Mr. Rosa,
I would like to commend you on your recent covers at Gladstone (since that
is the only new stuff I have been seeing, in anticipation of the Life of
Scrooge series). I am a recent duck fan. I've been only reading duck stories
for about three years, and am just now recognizing your style versus Van Horn's
and the rest.
I truly love the amount of detail you put into every cover you do, and
am wondering what kind of research you do for those covers. You amaze me
nearly every time.
Lastly, someone recently showed me an addition you do to your covers, which
"forced" me to go back over old Rosa duck issues. They say you put D U C K
on your covers with only a few exceptions. Did your famous letters make it
on the Donald Duck cover with the Vikings? I can't seem to find them on that
cover.
Mark McConnell
Author
Topic: 199311
(180 messages)
Mark A Mcconnell
D U C K
Message 46 -
1993-11-10 at 16:32:34
Harry Fluks
The number of Rosa readers
Message 47 -
1993-11-10 at 19:31:53
Don wrote:
> Mattias:
> So, at least for you that part 9 worked, sounds like. That
> leaves about 249,999,999 other readers to worry about.
Is this number (250 Megapeople) based on something? Does anyone actually
KNOW how many Disney comics readers there are in the countries were
Rosa is published? (Which SHOULD BE the same as the number of Rosa readers..)
--Harry.
> Mattias:
> So, at least for you that part 9 worked, sounds like. That
> leaves about 249,999,999 other readers to worry about.
Is this number (250 Megapeople) based on something? Does anyone actually
KNOW how many Disney comics readers there are in the countries were
Rosa is published? (Which SHOULD BE the same as the number of Rosa readers..)
--Harry.
HATHAWAY
Moon effects
Message 48 -
1993-11-10 at 23:09:58
Mr. Rosa said:
>This also goes to answer the other
>commentor's remarks about the accuracy of how cartoonists treat the
>shape or placement of the sun or moon. When I want a certain effect for
>dramatic lighting or such, I don't let accuracy stand in my way. That's
>the old "dramatic license". There's always a full moon when I need one
>and it always happens to be in the right spot in the sky. You wouldn't
>really want it any other way, would you?
>
You're absolutely right. For "dramatic license", anything goes! Some
of the most effective tales even suspend gravity, time, biology!
Coleridge's "Rime of The Ancient Mariner" had a star between the
horns - clearly impossible, but it purposely added to the surreal nature
of the poem and was quite in keeping with the theme.
I only object when an artist shows he or she either doesn't know any
better or doesn't care and puts in an impossible moon that doesn't
advance the story or is counterproductive to the effect they are trying
to acheive. In my business, we've got to be dead right on lunar position
so I notice such things, but in your business, the effect on the
viewer is what is important. BTW, a gibbous moon has dramatic possibilities
that are rarely utilized.
Wm. Hathaway
>This also goes to answer the other
>commentor's remarks about the accuracy of how cartoonists treat the
>shape or placement of the sun or moon. When I want a certain effect for
>dramatic lighting or such, I don't let accuracy stand in my way. That's
>the old "dramatic license". There's always a full moon when I need one
>and it always happens to be in the right spot in the sky. You wouldn't
>really want it any other way, would you?
>
You're absolutely right. For "dramatic license", anything goes! Some
of the most effective tales even suspend gravity, time, biology!
Coleridge's "Rime of The Ancient Mariner" had a star between the
horns - clearly impossible, but it purposely added to the surreal nature
of the poem and was quite in keeping with the theme.
I only object when an artist shows he or she either doesn't know any
better or doesn't care and puts in an impossible moon that doesn't
advance the story or is counterproductive to the effect they are trying
to acheive. In my business, we've got to be dead right on lunar position
so I notice such things, but in your business, the effect on the
viewer is what is important. BTW, a gibbous moon has dramatic possibilities
that are rarely utilized.
Wm. Hathaway
Torsten Wesley Adair
Moon effects
Message 49 -
1993-11-11 at 01:19:30
On Wed, 10 Nov 1993, it was written:
> Mr. Rosa said:
> >This also goes to answer the other
> >commentor's remarks about the accuracy of how cartoonists treat the
> >shape or placement of the sun or moon. When I want a certain effect for
> >dramatic lighting or such, I don't let accuracy stand in my way. That's
> >the old "dramatic license". There's always a full moon when I need one
> >and it always happens to be in the right spot in the sky. You wouldn't
> >really want it any other way, would you?
The Omaha World-Herald currently uses a variety of weather icons on the
front page to show the forecast. The one for partly-cloudy/partly-sunny
has a sun (red circle) with a cloud in front of it, and a cloud in back of
it.
Just my 3.2 pfennigs worth.
Torsten Adair torsten at cwis.unomaha.edu Omaha, NE, USA
> Mr. Rosa said:
> >This also goes to answer the other
> >commentor's remarks about the accuracy of how cartoonists treat the
> >shape or placement of the sun or moon. When I want a certain effect for
> >dramatic lighting or such, I don't let accuracy stand in my way. That's
> >the old "dramatic license". There's always a full moon when I need one
> >and it always happens to be in the right spot in the sky. You wouldn't
> >really want it any other way, would you?
The Omaha World-Herald currently uses a variety of weather icons on the
front page to show the forecast. The one for partly-cloudy/partly-sunny
has a sun (red circle) with a cloud in front of it, and a cloud in back of
it.
Just my 3.2 pfennigs worth.
Torsten Adair torsten at cwis.unomaha.edu Omaha, NE, USA
Mattias Hallin
Changes made...
Message 50 -
1993-11-11 at 16:08:56
Hiya, one'n'all!
Thought I'd let you know, in case any of you wants to/needs to know: I'm
changing my adress, as of December 1st 1993 to:
Mattias Hallin
Trollebergsvagen 24 B
S-222 29 Lund
SWEDEN
Phonenumber is still (0)46-14 84 43.
Just thought I'd let ya know...
Mattias
Thought I'd let you know, in case any of you wants to/needs to know: I'm
changing my adress, as of December 1st 1993 to:
Mattias Hallin
Trollebergsvagen 24 B
S-222 29 Lund
SWEDEN
Phonenumber is still (0)46-14 84 43.
Just thought I'd let ya know...
Mattias
Don Rosa
+Postage Due+Disney-comics digest #153.
Message 51 -
1993-11-11 at 16:34:37
COMMENTS ON #153:
Lotsa quick comments...
David: I never worry about whether Disney will allow Gladstone to print
one of my stories. I do the story as I think it should be, right or
wrong, and that's all I care about. If Disney acts in a typically
moronic fashion, that can't be my problem -- it would be the readers'
job to bring them around. I don't gain any sort of "leverage" from past
precedents since I never seek to excert any power in such editorial
matters -- that's John Clark's job. He doesn't interfere with me and I
owe him the respect to let him do his job. Besides, I'd be sorry if
America didn't see one of my stories, but I'll still know that's just a
drop in the bucket -- there's about 40,000 Disney readers in all of
North America, compared to millions in Europe. There's probably more
than 40,000 Disney readers just in Oslo alone!
Which brings me to jump on to Harry's question as to whether
anyone has readership figures of the Disney comics. Surely you know that
anyone who publishes ANYTHING has detailed figures on their readership,
being the single most important data they search out; on this they
establish their distribution and ad rates. I'm positive Oberon knows
where each of their issues sells. Egmont has detailed figures for each
country. In Germany the weekly sells over a million per week. In Norway
(4,000,000 vikings) it sells 250,000 each week; in Norway (as in other
Egmont countries) they even have comic-book-"Neilsen Families" who
report on what they liked or disliked, etc., and by these reports they
know, f'rinstance, that every comic they sell is read by 4 people
(that's rather different than in America where I doubt that there's 1
reader per 4 sold comics). In Finland (pop.=?) they sell 350,000 per
week and that's ALL BY MAIL SUBSCRIPTION! ($$) I think I was addressing
a Swede when I pulled a circulation figure outta the air, and I don't
really know if KALLE ANKA & CO. sells a quarter-million per week there.
