Aw, heck… we might as well go for the “Core Four Trifecta” (…or
would that be a “quad-fecta”?) for the outstandingly awesome month of November 2015 for
the IDW Disney comic books.
After such an incredible month of:
…Some drop-off was bound to occur, and (quite frankly) WALT
DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 725 is something of a lesser issue when compared to the absolutely magnificent efforts with which it shared the month of
November.
But, remember one important thing… WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND
STORIES # 725 is an IDW Disney comic, and even IDW’s “lesser” efforts are
better than the average of many of the previous Disney licensed comic book
publishers.
As expected, the issue leads off with, and is dominated by, “The Search for the Zodiac Stone” Part Five… though the contents page labels it as “Chapter
Six of Twelve”. I’ve never been much at
math, and it COULD be me, but I doubt it.
Still in all, it must be rough to have to write a “Chapter
Six (or five) of Twelve” and have it maintain much relevancy to the core
plot. It’s simultaneously too far beyond
the set-up or beginning, and too far away from the wrap-up or the end to be
very much more than “time-passage”.
And “time-passage” is exactly what “Mode Star” is – and of
the worst kind, as it contributes nothing toward the overall plot of reconstructing
the mystic Zodiac Stone, makes no reference to the “Mouse Character Contingent”
of our epic – and, save for a passing reference to the “Virgo” piece of the
stone, could just as easily have passed for a stand-alone Donald Duck
misadventure.
 |
| What about all this stuff? |
Not just any old romp of a Donald Duck misadventure, mind
you, but one that could very well have sprung from the mind of Vic Lockman
circa 1969-1970, when his overtaxed imagination veered into an uncharted territory of loopy-ness.
…Or have you forgotten this sterling example of his 1969
work – the (…all together now) infamous “Bird-Bothered Hero” (from DONALD DUCK # 127 Cover Date: September 1969)!
As our issue's cover illustrates, Donald overproduces a literal torrent of “Donald Duck Sailor
Suits” (even too many for HIM to wear) at Uncle Scrooge’s automated clothing
factory.
After a plot-detouring visit to a fashion designer...
...He is taken
into outer space (!) to a planet of militant female fashionistas!
SPOILER WARNING: They fall in love with Donald’s style and take all the
surplus sailor togs off Scrooge’s hands for big McDuck profits, leaving Donald in the classically Vic-Lockmanian position of inadvertent hero. END SPOILER WARNING!
Sheesh! It’s really
not hard to imagine Lockman and his 1950-1960s views of the world creating this
story.
But, once again, it must be something of a grind to write “Chapter
Six (or five) of Twelve” of ANYTHING, so I shouldn’t be too hard on it.
Please note that whatever I might think of this “time-passing hole-plugger of a plot”, it in no way reflects upon the always superb translation
and dialoguing work of Jonathan Gray, who still spins gold from… from... whatever this
is.
Better luck – for ALL of us – next time!
The issue is rounded out by a Bucky Bug SILLY SYMPHONIES Sunday
strip page from 1933, drawn by classic artist Al Taliaferro (love the baby birds)…
And a 1957 Chip ‘n’ Dale story written by animation writer Nick George
and drawn by the great Harvey Eisenberg.
Gotta love Eisenberg’s version of Brer Bear!
And everyone loves new baby chicks. Seriously… I do!
I must emphatically declare that THIS is the reason that WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES must always continue to exist. For Bucky Bug, and Chip ‘n’ Dale, and Li'l Bad Wolf, and Brer Rabbit, and Scamp... and for all the classic features that would not comfortably fit into a regular Duck or Mouse title! Long may it continue!
So, avoid receiving citations from a militaristic fashion
police, and get yourself a copy of WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 725.
And don’t take my criticisms of the issue too seriously. Most of that stems from IDW’s overall
standards being SOOOO gosh-darned high!
Remember you could have had issues that looked like this (Shudder!)...
...Instead of this (Alternate Cover)!
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.
See you in the Comments Section - fashionable sailor suits optional!
