Marvin the Martian

Marvin the Martian (or Marvin Martian) is a fictional character appearing in the Looney Tunes cartoons.

An animation director Chuck Jones noted that while Bugs' major enemy, Yosemite Sam was loud and violent, he was obviously no threat. So, he decided to create the opposite type of character; one who was quiet and soft-spoken, but whose actions were incredibly destructive and legitimately dangerous.

Marvin the Martian made his debut in 1948's "Haredevil Hare." In his first appearance Mel Blanc gave him a stuffy, denasal voice, but later the Martian adopted a more regal-sounding, snooty, almost British phrasing. He hails from the planet Mars, but is often found elsewhere. He is often accompanied by his dog, "K-9," and sometimes by other creatures (one gag, first used in "Hareway to the Stars", being freeze-dried Martians that become full-size on addition of drops of water).

Marvin wears a parody of a Roman soldier's uniform (a reference to Mars being the Roman god of war) with old-fashioned basketball shoes. His head is a black sphere with only eyes for features.

On numerous occasions Marvin has tried to destroy the Earth (it obstructs his view of Venus) with the "Illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator", only to be foiled by Bugs Bunny. He has battled for space territory with Daffy Duck, a.k.a. Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century.

Marvin was never named in the original shorts, but decades later when the character attracted merchandizing interest he obviously needed a name, so the current one was selected.

Currently, he appears on two recent animated shows on Cartoon Network - as a toddler in Baby Looney Tunes, and as Martian Commander X-2 in the Duck Dodgers television series. In the latter, he works for Queen Tyrani, whom he has a crush on. Over a decade prior to that, he guest-starred in a Tiny Toon Adventures segment titled "Duck Dodgers Jr.", where he was accompanied by an apprentice named Marcia the Martian. He was also in a Taz-Mania episode and did a cameo in The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries ("What's the Frequency, Kitty?").

Marvin was also cast as the referee in Space Jam, and then later had a major villainous role in Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

Quotations

• "Oh dear, now I shall have to create more Martians."
• "Being disintegrated makes me very angry! Very angry, indeed!"
• "Where's the Kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom!"
• "The Earth? Oh, the Earth will be gone in just a few seconds."
• "I claim this planet in the name of Mars! Hmmm, isn't that lovely?"
• "This insignificant planetoid has been found guilty of crimes against the universe."
• "Oh drat these computers, they're so naughty and so complex, I could pinch them."
• "Earthlings have the worst sense of direction!"
• "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Your Airness, but if you don't find a fifth player, your team will forfeit the game."
• "A mission? I'm all a-tingle!"
• "There's nothing I enjoy more than frolicking in a room filled with empty plastic balls."
• "Wakey-wakey, friends. Time to wreak mayhem in the cause of evil."
• "Ugh, another delusional fan trying to emulate the famous trench scene. How many lives must that accursed film claim?!"
• Daffy: "So, what do you think? Could today end our mutual hatred?"
  Marvin: "Unlikely, Dodgers. Whether at war or peace, I shall always loathe you."
  Daffy: "You shall always love me?! Eeeew!"
  Marvin: "I said loathe, you idiot!"
• "Oh, no, Your Majesty. I like [General Z-9] in a way. In an 'I can't wait to go to his funeral' way!"
• Queen Tyrani: "Need mouth to mouth resuscitation..."
  Marvin: "YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!"

External links

• A Marvin fan site (http://www.gargaro.com/marvin.html)