Dear Folks,
Don Rosa challenged us to a guessing game on his upcoming
story (to be published in DD 286) "The Duck Who Never Was." He
explained what would have happened had Donald never existed:
"Every single thing about Duckburg is screwed up and the lives
of ALL the Duckburg characters are ruined... EXCEPT ONE. Can you
guess WHO?"
GLADSTONE GANDER!!!!!
(Who's already been in FOUR of the five issues of DONALD DUCK
Gladstone has published so far in their new run...)
BTW, Don, do you think that Disney comics would have remained
as popular as they were c. 1988 if Disney had never taken over from
Gladstone?
(Not that they were VERY popular then... but that they were
more popular then than they are now.)
I think that the show DUCK DAZE, coming up in fall '95, while
it will undoubtedly twist Barks' carefully established universe into
smithereens FAR WORSE than DUCKTALES did, will revive some interest in
Donald Duck among the general youth population. We have to
acknowledge that DUCKTALES was a real boon to Scrooge's popularity --
in this woeful country of ours, this was many kids' first exposure to
the character.
David Gerstein
<David.A.Gerstein at Williams.edu>
Author
Topic: 199404
(249 messages)
David A Gerstein
The Duck Who Never Was
Message 196 -
1994-04-26 at 03:01:58
Chris Lawton
Question. (For the FAQ maybe?)
Message 197 -
1994-04-26 at 04:28:00
Hiya Gang!
Just a simple question.
Normally, I read WDC&S, DDA, U$A, US, and D&M. I was wondering...
Is there some sort of guide lines as to the type of stories that appear
in the "Adventures" titles and opposed to the ones that don't have the
word Adventures in the title?
Fox example, In DDA, should Donald be on an "Adventure" and not just stay in
the house for the story? If a story is in DD, does Donald have to stay near
home?
Just wondering,
Chris Mickey's #1 Fan!! :) :)
P.S. Don - I stopped by the Oakland Convention Center just to see you! :)
I was there on Thursday, April, 21. I later heard that you weren't there
that day! :( Sorry to hear that it wasn't much fun.
Just a simple question.
Normally, I read WDC&S, DDA, U$A, US, and D&M. I was wondering...
Is there some sort of guide lines as to the type of stories that appear
in the "Adventures" titles and opposed to the ones that don't have the
word Adventures in the title?
Fox example, In DDA, should Donald be on an "Adventure" and not just stay in
the house for the story? If a story is in DD, does Donald have to stay near
home?
Just wondering,
Chris Mickey's #1 Fan!! :) :)
P.S. Don - I stopped by the Oakland Convention Center just to see you! :)
I was there on Thursday, April, 21. I later heard that you weren't there
that day! :( Sorry to hear that it wasn't much fun.
Mark Semich
The Duck Who Never Was
Message 198 -
1994-04-26 at 04:48:51
>From: David A Gerstein <David.A.Gerstein at williams.edu>
> Don Rosa challenged us to a guessing game on his upcoming
>story (to be published in DD 286) "The Duck Who Never Was."
>
> GLADSTONE GANDER!!!!!
I'd guess either Gladstone or Neighbor Jones - Jones makes sense, as
he's the only one who's life is ruined by having Donald around..
> Don Rosa challenged us to a guessing game on his upcoming
>story (to be published in DD 286) "The Duck Who Never Was."
>
> GLADSTONE GANDER!!!!!
I'd guess either Gladstone or Neighbor Jones - Jones makes sense, as
he's the only one who's life is ruined by having Donald around..
Torsten Wesley Adair
Disney-comics digest #309.
Message 199 -
1994-04-26 at 05:02:45
On 25 Apr 1994, Don Rosa wrote:
> Since I'm the only "author" on here, is it being implied here
> that I do not conduct myself in a proper manner?
> I'll jump down the throat of anybody who says I've ever jumped
> down anybody's throat! Oops...
> My comments are seen in a different light by some people because
> they are somehow intimidated by my presence for no good reason? I can't
> help that. It's not fair to anyone to say they can't be an equal part
> of the group and speak their mind as much as everyone else.
> Shall I un-subscribe and reappear under an assumed name?
May I suggest "Name Withheld"?
