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.
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!
35 comments:
Congratulations, Joe!
Unfortunately, none of the local stores in my area are carrying these, as comic books are all but disappearing from the shelves.
I have to travel a bit to find a good comic book shop, so I'll have to content myself with getting caught up every other month or so.
Thanks for sharing so much of it--this is very exciting news and I'm sure you're thrilled to see your own dialogue in print. Looks like another winner, I have no doubt! Can't wait to check this one out.
Hopefully these Disney titles will prove popular enough that the local stores in my area will start carrying them soon. In the meantime, I appreciate the updates.
My favorite tv show of all time is Seinfeld, mainly because of its ability to seamlessly handle numerous "fun directions" and have them tie together in the end. As such it's natural that I would love "Duckburg 100". Great writing and artwork by Scarpa, enhanced by hilarious scripting by good ol Joe Torcivia. I also very much enjoyed the Tony Strobl 2 pager. I hope we'll see some of his longer works reprinted in the future. Overall another wonderful issue by IDW.
Nice one here, Joe. Strong, silly story enhanced by some strong, silly scripting. Glad that we can both say we're credited on the same cover as Romano Scarpa!
Scarecrow:
I feel for your plight. Comic book shops have been a vanishing (or, at the very least, contracting) breed for some time now. But, if I understand things correctly, you do live in (or near) a large metropolitan area, so I’m disappointed to learn of your troubles in finding these issues.
Are there simply no more comic shops in your area? Or, if they exist, do they just not carry these titles? If the latter, you could have them ordered for you by starting a subscription or “pull” list. My own shop (…Yes, even MY own personal “shop of choice”!) does not order these titles in large quantities, but always has them put aside for me, and one or two for the shelves. That, alas, has long been a reality of comics retailing. A shop, particularly a smaller one (like my own), simply cannot order everything.
But, I’ve never seen a shop that would not order a title if you turned-up regularly to purchase it. You could even begin turning the tide with such an action, as they may also get “one or two for the shelves” while they’re at it.
Whatever the situation, I hope you find a copy soon – and know that we’re always around to trade comments, when you do.
Clapton:
SEINFELD is without doubt the greatest sit-com of the “modern era”. But, never once did I relate it to the Ducks in general, or Romano Scarpa in particular.
…But, YEAH! I can see that! Lots of different fun directions… Tie them together, unexpectedly, in the end. Hey, I’ll buy ANY argument that, in any way, links my writing to Larry David’s! :-)
As you may know from a prior post’s Comment Section, David (“Gerstein”, not “Larry”) *did* suggest that I write Jubal Pomp as “Newman” to Scrooge’s “Jerry Seinfeld”… and I took that literally to heart in Scrooge’s greeting to Pomp on Page 9, Panel 2. …But, that’s the closest I’d imagine that I’d ever get to SEINFELD! So, consider me quite honored!
Scarpa did a wonderful job with this one, and I hope I did his work the good turn it richly deserves.
Yup, Thad!
“Strong and silly”… That’s us all over!
“Glad that we can both say we're credited on the same cover as Romano Scarpa!”
Yeah, a few months ago, who’d have ever figured on THAT!
I really liked this new issue. This was a very character-driven story, and the way that all the character's story lines meshed together was a lot of fun. Often editorial meddling, like Donald's Captain Retro-Duck obsession, in an attempt to make older stories seem modern just backfires, but in this case, it works quite well, and is fully in character for Donald (and might sting just a little for nostalgia junkies reading it). "I'm having too much age-inappropriate fun!" is now one of my favorite Donald Duck quotes (and makes me think of Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead). The Beagle Boys playing on playground equipment in their yard was a funny bit as well. I'm beginning to warm to Jubal Pomp as well, as this is the strongest story I've read that he had a part in. He feels like his own character here and not just another Rockerduck, who feels like a Glomgold knock-off. Pomp seems, to me, to be the small-time operator who wants to break into the big-time circles by challenging McDuck. (I may haves his peronality wrong, but that is how he comes off in the few stories I've read that feature him.)
The two-page gag was good, too. It's nice to see not just Tony Strobl's work, but work from Disney's backlog of material produced in-house for overseas publications.
Looking forward to Donald Duck #2 and Mickey Mouse #1!
