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www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/marvel-the-offenders-modok-hit-monkey-tigra-dazzler-howard-the-duck-hulu-animated-series

Marvel characters M.O.D.O.K., Hit-Monkey, Tigra, Dazzler, and Howard the Duck are all getting animated at Hulu – and hopefully you’re not (too) offended!



At the Television Critics Association press tour Monday morning, Hulu announced four new Marvel Television animated series are on the way, including “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.,” “Marvel’s Hit Monkey,” “Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show,” and “Marvel’s Howard the Duck.” The series will all lead into a special animated event for Hulu, “Marvel’s The Offenders.”

In “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.,” M.O.D.O.K, an egomaniacal Super Villain with a really big head and a really little body, struggles to maintain control of his evil organization and his demanding family. “Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.” comes from writers Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, with Blum, Oswalt and Jeph Loeb serving as Executive Producers.

“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. “Marvel’s Hit Monkey” comes from writers Josh Gordon and Will Speck, with Gordon, Speck and Jeph Loeb serving as Executive Producers.

In “Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show,” two woke Super Heroes and best friends, Tigra and Dazzler, fight for recognition among powered people who make up the eight million stories in Los Angeles. “Marvel’s Tigra & Dazzler Show” comes from writers Erica Rivinoja and Chelsea Handler, with Rivinoja, Handler, and Jeph Loeb serving as Executive Producers.

Trapped in a world he never made, America’s favorite fighting fowl Howard the Duck 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, in “Marvel’s Howard the Duck.” “Marvel’s Howard the Duck” comes from writersKevin Smith and Dave Willis, with Smith, Willis, and Jeph Loeb serving as Executive Producers.

Finally, nobody asked them to, and we’d be better off if they didn’t, but M.O.D.O.K., 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 in “Marvel’s The Offenders.” Jeph Loeb serves as Executive Producer, while writers and additional Executive Producers for the project will be announced at a later point.

“A giant head. A monkey. A tiger lady and a disco queen. And the duck. Brought together because no one else could but Marvel Television on Hulu. M.O.D.O.K., Hit Monkey, Tigra & Dazzler and Howard the Duck will form a team no one asked for -- The Offenders (and wait until you see who the Team Leader is!)! We have such tremendous talent bringing amazing adult animation that's fun, fresh and fantastic. We're so excited for what's to come!" exclaimed executive producer Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television.

www.marvel.com/articles/comics/uncanny-x-men-winter-s-end-1-old-man-iceman

‘Uncanny X-Men: Winter's End #1’: Old Man Iceman

The omega-level mutant Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, leads a busy life, teaching at the Xavier Institute, dating, and fulfilling his duties on the X-Men. Now, enter a future, more morose Bobby that’s discouraging his Super Hero lifestyle. We spoke to Iceman writer Sina Grace and artist Nate Stockman to find out who this ill-tempered old man Iceman is and what this one-shot has got in store for our world-class hero in UNCANNY X-MEN: WINTER’S END #1, on sale Wednesday, February 27!

Marvel.com: What do you want readers to know about UNCANNY X-MEN: WINTER’S END #1? What is future Bobby’s alias, and is he from an X-Men arc that readers have already seen?

Sina Grace: The WINTER’S END special is an exciting story that follows Bobby Drake trying to celebrate his birthday, but in true Marvel fashion, nothing goes right. An Iceman from the future has come to the present time to prevent a catastrophe he feels responsible for. Oh, and Bobby’s birthday has so many surprise guests. Well, really just one that’s a surprise.

Nate Stockman: Future Bobby, alias Ice Master, is the same version we saw as part of the X-Men team from the future in the X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM storyline a few years ago. (It's hard to keep track of X-Men continuity with both younger and older versions of characters floating around at the drop of a hat). We kept his look the same as before. It’s a neat, distinct look for future Bobby that tells you instantly that this version has been through some stuff!



Sina Grace: Ice Master’s like a very serious Gandalf version of Bobby, so I was excited to explore how that guy got so hardened, and what would be so bad that he’d do the thing he loathes most to stop it: going into the past.

Marvel.com: Sina and Nate, what was it like creating a future version of Bobby? What challenges did it present in creating his personality, expressions, and powers?