I do believe that, per capita, Norway or Finland sell more Disney comics
than anywhere else on Earth.
Geir: I'm especially proud that you approved of part 9 of Lo$, you who
are so outspoken and critical! That gives me courage! And I am getting
a bit nervous at the thought of my putting parents in a position of
reading a Disney comic about DEATH to their kiddies -- believe it or
not, I never think that I'm doing comics for children and I don't worry
about that sort of thing (whereas maybe I should in this sorta
instance). As I asked before, do you think most readers or readers'
parents will like that chapter?
Actually, MY favorite part was when $crooge's sisters were
teasing him about the lock of hair in his safety deposit box, and
getting him rattled while he was trying to ignore them. Seldom does one
of my own bits make me chuckle each time I read it, but I thought this
scene was kinda cute. No. I did not say "cute"!
Mattias: No, thanks, I think Simon has kept me supplied up to part 8,
but I'm trying to take the load off that he voluntarilly took on.
Mark: I do research out the wazoo when I do a story, but what sort of
research would I do when I draw a cover? I just pick a scene from the
story (mine or Barks') and depict it as it was. Well, but I just
yesterday did a cover for the German "Don Rosa Library" for part 3 & 4
of the Lo$ with $crooge rootin' & tootin' across a desert, and I did get
out some books to draw accurate cacti, gila monsters, kangaroo rats,
roadrunners, horses, sagebrush, rocks....... yeah, maybe I DO do
research on covers.
And you can stop searching for the "D.U.C.K." on that Viking
cover. I (blush) plain FORGOT to put one in there! But you know to find
it in all my splash panels, too, right?
Actually, I had recently decided to STOP putting a dedication to
Barks in my work, but then decided that there is an invisible 'W' in the
dedication, making it now "D.edicated to U.nca C.arl's work from K.eno".
Wm: A "gibbous" moon? I hadta look that one up. In other words, one
that is over half full? You can imagine why cartoonists never use that
one. It would look odd and just strike the reader as a lopsided full
moon. In fact, any full moon that someone like Van Horn would draw would
look gibbous since it wouldn't be round. I'm the former engineer. I use
compasses and templates on full moons, Duck heads & eyes, buttons,
eyeglasses, etc., etc., plus evry single ellipse I draw (including ALL
the coins in Money Bin close-ups). (Yes, I am insane.)
Torsten: It might surprize you that, if you walked down a street
quizzing everyone on their understanding of the sun, moon and stars,
you'd be appalled at what little they know and more appalled at how
little they care about what little they know. A great number of the
unwashed DO believe this thing they hear called "outer space" is blue
and filled with clouds. My sister once wondered (when she was in her
20's) why the Apollo astronauts didn't stop off on other planets on
their way to the moon. My college roommate had no concept of how large
the sun was or how far away it was (maybe it was the size of a
Volkswagan and 1000 ft. up?) and he thought meteors were pieces of
planets that broke off and fell down to earth. And I wouldn't even try
to quiz my father about what he knows or cares about such things -- his
knowledge about the universe is probably on a par with a modern 5 year
old. I would bet most Americans would believe you if you told them that
there were clouds around the sun, as long as you got on with the
discussion about football and stopped being an egghead.
Anyway, I'v been so busy that I had not as yet said where I WENT
last week. Since I'd had a nice week in Norway, and lotsa nice weekends
all the time as a guest at various conventions around the U.S., I
decided to take my wife on a deserved vacation. "Hey! Don Rosa! You just
completed your 2 1/2 long project of the 211 page 'Life and Times of
$crooge McDuck'! Whaddiya gonna do NOW!" "I'm goin' t' DISNEYWORLD!" (Do
you Europeans get those Disney commercials?) Anyway, I went to
DisneyWorld, and you can just imagine what it's like for ME when I
visit! Admission tickets are FREE. I am allowed to enter the Park early
and stay as long as I like! I never need to wait and I'm allowed to go
to the head of all the lines! Souvenirs are free! I get a free deluxe
suite in any Disney Resort I choose! I get a free rental car! And all
meals at all the expensive Disney restaurants are complementary! It's
heaven on earth for a superstar like me!
Raise your hands. How many of you know not a word of any of that
is true? I'm just another schmo in DisneyWorld. Now, it WOULD be like
all that if I WERE somebody... like the businessman who sells the Park
its toilet paper or somebody like that.
Actually, I did get a bit of "special treatment": I always carry
with me my "#1 Dime". After I named it as such, I always carry in my
pocket an 1875 seated-Liberty American DIME... just a private lil' joke
or memento or whatever. Well, after being at WDW for nearly a week, I
decided it was foolish to be carrying that Dime on Splash Mountain or
these other rides where it MIGHT drop out of my pocket. So I took it and
placed it in the middle of a shelf in a cabinet in my hotel room in
Disney's (el cheapo) Carribean Beach Resort, and went on my way. I was
afraid I'd forget to get it the next day when we left, so the first
thing I did when I got back to the hotel that night was go to the
cabinet to get my Dime and put it back with the rest of my pocket
change.
It was gone. The maid had stolen it.
Naturally nothing can be done in that sort of situation. The
hotel can never be sure that a guest didn't just misplace his lost
valuable and seek to blame an innocent maid. And if the maid were
accused, all she needs to do is deny it and since there's no proof,
that's the end of it. Mattias, who ALSO has his own 1875 Dime, will know
that if that maid takes my well-worn Dime, which she assumes must be a
valuable rare coin, to a coin dealer to sell it, the dealer will only
pay her about 30 cents for it. That's how UNvaluable they are. I wish I
could see her face!
But, the fact remains, that what a sorceress-supreme like Magica
DeSpell couldn't steal in 30 years of trying, a DISNEY EMPLOYEE swiped
in one hour.
THAT'S the kind of "special treatment" I always get from Disney.
And so it goes...
Lotsa quick comments...
David: I never worry about whether Disney will allow Gladstone to print
one of my stories. I do the story as I think it should be, right or
wrong, and that's all I care about. If Disney acts in a typically
moronic fashion, that can't be my problem -- it would be the readers'
job to bring them around. I don't gain any sort of "leverage" from past
precedents since I never seek to excert any power in such editorial
matters -- that's John Clark's job. He doesn't interfere with me and I
owe him the respect to let him do his job. Besides, I'd be sorry if
America didn't see one of my stories, but I'll still know that's just a
drop in the bucket -- there's about 40,000 Disney readers in all of
North America, compared to millions in Europe. There's probably more
than 40,000 Disney readers just in Oslo alone!
Which brings me to jump on to Harry's question as to whether
anyone has readership figures of the Disney comics. Surely you know that
anyone who publishes ANYTHING has detailed figures on their readership,
being the single most important data they search out; on this they
establish their distribution and ad rates. I'm positive Oberon knows
where each of their issues sells. Egmont has detailed figures for each
country. In Germany the weekly sells over a million per week. In Norway
(4,000,000 vikings) it sells 250,000 each week; in Norway (as in other
Egmont countries) they even have comic-book-"Neilsen Families" who
report on what they liked or disliked, etc., and by these reports they
know, f'rinstance, that every comic they sell is read by 4 people
(that's rather different than in America where I doubt that there's 1
reader per 4 sold comics). In Finland (pop.=?) they sell 350,000 per
week and that's ALL BY MAIL SUBSCRIPTION! ($$) I think I was addressing
a Swede when I pulled a circulation figure outta the air, and I don't
really know if KALLE ANKA & CO. sells a quarter-million per week there.
I do believe that, per capita, Norway or Finland sell more Disney comics
than anywhere else on Earth.
Geir: I'm especially proud that you approved of part 9 of Lo$, you who
are so outspoken and critical! That gives me courage! And I am getting
a bit nervous at the thought of my putting parents in a position of
reading a Disney comic about DEATH to their kiddies -- believe it or
not, I never think that I'm doing comics for children and I don't worry
about that sort of thing (whereas maybe I should in this sorta
instance). As I asked before, do you think most readers or readers'
parents will like that chapter?