Geez, Don, most industry professionals revel with the power they have to
influence unsuspecting fans. Considering the lack of respect you receive
from the Industry, you should take all the ego boosting you can from this
group! I mean, if we don't respect you, then you might as well commit
hari kari with your T-Square, as life wouldn't be worth an 1876 dime.
Torsten "So that's what cheek tissue tastes like" Adair
adair_t at kosmos.wcc.govt Wellington, New Zealand
> Since I'm the only "author" on here, is it being implied here
> that I do not conduct myself in a proper manner?
> I'll jump down the throat of anybody who says I've ever jumped
> down anybody's throat! Oops...
> My comments are seen in a different light by some people because
> they are somehow intimidated by my presence for no good reason? I can't
> help that. It's not fair to anyone to say they can't be an equal part
> of the group and speak their mind as much as everyone else.
> Shall I un-subscribe and reappear under an assumed name?
May I suggest "Name Withheld"?
Geez, Don, most industry professionals revel with the power they have to
influence unsuspecting fans. Considering the lack of respect you receive
from the Industry, you should take all the ego boosting you can from this
group! I mean, if we don't respect you, then you might as well commit
hari kari with your T-Square, as life wouldn't be worth an 1876 dime.
Torsten "So that's what cheek tissue tastes like" Adair
adair_t at kosmos.wcc.govt Wellington, New Zealand
David A Gerstein
The Duck Who Never Was
Message 200 -
1994-04-26 at 05:31:26
Dear Folks (and Mark),
WAIT A SECOND! Did I say that Gladstone would be better off
without Donald around? Far from it! He would probably be MARRIED to
DAISY then... and I have a hunch they would BOTH be VERY sick and
tired of one another...
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. MICKEY MOUSE sure would be a lot better
off had Donald never been born. ;-) ;-) ;-) But then, Don refuses
to acknowledge his existence in the duck universe.
Yeah, I think it must be Neighbor Jones. Or maybe Gus Goose?
Gus and Donald have never had any very meaningful moments together.
Gus' gluttony has always bothered Donald, particularly in the AT
strip, but really, I think that if Donald never existed, Gus wouldn't
be any the wiser... or worse off.
I'd say that of the MAJOR DD characters, which is probably who
this guessing game is limited to, Jones would be our man.
WAIT A SECOND! Did I say that Gladstone would be better off
without Donald around? Far from it! He would probably be MARRIED to
DAISY then... and I have a hunch they would BOTH be VERY sick and
tired of one another...
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. MICKEY MOUSE sure would be a lot better
off had Donald never been born. ;-) ;-) ;-) But then, Don refuses
to acknowledge his existence in the duck universe.
Yeah, I think it must be Neighbor Jones. Or maybe Gus Goose?
Gus and Donald have never had any very meaningful moments together.
Gus' gluttony has always bothered Donald, particularly in the AT
strip, but really, I think that if Donald never existed, Gus wouldn't
be any the wiser... or worse off.
I'd say that of the MAJOR DD characters, which is probably who
this guessing game is limited to, Jones would be our man.
Wilmer Rivers
Disney comics in the USA
Message 201 -
1994-04-26 at 05:41:13
Don Rosa writes:
> I might swear off American cons like in Oakland, however. It's
> VERY insulting, both for me and for the Ducks, when I am virtually
> ignored by all the attendees since the teaching of all the modern
> "collectors" magazines and attitudes is that they should SHUN these
> characters.
I agree that collectors and speculators are the bane of American comic
book fandom. As I have mentioned in previous postings, most of the
comics stores around here carry NO Disney comics at all. I therefore
spend almost all of my comics-purchasing dollars in the one that does
carry them, to make sure that they stay in business! When I was in
that store to buy LO$ # 1, along with some other Gladstone and some
non-Disney comics, a woman came in bringing her son, who appeared to
be about 10 years old. He went through the racks of Marvels and Images,
picking the titles on his list, and handed them to his mother. She
looked behind her and saw the 2 small racks of "kids' comics" (Glad-
stones, Harveys, and Archies). She then turned to the cashier, pointed
to LOS # 1 (which obviously had obviously no significance to her), and
asked, "These aren't like regular comics, are they? I mean, people
don't collect them and they won't ever be worth anything, will they?"
