On Sale Today: UNCLE SCROOGE # 2 from IDW!

Set sail for your local comic shop, and pick up a copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 2 (Legacy Numbering # 406) from IDW!

In it, you’ll find “Shiver Me Timbers”, by Jan Kruse, Bas Heymans, and Jonathan Gray.  And, if that magnificent cover by Jonathan is any indication, this is gonna be a great one! 

As with last issue, I waited until today to read this story so I can experience the fun “as it happens”!  ...And did Jonathan ever leave a few surprises in wait for me! 

No spoilers but, on a purely personal note, I must thank him for THIS...

...and THIS!  

"Super Goof" AND "Moby Duck" references!  A sure way to warm this old "Gold Key-Era" reader's heart!  

Just as before, you’ll find a 10 page back-up titled “Meteor Rights” – by Frank Jonker, Paul Hoogma, and Maximino Tortajada Aguilar, dialogued by yours truly, and featuring Scrooge, Donald and the nephews… and the return of Flintheart Glomgold. 

Click to Enlarge, if you dare!  

A potentially precious meteor has fallen to Earth, in the Dismal Swamp outside Duckburg.  Uncle Scrooge and Flintheart Glomgold both want it.  

They get more than they bargain for.  Hoo-Boy, do they ever!  

If anyone enjoyed the way I set Scrooge and Flinty against each other in the “auction scene” in THIS STORY, you’re going to love my polar opposite handling of them in “Meteor Rights”. 

Look for a reference to one of my all time favorite Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge stories, and an "untold incident" that occurred thereafter!  Them's all the hints yer gettin' on this!  

And all of this Scrooge-a-rific Awesomeness (...Um, did I just say "Scrooge-a-rific Awesomeness "?) is edited by Sarah Gaydos and the incomparable David Gerstein!    

Just like last time, once you’ve read the issue, please come back and join the discussion in our Comments Section! 

I said "DISCUSSION", guys! 

I’ll be happy to discuss the lead story, particularly Jonathan’s work, from the perspective of a fellow fan – and my own from the perspective of being part of the creative process.   So, bring your comments and questions, folks! 

Just remember, I do not speak for IDW, or anyone in its employ.  I speak strictly for myself as both a long-time fan and as a dialogue creator – and those opinions are strictly my own. 

Alternate Cover: Someone tell that "Beagle Boy Octopus" to stop obscuring my name! 

 So, rather than merely “set sail”, why don't you “streak like a meteor” to get your copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 2 (Legacy Numbering # 406) from IDW!

Meet you back here to discuss it!  

BONUS COVERAGE: 

HERE is a review of the issue, published the day of release!  

Anyone willing to call one of my gags "...one of the funniest jokes I've heard in a while", is worthy of a link 'round here!  

Scooby’s Got a Secret!

For some time now, one of my most favorite comic book titles has been SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP, especially as written by the great Sholly Fisch. 

The brilliance of what Fisch does with this title is to take the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang and plunk them down into adventures with characters from across the vast Time Warner Communications Empire – meaning DC Comics, Warner Bros., MGM, and Hanna-Barbera. 

In each case, Fisch knows his guest subject well – and trades in gags that revel in the specifics and peculiarities of the visiting property.  DC Superhero gags, Flintstones gags, and Jonny Quest gags all meld perfectly with the expected Scooby-Doo character and continuity gags. 

Issues released so far feature a great number of familiar and beloved guest stars. 

Issue # 1: Batman and Robin.

Issue # 2: Ace the Bat-Hound.

Issue # 3: Bat-Mite.

Issue # 4: Teen Titans Go.

Issue # 5: Wonder Woman.

Issue # 6: Super Friends.

Issue # 7: The Flintstones.

Issue # 8: The Jetsons.

Issue # 9: Superman.

Issue # 10: Jonny Quest.

As extremely enjoyable as these team-ups have been, notice that (to one extent of “realism” or another) they are all “Human” characters.   If an animal character exists, it would be the “pet” or “mascot” of the guest starring character(s), as is Scooby himself. 

Not once have we seen a SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP with an honest-to-anthropomorphic funny animal character, despite the legions of such creations that exist over Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., MGM, and sometimes even DC Comics.

But, take a look at the scheduled pairing for SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP # 11, scheduled for a July 01, 2015 release! 

 Yep, it’s SECRET SQUIRREL! 

