Let no evil sorceress with assorted boxed horrors stand
between you and a copy UNCLE SCROOGE # 8 (Legacy Numbering # 412) from IDW!
In it, you’ll find a true modern classic titled “The Peril
of Pandora’s Box”, from the Dutch DONALD DUCK # 33 (2003) and “New to the
USA”, written by Arno Buitink, penciled by one of the (pardon the expression) “Dutch
Masters” Bas Heymans – with translation and American English dialogue by Thad Komorowski.
I regard this as Thad's best effort to date! In addition to his usual fine scripting work, he appears to recognize the story as the “modern classic” it aspires to be (as opposed to more of a throwaway) and maintains a perfect balance in knowing “when to joke” and when to play it straight.
For instance, nice punning with "It's all geek to me!"
But, keeping it straight for this sequence.
And, this dramatic interior splash!
Magica uses the remaining evil left in the box to bedevil
Scrooge, Donald, and the Boys, who just happen to be in Greece on business, allowing her to make
off with Scrooge’s Number One Dime.
Given a superior original plot, nicely suited artwork,
and Thad’s standout dialogue, this story comes across as almost a “Lost
Sixties Era Carl Barks story” – and I mean that in the most POSITIVE way!
It’s right out of the era that produced Barks’ Magica tale “Rug Riders in the Sky”, back in Gold Key’s UNCLE SCROOGE # 50 (1964), yet simultaneously modern! That's quite a balancing act!
But, before becoming too lost in Barks nostalgia, let’s not
forget how well Thad can carry off a gag – and often of a nature beyond what
Barks would have done.
Such as this snappy throwaway bit, when Donald and a nephew
approach Magica in disguise to recover the “dime-in-a-box”…
…And this wonderful reference to the Bugs Bunny cartoon “What’s
Opera Doc” (1957)!
No more spoilers, but “The Peril of Pandora’s Box” is
a must read for anyone with “sixties sensibilities” as well as modern
ones!
With his work here and LAST ISSUE, Thad has demonstrated a
great affinity for the character of Magica De Spell, and I’d like to see more
of his work with Barks’ Slinky Sorceress going forward!
The goodies in this issue just keep on coming, starting with a one-page Beagle Boys gag, with a nice kicker ending. Up to now, I haven’t liked the one-page
throwaway gags that appeared in previous issues of UNCLE SCROOGE, but
this one works quite well! Even if
the Beagle below looks like he’s wearing GLASSES, rather than his traditional
Black Mask.
Was he inspired by Rockerduck’s “mummy disguise” from last
issue?
Speaking of “Lost Sixties Era Carl Barks” (and "Dutch Masters" for that matter), the issue
continues with a Gyro Gearloose gem, “The Doorman Doormat”, that the credits
inform us was written by “Daan Jippes with Carl Barks” (!) and drawn by
Jippes.
I don’t know the story of how this came to be, and to what
extent Barks was involved (perhaps David can enlighten us, as no mention is made of this in the issue's Crosstalk column), but it sure has that good ol' FEEL of a
Barks Gyro four-pager.
And, as Barks proved
time and again (and I maintain), four pages just seems to be the “correct”
length for a Gyro Gearloose story. Yes,
there are some exceptions like “Monsterville”, but four pages is the
optimum.
That sixties ambiance in our lead feature is perpetuated by
this story having been drawn in Dann Jippes’ modern style – which would seem to
be a “ratcheted-up sixties Barks by way of Daniel Branca” type of art. I love that style!
Oh, and why is Dann Jippes' name on the cover and Carl Barks' is not? Wouldn't Barks be a bigger draw than everyone else whose name is on the cover? Especially Barks that we HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE? Is there some licensing reason for this? I wonder...
The issue is rounded-out by “The Dashingest Dudebro”, written
by Evert Geradts, penciled by yet another one of the “Dutch Masters” Mau Heymans (as
opposed to Bas Heymans), inked by Peter Colle’ – with translation and American English dialogue by our own Fan Favorite Jonathan Gray!
More than a mere backup, this 14-page tale of a nonsensical
war between two nonsensical countries – divided, united, then divided and united
again, with Scrooge’s diamond mines caught betwixt and between is good enough
to be ANOTHER LEAD STORY in itself!
As you would expect, Jonathan fills this one with his trademark
snappy dialogue…
…And equally trademark inspired nonsense!
And, for another bit of “inspired nonsense”, check out this unexpected "cab-driver gag".
It’s a sort of companion piece to this gag!
And, the face of this wagon-pulling ostrich looks more like DONALD than
does Donald himself!
No spoilers, but Scrooge prevails after a great up-and-down,
back-and-forth ride! ...As do we readers, upon completing this magnificent issue!
If there is ANY negative to be found in this superior example
of an issue of UNCLE SCROOGE, it would be the issue’s ALTERNATE COVER.
First, the gag was better done by Carl Barks in 1954 –
though the “Beagle Boy Puppet” is sort of inspired as a variation on the "Carl Barks-like" image of the pirate head.
But look at all that EMPTY SPACE all around the primary
image – especially at the bottom, which is nothing but open and uninteresting sand!
As a writer, I’m not usually one to criticize art, unless it’s
horrifically bad as in Kay Wright’s (All together now…) “Bird-Bothered Hero”,
but this is just BAD composition.
The only thing I can recall worse in a similar regard is
this cover! I've heard of "Big Sky Country", but this is rediculous!
But, inferior alternate cover compositions aside, I feel
this may be one of IDW’s best single issues of its entire Disney comic book
run!
Indeed, November 2015 may be the very best single month for
IDW’s Disney line – with certainly two of their best issues of all, UNCLE
SCROOGE # 8 and MICKEY MOUSE # 6!
And, add to those, an excellent issue of DONALD DUCK.
I haven’t read WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 725 YET (It’s
next up!), but I cannot imagine any issue with as unlikely a combination of
creators as Al Taliaferro, Harvey Eisenberg, and Jonathan Gray could possibly
be less than sublime!
They're all written about here, folks! Click to enlarge!
This would also be the first time in which “The Original Core
Creative Four” of IDW’s Disney line, David Gerstein, Jonathan Gray, Thad
Komorowski, and yours truly have ever EACH had a “Lead Story” in the same month’s
issues! How ‘bout that!
So, don’t just run out and get UNCLE SCROOGE # 8, but get the ENTIRE IDW Disney Comics line for November 2015! It’ll be like celebrating Thanksgiving every day!
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.
Then, let’s all meet back here for Comments, Turkey, Stuffing, and Cranberry -- out of Pandora's clutches, of course!