Actually, MY favorite part was when $crooge's sisters were
teasing him about the lock of hair in his safety deposit box, and
getting him rattled while he was trying to ignore them. Seldom does one
of my own bits make me chuckle each time I read it, but I thought this
scene was kinda cute. No. I did not say "cute"!
Mattias: No, thanks, I think Simon has kept me supplied up to part 8,
but I'm trying to take the load off that he voluntarilly took on.
Mark: I do research out the wazoo when I do a story, but what sort of
research would I do when I draw a cover? I just pick a scene from the
story (mine or Barks') and depict it as it was. Well, but I just
yesterday did a cover for the German "Don Rosa Library" for part 3 & 4
of the Lo$ with $crooge rootin' & tootin' across a desert, and I did get
out some books to draw accurate cacti, gila monsters, kangaroo rats,
roadrunners, horses, sagebrush, rocks....... yeah, maybe I DO do
research on covers.
And you can stop searching for the "D.U.C.K." on that Viking
cover. I (blush) plain FORGOT to put one in there! But you know to find
it in all my splash panels, too, right?
Actually, I had recently decided to STOP putting a dedication to
Barks in my work, but then decided that there is an invisible 'W' in the
dedication, making it now "D.edicated to U.nca C.arl's work from K.eno".
Wm: A "gibbous" moon? I hadta look that one up. In other words, one
that is over half full? You can imagine why cartoonists never use that
one. It would look odd and just strike the reader as a lopsided full
moon. In fact, any full moon that someone like Van Horn would draw would
look gibbous since it wouldn't be round. I'm the former engineer. I use
compasses and templates on full moons, Duck heads & eyes, buttons,
eyeglasses, etc., etc., plus evry single ellipse I draw (including ALL
the coins in Money Bin close-ups). (Yes, I am insane.)
Torsten: It might surprize you that, if you walked down a street
quizzing everyone on their understanding of the sun, moon and stars,
you'd be appalled at what little they know and more appalled at how
little they care about what little they know. A great number of the
unwashed DO believe this thing they hear called "outer space" is blue
and filled with clouds. My sister once wondered (when she was in her
20's) why the Apollo astronauts didn't stop off on other planets on
their way to the moon. My college roommate had no concept of how large
the sun was or how far away it was (maybe it was the size of a
Volkswagan and 1000 ft. up?) and he thought meteors were pieces of
planets that broke off and fell down to earth. And I wouldn't even try
to quiz my father about what he knows or cares about such things -- his
knowledge about the universe is probably on a par with a modern 5 year
old. I would bet most Americans would believe you if you told them that
there were clouds around the sun, as long as you got on with the
discussion about football and stopped being an egghead.
Anyway, I'v been so busy that I had not as yet said where I WENT
last week. Since I'd had a nice week in Norway, and lotsa nice weekends
all the time as a guest at various conventions around the U.S., I
decided to take my wife on a deserved vacation. "Hey! Don Rosa! You just
completed your 2 1/2 long project of the 211 page 'Life and Times of
$crooge McDuck'! Whaddiya gonna do NOW!" "I'm goin' t' DISNEYWORLD!" (Do
you Europeans get those Disney commercials?) Anyway, I went to
DisneyWorld, and you can just imagine what it's like for ME when I
visit! Admission tickets are FREE. I am allowed to enter the Park early
and stay as long as I like! I never need to wait and I'm allowed to go
to the head of all the lines! Souvenirs are free! I get a free deluxe
suite in any Disney Resort I choose! I get a free rental car! And all
meals at all the expensive Disney restaurants are complementary! It's
heaven on earth for a superstar like me!
Raise your hands. How many of you know not a word of any of that
is true? I'm just another schmo in DisneyWorld. Now, it WOULD be like
all that if I WERE somebody... like the businessman who sells the Park
its toilet paper or somebody like that.
Actually, I did get a bit of "special treatment": I always carry
with me my "#1 Dime". After I named it as such, I always carry in my
pocket an 1875 seated-Liberty American DIME... just a private lil' joke
or memento or whatever. Well, after being at WDW for nearly a week, I
decided it was foolish to be carrying that Dime on Splash Mountain or
these other rides where it MIGHT drop out of my pocket. So I took it and
placed it in the middle of a shelf in a cabinet in my hotel room in
Disney's (el cheapo) Carribean Beach Resort, and went on my way. I was
afraid I'd forget to get it the next day when we left, so the first
thing I did when I got back to the hotel that night was go to the
cabinet to get my Dime and put it back with the rest of my pocket
change.
It was gone. The maid had stolen it.
Naturally nothing can be done in that sort of situation. The
hotel can never be sure that a guest didn't just misplace his lost
valuable and seek to blame an innocent maid. And if the maid were
accused, all she needs to do is deny it and since there's no proof,
that's the end of it. Mattias, who ALSO has his own 1875 Dime, will know
that if that maid takes my well-worn Dime, which she assumes must be a
valuable rare coin, to a coin dealer to sell it, the dealer will only
pay her about 30 cents for it. That's how UNvaluable they are. I wish I
could see her face!
But, the fact remains, that what a sorceress-supreme like Magica
DeSpell couldn't steal in 30 years of trying, a DISNEY EMPLOYEE swiped
in one hour.
THAT'S the kind of "special treatment" I always get from Disney.
And so it goes...
Don Rosa
+Postage Due+Disney-comics digest #153.
Message 52 -
1993-11-11 at 16:41:12
ARRRGH!
Harry!
I just reread the last Digest just before I deleted it, and I
see you were wondering about something I'd said about "249,999,999
readers". YIPES! I meant 249,999 readers!!! I had a whole extra pile of
9's in there!!!
It reminds me of what Jethro Bodine once said concerning what he
was learning in his Beverly Hills school: "Y'know, Uncle Jed... the
funny thing about noughts (0's) is that by themselves they ain't worth
shucks... but you start pilin' 'em up behind some OTHER number, and them
lil' rascals is DYNAMITE!!!"
Harry!
I just reread the last Digest just before I deleted it, and I
see you were wondering about something I'd said about "249,999,999
readers". YIPES! I meant 249,999 readers!!! I had a whole extra pile of
9's in there!!!
It reminds me of what Jethro Bodine once said concerning what he
was learning in his Beverly Hills school: "Y'know, Uncle Jed... the
funny thing about noughts (0's) is that by themselves they ain't worth
shucks... but you start pilin' 'em up behind some OTHER number, and them
lil' rascals is DYNAMITE!!!"
David A Gerstein
Disney-comics digest #154.
Message 53 -
1993-11-12 at 04:52:28
Dear Folks,
A few things to say today.
The theft of Don's #1 Dime
=== ===== == ===== == ====
This was shameful to read about. Don, did you try combing the
rug for the thing? I'm not sure exactly what that cabinet looked
like, and if it had no door to it, then perhaps the maid swept a dust
mop across the shelves and knocked Old #1 to the floor.
But then again, she may be melting it down somewhere by now
(sorry, Don... I'm not making light of the theft, but just couldn't
help it after *you* mentioned Magica. Actually, I'm bothered by this
just as YOU were)
I take it then that 1875 is the year you've put on Scrooge's
real Old #1? (Remember, I haven't seen the Lo$ yet except one German
chapter... actually, that's the first, so I have no excuse for not
knowing the date! So I can go out and get myself one now? Maybe I can
actually make a case for it like Scrooge has ;-)
Disney sales in the U. S.
====== ===== == === == ==
John Clark told me that his new comics ALREADY sell MUCH
better than Disney's did -- about twice as well. He prints over
100,000 of them now, as opposed to Disney which printed about 60,000.
I thought there was some country in Scandinavia where the
weekly WDC&S equivalent sold near the mid-'50s Dell equivalent of
4,000,000 copies. Does this happen anywhere anymore? Recent
discussion pegged the number at 250,000 but I think it may be much
larger.
250,000 was, by the way, the press run of WDC&S #1, which was
published on August 28, 1940, the day of my Dad's birth! (If you look
at the annual publication info in the 1940s Dells, they establish the
publication date for each issue as being the 28th day of the month two
before the cover month.)