Debuting on NBC Saturday Morning during the Fall Season of 1965 – and a direct response to the SPY CRAZE that was ongoing at the time, Secret Squirrel ran for two seasons, and at least one more complete rerun season.     

But the character did not have much of a run in comic books, the exception being this Gold Key one-shot.

I can't wait to see HOW Scholly Fisch reconciles Secret Squirrel with Scooby and the gang! I've been wondering how (or even IF) they would handle a TRUE "funny animal" character - and not one analogous to Scooby like Astro, Dino, Bandit, or Ace the Bat-Hound.

Maybe SS is a REAL secret agent in the guise of a squirrel, because HE'S THAT GREAT A MASTER OF DISGUISE! Perhaps we'll even see Yellow Pinkie!

I'd have really bet on Yogi Bear, Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, or Pinky and The Brain as the first actual "funny animal" team-ups. But never Secret Squirrel! Wow!

Come, Pinky, we must prepare for tomorrow night.

Why, Brain... What are we gonna do tomorrow night?  

The same thing we do every night, Pinky... Try to team-up with Scooby-Doo!

Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming SECRET SQUIRREL DVD release from Warner Archives, some unspecified time in 2015. 

In any event, it won’t be the first completely bizarre character come-together in a “secret agent” comic book story…

Say, is that "William Conrad as Frank Cannon" teaming-up with Mickey?  

R.I.P. Grace Lee Whitney.

Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand for a mere eight of the earliest episodes of STAR TREK The Original Series in 1966 - yet made an impression with fans to last a lifetime, has passed away on May 01, 2015, at the age of 85.  

That impression would lead to Ms. Whitney reprising her role as Rand in various future incarnations of STAR TREK, including some of the later theatrical films and even a role on STAR TREK VOYAGER.  

Grace Lee Whitney continues her tour with Starfleet. 

Beyond STAR TREK, Grace Lee Whitney appeared in several other TV series of the era that wait faithfully on my DVD shelves, such as Darren McGavin's MIKE HAMMER, BAT MASTERSON, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE OUTER LIMITS, WAGON TRAIN, BEWITCHED -- and, most notably, GUNSMOKE and BATMAN '66.  I hope to look up many of these in the coming days.  

It's not easy getting your arms around Victor Buono as King Tut!

She even had an uncredited role in the Vincent Price horror classic "House of Wax" (1953).   

And, on a strictly personal note, Grace Lee Whitney was one of my "Big Three", that also included Marta Kristen of LOST IN SPACE and Yvonne Craig of BATMAN '66, all of whom kept me watching syndicated reruns of those shows throughout my adolescence!  

Ms. Whitney's list of IMDB credits can be found HERE.  

Rest In Peace, Grace Lee Whitney, and thank you for memories that have lasted a lifetime!  

On Sale Today: UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 from IDW!

Today is Ye Day!  So, finish reading this post, race over to your local comic shop, and pick up a copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 (Traditional Numbering # 405) from IDW!

In it, you’ll find “Gigabeagle King of the Robot Robbers”, by Romano Scarpa, Giorgio Cavazzano, Jonathan Gray, and Rodolfo Cimino. 

I waited until today to read this story, just so I can have something new and good to read to celebrate the return of UNCLE SCROOGE to the comic book retail shops of the United States! 

You’ll also find a 16 page back-up titled “Stinker, Tailor, Scrooge, and Sly” – by Romano Scarpa and Luca Boschi, dialogued by yours truly, and featuring Scrooge, Brigitta MacBridge, Jubal Pomp, and a sinister Brutopian Tailor. 

As I said in another post:  Can Scrooge get “the goods” on that Brutopian “sew and sew”?  By now, you might even know the answer! 

Of course, once you’ve read the issue, please come back and join the discussion in our Comments Section! 

I’ll be happy to discuss Maestro Scarpa and Jonathan’s work from the perspective of a fellow fan – and my own from the perspective of being part of the creative process.   So, bring your comments and questions, folks! 

Just remember, I do not speak for IDW, or anyone in its employ.  I speak strictly for myself as fan and as dialogue creator – and those opinions are strictly my own.   

So, see you on the “other side” of UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 from IDW!

Enjoy!

On Sale This Week: UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 from IDW!

Well, it's no "Surprise" to the readers of this Blog, but IDW's UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 (Traditional Numbering # 405) goes on sale this coming Wednesday - April 22, 2015!  