The clerk mumbled something about "Well, some people buy them [after
all, he had just seen ME pick up several!], but they don't have much
collectable value.." and then the mother gave the clerk her kid's
superhero titles, paid for them, and left. I really wanted to shout
at her, "Won't be worth anything? How much is a great story ever
worth?", but I refrained from saying anything, since it was obvious
that she wouldn't have had a clue about what I meant. The idea that
you might buy a comic book just to read the story and enjoy the art
was completely alien to her, and I assume that it was likewise alien
to her son, who must have picked his list of titles based on price
speculation published in the fan-boy press. If customers continue to
make their purchasing decision based on "collectability", how much
longer will it be before this store joins all the others in this area
in using that rack space for "hot" titles rather than for Gladstones?
And, when this kid eventually sees that his comics AREN'T escalating
in price as he had supposed, how much longer will he continue to buy
any comics at all? And what will happen to the stores then? Unless
kids start buying comics simply because they want to read them, with no
regard to "investing", then soon enough there will be no comics industry
left in the USA at all, I fear...
Wilmer Rivers
> I might swear off American cons like in Oakland, however. It's
> VERY insulting, both for me and for the Ducks, when I am virtually
> ignored by all the attendees since the teaching of all the modern
> "collectors" magazines and attitudes is that they should SHUN these
> characters.
I agree that collectors and speculators are the bane of American comic
book fandom. As I have mentioned in previous postings, most of the
comics stores around here carry NO Disney comics at all. I therefore
spend almost all of my comics-purchasing dollars in the one that does
carry them, to make sure that they stay in business! When I was in
that store to buy LO$ # 1, along with some other Gladstone and some
non-Disney comics, a woman came in bringing her son, who appeared to
be about 10 years old. He went through the racks of Marvels and Images,
picking the titles on his list, and handed them to his mother. She
looked behind her and saw the 2 small racks of "kids' comics" (Glad-
stones, Harveys, and Archies). She then turned to the cashier, pointed
to LOS # 1 (which obviously had obviously no significance to her), and
asked, "These aren't like regular comics, are they? I mean, people
don't collect them and they won't ever be worth anything, will they?"
The clerk mumbled something about "Well, some people buy them [after
all, he had just seen ME pick up several!], but they don't have much
collectable value.." and then the mother gave the clerk her kid's
superhero titles, paid for them, and left. I really wanted to shout
at her, "Won't be worth anything? How much is a great story ever
worth?", but I refrained from saying anything, since it was obvious
that she wouldn't have had a clue about what I meant. The idea that
you might buy a comic book just to read the story and enjoy the art
was completely alien to her, and I assume that it was likewise alien
to her son, who must have picked his list of titles based on price
speculation published in the fan-boy press. If customers continue to
make their purchasing decision based on "collectability", how much
longer will it be before this store joins all the others in this area
in using that rack space for "hot" titles rather than for Gladstones?
And, when this kid eventually sees that his comics AREN'T escalating
in price as he had supposed, how much longer will he continue to buy
any comics at all? And what will happen to the stores then? Unless
kids start buying comics simply because they want to read them, with no
regard to "investing", then soon enough there will be no comics industry
left in the USA at all, I fear...
Wilmer Rivers
Ad Astra Per Elmo
"His Majesty McDuck" gone
Message 202 -
1994-04-26 at 07:05:09
Just wanted everyone to know that Mark Semich has snatched up
my extra copy of "His Majesty McDuck". It's a good tale, so I hope
every one else already has a copy of their own.
greg
--
"I may be more of a romantic than some of you, so feel free to throw up if you
have to."--Prof. Ralph Noble
elmo (morrow at physics.rice.edu,morrow at fnal.fnal.gov)
my extra copy of "His Majesty McDuck". It's a good tale, so I hope
every one else already has a copy of their own.
greg
--
"I may be more of a romantic than some of you, so feel free to throw up if you
have to."--Prof. Ralph Noble
elmo (morrow at physics.rice.edu,morrow at fnal.fnal.gov)
Kjetil Bakken
Gladstone Disney Comics
Message 203 -
1994-04-26 at 15:42:55
I am new on this list, and I have some questions regarding the
publishing of Disney Comics in the US.
