Issue(s): Howard the Duck #25, Howard the Duck #26, Howard the Duck #27
Cover Date: Jun-Sep 78
Title: "Getting smooth!" / "Repercussions...!" / "Circus maximus"
Credits:
Steve Gerber - Writer
Gene Colan - Penciler
Klaus Janson - Inker

Review/plot:
This series begins going bi-monthly with issue #27. #27 is also Steve Gerber's last full issue, and the last issue reprinted in the Essential trade.

I don't know if Marvel editorial decided that Gerber needed to bring Howard the Duck into the more mainstream Marvel universe or if he just liked the bizarreness of the character, but this is a three part arc featuring the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime.

Gerber actually does a good job humanizing the Ringmaster while keeping him a villain.

There's also a little bit of an examination of social class with Paul Same's new artistic patron, Iris Raritan.

Much of the Howard the Duck run has not lived up to its reputation for me, but Gerber ends on a high note with these issues.

The MCP lists the Psycho-Man's former henchmen, Livewire, as appearing in issue #27. I don't see him, but it's possible one of his later appearances retconned him in here. As a cowboy with an electric lasso, he's certainly a good candidate for the Circus of Crime.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Howard and Beverly were abducted by Doctor Bong in Howard the Duck #15.
  
• Bev married Bong in Howard the Duck #19.
  
• Howard "defeated" Doctor Bong in Howard the Duck #20.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Howard the Duck vol. 1

Part of the reason for Gerber's firing at Marvel may have been that he was also writing "Mr. Miracle" for DC. Earlier in 1978, Len Wein was offered the Batman slot in Detective Comics, but Stan Lee and other Marvel higher-ups at the time sorta frowned on prominent Marvel writers working at DC, so Len used Gerber's "Miracle" as justification. Soon afterwards, he was told that the Gerber situation had been "resolved" and that Len would need a pseudonym at DC. Len decided to leave Marvel instead and went to DC full-time. That problem couldn't have helped Gerber at Marvel, though he wasn't actually involved with it.

Near the end of Howard's B&W magazine run, it was announced that he would marry Beverly Switzler because he got her pregnant.

At the time of Gerber's firing, he was working on the first issues of a Shanna The She-Devil revival. I think his first issue wound up in Rampaging Hulk.

FOOM#21 announced a future What If:"What If Red Sonja met Howard the Duck?" I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a joke.