(I also need to find time in my busy schedule to get back to my drawing table...moving to a new house isn't much fun...)
Thank you, Deb:
Glad you enjoyed the issue. Reading it again, after a few months of separation, I really enjoyed it too! Particularly in the way Scarpa structured this story.
As he often does, he took his 32 allotted pages and went off in a number of (as I say) fun directions, but I REALLY like how he “brought them all back in” – starting at the top of Page 28. I could sense such a (for complete lack of a better descriptive phrase) “deceleration and braking mode from the wild ride” beginning at that particular point that I even “reminded” readers how it all began with a caption.
.
.
.
THIS SECTION MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS – SO, PLEASE READ OR SKIP AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION! AN “END SPOILER WARNING” WILL FOLLOW FOR YOU TO SKIP TO!
As far as the “editorial meddling” with this story goes (…and I KNOW you don’t mean it in a harsh sense, so fret not. I *do* understand what you mean.), you can hang that completely on me. The first question I asked David was “Why would a pair of Walkie-Talkies be this kind of a big deal in 2015?”. Unless we were going to specifically frame a story as a “period piece”, as we explicitly did of necessity with “To the Moon by Noon”, something needed to be done – and I knew exactly what!
“Captain Retro-Duck” was my own invention, and (at least to me) a perfect device to prevent a really great story by Scarpa from seeming unjustly anachronistic. Besides, it was the kind of thing Donald COULD become temporarily obsessed with, while remaining in character. Remaining in character is VERY important to me, and sometimes things need to be tweaked to maintain that.
I envision Captain Retro-Duck as being “Adam West’s Batman (with a “Retro-This” and a “Retro-That”) by way of Darkwing Duck” “Let’s get Retro!”). Perhaps, some day, you’d even want to attempt a concept sketch!
I expect that not everyone will agree with the move but, in the end, we sure got a lot more “fannish humor” than we would have gotten from “Spy Walkie-Talkies”. Right down to the last panel!
.
.
.
“END SPOILER WARNING!” YOU MAY RESUME READING!
I, too, feel this may have been the best outing for Jubal Pomp. In my view, it’s certainly the BEST STORY he’s appeared in to be published in the United States. I’d say you’ve got him down just right, at least as *I* see him!
In addition to SEINFELD’s “Newman” (as an irritant to Scrooge), I also gave him a dash of W.C. Fields in this story, as the way Scarpa drew him seemed to suggest that. And, from the previous thread, I think there’s a little “Harry Mudd” in him as well. Pomp fills a character void in Scrooge’s life – that “non-evil irritant”, without whom you’d probably be all the happier but does not threaten your standing or your existence. Perhaps, even more than “Newman”, he could be to Scrooge what “Neighbor Jones” is to Donald.
Pomp is certainly not another Rockerduck – because he HASN’T made it yet! And, presumably, never will but will never stop trying new and different angles. My view of Rockerduck was similar to yours – and, when he appears in UNCLE SCROOGE # 7 (assuming my characterization remains as I submitted it), note the DIFFERENCES from Glomgold – in how he views himself vs. Scrooge. I wanted him to fill a more unique niche than Glomgold. In October, you can let me know if I’ve succeeded.
Breaking-up the comment here, because Google says I must!
Resuming the previous reply here!
I’ve been a huge fan of Tony Strobl most of my life – and when I met him at his home in 1988, found him to be perfectly charming. One of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet! Got to see his studio and everything. While I think his ‘70s and ‘80s work exhibited a certain “stiffness” that was not present in his better previous work, I would enjoy seeing more of the “unseen stuff” from those periods – and REALLY wish there were a way to introduce his Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig stories to a modern audience.
And, YES! Mickey Mouse returns this month! And The Phantom Blot returns in Issue # 2! So much great stuff to come!
BTW, an update on Mickey Mouse#1. MM#1 is currently listed to come out June 24. Yay!!!
Thank you for confirming that, Clapton!
And, with more Casty, to boot! I can't wait!
SPOILER ALERT: skip first paragraph if you haven't read this issue!