Don's cover to USA #24
===== ===== == === ===
Actually, I saw this when I visited John Clark in July, but I
didn't get a good look at it then. Now that I've bought it... Don, the
cover was in many ways among your best. Two minor criticisms; the
nephew nearest to the camera was seen from the side and lacked his
usual round forehead for a lumpy 1960s-Barks-style one. I prefer it
the other way, which is more consistent with your usual
Duck-drawing-style anyway. Also, Scrooge's face looks somehow flat --
I mean as if it were a drawing of his face from the front that had
been turned 45 degrees.
Other than that, a swell cover, particularly Donald and the
one nephew who was letting out a yell. (You do Duck double-takes very
nicely. All together now: GREAT HOWLIN' CRASHWAGONS!)
The DD Birthday story
=== == ======== =====
Don... maybe you should tell John Clark yourself about that DD
60th-anniversary story you're doing. I told you I'd tell him last
week, but have been unsuccessful at reaching him. (But then, he MAY
call me soon... I just sent a dialog to him for some late-1994 U$
issue, so he'll have something to talk to me about. Anyway, I'd call
him if I were you... this is a story he'll want to know about before
you'd normally send him a copy, since he'll be scheduling that issue
not too long from now.)
My Review: US 283
== ======= == ===
A fine Barks story, of course (first reprint in regular comics
since 1981). I absolutely loved the Beagle Boys story -- it was clear
that this was one Gary Gabner really enjoyed, since he pulled a great
(con?) job on it. The Gyro story was adequate (very, very bland art),
but one that Gabner must *not* have liked since his dialog was dry
and dull. The dialog was okay on the third Danish story, "Old
Friend," but I found it a TERRIBLE plot with EXCREABLE art.
Grades: FOXY RELATIONS A; A HARD DAY'S THIEVING A-; SKATE
LATE C; OLD FRIEND D-.
My Review: DM 21
== ======= == ==
The Donald story was okay... but I'm actually beginning to
numb to Barks ten-pagers, even many good ones. Unlike in Europe, just
because the ten-pager is constantly in print in an album DOESN'T mean
that it won't oust a good Dutch story (or some other person's
potential creation) from one of the regular comics at any time.
Grade: A (for quality).
The Mickey and the Sleuth story was very funny... but don't
take that to mean that I felt it was good that it was reprinted. The
humor had nothing to do with Mickey, who was so obviously playing a
role here that he even spoke stilted stage lines ("Egad! I do believe
there is a pigeon feather in my soup!"). When MM gets his name in the
comic's title, he should be the lead character in his own story. This
could have been *anyone's* role. Grade: C.
My Review: USA 24
== ======= === ==
"The Little Gronins" had excellent artwork but a dull and
sometimes INCOMPREHENSIBLE dialog job. The Gronins never explained
why they thought Scrooge was going to flood their village -- he was
cutting down TREES, right? And the final gag about the mayor taking
the Gronins for HDL was harmed badly by the fact that HDL were all
visible in the panel. Grade: C-.
"Trapped Lightning" is a favorite of mine since it's a Barks
story with MM characters in it. (I know -- they weren't ORIGINALLY to
be there -- but I like it just the same.) Grade: B.
"The Minus de Milo" had a VERY GOOD dialog writer (a new
guy!)... his humor was first-rate. My only problem was that he was
far too WORDY -- some balloons had TWO unrelated lines, whereas one
woulda been enough. But I'll give him time. Grade: B-.
I'll shut up for now... I've gone on yammering long enough and
you're probably all sick and tired! BTW: Fabio... any interesting
revelations on Pedrocchi these days?
Your friend,
David
A few things to say today.
The theft of Don's #1 Dime
=== ===== == ===== == ====
This was shameful to read about. Don, did you try combing the
rug for the thing? I'm not sure exactly what that cabinet looked
like, and if it had no door to it, then perhaps the maid swept a dust
mop across the shelves and knocked Old #1 to the floor.
But then again, she may be melting it down somewhere by now
(sorry, Don... I'm not making light of the theft, but just couldn't
help it after *you* mentioned Magica. Actually, I'm bothered by this
just as YOU were)
I take it then that 1875 is the year you've put on Scrooge's
real Old #1? (Remember, I haven't seen the Lo$ yet except one German
chapter... actually, that's the first, so I have no excuse for not
knowing the date! So I can go out and get myself one now? Maybe I can
actually make a case for it like Scrooge has ;-)
Disney sales in the U. S.
====== ===== == === == ==
John Clark told me that his new comics ALREADY sell MUCH
better than Disney's did -- about twice as well. He prints over
100,000 of them now, as opposed to Disney which printed about 60,000.
I thought there was some country in Scandinavia where the
weekly WDC&S equivalent sold near the mid-'50s Dell equivalent of
4,000,000 copies. Does this happen anywhere anymore? Recent
discussion pegged the number at 250,000 but I think it may be much
larger.
250,000 was, by the way, the press run of WDC&S #1, which was
published on August 28, 1940, the day of my Dad's birth! (If you look
at the annual publication info in the 1940s Dells, they establish the
publication date for each issue as being the 28th day of the month two
before the cover month.)
Don's cover to USA #24
===== ===== == === ===
Actually, I saw this when I visited John Clark in July, but I
didn't get a good look at it then. Now that I've bought it... Don, the
cover was in many ways among your best. Two minor criticisms; the
nephew nearest to the camera was seen from the side and lacked his
usual round forehead for a lumpy 1960s-Barks-style one. I prefer it
the other way, which is more consistent with your usual
Duck-drawing-style anyway. Also, Scrooge's face looks somehow flat --
I mean as if it were a drawing of his face from the front that had
been turned 45 degrees.
Other than that, a swell cover, particularly Donald and the
one nephew who was letting out a yell. (You do Duck double-takes very
nicely. All together now: GREAT HOWLIN' CRASHWAGONS!)
The DD Birthday story
=== == ======== =====
Don... maybe you should tell John Clark yourself about that DD
60th-anniversary story you're doing. I told you I'd tell him last
week, but have been unsuccessful at reaching him. (But then, he MAY
call me soon... I just sent a dialog to him for some late-1994 U$
issue, so he'll have something to talk to me about. Anyway, I'd call
him if I were you... this is a story he'll want to know about before
you'd normally send him a copy, since he'll be scheduling that issue
not too long from now.)
My Review: US 283
== ======= == ===
A fine Barks story, of course (first reprint in regular comics
since 1981). I absolutely loved the Beagle Boys story -- it was clear
that this was one Gary Gabner really enjoyed, since he pulled a great
(con?) job on it. The Gyro story was adequate (very, very bland art),
but one that Gabner must *not* have liked since his dialog was dry
and dull. The dialog was okay on the third Danish story, "Old
Friend," but I found it a TERRIBLE plot with EXCREABLE art.
Grades: FOXY RELATIONS A; A HARD DAY'S THIEVING A-; SKATE
LATE C; OLD FRIEND D-.
My Review: DM 21
== ======= == ==
The Donald story was okay... but I'm actually beginning to
numb to Barks ten-pagers, even many good ones. Unlike in Europe, just
because the ten-pager is constantly in print in an album DOESN'T mean
that it won't oust a good Dutch story (or some other person's
potential creation) from one of the regular comics at any time.
Grade: A (for quality).
The Mickey and the Sleuth story was very funny... but don't
take that to mean that I felt it was good that it was reprinted. The
humor had nothing to do with Mickey, who was so obviously playing a
role here that he even spoke stilted stage lines ("Egad! I do believe
there is a pigeon feather in my soup!"). When MM gets his name in the
comic's title, he should be the lead character in his own story. This
could have been *anyone's* role. Grade: C.
My Review: USA 24
== ======= === ==
"The Little Gronins" had excellent artwork but a dull and
sometimes INCOMPREHENSIBLE dialog job. The Gronins never explained
why they thought Scrooge was going to flood their village -- he was
cutting down TREES, right? And the final gag about the mayor taking
the Gronins for HDL was harmed badly by the fact that HDL were all
visible in the panel. Grade: C-.
