Many have probably seen the DuckTales cartoon series, which cast Scrooge McDuck as a globe-hopping treasure seeker, accompanied by his three nephews.
At least, that's what the show was in the early seasons. Later on it seemed to be increasingly fixated on "moral of the week" and some "cute" cave-duck named Bubba. *shudder*
That show was loosely based on the Duck comics written and illustrated for decades by the late, great Carl Barks. He expanded the Disney characters far beyond what they were in the theatrical shorts, fleshing them out as fully-dimensional people. He also created an extensive, rich back-story for the world they lived in, their relatives, the history, etc.
Back in the early 1990s, cartoonist Dona Rosa was commissioned to make a mini-series that would portray Scrooge McDuck's life based on references dropped here and there in the Barks stories.
So, basically, this graphic novel is professional fan fiction.
Continuity-intensive, obsessive fan fiction.
Of a Disney character.
...sound like it should be perfectly dreadful, doesn't it?
But it's not. It's wonderful. The Barks version of Uncle Scrooge is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in the entire -world-. This series just may give those unfamiliar with the character a clue why.
It follows Scrooge's life from age 10 (in 1887) to age 80, right at the moment he first meets Huey, Dewy, and Louie in 1947.
In between, well, let's just say Scrooge lived a life extraordinary and adventuresome by any standard, fictional or otherwise. And one totally buys him as a person, despite the bill, feathers, and spats-wearing webbed feet.
One doesn't have to be a big time fan to enjoy the story, there are moments to warm the cockles of a fan's geeky heart...such as seeing Donald Duck's future parents meet for the first time.
Highly recommended.
*There's also a "Companion" book containing stories Rosa couldn't fit into the original mini-series*
[ January 31, 2007, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
As far as I'm concerned, the Duck Tales do not exist; there is only Barks and Rosa. This is the True Story, and all others a mere pale imitation! And, incidentally, one of the many reasons Europeans dislike Americans is that we're horrified, absolutely shocked, at what you've done to poor Scrooge and Donald.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Rosa does not consider this to be the "true story" so much as his personal take on Scrooge's life.
(Probably a wise attitude to take with a company owned character)
Plus, he says that way room is left in case someone thinks of something better...but this is near perfection in my opinion.
Europeans think all Americans have a say in what the Walt Disney Company does?
If that were true, then Tim Allen's career would have ended years ago.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
But then who would have starred in Galaxy Quest?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I love Scrooge McDuck. Duck Tales is one of my favorite shows ever.
Posted by Snail (Member # 9958) on :
Carl Barks and his stories have affected my childhood (and thus my adulthood) more than any other artist or any other stories ever have. (Well, maybe apart from Tove Jansson...)
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is indeed fab, and I echo Puffy Treat in that it is definitely something people should check out, though Rosa's stuff is more enjoyable the more you have knowledge about the original Barks stories. Still, it is a master work in its own right, and it gets surprisingly emotional at times. (Scrooge's alienation from his sisters, for example, was pretty heavy stuff for a children's comic.) Though my favourite of Rosa's young Scrooge stories, Hearts of the Yukon that delves deeper into the relationship between Scrooge and Glittering Goldie is not a part of the original series - maybe it is included in the companion book?
I guess I would also agree with King of Men in that Barks and Rosa are the truest masters when it comes to Donald Duck. Though I am also partial to some of the original newspaper comic strips by Al Taliaferro. And to those Italian ones that have the Phantom Duck in them. (And those Duck Tales episodes that weren't murdering Barks's original work were watchable.)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Yes. The Goldie story (as well as several stories featuring other important Barks-ian characters who only had cameos/were absent in the original mini) turns up in the "Companion" volume.
My own favorite story in that volume is the one that finally reveals the truth about Magica DeSpell's connection to the Number-One-Dime. Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Scott R: But then who would have starred in Galaxy Quest?