I thought the whole "Retro-Duck" thing was brilliant, Joe. I knew right away when it was introduced that it was probably thought up to explain the attractiveness of walkie-talkies....but then you did so much more with it! Donald's fanboy obsession (which I agree is in character for him), the winks at 1960's TV (even a reference to Star Trek there--or at least, to a certain Captain's SNL sketch), and Donald's references to Retro-Duck episodes throughout. Those references to RD eps really worked well as a running joke and as a way of making sense of Donald's adventurousness. My guess is that they gave Donald's storyline more coherence and comedic heft than it had in the original! Right up to and including the very last panel! As I read along in the story, the Retro-Duck stuff soon stopped being "the way they finessed the tech-out-of-time" and became "the most fun thing about this story." THAT's taking a bug and making it a feature, and I take my hat off to you!
Oh, and I really like James Silvani's sub cover for this, with the JWs asking Scrooge for a donation. And it does fit with a story--the short Strobl story, wherein one of the things they teach Doubloon to say is "Donate to the Junior Woodchucks!"
I've found some Strobl stuff not printed in the USA that increases my appreciation of his work. Wish I could post a picture here....in Vic Lockman's "Birthday Blues," there's a scene where the felinoid Middle Eastern gazillionaire is putting on a show for Scrooge, and there's a wonderful panel of cat-people performing acrobatics. I thought, Wow, whatever you might say about Strobl's art, you can *not* say that he phoned it in. He could have dashed off some silly scene, and he put his heart into this one.
AND SKIP THIS REPLY, TO AVOID ADDITIONAL SPOLIERS.
Elaine:
When you say: “ As I read along in the story, the Retro-Duck stuff soon stopped being "the way they finessed the tech-out-of-time" and became "the most fun thing about this story." THAT's taking a bug and making it a feature, and I take my hat off to you!”, I feel as highly praised as can be! Thank you!
For, just as you say above, that was the “reason of necessity” for the whole thing. And, it’s great to know that my gamble paid off. I also guess that means I know just a little bit about being a “fanboy”! And, heck, assuming that the “Get a Life” episode was not the last one, Captain Retro-Duck ran for at least 900 (!) episodes, if not more! …That must have been SOME marathon!
Oh, I didn't scan the alternate cover this time, because my shop didn't get one. I did like it, though.
Sure wish I could see that Strobl story. Hey, David… Take note!
Blast off for Retro-Adventure! Here is my rendition of Donald Duck's Retro-Hero, Captain Retro for all of the Captain's Retro-Buddies out there: http://debbie.fluffyandmervin.com/69/
Have I said "Retro" enough in this post yet? If not, "Let's get Retro!"
Welcome to the Retro-Rangers, Retro-Deb!
With your Official Captain Retro-Duck Walkie-Talkies in hand, you have many Retro-adventures ahead of you – battling “The Retro-Speck”, “Doctor Mor-on”, and “The Dreaded Eviloid”. Much less other crooks from my scripting Rogues Gallery like “Handlebars Mc Twirlsneer”, “Bad Bertram”, and “Second Story Morey” (The latter two will be referenced in next month’s MICKEY MOUSE # 2 – and even more villains from my “Unused Idea File”, like the evil baker version of Batman’s Two-Face that I call “Half-a-Loaf”!
Happy crime-crushing, Retro-Ranger Retro-Deb!
Seriously, I absolutely LOVE the sketch!
HERE is a link to Deb’s sketch for easier access! Everyone, go there – Retro-Now!
Retro-Joe. (Hey, that Retro-rhymes!)
Hey, Joe!
Finding myself with some time off (and my novel finished!) I took a trip to Sac to my favorite comic book shop and got myself a copy of US #3.
I'm very delighted with the story, the artwork, and of course the dialogue. It took me some time to read all the way through, partly because I didn't want to rush the experience, and partly because other aspects of life tend to intrude on my reading time. But I'm glad I took my time so that I could absorb this somewhat complicated story in smaller chunks. I appreciate the way you kept clarifying the plot points.
Donald's obsession with Captain Retro-Duck gives us a look at his sense of fun. This other side of his character made his role in the story highly enjoyable. The Beagle Boys seemed a little cagier than usual this time around--usually when one of them dons a disguise it is so transparent one wonders how anyone could be fooled by it--but in this instance they did a pretty good job of maintaining the scam. Uncle Scrooge's motives were understandable and for the most part reasonable--he is not always as sympathetically portrayed as in this story, but it kept me pulling for him.