"Trapped Lightning" is a favorite of mine since it's a Barks
story with MM characters in it. (I know -- they weren't ORIGINALLY to
be there -- but I like it just the same.) Grade: B.
"The Minus de Milo" had a VERY GOOD dialog writer (a new
guy!)... his humor was first-rate. My only problem was that he was
far too WORDY -- some balloons had TWO unrelated lines, whereas one
woulda been enough. But I'll give him time. Grade: B-.
I'll shut up for now... I've gone on yammering long enough and
you're probably all sick and tired! BTW: Fabio... any interesting
revelations on Pedrocchi these days?
Your friend,
David
Even Flood
Don's visit to Norway
Message 54 -
1993-11-12 at 14:03:18
As you all know, Don was in Norway in September. The trip
and press conference was covered in several newspapers,
I have made a translation of some them (the ones I found).
The were from Aftenposten, Dagbladet and Bergens Tidende.
If anyone knows of any other stories, pleas tell me
(and Don) so we can get the thme as well.
I am on the borderline of breaking netiquette here as
this is material wich is copyrighted with the
publishers. However, it is interviews with Don and the
main bulk of the stories are his statements. So as
far as he gives it OK (he has!), I am on the right line
of the border (at least morally).
Even
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Aftenposten sept. 28 1993
Author: Lars Keilhau
Draft translation by Even Flood
(Picture of Don Rosa with GOTLL looking at (and reading
to?) a large figure of Donald. Looks like they are
enjoying a gag in the book...)
Rosa - the world's largest Donald-fan
- Donald is the only comics character with soul, the only
one worth drawing. Says Don Rosa, who has taken the
heritage of the legendary Donald creator Carl Barks.
The American Don Rosa is a very modest man. He is in
Norway to talk about his latest Donald story, made
especially for the Year of the Book: "Guardians of the
Lost Library". But most of all he wants to talk about
television's moronic influence on the youths of America
who no longer read, not even comics. If one can talk about
a mission, he has this: European parents must stop their
children from becomming TV addicts.
- I grew up with Donald, and Carl Barks' stories gave me
much because they were so full of details, so close to
reality. I am trying to follow this tradition, without
coming close to being that good.
That is a statement many "Donaldists" will contest. For
example: "Guardians of the Lost Library - the story about
the origin of the Woodchuck manual" (out this week) can
get a, not necesarily sworn comics fan to open the eyes.
The amount of details, among other things, is fascinating.
And Rosa loves to point out that he used a long time in
research before the story was finished. These buildings
are drawn from actual houses and these hieroglyphics do
spell "Cleopatra" - even if only I know that - and
Columbus did have a bookshop at one time as it is told
here.
In 1987 Rosa sold his engineering firm to draw Donald full
time.
- I knew I would just earn enought to pay the rent and
food. On the other side I could remain home and do what I
wanted most to do, anbd that I think is more than most
people get out of life. It turned out there was more money
in comics than I thought - in Europe. But I did not know
that when I started.
In USA the comics are almost dead. It is bought only by
speculators and collectors.
- Who never reads the magazines but keeps them in plastic
bags sneers Rosa. Who has about 50 000 comics in a room at
home. Together with 500 donald figures - which he also
collects. - But I will never be as crazy as to pay 5000
dollars for a figure, as some do.
Don Rosa is one of the few comics artists who does
everything himself: Writes the text, draws, colours.
- There are not many of us left. Usually three to four
people are engaged in making a comics, if not more. If I
had to leave some of the work to someone else, I would
have gone back to my former occupation. The fun is doing
everything myself, down to the smallest detail.
Don Rosa has one great sorrow in his life: That he has
never met hid idol Carl Barks.
- I have tried several times over the last six or seven
years, but I have slowly come to realize that for some
reason he does not want to meet me. It hurts.
But there are many who wants to meet Don Rosa - in Europe.
- At home nobody knows who I am, here I have so many fans
that it is too much. I think the Mid-Atlantic should be
just the place for me - there it would be somewhere in
between.
Says Rosa with twinkling eyes. And does not really
complain over the fact that for a while he is the center
of attention
----------------------------------------------------------
From Dagbladet sept. 28, 1993
by Frode Christiansen
Draft translation by Even Flood
Large (half of the page) picture of Don with GOTTL.
Don Donald visiting the world champions.
Did you know, says he, that you in little Norway buy more
than 1500 times more Donald magazines in one year than the
gigantic USA? Maybe you are the world champion Donald
readers.
No, we did not know and we object strongly when when the
American Donald creator and artist Don Rosa tries to say
things like that. He is on a brief visit to Oslo. The
reason for the visit is "The year of the Book"
1993 commemorating that it is 350 years since we
started printing books. And that he has been commisioned
to write and draw a special Donald-magazine about
the origin of the Woodchuck guidebook.
But yes, what Don Rosa tells us is the strict truth. And
he explains:
- I USA you have to go 40 years back to find the great
Donald era. Today Americans have stopped reading a long
time ago. They do not read books and they do not read
cartoons.
TV - slaves
- The last is perhaps the worst. When it comes to comics
they are often your first meeting with what later is to
become love of reading. For the magical and wonderful
world of books.
- What then do the growing americans do?
- What the do? They watch TV, all the time. Not because
they necesarily want to, but because they think it is
something they must. When Americans buy something it is
not necesarily something they need, something useful, and
which perhaps could help them develop themselves. No, they
buy whatever they think they have to buy, that they see
the parents buy, the neighbours buy and the classmates
buy.
- For Americans it is more important to get the "correct"
make of car than to consider using a few days to some of
their spiritual needs.
- It is that bad where I come from. But fortunately it is
not that way in Scandinavia or in the rest of Europe or in
great parts of the world. You should be immensly grateful
for that. The alternative is emptyminded dull stuff. I see
that who is an American, says Don Rosa.
Treasure hunt.
- Now you have added another Donald magazine to your
production?
- Yes, I have written a treasure hunt starting with the
lost library of Alexandria, the antique's most
legendfilled collection of knowledge and entertainment.
And here the "Woodchuck Guidebook" has a role as the key
to the mystery.
- What I did not know was that a Norwegian architect firm
had won UNESCO's competition where the assignmet was to
design a new library there. That gives my job an extra
dimension since the magazine I created was an assignment
from a Norwegian publisher, says Don Rosa.
What we did not know was that Cleopatra founded the
Woodchuck momement, at least if Huey, Louie and Dewey are
right. Even if they hate the thought that a girl can have
done it.
----------------------------------------------------------
From Bergens Tidende Sept 28. 1993
(This one was not too easy. The copy I had was a telefax
of a xerox copy of the original wich is in small writing.
So some words were blurred, not to mention the picture.)
Author: Oivind Holen
Draft tranlsation by Even Flood
Picture of Don Rosa peering out behind GOTTL. He looks
like something out of a horror movie, but that may be
due to the abovementioned xerox-telefax effect. Then again
it might not.. Caption: Secrets. Keno Don Rosa gives us a
glimpse of what really hides behind the persons in
Duckburg.
He reveals the mysteries
I am immensely proud that I am given the opportunity to
tell my stories, but I often feel that my drawings are
terrible. Often I cannot bear to look at them later.
It is the great contemporary Donald artist, Keno Don Rosa
(42) who says this to Bergens Tidende. He is at present in
Oslo in connection with "The year of the Book 1993". Don
Rosa presented his work "Guardians of the lost Library"
yesterday.
The story reveals the mystery about the Woodchuck
Guidebook, the inexhaustible source of wisdom that has the
answer to absolutely everything. The book turns out to
have close connections to the legendary library of
Alexandria.
- I wanted to show the riches books contain and how the
Woodchuck Guidebook can contain all that information it
does, says Don Rosa.
- The library in Alexandria is the largest book treasure
in the world, and it was natural to involve Uncle Scrooge
in a treasure hunt for these books.
- Is it right to reveal all the mysteries of Duckburg? Are
you not worried about destroyng som of the mystery of the
series?
- Yes, I am concerned about it, but I just cannot contain
myself. But if you do not want the secrets revealed, you
should not read my comics!
Only Duckburg
Rosa cannot imagine anything else than making Disney
series.
