Sunday, December 2, 2012

Carl Barks' Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge comics

I took the time to read some of Carl Barks' Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics, as well as the later comics by his successor, Don Rosa (Particularly, the Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck). I've never really been one for the shorter gag-based comics, but I've always enjoyed the longer "Adventure" comics, so it was nice to get a collection to look through.
I've always liked the main ducks of the Disney universe more than any of the other characters, because they all tend to be stubborn, curious, and/or selfish enough to go after any situation, and it makes them especially easy to insert into fantastic adventures. Donald and Scrooge are both fun to watch just for the great visual gags their temper-fueled rages tend to inspire. There's a great moment during Scrooge's flashback in Back to the Klondike, where a furious McDuck, cheated out of his gold nugget by Goldie, confronts her in her saloon and then literally punches out enough men to use as a staircase to follow her to the second floor, rather than just using the stairs himself. In a few ways, it's very much like the old Popeye shorts, where logic took the backseat for the sake of a great gag.
It's taken to another level by the later works of Don Rosa, who would revisit and flesh out several of Barks' stories, and he was well known for his immense level of research and adherence to established canon. I would wholeheartedly suggest both Barks' and Rosa's comics for people looking for both adventure and solid doses of comedy.

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