I really loved the dialogue! Alliteration that is off the charts! I really liked "An' let his surreptitiously sculpturized Scrooge-spyin' begin!" There were also some clever rhymes, especially "A crown jewel to make me drool!" It isn't often that a line that fits Uncle Scrooge would be equally apropos for Yogi Bear! I laughed out loud on that one! I also appreciated the reference to Ma Beagle from "Duck Tales." Not only do you tell a story well, you clearly have fun doing it--your clever little asides and pop cultural references work on their own as effective lines even if people don't get the inside jokes, because they still advance the story. It takes talent to find that fine balance between pleasing long-term readers and holding onto those just getting on board, but I think you have developed just the right touch in that regard.
It's always a treat to see Tony Strobl's work in print as well--for the most part he kept the characters solidly on-model through the many years he was drawing. His Disney characters generally had the definitive Disney look. This on-model quality really defines his style for me--other artists had their own special flourishes, but Strobl's special flourish was his authenticity.
Keep up the excellent work, Joe! Looking forward to more!
Scarecrow:
Very glad you were able to get a copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 3, and I just hope it’s less of an ordeal for you going forward – because I know there’s some great stuff coming. Especially, if our particular type of enhancements make for a better read, as we certainly intend.
If there is one thing that strikes me, over the course of the IDW Disney material that has been released thus far – and those future releases of which I’m aware, it’s just how much fun they are to ACTUALLY READ, panel to panel! You could say they crackle! And, of course, I’m not just speaking of my own work, but of the line overall, because we clearly have editors who believe in this approach. And, the comments such as yours, and those of the many others received here, indicate this to be the right way to go.
I won’t speak for any of my colleagues, but I, personally, operate under that simple guideline that Carl Barks put forth all those years ago… (paraphrasing) about doing a story that [he’d] want to buy himself! And, when I read “Duckburg 100” this past Wednesday after not looking back on it since last March when I was working on it, I found that *I* enjoyed the experience, even more than I expected to.
Now, let’s not fail to give proper due (…nay, give TREMENDOUS due) to Romano Scarpa’s lively, laugh-a-minute original story! Without such an exquisitely plotted base from which to work, none of the dialogue would have any reason to exist. My job is to take that base, and wring additional enjoyment from it for the American audience. I REALLY ENJOY “doing that job”, and I’m glad it shows!
I have always said of Tony Strobl that his artwork was “clean, crisp, and always on-model”. This was especially so in his prime period of the 1950s and 1960s. And his work was such across the various studios for whom Western was a licensee. His Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, his Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, his Jetsons, and everything he did always looked “just right”!
…And, congrats on completing the novel! Given the time and energy that go into my comic book scripts, I can only imagine what attempting an original novel must be like!
Joe,This is unrelated to U$#3 but I wanted to let you know I took up your advice on asking to open an old(Pre-Gladstone) back issue before buying it. I got Phantom Blot #5 and thoroughly enjoyed it so thanks for helping me end my stigma for old back issues!
Clapton:
Not only am I happy to see you set aside your aversion to older back issues – but am doubly pleased to find that it was with one of my all-time favorite comics, PHANTOM BLOT # 5 “The Crown of Tasbah”!
Though somewhat more common in modern times, as seen in certain stories during the Gemstone era, the teaming of just Mickey and Donald (and no other characters) was so rare it was unheard-of in the mid-sixties! That made it special enough, but add the Phantom Blot to the mix and THAT was something REALLY special!
I can still remember the thrill of buying that comic new at a nearby candy store. I hope you experienced something similar.
Joe:
"Oh, retro-rapture!" After many days of wrist-wracking design work I made my way to the comics shop to finally partake of a Torcivia-led issue of Uncle Scrooge, and it was surely worth the wait: "The Duckburg 100" might initially sound like a yarn about a Calisota speedcar race, but the "100" is sort of a race against time!
There's so much to enjoy, and I couldn't help but smile at your well-sewn-in references to two Barks favorites... "The Treasure of Marco Polo" being one. The other is a perfect call-back to "Only a Poor Old Man" in which Scrooge gets cagey enough to use Donald's words on financial security against him: "Remember? You'll take vanilla?" Ice cream sodas, and such?" Just PERFECT stuff. Now, "Dr. Mor-on" just made me laugh out loud!
