Adventures in Comic-Boxing: WHO ELSE Finds Pirate Gold?

In the beginning, Donald Duck found pirate gold, in the aptly titled early classic "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold"! 

He "found it again" in this more recent issue...

...Along with an intrusive UPC code.

But, along the way, there were others...

Yes, really! See below!

(Click to Enlarge!) 

Forget that "pirate stuff", you mercenary divers, Aquaman delivers the REAL 

"(pirate) golden treasure"! 

Ad taken from SUPERMAN #362 (DC Comics, Cover Date: August, 1981) and probably too many more comics to count!  

Separated at Mirth: Finding PARROT Gold Again?

Anyone who regularly visits this Blog should be at least passingly familiar with the story I titled "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold Again", published in DONALD DUCK # 366 (Boom! Studios, Cover Date: May, 2011).  

In it, the parrot YELLOW BEAK shows up at Donald's door... on a stormy night, as the Ducks are watching TV, and causes some momentary fright! 

So, imagine my surprise when I opened my copy of YOSEMITE SAM # 36 (Gold Key Comics, Cover Date: June, 1976) to find THIS...

No, it's not another remake of the classic "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold"...

...Nor is this "wet stomping parrot" any sort of analogue to Yellow Beak...

But, it IS curiously coincidental enough to declare DONALD DUCK # 366 and YOSEMITE SAM # 36 to be (at least visually) "Separated At Mirth"!  

"That's -30-" for Us with Issue 40

Here's a very important message from your humble blogger...

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.

Ordinarily, we would CLOSE such a post with this now-familiar passage, but it seemed imperative to me that, on this occasion, we OPEN with it!  

And, for anyone wondering about the title of our post, its meaning can be found both HERE and HERE!    

At least its "meaning of origin".  Its emotional meaning, as employed in our title, is another matter entirely!   

Since the introduction of the IDW Disney comic book line in 2015...

...And going back several years - and two publishers - before that...

...I have been both blessed and privileged to work as "translator and dialogue creator" for these extraordinary comics, working alongside such equally extraordinary talents as Jonathan Gray, Thad Komorowski, and Archival Editor David Gerstein. 

 From UNCLE SCROOGE # 34 IDW (2017)

Let alone the still greater privilege of serving the stories of such Disney comic book legends as Romano Scarpa, Giorgio Cavazzano, Andrea ("Casty") Castellan, Giovan Battista Carpi, Luciano Bottaro, Vito Stabile, and so many more - including classic-era American creators such as Paul Murry, Tony Strobl, and Vic Lockman!  

...And even the creator of Superman - Jerry Siegel! 

With IDW's UNCLE SCROOGE # 40 - on sale September 19, 2018 - and with a scant few coming exceptions, this comes to an end.  

New and different individuals will be responsible for the line after that, promising to bring what has been described in the advance solicitations as a "Fresh and Modern" approach!  

I wish them and their efforts well, and urge you to check them out - as I will do.  

With that, I'd like to thank everyone and anyone at IDW - and before that at Gemstone and Boom! Studios - as well as anyone at Disney itself who allowed me to fulfill a lifetime ambition.  

And, the most special thanks of all to my fellow members of the (here's that word again) extraordinary team of Gerstein, Gray, and Komorowski - for the amazing "creative environment" that occurred whenever we got together... and for inspiring me to "elevate my own work" ever higher!  

You will still find me contributing to the (...Can I say it one more time?) extraordinary Fantagraphics "Disney Masters" line of hardcover books, where I will continue to "work with" stories by the greats like Scarpa, Bottaro, and Carpi, and contribute analysis and historical perspective to the work of other creators such as Paul Murry.  

Now, let's just look ahead to this new phase in the "Overall Continuum of American Disney Comic Magazines", ongoing since 1940 (!), and enjoy what's coming next!        

That's -30-!  ...And thanks! 

On Sale February 03, 2016: UNCLE SCROOGE # 11 from IDW.

Say, this is the first time we've ever posted back-to-back on two consecutive issues of a title before!  

Let neither severe weather conditions, nor rising flood waters, prevent you from obtaining a copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 11 (Legacy Numbering # 415) from IDW!

In it, you’ll find "Scrooge's Ark Lark" a story from the Italian ALMANACCO TOPOLINO # 273 (1979) and “New to the USA”, written by Giorgio Pezzin, art by the great Giovan Battista Carpi, with Translation and Dialogue by Yours Truly. 

We open with an amazingly dramatic splash panel by Carpi!

Two, asides before delving into our story...

ONE: If anyone has seen the opening (teaser) to the VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA episode "Deadly Cloud" (1967), it is very much like that.  I can even hear the same music scoring playing in my head as I view this.  

TWO: This, by sad comparison, is what our American Duck comics looked like in the 1970s.  

The wild weather does, at least, offer the opportunity for this joke!  Gotta love that British understatement!  