Some years ago, Gladstone published a lot of different magazines, and
these magazines were rather widely distributed here in Norway.
When Disney took over this activity themselves, the quality in my
opinion went down. Now I hear that Gladstone has once again got their
license back. And here is my question: Which of the magazines are now
being published, how often and at which price? And do they still
emphasize the quality stories (Barks, Rosa etc)? (I hate the Italian
stuff)
I hope someone can help me on this.
__&__
/ \ Kjetil Bakken
| | Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
^^ (o)(o) 5035 Bergen-Sandviken, Norway
C ,---_)
| |,___| Operator OPR_KB at DEBET.NHH.NO
| \__/ Student SI2_KB92017 at DEBET.NHH.NO
/_____\
/_____/ \ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they AREN'T after you.
________________________________________________________________________________
publishing of Disney Comics in the US.
Some years ago, Gladstone published a lot of different magazines, and
these magazines were rather widely distributed here in Norway.
When Disney took over this activity themselves, the quality in my
opinion went down. Now I hear that Gladstone has once again got their
license back. And here is my question: Which of the magazines are now
being published, how often and at which price? And do they still
emphasize the quality stories (Barks, Rosa etc)? (I hate the Italian
stuff)
I hope someone can help me on this.
__&__
/ \ Kjetil Bakken
| | Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
^^ (o)(o) 5035 Bergen-Sandviken, Norway
C ,---_)
| |,___| Operator OPR_KB at DEBET.NHH.NO
| \__/ Student SI2_KB92017 at DEBET.NHH.NO
/_____\
/_____/ \ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they AREN'T after you.
________________________________________________________________________________
Mattias Hallin
Present Gladstones
Message 204 -
1994-04-26 at 16:05:10
KJETTIL:
Welcome aboard! You asked about present-day Gladstones, and obviously
your best bet would be to get a few; but... yes -- they still do try to keep
some kind of flag flying, with a mixture of Barks, Taliaferro, Rosa, Van Horn
and Gottfredson AS WELL AS Danish/Egmont-produced and other, to them, "foreign"
stories. If your local comic store don't carry'em, you could always order them
from NAFS(k) in Sweden, or from one of several post-order retailers I could
give you the name and adress of, or you could subscribe from Gladstone
themselves. In my opinion this range of Gladstone Comics are worth the money.
All my best
Mattias Hallin
Lund, Sweden
!==============================================================================!
!* Mattias Hallin ** <Mattias.Hallin at Jurenh.lu.se> ** Phone: +46 46-14 84 43 **!
!* Trollebergsvagen 24 B ***** Work: Lund University, Box 117, S-221 00 Lund **!
!* S-222 29 Lund, SWEDEN **************************** Phone: +46 46-10 71 37 **!
!==============================================================================!
!******************** "Hello, all you happy tax-payers!" *********************!
!==============================================================================!
Welcome aboard! You asked about present-day Gladstones, and obviously
your best bet would be to get a few; but... yes -- they still do try to keep
some kind of flag flying, with a mixture of Barks, Taliaferro, Rosa, Van Horn
and Gottfredson AS WELL AS Danish/Egmont-produced and other, to them, "foreign"
stories. If your local comic store don't carry'em, you could always order them
from NAFS(k) in Sweden, or from one of several post-order retailers I could
give you the name and adress of, or you could subscribe from Gladstone
themselves. In my opinion this range of Gladstone Comics are worth the money.
All my best
Mattias Hallin
Lund, Sweden
!==============================================================================!
!* Mattias Hallin ** <Mattias.Hallin at Jurenh.lu.se> ** Phone: +46 46-14 84 43 **!
!* Trollebergsvagen 24 B ***** Work: Lund University, Box 117, S-221 00 Lund **!
!* S-222 29 Lund, SWEDEN **************************** Phone: +46 46-10 71 37 **!
!==============================================================================!
!******************** "Hello, all you happy tax-payers!" *********************!
!==============================================================================!
Sigurdur Hrafn Gislason
Is there already a sequel?