- Carl Barks' comics made a tremendous impression on me
when I was a child, he says.
- I was not interested in reading comics with animal
characters. But Barks' tales were not stories about
animals. The were stories about real people, not about
animals behaving like people. I enjoyed reading stories
that did not treat the reader as an idiot.
- For me it is no alternative to making stories about the
Ducks in Duckburg. I have been offered to make other
comics, but that means I will make less Duck stories, and
that is out of the question.
- I enjoy writing stories, to me the story is the most
important part of the comics, says Don Rosa.
- But Carl Barks is not enthusiatic about my comics. He
does not like that I use his characters and stories, and
shows little understanding for my work.
- What tales can Don Rosa offer in the near future?
- I have several pages of ideas at home. I have made a
story in connection with the winter olympics at
Lillehammer , and I am possibly going to make something
in connection with the 60 year aniversary of Donald next
year. In addition I have to finish the "Life of Scrooge",
says Don Rosa.
- I am probably never going to write the story about the
parents of Huey, Dewey and Louie, although I have it
finished in my head. The problem is that such a tale
cannot have a happy ending. Either the parents ar alive or
they are dead. If they live, the boys have to choose
between living with the parents or with Donald, and no
matter what happens, the story will have a sad ending.
and press conference was covered in several newspapers,
I have made a translation of some them (the ones I found).
The were from Aftenposten, Dagbladet and Bergens Tidende.
If anyone knows of any other stories, pleas tell me
(and Don) so we can get the thme as well.
I am on the borderline of breaking netiquette here as
this is material wich is copyrighted with the
publishers. However, it is interviews with Don and the
main bulk of the stories are his statements. So as
far as he gives it OK (he has!), I am on the right line
of the border (at least morally).
Even
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Aftenposten sept. 28 1993
Author: Lars Keilhau
Draft translation by Even Flood
(Picture of Don Rosa with GOTLL looking at (and reading
to?) a large figure of Donald. Looks like they are
enjoying a gag in the book...)
Rosa - the world's largest Donald-fan
- Donald is the only comics character with soul, the only
one worth drawing. Says Don Rosa, who has taken the
heritage of the legendary Donald creator Carl Barks.
The American Don Rosa is a very modest man. He is in
Norway to talk about his latest Donald story, made
especially for the Year of the Book: "Guardians of the
Lost Library". But most of all he wants to talk about
television's moronic influence on the youths of America
who no longer read, not even comics. If one can talk about
a mission, he has this: European parents must stop their
children from becomming TV addicts.
- I grew up with Donald, and Carl Barks' stories gave me
much because they were so full of details, so close to
reality. I am trying to follow this tradition, without
coming close to being that good.
That is a statement many "Donaldists" will contest. For
example: "Guardians of the Lost Library - the story about
the origin of the Woodchuck manual" (out this week) can
get a, not necesarily sworn comics fan to open the eyes.
The amount of details, among other things, is fascinating.
And Rosa loves to point out that he used a long time in
research before the story was finished. These buildings
are drawn from actual houses and these hieroglyphics do
spell "Cleopatra" - even if only I know that - and
Columbus did have a bookshop at one time as it is told
here.
In 1987 Rosa sold his engineering firm to draw Donald full
time.
- I knew I would just earn enought to pay the rent and
food. On the other side I could remain home and do what I
wanted most to do, anbd that I think is more than most
people get out of life. It turned out there was more money
in comics than I thought - in Europe. But I did not know
that when I started.
In USA the comics are almost dead. It is bought only by
speculators and collectors.
- Who never reads the magazines but keeps them in plastic
bags sneers Rosa. Who has about 50 000 comics in a room at
home. Together with 500 donald figures - which he also
collects. - But I will never be as crazy as to pay 5000
dollars for a figure, as some do.
Don Rosa is one of the few comics artists who does
everything himself: Writes the text, draws, colours.
- There are not many of us left. Usually three to four
people are engaged in making a comics, if not more. If I
had to leave some of the work to someone else, I would
have gone back to my former occupation. The fun is doing
everything myself, down to the smallest detail.
Don Rosa has one great sorrow in his life: That he has
never met hid idol Carl Barks.
- I have tried several times over the last six or seven
years, but I have slowly come to realize that for some
reason he does not want to meet me. It hurts.
But there are many who wants to meet Don Rosa - in Europe.
- At home nobody knows who I am, here I have so many fans
that it is too much. I think the Mid-Atlantic should be
just the place for me - there it would be somewhere in
between.
Says Rosa with twinkling eyes. And does not really
complain over the fact that for a while he is the center
of attention
----------------------------------------------------------
From Dagbladet sept. 28, 1993
by Frode Christiansen
Draft translation by Even Flood
Large (half of the page) picture of Don with GOTTL.
Don Donald visiting the world champions.
Did you know, says he, that you in little Norway buy more
than 1500 times more Donald magazines in one year than the
gigantic USA? Maybe you are the world champion Donald
readers.
No, we did not know and we object strongly when when the
American Donald creator and artist Don Rosa tries to say
things like that. He is on a brief visit to Oslo. The
reason for the visit is "The year of the Book"
1993 commemorating that it is 350 years since we
started printing books. And that he has been commisioned
to write and draw a special Donald-magazine about
the origin of the Woodchuck guidebook.
But yes, what Don Rosa tells us is the strict truth. And
he explains:
- I USA you have to go 40 years back to find the great
Donald era. Today Americans have stopped reading a long
time ago. They do not read books and they do not read
cartoons.
TV - slaves
- The last is perhaps the worst. When it comes to comics
they are often your first meeting with what later is to
become love of reading. For the magical and wonderful
world of books.
- What then do the growing americans do?
- What the do? They watch TV, all the time. Not because
they necesarily want to, but because they think it is
something they must. When Americans buy something it is
not necesarily something they need, something useful, and
which perhaps could help them develop themselves. No, they
buy whatever they think they have to buy, that they see
the parents buy, the neighbours buy and the classmates
buy.
- For Americans it is more important to get the "correct"
make of car than to consider using a few days to some of
their spiritual needs.
- It is that bad where I come from. But fortunately it is
not that way in Scandinavia or in the rest of Europe or in
great parts of the world. You should be immensly grateful
for that. The alternative is emptyminded dull stuff. I see
that who is an American, says Don Rosa.
Treasure hunt.
- Now you have added another Donald magazine to your
production?
- Yes, I have written a treasure hunt starting with the
lost library of Alexandria, the antique's most
legendfilled collection of knowledge and entertainment.
And here the "Woodchuck Guidebook" has a role as the key
to the mystery.
- What I did not know was that a Norwegian architect firm
had won UNESCO's competition where the assignmet was to
design a new library there. That gives my job an extra
dimension since the magazine I created was an assignment
from a Norwegian publisher, says Don Rosa.
What we did not know was that Cleopatra founded the
Woodchuck momement, at least if Huey, Louie and Dewey are
right. Even if they hate the thought that a girl can have
done it.
----------------------------------------------------------
From Bergens Tidende Sept 28. 1993
(This one was not too easy. The copy I had was a telefax
of a xerox copy of the original wich is in small writing.
So some words were blurred, not to mention the picture.)
Author: Oivind Holen
Draft tranlsation by Even Flood
Picture of Don Rosa peering out behind GOTTL. He looks
like something out of a horror movie, but that may be
due to the abovementioned xerox-telefax effect. Then again
it might not.. Caption: Secrets. Keno Don Rosa gives us a
glimpse of what really hides behind the persons in
Duckburg.
He reveals the mysteries
I am immensely proud that I am given the opportunity to
tell my stories, but I often feel that my drawings are
terrible. Often I cannot bear to look at them later.
It is the great contemporary Donald artist, Keno Don Rosa
(42) who says this to Bergens Tidende. He is at present in
Oslo in connection with "The year of the Book 1993". Don
Rosa presented his work "Guardians of the lost Library"
yesterday.
The story reveals the mystery about the Woodchuck
Guidebook, the inexhaustible source of wisdom that has the
answer to absolutely everything. The book turns out to
have close connections to the legendary library of
Alexandria.