Though only two pages, Thad's dialogue was equally entertaining, especially since Doubloon provided plenty of dialogue to fill in for 12 panels! Might I add, it sure is nice to see a "new" Tony Strobl story.
I have to admit that both Gideon McDuck and Jubal Pomp have been depicted extremely well to the U.S. audience through the IDW translation and dialogue team—they complement the world of Duckburg. Interestingly, while reading Jubal's dialogue in "The Duckburg 100" there was a moment I realized my mind was subconsciously giving him the voice of the late, great John Candy. Not a bad fit, I'd say! Wonder how others hear him?
Of course, I can only imagine we haven't heard the last of Captain Retro-Duck, especially now that Deb's talent has given us a good look at him! In the tradition of super team-ups such as Batman '66 and The Green Hornet there obviously MUST be an occasion in which Captain Retro-Duck and Super Snooper unite for the common good... "BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!"
– Dan
Dan:
John Candy?
Gosh! Never thought of him as Jubal Pomp! But, yeah! As I said above, I saw a bit of W.C. Fields in Scarpa’s visual depiction of him here (more so than in previously printed stories) – and so I “heard” a bit of that.
And how about this thought… Carl Barks’ “Treasure of Marco Polo”, over the course of my lifetime, has gone from being a “current event” that I bought from the same candy story that supplied my copy of PHANTOM BLOT # 5 (see the comment above yours), to what now might as well be a chapter in “The Life and Times of Scrooge Mc Duck”!
And, if you REALLY want to make you head start aching from doing the temporal-twist, consider that “Duckburg 100” was originally published in 1961 and “Treasure of Marco Polo” in 1966, but now the former “looks back” on the latter as an historical chapter in Scrooge’s life! …Oooohh!
I *do* hope I (or others?) have the opportunity to reference Captain Retro-Duck again. It seems too good a concept to “retro-fade"!
Bonus Content:
Just because everyone seems to like Captain Retro-Duck so much, here’s an additional bit of dialogue that didn’t make the final version! Consider it the dialoguing version of an outtake:
TV: It’s the Captain Retro-Duck Walkie-Talkie set— ‘cause he’s too retro to use a cell phone!
Donald: I wannabe that kinda retro, too! >Slobber!<
Huey: He must be retro to use an antique like that!
Dewey: And to use “Captain” as…
Louie: …part of his name!
I am flattered by all the compliments on my sketch. Thanks!
Deb:
It is MORE than deserving of all of it!
Let me also mention how much I liked the “Publisher’s Logo” in the far upper left. Might the tie-in Captain Retro-Duck comic book series have been published by “R-DC Comics”? …How did IDW miss out on that one? :-)
The Corner Logo gave me a chance to draw the Retro-Duck symbol that is also on Captain Retro-Duck's chest in slighty more detail. I also considered putting a Gold Key logo or a McDuck Comics Group logo there at one point.
That is a great sketch by Deb.
A Gold Key logo in the corner might have been a nice homage, at that. Of course, Silver Age Gold Key would have a painted cover. And a caption saying something like, "Captain Retro-Duck fights the Eyeless Monsters from Venus in 'The Venusian Blinds!'"
And the back cover would be the same picture, without the title or blurb, just a tiny caption labeling it as a "pin-up."
Normally the comic-book retailer, I go to pick up “Uncle Scrooge” from orders limited copies of the title. If possible I try to pick-up the issue on the release date, but in this case I was not able to. It was this Friday when I was done writing an exam. I followed the directions to my comic-book retailer; the GPS gave an incorrect direction of making a left turn.
In the process of finding the correct route, I looked straight ahead there was a comic-book shop. In the windows was a cutout of Uncle Scrooge, an omen that it was the right place to pick it up from. Was it the best comic-book shop ever! As soon as I entered, immediately I found not only the regular comic-book cover of “Uncle Scrooge” #405, but also the subscription variant. I picked up the later, as the design of Scrooge’s office was similar to “DUCKTALES”.