Message 205 -
1994-04-26 at 21:49:22
I was just now finishing the final chapter of Lo$11 or 12 (not sure, but
it is the chapter with the pursuing zombie) and liked it very much.
This story must mark another milestone in the Egmont stories since it contains
a scene depicting certain death for hundreds of people. The first one was
when Scrooge's mother died and he visited her grave.
The scene with Donald's first encounter with Scrooge was hilarious and
totally in character.
Anyway is this the end of the LO$ series? I have read Don's comments on
a certain Bear mountain story, but is that a story that has yet to be
puplished or is it a story he did a long time ago?
One more thing, Don's "Son of the Sun" story which you have been
praising, what was it about? Since they sometime change the titles
here, can someone summerize the plot?
-Sigurdur
--
it is the chapter with the pursuing zombie) and liked it very much.
This story must mark another milestone in the Egmont stories since it contains
a scene depicting certain death for hundreds of people. The first one was
when Scrooge's mother died and he visited her grave.
The scene with Donald's first encounter with Scrooge was hilarious and
totally in character.
Anyway is this the end of the LO$ series? I have read Don's comments on
a certain Bear mountain story, but is that a story that has yet to be
puplished or is it a story he did a long time ago?
One more thing, Don's "Son of the Sun" story which you have been
praising, what was it about? Since they sometime change the titles
here, can someone summerize the plot?
-Sigurdur
--
Kristina M. Scavo
Is there already a sequel?
Message 206 -
1994-04-26 at 23:39:00
I don't know where to send this, but can someone unsubscribe me. I don't have t
he time to read all of this. Thanks.
Kristina Scavo
Scav9150 at Fredonia.bitnet
he time to read all of this. Thanks.
Kristina Scavo
Scav9150 at Fredonia.bitnet
Bror Hellman
The Duck Who Never Was
Message 207 -
1994-04-26 at 23:41:38
> > Don Rosa challenged us to a guessing game on his upcoming
> >story (to be published in DD 286) "The Duck Who Never Was."
> >
> > GLADSTONE GANDER!!!!!
>
> I'd guess either Gladstone or Neighbor Jones - Jones makes sense, as
> he's the only one who's life is ruined by having Donald around..
I'd guess it's Uncle $crooge or Grandma. $crooge built his fortune by
his own hands without the interfering of Donald in the first place.
Grandma lives on her farm and don't need much from anyone. She mostly
gives.
Neighbour Jones would live a VERY different life. Gladstone I think would
be poor unfortunate and begging in the streets 'cause Donalds his other
pole. It's like Yin and Yang, they can't live without each other.
Gladstones luck and Donalds misfortune are two sides of the same coin. I
think that without Donald Gladstone wouldn't have his luck.
Steamboat Willie
----------------------------------------------
... Does The Little Mermaid wear an algebra?
----------------------------------------------
Internet: hellman at proxxi.uf.se, DuckNet: hellman at 313:100/13.0
> >story (to be published in DD 286) "The Duck Who Never Was."
> >
> > GLADSTONE GANDER!!!!!
>
> I'd guess either Gladstone or Neighbor Jones - Jones makes sense, as
> he's the only one who's life is ruined by having Donald around..
I'd guess it's Uncle $crooge or Grandma. $crooge built his fortune by
his own hands without the interfering of Donald in the first place.
Grandma lives on her farm and don't need much from anyone. She mostly
gives.
Neighbour Jones would live a VERY different life. Gladstone I think would
be poor unfortunate and begging in the streets 'cause Donalds his other
pole. It's like Yin and Yang, they can't live without each other.
Gladstones luck and Donalds misfortune are two sides of the same coin. I
think that without Donald Gladstone wouldn't have his luck.
Steamboat Willie
----------------------------------------------
... Does The Little Mermaid wear an algebra?
----------------------------------------------
Internet: hellman at proxxi.uf.se, DuckNet: hellman at 313:100/13.0
David A Gerstein
Disney-comics digest #311.
Message 208 -
1994-04-27 at 02:53:18
Dear Folks,
Sigurdur Gislason wanted to know what "Son of the Sun" was
about. Well, this is a story of how Uncle Scrooge and Flintheart
Glomgold race each other to find lost gold of the Inca Indians. They
discover the great temple of Manco Capac, who ancient legends called
the "Son of the Sun and the Keeper of the Inca Gold."