Perhaps they're keeping a (frozen) stiff upper lip!  

Duckburg is far from immune, as this great panel from Carpi shows! 

And, by way of exposition, so suffers the rest of the world...

Here are the Ducks reacting characteristically to impending disaster.  Love Carpi's silhouettes! 

All of this, and future doom-bringing deluges are predicted by an oracle in Tibet...

...From whom Scrooge resolves to get answers, lest these foretold floods deter him from his big deal.

Speaking of "Tibet", anyone catch this?  Might as well have some fun, when the opportunity presents itself.    

The Seer offers sage advice...

...Which Scrooge takes to heart, and gives us another fun moment to boot!

Does everyone remember when and where these things happened?  They all DID!  I also considering mentioning TREES and ASTEROIDS, but there wasn't enough balloon space!

Arch rival Rockerduck finds the whole "Ark Lark" thing funny...

...Until he doesn't - and employs the Beagle Boys to do his dirty work! 

And so they simulate a flood, sending our Ducks blindly to the seas!  

But, those greedy B-Boys go back for more!  

Do they ever!  By now, even Donald smells a rat... or Beagle!

And with good reason, given the events of DONALD DUCK # 366 (2011)!  Coincidentally, also drawn by Carpi! 

They hardly even vary their lines... bad actors that they are! 

Much less, in Carl Barks' tale "Delivery Dilemma" from WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES # 291 (1964).

The Beagle Boys even call back to the bit themselves!   

What happens next?  I ain't tellin', but Scrooge has one of the best and most satisfying "transformational character moments" in recent history!  I hope everyone enjoys it!  

Scrooge may be done with the Beagle Boys at "Ark Lark's" end, but he's got THREE other villains to contend with -- and, in an unusual lead and backup pairing, he's got me to help him on both ends of the book!  

"Bad Things Come in Threes" (my title) is an Egmont (Danish) story dating back to 2006, and is written by Lars Jensen with art by Francisco Rodriguez Peinado.  It first appeared in Denmark in 2010, and is "New to the USA".  

It is a sequel, of sorts, to "Heads You Win Tails You Bruise", also by Lars Jensen and the first Uncle Scrooge story dialogued (and titled) by me - from way back in Gemstone's UNCLE SCROOGE # 367 (2007).  

A handy footnote even tells us that!

It is also the long-awaited (by ME, anyway) return of Melvin X. Nickelby, nerdy but unscrupulous coin collector.  

I don't know what Melvin's saying in that (presumably original) version but here he is in all his American obnoxiousness!

So, Scrooge is apprehensive about exhibiting his Number One Dime, and is all the more so when Melvin shows up.

And is relieved to see Melvin depart, with the dime still in place.

But, no sooner does Melvin leave, when suddenly...

I wanted a "Lights Blotted-Out My Friends" reference, as seen in the Floyd Gottfredson classic Phantom Blot tale, but such was not to be. 

At least I got one in the aforementioned DONALD DUCK # 366, so I can't complain too loudly.  

Back to our story, the lights are quickly restored, and all is well...

...Or is it?  

I'll not spoil any more, save to say that (as the title implies) two more villains will join the party before it's through.  

Aw, heck!  I'll spoil just a LITTLE more!  Magica DeSpell is another of the three villains.  Not much of a surprise, as the story is about the Number One Dime!  

Ever wonder what kinda neat stuff Magica keeps in her purse?  

And the third villain is inadvertently revealed by an unfortunate printing error.  Hopefully, this will be corrected for the trade paperback.  Even with these reveals, there are plenty of twists and turns awaiting you, courtesy of Lars Jensen's brilliant plotting!  

On a personal note, I must say that I enjoyed writing dialogue once again for Melvin X. Nickelby, and am proud to have been his only "American voice" thus far.  And, if there are any other stories that feature him, I hope to continue doing so!  

Here are a couple of other "favorite Melvin moments" from this story:

 This script dates back to the end of Boom!'s run of Disney Core Four comics, and I was afraid that the obvious "Facebeak" joke would have gotten into print by someone else first.  

Melvin collects DVDs as well as coins.  

And, check it out... he's also a BLOGGER!  Although he doesn't have anywhere near the wonderful readership that I have - and thank you ALL very much for that!  

My gosh... If we swapped-out coins for comic books... Melvin and *I* could be... could be... NOOOOO!  I can't say it!  

Quickly changing the subject, don't be a "Melvin"! Get your copy of UNCLE SCROOGE # 11 (Legacy Numbering # 415) from IDW!  Collect COMIC BOOKS, not COINS!  

This is a COMIC BOOK! 

This is a COIN! 

If you don't wish to be like Melvin, never forget the difference!   

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 in the Comments Section to discuss another great issue from IDW - while doing our best to avoid great floods and annoying nerds!  Both can be hazardous to your health!