I was perusing the shop to see what else they had in store. (That’s a joke, son!) To my complete surprise I saw on the wall, was “JETSONS” #22. I immediately snagged it as I wanted to add it to my collection. I looked in their surplus of Dell/Gold Key comics to unearth “Uncle Scrooge” #64, and “Donald Duck” #109. Not only did I treat myself to your work, but in more company with Strobl, Lockman, and Barks. It was a serendipitous occasion that it led me to the comic-book shop, that I will continue visiting from now on!
TC:
All true, and great observations all! Especially the cover caption!
But, I’ve long been aware that you “know your Gold Key Comics”!
Only thing is, if “Captain Retro-Duck” were a Gold Key comic, I’d imagine that his “retro-ness” would reflect the 1930s and not the 1960s, the heyday of Gold Key Comics!
The Gold Key “Captain Retro-Duck” title would probably take place in the TALE SPIN world! Then again, would he REALLY look all that different from Deb’s design – going from ‘60s to ‘30s? Not really, and that’s a nice reflection on Deb’s work. Retro, to be sure, but not TOO rooted in one particular time period – but more of a “general retro-look” to him!
…Oh, we all have so much fun with this stuff, don’t we?
That’s a GREAT story, Adel!
Not only did you get “Duckburg 100”, but also “Treasure of Marco Polo” which was referenced in “Duckburg 100”, “Og’s Iron Bed” one of my most favorite Donald stories of the period, and the last original, non-reprint Gold Key Jetsons! That was a veritable 1966 bonanza!
Strobl, Lockman, and Barks in the older comics – and Strobl ALSO in the new one! …As well as a guy who remains highly influenced by Barks and Lockman – meaning me!
It’s great when something like that works out! Enjoy all that great reading… then, go read my stuff.
Good grief, are we STILL talking about Captain Retro-Duck? The funny thing is, I'm not a big fan of Super Heroes. I'm a bigger fan of talking mice and ducks, though the Simpsons comics have done a few good silver-age-ish Super Hero send-ups with Bartman, Radioactive Man and Pie Man. While doing a painted cover was beyond the scope of my sketch, I WAS thinking of stuff a bit older than 1960's retro, as the comic strip Buck Rogers goes way back to 1929 (making him a contemporary of a certain round-eared rodent!). Even as Disney brings Donald and company into the 21st century, they still have an odd "retro-modern" feel to them (even DuckTales did, as Launchpad McQuack looks like he could have stepped out of an old adventure serial from the 1930's, and Webby looks like she would fit just as well into vintage 1940-50's Duck comics just as well as she did into a late 1980's TV series). The cover almost had a blurb at the bottom, most likely something about "The Exciting Origin of Captain Retro-Duck's Retro-Walkie-Talkies!" but I thought that would make the drawing look too cluttered, so I skipped it.
Well, Deb… I would think it quite the compliment to your design and my concept, fleshed-out with the series of episode reference gags, that we ARE still talking about Captain Retro-Duck! Only time will tell if we’ve actually made a (very) minor contribution to Disney comics lore – as with other seemingly one-shot ideas like Super Snooper, Brutopia, and Gurgle-Urp – that still reverberate with us in modern-day translations and Americanized story versions, but you just never know what’s going to take on a life of its own.
Also, while my original influences for Captain Retro-Duck were (and remain) Adam West’s Batman ’66 by way of Darkwing Duck, I think your analogy to The Simpsons’ Radioactive Man (especially as published by Bongo Comics – you’ll find an occasional Letter of Comment from me in that title) is very apropos.
Also, there are two types of superheroes. The grim and gritty sort, and they type you can have fun with. I was a huge fan of the former in the ‘80s and ‘90s – but, perhaps not so oddly, have “matured away from them” in large part. Super Goof, Radioactive Man, and certain versions of DC properties (particularly BATMAN ’66) are presently more to my taste. And the fine line was perfectly drawn in the Warner Bros. DC Comics animated series of the 1990s and early 2000’s – which will be forever favorites of mine.
Oh, and to cite an ongoing addition to Disney comics lore that did not originate with Carl Barks, try “Mouseton”!
I think it has been fun, all the Retro-Duck stuff, don't get me wrong. It was just a fun way to start a post.
For the record, where did Mouseton orginate? Mickey's hometown never seemed to have a definitive name in the Gottfredson comic strips or the various Dell and Gold Key comics. The earliest mentions of Mouseton I remember came from the 1990's Disney Comics Mickey Mouse Adventures stories.