This was Don Rosa's first story.
Meanwhile, the Bear Mountain story you mentioned is in fact
the final chapter of the LO$. What you read was indeed part 11. That
last one is coming up soon, for you. (It'll be a year and a half
until we LUCKY Americans get to read it...)
Wilmer Rivers described his experience at the ONE comic shop in
his hometown which even CARRIES Gladstones (in which a mother and a
comic shop owner talked condescendingly of Disney comics).
Well, I'll tell you, it's like this. Most towns I've visited
have a single stronghold for Disney fans, where the Gladstone comics
do very good business. The other shops either carry Gladstones or
don't, but Disney business is usually poor with them because ALL the
Gladstone fans seem to concentrate at the other shop.
In Santa Barbara, the shop that sells a lot of Gladstones also
has good prices on old Dells, and a good selection of older
Gladstones. The other shop has a poor selection of back issues,
and charges an arm and a leg for all of them (particularly the Dells,
which are horribly overpriced).
What is strange is that the American comic fanboy-magazines do
not hold a pariah on all humorous comics. Only on Disney comics. For
example, Jeff Smith's "BONE" series, VERY MUCH in the Disney tradition
-- in fact, Smith usually mentions Barks as his prime influence -- is
constantly lauded and built up by the media. Some magazines have even
said, "We always try to draw attention to products we feel you should
see that you otherwise wouldn't be looking at, so therefore..." etc.
when writing about BONE. It seems as if the fan media wants to build
up this series in particular for some reason. I like BONE and think
it deserves the praise, but I am at the same time infuriated that not
even a passing nod has been given to the LO$.
I think Gladstone could do some things to improve their sales.
They need to run ads which actually contain panels from the stories,
just like the European comics do. This actually gets the reader
interested in the story... they don't only see its cover.
Next, Gladstone should advertise in the fanboy magazines such
as HERO and WIZARD (the two that most blatantly ignore their comics).
I think the ads should use a new approach, as described above. I
believe I have heard that Gladstone can't afford to advertise there,
but that's what I was told before they began the new Barks sculpture
series, which has apparently been a runaway success for them.
Gladstone should also advertise in DISNEY ADVENTURES. (Although I
have heard the same story -- that they can't afford the ad rates...)
Can Gladstone really not afford such ads? I expect that Bruce
Hamilton is a multi-millionaire, although I don't have any PROOF of
that. Maybe he could stand to drop a few dollars where it would help,
even when that isn't part of the money that his Gladstone budget
usually includes.
If Disney had never taken over from Gladstone, does anyone
think that Gladstone would be more successful now?
In any event, GLADSTONE NEEDS TO ADVERTISE MORE, I think. The
real problem is that most people are not even AWARE of their comics.
I think that the comics' bimonthly schedule is one of the causes of
that...
One interesting note, though. The LO$ has sold out like
wildfire at all the comic shops I know that carry Gladstones. John
himself tells me that the series is a big success for them. And for
the first time since early 1990, Overstreet's "Comic Price Guide
Monthly Supplement" magazine has "plus" signs next to most of the
Disney series (exception: DONALD AND MICKEY) indicating that interest
is apparently rising.
Why did only one person enter the poll I posted about two
weeks ago? I can post it again if anyone wants...
David Gerstein
<David.A.Gerstein at Williams.edu>
Sigurdur Gislason wanted to know what "Son of the Sun" was
about. Well, this is a story of how Uncle Scrooge and Flintheart
Glomgold race each other to find lost gold of the Inca Indians. They
discover the great temple of Manco Capac, who ancient legends called
the "Son of the Sun and the Keeper of the Inca Gold."
This was Don Rosa's first story.
Meanwhile, the Bear Mountain story you mentioned is in fact
the final chapter of the LO$. What you read was indeed part 11. That
last one is coming up soon, for you. (It'll be a year and a half
until we LUCKY Americans get to read it...)
Wilmer Rivers described his experience at the ONE comic shop in
his hometown which even CARRIES Gladstones (in which a mother and a
comic shop owner talked condescendingly of Disney comics).
