Another Review of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 from IDW

HERE'S another review of IDW's UNCLE SCROOGE # 3.  

I disagree with the reviewer's thoughts on the ending being rushed, as I felt that Scarpa did a magnificent job of tying the the threads together.  

But, his view of the UNCLE SCROOGE comic book series in general is very much worth reading!

Enjoy! 

Aw, c'mon, Scroogey!  Give him a break!  

Happy Comic Shop Retirement!

I've had many memorable experiences in the realm of comic books, first as a reader, later as an active fan, and, in recent years, as a content creator - but never one quite like this.  

Today was the "retirement day" for my comic shop of choice for more than the last two decades - Bailey's Comics, of Lindenhurst, NY, or more specifically for its longtime owner, whose name I will not mention in case he doesn't want the publicity.  

I could not be more satisfied with my experiences at Bailey's Comics, at which I've been a regular (again) for more than 20 years!  Or, for the readers of this Blog - and on the Disney licensed publisher scale - since Gladstone Series II.  

I would recommend Bailey's Comics to anyone and everyone reading this... and, guess what - I STILL CAN!  

I STILL CAN because, despite my longtime friend's retirement and the ending of that particular store...

Bailey's Comics has moved to a new location just up the road, and remains in very familiar and friendly hands!  

So, if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by 282 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 - and say "Hi!" to Trung... and, if you happen to go on a day one of my IDW Disney comics is out (...the next one of which is pictured below), you might even meet me there!  

Oh, the Yogi Bear illustration that leads off this post?  

That has been stuck on one of the walls of Bailey's Comics as far back as its stated copyright date of 1997 - and I have gotten a "lift" from seeing each time I visited the old store!  It's a wonderful, lively image!  

At the retirement celebration today, I mentioned how much I liked seeing it over the years... and now I have it, and will place it onto one of my own comic book cabinets!  

Odd, considering all those years as a Bailey's Comics patron, there has never been a Yogi Bear comic book for me to buy there - save this one odd issue...

...But, Yogi Bear will be my final remembrance of the old Bailey's Comics.  That and, of course, lots of great comics - and the equally great service and attention that came *with* those great comics!

See you, in person or in spirit, for that same wonderful experience at the NEW Bailey's Comics!

  A retirement napkin from today's celebration! 

On Sale Today: DONALD DUCK # 2 from IDW!

You don't need a "pushy reporter" to tell you that today's the day for DONALD DUCK # 2 (Legacy Numbering # 369) from IDW! 

...But, if one pesters you, be sure not to spill your test tubes of purple-staining chemicals on your copy. Because in it, you'll find “Shellfish Motives: Part Two of Two”, continued from last month's issue, by Romano Scarpa and dialogued by Jonathan Gray!  ...And you'd just hate yourself if you damaged such a great comic! 

No spoilers on our exciting conclusion, but I will note one oddity...

The signature of Walt Disney, as it appeared on the various comic STRIPS, appears throughout part two of “Shellfish Motives”!   SEVEN TIMES, in fact! 

It actually appeared ONCE in "Part One" (below), and I thought nothing of it - as, I suspect, did many of you...

...But, here it is, all over "Part Two"!  Note the nice Carl Barks reference by Jonathan Gray in the third panel!

I haven't the slightest idea as to why this exists, nor why the signature is placed in the specific panels that it is.  

Might there have been more that were removed?  If not, why would it appear only ONCE over the 25 pages of "Part One" - and SEVEN TIMES over the 25 pages of "Part Two"?

Perhaps it was meant to mark the endings of "mini-chapters", within this lengthy story?  But the uneven distribution of the occurrences would seem to disprove that theory.  Anyone know?  

Oh, and I promised no spoilers, but I must say that Donald ends with an unexpected victory at the end of this tale that tickled me no end!  See it for yourself!  

There's also have an innocuous one-page Donald and Fethry gag, translated and scripted by our own Archival Editor David Gerstein, which I have a feeling I'd seen done before in the old Dell or Gold Key days - though I'll never recall where. 

Click to Enlarge.

We end with a REAL TREAT for everyone!  "Donald Duck Counter Spy" a rare non-comic strip artistic outing for classic Disney Duck artist Al Taliaferro!  

That was a Cheerios Premium Giveaway comic from 1947, so I doubt many of you have seen this! I haven't, and am thrilled to find it here!

Note Taliaferro's depiction of Donald's Neighbor Jones, whom Carl Barks introduced in 1943, but had fallen into disuse by 1947, and would not be revived again by Barks until 1963.  

The characterization of Jones is clearly that of Barks, even if the look is not!  
   

In any case, David Gerstein has certainly earned his "Archival Editor Jr. Woodchuck Merit Badge" for unearthing this one! 

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

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. 

So, don't feel “Shellfish” about treating yourself to a copy of DONALD DUCK # 2 (Legacy Numbering # 369) from IDW!

...It's that special kind of personal indulgence with which no one could disagree! 