Sina Grace: My biggest challenge was trying to understand the world he came from, and figure out just how bleak it was. When [Brian Michael] Bendis wrote it, the Ice Master’s future seemed on the verge of complete obliteration for Mutantkind, and then when it’s shown in the STRANGE issues Nathan drew, it’s more of a casually dystopian future [chuckles to self]. The fun part about writing his powers is I actually felt super uninhibited by the possibilities, and we all had a lot of fun showing two Omega-Level mutants spar.

Marvel.com: Sina, how was it different from when Bobby met a time-displaced teenage version of himself in ICEMAN #1?

Sina Grace: There’s a lack of naiveté to play with when we’re talking about our Bobby meeting a Bobby from the future. Time-displaced Bobby was so bright and unencumbered, and he was a great reminder to our hero about what is possible of himself. Ice Master, however, is completely nihilistic and beaten down by the system. That’s how I got everyone interested in telling this story. I said: “Look, Bobby’s story started being haunted by the past. The next step for a guy trying to take control of his life would be to face a fear of the future.”

Marvel.com: Bobby is known as a jokester, with a sometimes “dad joke” sense of humor. Sina, how do you practice writing comedy for Bobby?

Sina Grace: Look, I know you want me to start this answer with a joke… but 2019 Sina is all about mentioning that it’s 2019 and doing something different. I try to make sure that whatever the gag is, it gets communicated as easily as possible. Nate and I have the power to use words and images to sell a joke, so I’m always trying to cut the words, use a visual, etc. And yes, sometimes I test the jokes on friends. Even 2019 Sina does that.

Marvel.com: Nate, which of Bobby’s powers are your most favorite to depict and what are you looking forward to sharing with readers in WINTER’S END?

Nate Stockman: I really love the Ice Golems Bobby can create. It’s such a cool power to be able to create your own army of giant snowmen! I think those are my favorites to draw. Big lumbering ice-hulks. Pure comic book fun! I love drawing the ice sled too and just big old ice blasts. He learned a few new tricks in the latest series, which he puts into practice in this special!




Marvel.com: You’ve both been working on Iceman’s solo series since last year and now on this one-shot. What traditions have you formed in working together and how has your process evolved over time?

Sina Grace Maybe I don’t say this to Nate, but there’s SO much trust with us now. I loved working with him from the get-go. He’s a great storyteller, and he’s always thinking about fresh readers, so he always brings up a tweaks to have things flow better. I just trust the guy so much! He knows what I’m precious about, and lets me backseat drive with the fashion.

Nathan Stockman: I think we both hit it off early on while we were preparing for the series, we joked around with costume designs and what the plans were for the series and what we’d have fun drawing and writing. I think that’s the biggest tradition we carried through -- to have fun while we were making it. It never felt like a chore working with Sina or anyone else on the book. We always had a good time and finished as pals. A pretty great collaboration if you ask me!



Marvel.com: Tell us a little bit more about the cover by Javier Garrón, and what’s your favorite part about working with him?

Sina Grace: Getting Javier Garrón to do the cover was the genius idea of editor Darren Shan. The story within is the most intense X-Men tale I’ve written, so we needed an artist to send that message on the cover. Javier didn’t disappoint.

Nathan Stockman: When I saw the cover I knew I had big shoes to fill! I love Javier’s work so I can only hope the insides live up in some way to the beautiful cover!

Marvel.com: Who else is working on the book and how has their contribution helped bring this book to life?

Sina Grace: I’m thrilled that we have our entire crew from the latest ICEMAN run, which will make it a wonderful-looking stand-alone comic book, and read as a wonderful final chapter in the third ICEMAN trade paperback. If I get to tell more Iceman stories, I would only hope it’s with this batch of dudes. Nate, Federico, Joe, Danny and Darren are the best!

Nathan Stockman: We’re taking the whole Iceman creative team with us for this special. Sina and myself, editor Darren Shan, assistant editor Danny Khazem, colorist Federico Blee and letterer Joe Sabino! We all enjoyed working with each other so much we had to do it one more time!

UNCANNY X-MEN: WINTER’S END #1, written by Sina Grace with art by Nate Stockman, goes on sale Wednesday, February 27! You can still pre-order your copy online or at your local comic store!



There's more about Shade, Marvel’s first mutant drag queen Super Hero, that debuted in ICEMAN #4 this past December, and Sina Grace being nominated for a GLAAD award for Outstanding Comic Book alongside the Iceman creative team (Robert Gill, Ed Tadeo, Rachelle Rosenberg, Federico Blee, and Joe Sabino) at the link.