Marvin the Martian is a major antagonist in the Looney Tunes franchise and is the main antagonist of the Duck Dodgers series. He is K-9's owner and is the archenemy of Daffy Duck (also known as Duck Dodgers) as well as Bugs Bunny's 3rd archenemy (the other two being Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam.) Marvin makes his debut in the episode Haredevil Hare. He also serves as a major antagonist of the 2003 film Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
In the cancelled Marvin the Martian film, he was going to be voiced by Mike Myers.
Biography
Since Elmer Fudd was considered too clueless and affable to be a threat, Wile E. Coyote was just a predator, Taz was overly ravenous, and Yosemite Sam was quickly becoming just as hopeless, Chuck Jones felt the time would come for Bugs Bunny to meet a new kind of villain altogether, a villain who is both very shrewd and who posed a true threat.
So the alien menace known as Marvin the Martian was born, being a more calculating, courteous, relaxed and destructive opponent than those that came before him he nonetheless found himself defeated in the end by Bugs Bunny - though due to his popularity he returned and has stayed on as one of the Looney Tunes' most popular villains, appearing in many cartoons and films as well as countless merchandise, Marvin has even been adopted as the mascot of a few NASA vehicles among other things.
Many of his villainous acts involve intending to destroy the Earth with a deadly weapon called the "Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator" (sometimes pronounced "Illudium Pu-36" or "Uranium Pu-36") which looks like an ordinary stick of dynamite. However, this plan is always foiled and the modulator ends up exploding near him instead.
Appearance
Marvin is depicted as an unusual humanoid dressed in a red (green in the late Golden Era) unitard underneath a vaguely Roman-style suit and a pair of oversized white sneakers, this design was chosen due to Mars being the name of the Roman god of war and has served him well as it makes him stand out from the crowd as a distinctive villain. Chuck Jones, who directed most of his shorts, stated that he based Marvin's blank black face on black ants, which he found scary.
In other media
Films
Marvin appeared in "Space Jam", but was not a villain, only a referee to the game likely because he is a Looney Tunes character and an martian/alien.
In "Looney Tunes: Back In Action", he appeared as the final antagonist near the film's climax and released various aliens like the Daleks in Area 52.
He also appeared as the main antagonist of "Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run", who only appeared in the climax. This is most likely a way to surprise the audience that he is the main villain and not Sam.
He also appeared as the main antagonist of the Kids WB online game "Martian Invasion", where he and the Instant Martians hijack George Jetson's office, forcing him to get his way back and fight back in the process.
He appeared as a minor antagonist in "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy". He arrived on Tune World to reclaim his rightful place after Bugs planted a Earth flag, but it's only a diversion for Bugs and Lebron James to steal Marvin's ship. Although he has a minor role, Marvin can be seen crushed twice by his own ship.
Duck Dodgers
He also appeared in the 2003 animated series Duck Dodgers as the central antagonist, and under the name of the Martian Commander X-2, serving for the Martian Queen. He also serves as a rival to the power-hungry Martian General Z-9, who once betrayed both him and the Queen in an attempt to rule both Mars and Earth under his iron fist. He sometimes teams up with Duck Dodgers to defeat greater threats.
DC/Looney Tunes
He attempts to blow up the Earth, but is defeated by Kyle Rayner.
DC meets Looney Tunes
He sends out a signal to all Martians in the multiverse and Martian Manhunter answers the call. He goes to the DC Universe and tries to wipe out humanity. He is foiled when Manhunter tricks him with an illusion of him destroying Earth and he is captured by the army.
The Looney Tunes Show
Marvin appears in the 2011-2014 animated series The Looney Tunes Show. Marvin is far less villainous and evil in this show being a friend of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig and being the best friend of Pete Puma as well believing you need to be polite to be people. While Marvin mentions he plans to destroy the Earth, he never attempts to do so in this show.
Quotes
“
Oh dear...
„
~ One of Marvin's catchphrases.
“
I am a superior Martian being, who has come to your pathetic planet to destroy Christmas!
„
~ Marvin to a boy in the cancelled movie about him.
Villains
