The Life and Time of Scrooge McDuck Companion Review (Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion by Don Rosa:

Of Ducks, Dimes and Destinies: This has never been my favorite Rosa story, probably because it's apocryphal. Rosa trying to say it never happened makes my brain hurt because like all time-travel stories a load of it doesn't make sense. That said, it IS fun to see Magica De Spell interacting with a boyish Scrooge and Baby Hortense. The cameo of Rockerduck's father was fun too. ***1/2.

The Cowboy Captain of the Cutty Sark: This story has always held a special place in my heart. The gag about the misplaced camera is priceless considering how beautiful the artwork is. As usual Rosa using historical facts to frame his stories impresses me greatly. ****1/2.

The Vigilante of Pizen Bluff: This is a story I had never read. I liked it a lot even though it isn't my favorite of the B and C story chapters. Uncle Pothole is ALWAYS fun and it was fun to see exactly HOW Scrooge "outfoxed the Daltons". ****.

The Prisoner of White Agony Creek: Heart-breaking and heartwarming at the same time this is the best story in the volume along with "Hearts of the Yukon". It was brilliant to see Goldie's gradual reformation, and the side role played by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (along with the line "The fall'll probably kill ya!") makes me want to see that movie. Also notable that this is the first time I have ever seen a scene where pre-marital sex is implied to have taken place in a Disney comic. It makes the ending that much more gut-wrenching and explains away the couple of discrepencies from Carl Barks' original "Back to the Klondike". *****.

Hearts of the Yukon: This is the flip side of "The Prisoner of White Agony Creel" in that even though we KNOW Scrooge and Goldie won't re-unite at the end of the story the story is a blast the entire way through. The Canadian Mountie Steele was SO funny in his perfection as was the gag of the bearded rough-shot wanderer getting a drink in the bar and then say he was avoiding Steele. Some of Rosa's best gags EVER are in this story. Greatness. *****.

The Sharpie of the Culebra Cut: I think Teddy Roosevelt makes a good foil/ partner/ rival for Scrooge and it was fun that he actually got to interact with Hortense and Matilda this time (Donald notes that his mother cussed out the President with pride!). Also had a sly jab in it about how far the world has NOT progressed since we actually had a president as wonderful as T.R. 100 years ago. Fun story, even if it isn't the best in the volume. ****.

The Dream of a Lifetime: This is probably one of the most clever set-ups Rosa has ever done (even though he freely admits he got the idea from a fan) in that the Beagle Boys who enter Scrooge's dream can get Scrooge to admit his vault combination simply by asking him and he'll be forced to respond because he'll think of the answer and the dream is in his head to. Also fun to see the modern day Beagle Boys and Donald interacting with the various scenes and characters from Scrooge's youth and it was great that Scrooge got a second chance with Goldie even if it was only in his dreams. ****.

Companion Average: *****.

Mickey Mouse Adventures #11:

Mickey Mouse in "The Delta Dimension" by Romano Scarpa : I usually love Scarpa's Mickey stories but this one wasn't as great as I thought it was going to be due to all of the build-up I've heard about this being one of his most famous stories. I was actually quite surprised that the living Atom Bloop-Bloop got atomized right when he decided to switch to Mickey's side and was effectively killed and the story ended kind of abruptly. That said, the revelation of who to villain was was kind of surprising considering how brilliant the scheme was and it is ALWAYS good to see Dr. Einmug. ***1/2.

Donald Duck in "Back in the Box," by Stefan Petrucha and Flemming Andersen: Decent story that I liked better than I should have because Donald acted completely in character throughout which seems to be a rarity in the European stories reprinted in the Adventures digests. I thought it was great the way Donald tricked those villains and rescued Gyro's box although Gyro was right to decide to take a real vacation after all because if and when Donald DOES find out that the invention that the crooks were looking for was ALREADY taken by the government he is going to be rightfully furious. ***.

Mickey Mouse in "Quadruple Threat," by Don Markstein and Joaquin Sanchez.: I REALLY liked the idea that the villainous schemes by Ecks, Doublex and Triplex and the Phantom Blot were unrelated but Mickey used each of them to bring the other down. That was a REALLY clever touch. I also like the touch of the Eckses and Blot having contempt for each other and believing each other to be buffoonish although I think that idea is only justified from the Blot about the Eckses. The last panel with the cameos of all of the Mouse's most famous villains was awesome too. ***1/2.

Mickey Mouse and Friends #292:

Mickey Mouse in "The Incredible Black Comet" by Roberto Catalano/Romano Scarpa: I've always loved Eega Beeva and this story was pretty good. I love the idea of the Kumquats all being in danger and the potential implications that would have for The Man of Tomorrow. Weird seeing Doc Static's prototype though and the current 2006 references were also kind of funny considering this story was originally written in the sixties. ***1/2.

Comments

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Teddy Roosevelt?!

You should see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, AWESOME movie. Pretty much invented the buddy flick. Speaking of Disney and premarital sex, I feel the need to watch Lady and the Tramp again, seeing as how it has implied premarital sex (but then again, that term doesn't mean too much since dogs can't get married).

What kind of animal is Eega Beeva?

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

He's not an animal. He's a funny little futuristic man known as "the Man of Tomorrow". He's pink, has large feet, hands, nose, and head and is really short and bald. He says the letter "P" before a lot of what he says or pbefore a lot of pwhat he psays.

As for T.R. Don Rosa uses historical figures a LOT in his stories, ESPECIALLY in the Life and Times series. He and Scrooge were both cowboys in the badlands (Scrooge was known as Buck McDuck") and when they met again when Teddy was president Scrooge quipped "President of the United States? You've done almost as well as me!"

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, I thought he'd be a beaver.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

That's why his name is so funny. He really SHOULD be a beaver but he's not. He doesn't even look anything like one.