
Artist:	Marie Severin (All)
Media Type:	Ink Wash
Art Type:	Pin Up
Views:	529
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Added to Site:	8/20/2023

Description

The Magnificent Marie Severin, AKA Gal Friday, did this �The Cheap Ducktective� pin-up for Howard the Duck Magazine #7 published in 1980. It cracks (quacks?) me up every time I look at it.

Parodying the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, Severin included Mary Astor as Bev Switzler and Humphrey Bogart as Howard the Duck. Severin even depicted Astor wearing an outfit she wore in the movie. (And Bill Mantlo wondered if that was Peter Lorre in the rabbit ears just outside the door.)

Severin aims every detail at humor: the open desk drawer filled with baseball, three-fingered brass knuckle, wheat germ, and book titles; Howard�s oversized chair and the telephone directories stacked under his butt; the ash-dead cigarette in his bill and dropless liquor bottle in his hand; the empty dixie cup, the Maltese Falcon statue on his desktop, and even the private �eye� on the door in the background. Not to mention the expressions on Howard/Bogart�s and Switzler/Astor�s faces.

After the feature story, this issue of the magazine finished off with Howard pin-ups by Marie Severin, John Byrne, Marshall Rogers, Walt Simonson, and Howard Chaykin. While they are all good, for my money (and I freely admit bias) Severin�s is the best.

Had she been a man, Severin would have commanded a larger salary and greater respect. Instead, she made a lot of men and a number of comic book companies run by men look very good. And Severin was funny - very funny - as her work on Mad and Not Brand Echh and other titles affirm and as her renowned cards for her co-workers attest.

Parody is wickid smaht, and so was Severin. Thanks to Bechara of Nostalgic Investments!

Movie poster courtesy of the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum.

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About the Owner

	Mark Howland Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	howmark
Website:	http://www.comicartfans.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Classifieds Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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