- I wanted to show the riches books contain and how the
Woodchuck Guidebook can contain all that information it
does, says Don Rosa.
- The library in Alexandria is the largest book treasure
in the world, and it was natural to involve Uncle Scrooge
in a treasure hunt for these books.
- Is it right to reveal all the mysteries of Duckburg? Are
you not worried about destroyng som of the mystery of the
series?
- Yes, I am concerned about it, but I just cannot contain
myself. But if you do not want the secrets revealed, you
should not read my comics!
Only Duckburg
Rosa cannot imagine anything else than making Disney
series.
- Carl Barks' comics made a tremendous impression on me
when I was a child, he says.
- I was not interested in reading comics with animal
characters. But Barks' tales were not stories about
animals. The were stories about real people, not about
animals behaving like people. I enjoyed reading stories
that did not treat the reader as an idiot.
- For me it is no alternative to making stories about the
Ducks in Duckburg. I have been offered to make other
comics, but that means I will make less Duck stories, and
that is out of the question.
- I enjoy writing stories, to me the story is the most
important part of the comics, says Don Rosa.
- But Carl Barks is not enthusiatic about my comics. He
does not like that I use his characters and stories, and
shows little understanding for my work.
- What tales can Don Rosa offer in the near future?
- I have several pages of ideas at home. I have made a
story in connection with the winter olympics at
Lillehammer , and I am possibly going to make something
in connection with the 60 year aniversary of Donald next
year. In addition I have to finish the "Life of Scrooge",
says Don Rosa.
- I am probably never going to write the story about the
parents of Huey, Dewey and Louie, although I have it
finished in my head. The problem is that such a tale
cannot have a happy ending. Either the parents ar alive or
they are dead. If they live, the boys have to choose
between living with the parents or with Donald, and no
matter what happens, the story will have a sad ending.
Even Flood
Lo$, #9
Message 55 -
1993-11-12 at 15:51:48
I want to add my two cents to the praise for
Lo$, #9. My only major criticism is that it was
too short! I want more! and more! and.....
The ending was beautiful, once I figured it out.
Actually several of us old timers had some
trouble discovering what was happening -
"You don't do THAT in a Disney Comic!!??"
So I had to read it several times before I finally
discovered the bed in one of the last panels.
Actually, on rereading the series, I feel that
the death of Scrooge's mother in #8 was much
grimmer and brutal.
One minor point I had som difficulties with is
the conflict between Scrooge and the Highlanders.
The cause of the behaviour of the Highlanders
seems too inconsistent - why do they taunt Scrooge
in the most outrageous way in one panel and in the
next they do not understand why he reacts?
If the taunting just is some friendly bantering or joking
gesture and Scrooge reacts in a wrong way to that,
I could understand what was going on, but I do not
see that interpretation in the pictures. But maybe I
missed something?
Even
Lo$, #9. My only major criticism is that it was
too short! I want more! and more! and.....
The ending was beautiful, once I figured it out.
Actually several of us old timers had some
trouble discovering what was happening -
"You don't do THAT in a Disney Comic!!??"
So I had to read it several times before I finally
discovered the bed in one of the last panels.
Actually, on rereading the series, I feel that
the death of Scrooge's mother in #8 was much
grimmer and brutal.
One minor point I had som difficulties with is
the conflict between Scrooge and the Highlanders.
The cause of the behaviour of the Highlanders
seems too inconsistent - why do they taunt Scrooge
in the most outrageous way in one panel and in the
next they do not understand why he reacts?
If the taunting just is some friendly bantering or joking
gesture and Scrooge reacts in a wrong way to that,
I could understand what was going on, but I do not
see that interpretation in the pictures. But maybe I
missed something?
Even
Mattias Hallin
No 1 dimes
Message 56 -
1993-11-12 at 16:45:50
Don: 'twas a sad story you had to tell us Don, about your trip to
Disneyworld; regarding lack of reception and loss of dime equally so - but I
can't say I'm exactly surprised... Myself, I thought that Disneyworld was a
half-decent amusement park (a teensy-weensy bit too neat, and somewhat dull
rides once you've tried a coupla) ...at least, I'm not surprised that you
didn't get any particular recognition, since apart from exterior things,
Disneyworld hasn't got very much to do with any of the really interesting
aspects of Disney in general - and even less with Disney comics (and their
statue of Cornelius Coot is TOO SMALL!!!)
David: if you consider getting yourself an 1875 dime - be sure to check the
mint-mark, too. Myself I decided on an no-mint-mark-dime (i.e. Philadelphia
minted) since that one was the least valuable of the 1875's - or so the dealer
said when he looked it up in his catalog. I paid 10 kronor (at that time
roughly a dollar an' a half) for mine, which is also VERY worn (although I'm
not SURE I could cut a rope with it yet...). I don't remember if Don had
anything to say about a mint-mark (if any); but as I said, you might want to
check it out beforehand.
My dime, by the way, is actually my FIRST dime - it is indeed the very first US
dime I ever owned (ain't none of you can say that - haha!); although of course
not in any way my first personal income...
So... over here it is now Friday, and closing on 4 o'clock PM; so I'll wish you
all a nice week-end, and to David a Gut Shabbes! and then I think I'll mosey on
home... Ah, freedom, freedom - a whole glorious week-end of FREEDOM!!!
Mattias
Disneyworld; regarding lack of reception and loss of dime equally so - but I
can't say I'm exactly surprised... Myself, I thought that Disneyworld was a
half-decent amusement park (a teensy-weensy bit too neat, and somewhat dull
rides once you've tried a coupla) ...at least, I'm not surprised that you
didn't get any particular recognition, since apart from exterior things,
Disneyworld hasn't got very much to do with any of the really interesting
aspects of Disney in general - and even less with Disney comics (and their
statue of Cornelius Coot is TOO SMALL!!!)
David: if you consider getting yourself an 1875 dime - be sure to check the
mint-mark, too. Myself I decided on an no-mint-mark-dime (i.e. Philadelphia
minted) since that one was the least valuable of the 1875's - or so the dealer
said when he looked it up in his catalog. I paid 10 kronor (at that time
roughly a dollar an' a half) for mine, which is also VERY worn (although I'm
not SURE I could cut a rope with it yet...). I don't remember if Don had
anything to say about a mint-mark (if any); but as I said, you might want to
check it out beforehand.
My dime, by the way, is actually my FIRST dime - it is indeed the very first US
dime I ever owned (ain't none of you can say that - haha!); although of course
not in any way my first personal income...
So... over here it is now Friday, and closing on 4 o'clock PM; so I'll wish you
all a nice week-end, and to David a Gut Shabbes! and then I think I'll mosey on
home... Ah, freedom, freedom - a whole glorious week-end of FREEDOM!!!
Mattias
Torsten Wesley Adair
Disney-comics digest #154.
Message 57 -
1993-11-12 at 16:48:26
On Thu, 11 Nov 1993, David A Gerstein wrote:
> Dear Folks,
> A few things to say today.
> My Review: USA 24
> == ======= === ==
> "The Minus de Milo" had a VERY GOOD dialog writer (a new
> guy!)... his humor was first-rate. My only problem was that he was
> far too WORDY -- some balloons had TWO unrelated lines, whereas one
> woulda been enough. But I'll give him time. Grade: B-.
I had some problems with this. First of all, it is a time travel story,
so why couldn't they just go back a few days before, and get it then?
Time travel is a murky device; do they change the future, does time happen
irregardless of what they do, do they cause the timeline to split?
We never learn why the villain was angry about his mother's statue. Was
it a bad likeness? Was it taboo to carve statues of known people?
Wouldn't Scrooge be glad to get an ancient Greek vase? One in mint
condition (it hadn't aged in the time machine)? Especially since he
didn't get the arms and head?
Also, I think the writer tried to explain why the island was abandoned.
There may be a historical footnote here, as I think the kingdom vanished
in our world. Don, I think you could take this premise and expand it
greatly. Maybe even have HDL decipher that Minoan tongue no one else can
figure out. I don't know if Scrooge has voyaged to the Greek Isles
(wasn't there a Golden Fleece story?), but it would allow for some
wonderful art to be shown.