I’ll meet you back here for another lively comment thread!  

We have the best - and most polite - IDW Disney Comics discussions on the whole blamed Internet, so let's continue to have fun!   

Brief Review of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 (Legacy Number # 407) From IDW.

Here's a brief review of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 (Legacy Number # 407) from IDW, while we await more such fun to come from this great new line of Disney comic books!  

Enjoy!

R.I.P. Christopher Lee.

Iconic horror film actor Christopher Lee passed away on June 07, 2015, at the age of 93. 

In the case of Mr. Lee, the designation of “iconic” could not be truer!  Can you think of or speak the name of Christopher Lee and not think of horror?  …I thought not!    

Lee made his greatest impression on film audiences with many starring or key roles in movies made by the famous British studio Hammer Films.  As I’ve often said in the Horror and Sci-fi Film Appreciation Society that I attend: “Hammer is a class act!”, producing almost deceptively lush product on relatively small budgets – lifted, to be sure, by the presence of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee as its main or “go-to” lead actors.   

As best I can piece together, Warner Bros. likely brought Hammer Films to these shores with “The Curse of Frankenstein” in 1957, where Peter Cushing played the Doctor and Christopher Lee shambled about as the Monster.  It had a fresh and different look from Universal’s eternally classic early 1930s-era horror films – and may have been just the wide-screen-in-color shot-in-the-arm the faded Horror genre needed to make a serious comeback in the United States. 

Hammer and Warner Bros. soon followed this up with “Horror of Dracula” in 1958, with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, and an amazing turn as Count Dracula by Christopher Lee!  Reluctant as I am to lift anyone over the great Bela Lugosi, Lee was fantastic making the role his own and putting himself on the horror genre map forever! 

Lee and Cushing were all over the Hammer horror landscape, in films released domestically by Warner Bros., Columbia, and even Universal who may have seen some serious competition from Hammer, but later joined forces with the British horror masters, releasing some memorable films including "Brides of Dracula", "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Evil of Frankenstein", alas none of which starred Lee.

He even followed his old Hammer mate Peter Cushing into the Star Wars franchise.  

A link to Christopher Lee’s credits at IMDB is found HERE.  

For Hammer, Lee might have done turns as ruthless pirate captains – and even as Rasputin – but he will always be one of the screen’s best vampires – and (again) a true horror icon. 

Rest In Peace, Christopher Lee, and thank you for some amazing cinematic experiences!

On Sale Today: UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 from IDW!

Make haste to your local comic shop, for today is the day to pick up a copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 (Legacy Numbering # 407) from IDW! 

In it, you’ll find "The Duckburg 100", original story and art by the great Romano Scarpa – and my first dialogued lead feature for IDW, checking in at a whopping 32 pages!  

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!  Oh, yeah!  Just wait! 

And, if that’s not enough fer ya…

…It’s got the Beagle Boys! It’s got Jubal Pomp!  It’s got a robot with a funny name!  Look hard and you’ll even find two (very) minor DuckTales references and an equally minor one for a late period Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge story.  
  

Scarpa takes this story into many different fun directions, but ties it together very nicely in the end.  Oh, yes.. *I* also take it into another "fun direction" of my own along the way that Scarpa never envisioned, but is now needed as a necessary concession to the time that has passed since original publication in 1961.  But, true to Scarpa's story structure, my addition also "ties together" nicely to the Maestro's original intent. ...And, when you can accomplish that - as I believe I have, it may be the most rewarding factor in "translating / dialoguing / Americanizing" a story such as this. 

Tributing political figure Sarah Palin AND classic Disney comic book writer Vic Lockman in the same panel MUST be some kind of first!  

The issue is also the IDW debut for Thad Komorowski, dialoguing "Donald’s Gabby Guest", a short story drawn by classic Disney Duck and Dell and Gold Key Comics artist Tony Strobl.  We’ll be seeing lots of great stuff coming from Thad over the upcoming months.

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

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. 

So, while I close my eyes and count to 100 ("Duckburg 100", that is) run out and get your copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3 (Legacy Numbering # 407) from IDW!

I’ll meet you back here for another lively comment thread!  

Golly! I hope the REST OF YOU don't feel quite this ornery! 

The Wrath of …Scrooge?

Here at TIAH Blog, we love UNCLE SCROOGE, and we love STAR TREK.  But, we seldom, if ever, see a post that tributes them both. 

Enter “Bully”, a talented fellow (…or stuffed animal, you decide) from Brooklyn, NY who put up this wonderful post, that we link to HERE! 

I don’t know “Bully”.  Never met him.  But, I enjoy his work and visit his Blog regularly.  You should too! 

...And, hey!  It just occurred to me that IDW now publishes both UNCLE SCROOGE and STAR TREK!  How 'bout that! 

Finally, thank you one and all – those who left comments, those who contacted me personally, and those who were moved privately – for your kindness regarding our previous post!  It is forever appreciated!