And, I'd like each and every one of you to welcome old Scrooge McDuck back to the comic shop shelves as enthusiastically as I will!  

Our favorite miser with a (secret) heart of gold has been absent from our comic book pull lists for far too long.  Since THIS DAY -- or, perhaps more accurately, THIS DAY.  

So, I'll see you at the comic book shop, and in the pages of IDW's UNCLE SCROOGE # 1, this Wednesday!  

Be there - and "Make it SQUARE!"   

Today’s Mind-Blowing Thought!

Talk about Mind-Blowing! 

If all goes as expected, one week from today, we will have in out hot little hands the first IDW issue of UNCLE SCROOGE!  

That will be April 22, 2015.  

The first IDW issue of UNCLE SCROOGE 2015!

What amazes me is that we had another "first issue" of UNCLE SCROOGE - twenty-five years ago, at this time!  

It was the first Disney Comics issue - part of Disney's initial onslaught of releasing all eight of their new line titles in a single day, in April 1990!  

The first Disney Comics issue of UNCLE SCROOGE 1990! 

At this point, even I cannot remember the exact date, but that it was actually twenty-five (25!) years ago is today's mind-blowing thought!

Oh, and sorry for not posting anything for 15 days.  For that you can blame THIS BOOK...

...And this guy!  

Yes, he's coming!  Beware!    

It’s April, and We’re NOT Foolin’!

April, 2015 sees the long-awaited return of the "Core Four" Disney comic book titles, courtesy of IDW - in my view, one of the very best publishers of comic material presently in the business.  

And, what better way to kick things off than with UNCLE SCROOGE!  

Carl Barks' lovable miser has been entertaining generations of comic book readers and fans since achieving his own title in 1952...

...And the tradition resumes this month with IDW's UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 (Traditional Numbering # 405)!  

The return of UNCLE SCROOGE is very special for me, on a personal level, as well.  For those of you who may have enjoyed my past scripting efforts for these comics, the return of UNCLE SCROOGE is also a "return for me" too... so far, in the first three issues. 

So, if you can tolerate my unbridled enthusiasm for a few paragraphs, please permit me to run down those moments I hope we'll be sharing in the pages of this classic comic book series.   

Cover by Giorgio Cavazzano

UNCLE SCROOGE # 1 (Traditional Numbering # 405.  Available: April, 2015)

"Stinker, Tailor, Scrooge, and Sly" (Backup to lead feature: 16 pages)  Original story by the great Romano Scarpa.  

Scrooge, Brigitta MacBridge, Jubal Pomp, and a sinister Brutopian tailor  (...Yes, really!)  

Can Scrooge get "the goods" on that Brutopian "sew and sew"?  Join us later this month to find out!  

Cover by Jonathan Gray

UNCLE SCROOGE # 2 (Traditional Numbering # 406. Available: May, 2015)

"Meteor Rights" (Backup to lead feature: 10 pages)  Original Dutch story.

A potentially precious meteor has fallen to Earth, in the Dismal Swamp outside Duckburg.  Uncle Scrooge and Flintheart Glomgold both want it.  

They get more than they bargain for.  Hoo-Boy, do they ever!  

Cover by Marco Rota

UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 (Traditional Numbering # 407. Available: June, 2015)

"The Duckburg 100" (Lead Feature: 32 pages)  Original story by the great Romano Scarpa.  

As a promotional gimmick, a bank is issuing 100 dollar awards to lucky random recipients.  All's well until Scrooge finds out he OWNS the bank!  

Do "the bucks stop here"?  They will, if Scrooge has anything to say about it!  ...And wait'll you see Donald's latest obsession! 

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The first two issues lead off with superb work from Jonathan Gray.  I can say that simply because it IS Jonathan Gray... and when is his work anything other than superb!   

Indeed, I've declined to read Jonathan's work in advance simply because *I* want to have something great to read when the issues are released, just like the rest of you!   

Finally, no such post would be complete without mentioning the superlative efforts of David Gerstein, Sarah Gaydos, and everyone at IDW, who have made this all possible!    

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Please note: The specific issue contents described in this post are as I understand them to be at this time, and are always subject to change.  I do not speak for IDW, or anyone in its employ.  My words - and my enthusiasm for these comics - are strictly my own.  Though I sincerely hope you'll join me in that enthusiasm.  

...And it all starts THIS MONTH!  

Welcome Back, Uncle Scrooge!