My grade: C-
Torsten Adair torsten at cwis.unomaha.edu Omaha, NE, USA
> Dear Folks,
> A few things to say today.
> My Review: USA 24
> == ======= === ==
> "The Minus de Milo" had a VERY GOOD dialog writer (a new
> guy!)... his humor was first-rate. My only problem was that he was
> far too WORDY -- some balloons had TWO unrelated lines, whereas one
> woulda been enough. But I'll give him time. Grade: B-.
I had some problems with this. First of all, it is a time travel story,
so why couldn't they just go back a few days before, and get it then?
Time travel is a murky device; do they change the future, does time happen
irregardless of what they do, do they cause the timeline to split?
We never learn why the villain was angry about his mother's statue. Was
it a bad likeness? Was it taboo to carve statues of known people?
Wouldn't Scrooge be glad to get an ancient Greek vase? One in mint
condition (it hadn't aged in the time machine)? Especially since he
didn't get the arms and head?
Also, I think the writer tried to explain why the island was abandoned.
There may be a historical footnote here, as I think the kingdom vanished
in our world. Don, I think you could take this premise and expand it
greatly. Maybe even have HDL decipher that Minoan tongue no one else can
figure out. I don't know if Scrooge has voyaged to the Greek Isles
(wasn't there a Golden Fleece story?), but it would allow for some
wonderful art to be shown.
My grade: C-
Torsten Adair torsten at cwis.unomaha.edu Omaha, NE, USA
RON, ELECT. CARD DESIGN, 42-2, X2489
Digest #155
Message 58 -
1993-11-13 at 03:20:31
I hope my first post isn't too spammy or off-topic for people, but here
goes:
>Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 14:03:18 +0200 (METDST)
>From: Even Flood <Even.Flood at due.unit.no>
>Subject: Don's visit to Norway
>Don Rosa has one great sorrow in his life: That he has
>never met hid idol Carl Barks.
That's a bit of a shame...
>- I have tried several times over the last six or seven
>years, but I have slowly come to realize that for some
>reason he does not want to meet me. It hurts.
[...]
>- But Carl Barks is not enthusiatic about my comics. He
>does not like that I use his characters and stories, and
>shows little understanding for my work.
If it's any consolation, Chuck Jones apparently feels the same way about
Tiny Toon Adventures; i.e., they're nowhere near as good as the work _he_
did on the original Warner Brothers characters. While I respect his right
to hold this opinion, and Carl Barks to hold his, I won't let it stop me
from enjoying the work of all four. However, I must say I prefer the newer
work in both cases.
I don't mean to denigrate Jones or Barks, but it sounds like ego's getting
in the way of an objective opinion.
Thanks for the newspaper article translations - they were very informative.
I had no _idea_ that Disney Comics were so popular in Europe. The
biographical info on Don was interesting too - I wish I'd read it before I
replied to his last e-mail message; oh well - I was just wondering given his
frustration (to use a polite term) at his dealings with Disney why he stuck
with it. Now I know - he loves the work _that_ much.
I think I've said enough for now.
RDB
goes:
>Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1993 14:03:18 +0200 (METDST)
>From: Even Flood <Even.Flood at due.unit.no>
>Subject: Don's visit to Norway
>Don Rosa has one great sorrow in his life: That he has
>never met hid idol Carl Barks.
That's a bit of a shame...
>- I have tried several times over the last six or seven
>years, but I have slowly come to realize that for some
>reason he does not want to meet me. It hurts.
[...]
>- But Carl Barks is not enthusiatic about my comics. He
>does not like that I use his characters and stories, and
>shows little understanding for my work.
If it's any consolation, Chuck Jones apparently feels the same way about
Tiny Toon Adventures; i.e., they're nowhere near as good as the work _he_
did on the original Warner Brothers characters. While I respect his right
to hold this opinion, and Carl Barks to hold his, I won't let it stop me
from enjoying the work of all four. However, I must say I prefer the newer
work in both cases.
I don't mean to denigrate Jones or Barks, but it sounds like ego's getting
in the way of an objective opinion.
Thanks for the newspaper article translations - they were very informative.
I had no _idea_ that Disney Comics were so popular in Europe. The
biographical info on Don was interesting too - I wish I'd read it before I
replied to his last e-mail message; oh well - I was just wondering given his
frustration (to use a polite term) at his dealings with Disney why he stuck
with it. Now I know - he loves the work _that_ much.
I think I've said enough for now.
RDB
Don Rosa
+Postage Due+Disney-comics digest #155.
Message 59 -
1993-11-13 at 06:53:47
COMMENTS ON #155:
David:
Listen, I would never accuse anyone of something like theft
unless I was ABSOLUTELY SURE of what I was talking about. I'd left that
Dime in the center of a shelf behind closed cabinet doors, and we
searched the floor and other furniture to make CERTAIN the maid hadn't
knocked it about or moved it somewhere. (And my wife also saw that I'd
left it on the shelf, picked it up to verify that it was my #1, then
definitely replaced it to the spot in the middle of the empty shelf.
Even:
Thanks for posting those Norwegian articles! Perhaps someone
will post a translation of a full-page article that just appeared in the
German weekly Newsweek-type news magazine about me which I just found
out about 2 days ago. It had a SLIGHTLY different attitude than the
articles you translate, and I'm wondering who is up to some strange
tricks (though I have suspicions).
And you were puzzled by the Highlanders who seemed to change
their attitude toward $crooge so suddenly? That was either a bad joke or
my weird sense of humor. The Highlanders would be very resentful of
someone who did what $crooge had done, then be puzzled that he would
object to the sort of treatment that any outsider should expect? Well,
sometimes I shoot a blank.
Oh, yes... the death of $crooge's mother was meant to be handled
with far more brutality, but then much more obscurely and off-camera.
That was my second writing of that Klondike chapter -- Byron had nixed
my entire first story and said he wanted something really BRUTAL for
what should be $crooge's toughest days. So, I said, okay boy, stand
back! Pa's death was much more tenderly done, but what almost literally
on-camera.
Mattias:
Absolutely right! The no-mint-mark is the correct choice as it
would be worth LESS than the others. The idea is that the Dime has no
value other than inspiration. And as maid bait.
David:
Listen, I would never accuse anyone of something like theft
unless I was ABSOLUTELY SURE of what I was talking about. I'd left that
Dime in the center of a shelf behind closed cabinet doors, and we
searched the floor and other furniture to make CERTAIN the maid hadn't
knocked it about or moved it somewhere. (And my wife also saw that I'd
left it on the shelf, picked it up to verify that it was my #1, then
definitely replaced it to the spot in the middle of the empty shelf.
Even:
Thanks for posting those Norwegian articles! Perhaps someone
will post a translation of a full-page article that just appeared in the
German weekly Newsweek-type news magazine about me which I just found
out about 2 days ago. It had a SLIGHTLY different attitude than the
articles you translate, and I'm wondering who is up to some strange
tricks (though I have suspicions).
And you were puzzled by the Highlanders who seemed to change
their attitude toward $crooge so suddenly? That was either a bad joke or
my weird sense of humor. The Highlanders would be very resentful of
someone who did what $crooge had done, then be puzzled that he would
object to the sort of treatment that any outsider should expect? Well,
sometimes I shoot a blank.
Oh, yes... the death of $crooge's mother was meant to be handled
with far more brutality, but then much more obscurely and off-camera.
That was my second writing of that Klondike chapter -- Byron had nixed
my entire first story and said he wanted something really BRUTAL for
what should be $crooge's toughest days. So, I said, okay boy, stand
back! Pa's death was much more tenderly done, but what almost literally
on-camera.
Mattias:
Absolutely right! The no-mint-mark is the correct choice as it
would be worth LESS than the others. The idea is that the Dime has no
value other than inspiration. And as maid bait.
Dubach1
Could you add me to the Disney mailing list?
Message 60 -
1993-11-14 at 06:37:37
Dave Gerstein sent me. :)
Thanks,
Joev
Thanks,
Joev