The first big-screen appearance of any comic book character immediately undertakes a lot of pressure. Even the most minor figure in the Marvel catalog has a few fans who'll defend their portrayal to the death. The newest adventures of Ant-Man and the Wasp will be the MCU introduction of a few characters, but one antagonist in particular has sparked some strange responses.
MODOK was introduced in 1967, and he swiftly became a reoccurring villain for Captain America. He gradually became a more general all-purpose enemy for the entire Marvel cast, but he remained a relatively obscure figure. His growth in popularity is largely due to other media appearances, like his slot in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, his role in the recent Avengers game, and his Hulu solo series.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania brings the eponymous heroes into the Quantum Realm, an alternate dimension with seemingly endless possibilities. The plot pits Scott and Hope against Kang the Conquerer, but it's become clear that he's not the only threat around. MODOK will be entering the MCU in this film. At the time of writing, there are only two brief clips of the character and a handful of merch emblazoned with his face. The fan reaction has been mixed. His initial appearance appears to be covered by a mask or full-body robotic suit. This led some to assume he would be a robot, whether than the typical altered human appearance. It's clear in the second clip of the character that he will be a human with a massive head, a tiny body, and a floating hoverchair. This appearance has also received some pushback, due to its bizarre stretched look. Both complaints are interesting because they perfectly fit the character.
Like most Marvel Comics characters, MODOK has sported a lot of different designs. The robotic mask idea hasn't come up yet, but it doesn't feel far outside the realm of possibility. Johnathan Majors' Kang uses a glowing holographic mask to reach an appearance closer to his comic book standard, while MODOK looks more normal without the disguise. Though little is known about the character's role in the narrative, it is clear that MODOK will be portrayed by Corey Stoll, who previously portrayed Darren Cross in the original Ant-Man. Cross was presumed dead after the events of that film, but perhaps he found himself trapped in the Quantum Realm. While there, Cross could have undergone a similar path to that of the typical MODOK. Consistent self-experimentation could've resulted in stunted bodily growth and his trademark massive head.
The CGI effect used to capture Cross's new form as MODOK looks very silly. There have been numerous comparisons to Mr. Electric, George Lopez's character from the 2005 Robert Rodriguez film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Not all of them have been favorable to Marvel. This comes alongside comparisons to the 2003 Robert Rodriguez film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. MODOK would definitely look out of place in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but his appearance is perfectly disconcerting in context. He's a big dumb head in a floating chair. There's no reality in which that would look cool. It's clear that the look is deliberately off-putting. We all remember how Yellowjacket looked in his first appearance, the sudden reveal of his new design should be a shock. MODOK has always been a bit of a mess stylistically, it only makes sense that the MCU would reflect that.
MODOK could represent a sea change in the design philosophy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For too long, the franchise has relied on more grounded versions of fun comic book concepts. The occasional work in the franchise that embraced the color and joy of classic comics stands out against the mess of Kevlar costumes and U.S. military marketing. Many fans bristle against elements of their favorite media empires that feel as if they're "for kids." That's why the grim, bloody, and miserable corners of comic book cinema are almost always celebrated and anything too silly is crucified. The fact is that a lot of the source material is gleefully absurd. 60s comic book writers had a lot of fun in the writers' room, and it's incumbent on those who transition their work to the screen to follow that example.
Marvel is gradually opening up to the absurdity on its comic book source material's pages. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is yet another step in the right direction. A Marvel Cinematic Universe that loves its source material would put every level on display. The grounded and the absurd should live side by side, and watching petty thief turned superhero Scott Lang battle massive floating head MODOK is a great example of the concept. Yes, MODOK looks silly and that's the point. Celebrate the dumbest elements and learn to enjoy the world of good old-fashioned comic books.
