By When I first read the following news from a Hulu press release, I could have sworn that this was mediocre satire, or a mistimed April Fool’s Joke. Alas, Hulu and Marvel Television are teaming up for new Marvel shows: Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K, Marvel’s Hit-Monkey, Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show, and Marvel’s Howard The Duck—culminating in the very cheekily-named Marvel’s The Offenders. Hulu already airs the live-action Marvel’s Runaways, which recently had its second season.
Like the Marvel-Netflix shows (which are basically on their way out at this point), these are adult-oriented shows. Unlike The Defenders group, these are animated programs. Marvel Animation and Marvel Television, the former which I presume will be a part of this venture, have mostly been on Disney XD with children’s shows featuring popular characters—the Spider-Man and the like. It looks like Disney doesn’t view these programs to age-appropriate for their upcoming Disney+ streaming service, so with the company set to own a majority on Hulu after the Fox deal closes, this is likely an indicator on where that type of content will end up.
What is more curious is the list of names attached to these projects—M.O.D.O.K (you know, the giant freaking head) has Patton Oswalt attached as one of the executive producers. Tigra & Dazzler Show likewise has Chelsea Handler in a similar role. Howard The Duck has goddamn Kevin Smith involved. And like all Marvel Television productions, Jeph Loeb, a man I think I annoyed during an interview once, will be an executive producer on all of these shows.
We should be used to strange, left-field announcements from Marvel, but this one has me completely caught off-guard. I remember the initial excitement when Netflix and Marvel Television announced Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Defenders all at once—at least those characters made sense. These plans from Hulu almost sound like a parody, maybe a straight-up mockery of the Netflix shows. It’s something I’d expect from Adult Swim, not from Marvel themselves. Being animated, I doubt that these will attempt to tie into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (I’m curious if Seth Green will return as Howard from Guardians of the Galaxy), but color me curious.
And at least nothing can be worse than that Howard the Duck live-action movie from all those years ago. Check out the full relevant portion of the press release below to learn more about these shows.
New Partnership with Marvel Television Brings Four Adult Animated Series and a Special to Hulu Originals Slate
Hulu has entered into a new partnership with Marvel Television, one of the most renowned global brands in entertainment, to create four new Hulu original adult animation series based on popular Marvel Television characters Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K, Marvel’s Hit-Monkey, Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show and Marvel’s Howard The Duck. Joining Hulu’s vast collection of animated content, the four originals will culminate in a special, Marvel’s The Offenders.
Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. centers around an egomaniacal supervillain with a really big head and a really little body, who struggles to maintain control of his evil organization and his demanding family. Writers Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt will also executive produce along with Jeph Loeb.
Marvel’s Hit-Monkey tells the tale of a wronged Japanese snow monkey, mentored by the ghost of an American assassin, as he cuts a wide swath through the Tokyo underworld in this darkly cinematic and brutally funny revenge saga. Writers Josh Gordon and Will Speck will executive produce along with Jeph Loeb.
Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show is a story about two woke superheroes and best friends, Tigra and Dazzler, as they fight for recognition among powered people who make up the eight million stories in Los Angeles. Writers Erica Rivinoja and Chelsea Handler serve as executive producers along with Jeph Loeb.
Marvel’s Howard The Duck is trapped in a world he never made, but America’s favorite fighting fowl hopes to return home with the help of his unstoppable gal pal Beverly before the evil Dr. Bong can turn him the crispiest dish on the menu. Writers Kevin Smith and Dave Willis will also executive produce along with Jeph Loeb.
Marvel’s The Offenders, is a story in which nobody asked them to — and we’d be better off if they didn’t — but MODOK, Dazzler, Tigra, Hit Monkey and Howard the Duck are all forced to team up in order to save the world and certain parts of the Universe. Jeph Loeb will executive produce.