I also have noticed that a lot of newer scripts from the BOOM era on seem to add in a lot of DuckTales and Darkwing Duck-isms as well as the usual Barks and Rosa references, which has been fun. (No disrespect to Don Rosa, but I think his work is best left as its own continuity, as following Don's lead tends to push out almost all other work that isn't Barks' or his own.)
When I saw “Jetsons” #22 in the shop, immediately I recalled your post of how it was the last issue before it solely reprinted material. Last night, I read “Uncle Scrooge” #407 accompanied by “Jetsons” #22, it made for a very retro experience. When I saw “Jetsons” #22 in the shop, immediately I recalled your post of how it was the last issue before it solely reprinted material. Last night, I read “Uncle Scrooge” #407 accompanied by “Jetsons” #22, it made for a very retro experience.
I heard Daws Butler’s W.C. Fields impression as Jubal Pomp. The character wearing a derby, and plaid jacket has a W.C. Fields vibe.
It is neat that I am not the only one here that hears John Candy whenever they read the comics. His voice makes for a good Grand Mogul in the Junior Woodchuck stories, and his Dr. Tongue character in “SCTV” is whom I hear as Khan in “King Scrooge The First”.
Hope you don’t mind the slight derail here. I was reintroduced to the vibrant characters of Mellonville, when Scott Shaw posted episodes of “SCTV” on his Facebook page. I had seen little of the show, as it would air before “The Three Stooges”. Have you seen “SCTV” when it aired? If not, here is a sketch that pertains to lovers of 3D horror films. Enjoy!
Uncle Scrooge uncharacteristically goading Donald in spending the money was brilliant. “His brain is the only ‘speck’ around here” was a snarky observation of Scrooge’s. It reminded me of the insults he made about Launchpad’s intelligence
You definitely utilized Donald’s obsession as “Retro Ranger” to great effect. My favorite part was when he was in touch with the other fan boys. “Mayday! Mayday! Surrounded by bilious wild beasts – An’ I ain’t lion” it was among the best groan inducing puns you wrote.
The allusion to Rodin was a good touch, at the same time you applied alliteration. Was the acronym of (B.E.R.T.R.A.M.) in the original, or a complete creation of yours? If, so it was among the likes of the Junior Woodchucks titles that Carl Barks devised.
Rudolf Cimino did a great job drawing the Beagles employing their rocket-launcher with suction cup. I was impressed by how the story focused on three characters, and it satisfyingly tied all loose ends. It was nice that once in a while there is a happy ending for Donald. In due time I hope to see more of Strobl, Branca, Jippes, Van Horn, Vicar, Wanda Gattino, and Francisco Peinado’s artwork in future pages of “Uncle Scrooge”.
Deb:
“Mouseton” did indeed originate with the 1990's Disney Comics Mickey Mouse Adventures title.
I’m guilty of DuckTales references too. Two in “Duckburg 100”, and three if you count the reference to “Ma Beagle”. Though, I figure, even before DT, all those Beagle Boys hadda come from SOMEWHERE, so a (rather industrious) Mother Beagle must have existed in one form or another.
And, you’ll find Don Rosa “Life and Times” gag-chapter references in “Heads You Win, Tails You Bruise” and “Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold Again”, maybe even another story I can’t think of at the moment.
I think it’s great that these things find their way into the contemporary stories! They’re little treats for those that “get them”, and we try never to bog a story down for those who don’t.
Adel:
Gold Key’s JETSONS # 22 and the current issue of UNCLE SCROOGE? Now THAT’S some reading double-feature! …And imagine a (as you describe) “retro experience” consisting of a “presently on-sale” comic book and one about “the family of the future”!
Yes, I can see Daws Butler’s W.C. Fields impression as Jubal Pomp.
The name “B.E.R.T.R.A.M.” was indeed a creation of mine! I love the Barks acronyms, and (probably for having read it in an old Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck Dell comic) I find the name “Bertram” has its own humorous potential. I used it in Gemstone’s “The Hard-Shelled Sage of Duckburg”, and will use it again next month in “The Sound-Blot Plot” in Mickey Mouse # 2.
I never watched SCTV, but I look forward to sampling the sketch link. Pressed for time now, but will take it later!
Post a Comment