Allen gets a pass to voice Buzz Lightyear and play the lead in Galaxy Quest, but other than that, he should have dropped out of public view eons ago. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Eons ago? You didn't like Home Improvement or The Santa Clause?
I think Wild Hogs looks hilarious, which comes out later this year.
I liked Big Trouble and Joe Somebody too.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Eons ago? You didn't like Home Improvement or The Santa Clause?
I loathed Home Improvement. And it's hard for me to be objective about The Santa Clause, because that's the film my father chose as the occasion to announce he was divorcing my mother and leaving us.
The trailer for Wild Hogs...eh. The only funny parts didn't belong to Allen, who spent it getting jabbed in the crotch and doing pratfalls.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Aw, I'm sorry to hear that about TSC, but I LOVED Home Improvement.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: Europeans think all Americans have a say in what the Walt Disney Company does?
Look, we all know that in America, if you meet someone on the street and you don't like his face, you sue him for ruining your morning. Except in the West, of course, where instead you get out your 1911 Colt and blow his head off. So, if Walt Disney is getting away with this kind of stuff, it must be because each and every one of you has individually decided that it must be the right thing to do, or else you're just so lazy you can't be bothered to stink when you shit. So it's all your fault!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Wow, is that what Europeans really even jokingly think of Americans?
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Personally, I despise Disney and nearly everything it has ever done.
"DuckTales", however, is one of the exceptions, because, for a children's cartoon of that area, it was amazingly well written. (Well . . . until Bubba, anyway. But we don't like to talk about him.) I actually am a fan of Scrooge McDuck, so I think I'll pick this up. I haven't heard of it before--I don't really follow Disney publications--but it sounds like something I'd quite enjoy.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Don't be a hater. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Verily -
Even Fantasia?
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
I can't speak for Fantasia. I haven't seen it.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I used to read this comic. Newer ones at least. I bought them at Wal-Mart.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Rhapsody in Blue was pretty much my favorite number in Fantasia 2000.
Posted by Snail (Member # 9958) on :
Rhapsody in Blue was one of the rare truly great moments in the newer Fantasia, otherwise I felt it was pretty bland compared to its predecessor.
Puffy Treat - or anyone else who knows:
Is there an American anthology in the works that would contain all the works of Carl Barks - not just the selected more well known ones but all of them? Because I've heard there is, but didn't find anything with a quick Google search, so maybe it hasn't been published yet or something...
They're publishing such a collection in Finnish, but it's only with a limited edition so each individual volume costs around 200 euros and the whole collection costs several thousand euros. (Plus you can't order them anymore as only those who ordered before the date limit will get their copies.)
So that's why I'm looking for the American collection because I'm hoping, perhaps in vain, that it would be less insanely priced.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
There was The Carl Barks Library.
Unfortunately, that's currently out of print in America, very expensive if you -do- find it, and only some editions reprint the stories in color.
One certainly hears of the demand for such a collection, but until very recently the domestic distribution rights of the classic Disney comics were trapped in legal limbo.
Things seem to gradually be getting better, though.
*crosses fingers*
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
My Dad owns most of the originals that were reprinted in the Carl Barks library . I own this collection myself, receiving it as a gift from my parents when in the hospital for a while with a cheek infection: http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disneys-Uncle-Scrooge-McDuck/dp/0890875111 Posted by Snail (Member # 9958) on :
That book has the coolest cover.
My Dad ordered the Finnish Donald Duck magazine for me the Christmas I was six (though initially I thought it had been ordered to me by Santa) so I've got all the magazines from the past 16 years, and I've also got a bunch of magazines from the 80's and 70's from my Grandma - though the problem with the Donald Duck magazine is, of course, that for every Barks or Rosa story there is tons of crap. Anyway, I also own around a dozen different Barks collections... It'd just be great to have all his stories in one place so I wouldn't have to search for them through countless books/magazines stacked in the cellar at my parents home.
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