Well, I'll tell you, it's like this. Most towns I've visited
have a single stronghold for Disney fans, where the Gladstone comics
do very good business. The other shops either carry Gladstones or
don't, but Disney business is usually poor with them because ALL the
Gladstone fans seem to concentrate at the other shop.
In Santa Barbara, the shop that sells a lot of Gladstones also
has good prices on old Dells, and a good selection of older
Gladstones. The other shop has a poor selection of back issues,
and charges an arm and a leg for all of them (particularly the Dells,
which are horribly overpriced).
What is strange is that the American comic fanboy-magazines do
not hold a pariah on all humorous comics. Only on Disney comics. For
example, Jeff Smith's "BONE" series, VERY MUCH in the Disney tradition
-- in fact, Smith usually mentions Barks as his prime influence -- is
constantly lauded and built up by the media. Some magazines have even
said, "We always try to draw attention to products we feel you should
see that you otherwise wouldn't be looking at, so therefore..." etc.
when writing about BONE. It seems as if the fan media wants to build
up this series in particular for some reason. I like BONE and think
it deserves the praise, but I am at the same time infuriated that not
even a passing nod has been given to the LO$.
I think Gladstone could do some things to improve their sales.
They need to run ads which actually contain panels from the stories,
just like the European comics do. This actually gets the reader
interested in the story... they don't only see its cover.
Next, Gladstone should advertise in the fanboy magazines such
as HERO and WIZARD (the two that most blatantly ignore their comics).
I think the ads should use a new approach, as described above. I
believe I have heard that Gladstone can't afford to advertise there,
but that's what I was told before they began the new Barks sculpture
series, which has apparently been a runaway success for them.
Gladstone should also advertise in DISNEY ADVENTURES. (Although I
have heard the same story -- that they can't afford the ad rates...)
Can Gladstone really not afford such ads? I expect that Bruce
Hamilton is a multi-millionaire, although I don't have any PROOF of
that. Maybe he could stand to drop a few dollars where it would help,
even when that isn't part of the money that his Gladstone budget
usually includes.
If Disney had never taken over from Gladstone, does anyone
think that Gladstone would be more successful now?
In any event, GLADSTONE NEEDS TO ADVERTISE MORE, I think. The
real problem is that most people are not even AWARE of their comics.
I think that the comics' bimonthly schedule is one of the causes of
that...
One interesting note, though. The LO$ has sold out like
wildfire at all the comic shops I know that carry Gladstones. John
himself tells me that the series is a big success for them. And for
the first time since early 1990, Overstreet's "Comic Price Guide
Monthly Supplement" magazine has "plus" signs next to most of the
Disney series (exception: DONALD AND MICKEY) indicating that interest
is apparently rising.
Why did only one person enter the poll I posted about two
weeks ago? I can post it again if anyone wants...
David Gerstein
<David.A.Gerstein at Williams.edu>
John P. LaRocque
Disney-comics digest #311.
Message 209 -
1994-04-27 at 05:45:30
I may be losing my account for several months, and would like
ver much to desubscribe from this digest (I'm too lazy to look up
the particular command at the moment). I would hate to come back
in September looking at 100 pieces of e-mail.
John
ver much to desubscribe from this digest (I'm too lazy to look up
the particular command at the moment). I would hate to come back
in September looking at 100 pieces of e-mail.
John
Don Rosa
Disney-comics digest #311.
Message 210 -
1994-04-27 at 07:59:43
CHRIS L.:
You went to the Oakland convention center on Thursday and later
learned that I wasn't there that day? The convention I was a guest at
("Wondercon") didn't begin until FRIDAY, so no, I was not there on
Thursday. What sort of function did you search for me at there on
Thursday???
SIGURDUR:
You have just read the "Lo$" chapter 11. There will be ONE more
chapter, #12, to complete $crooge's life up till when we first met him
in "Christmas on Bear Mountain" in 1947. Too bad the foreign publishers
don't bother to let their readers know what's going on as they should...
their editorial content is quite limited. Or it's even possible that the
editors don't pay attention to what's going on either?
The "death of hundreds of people" you refer to is during the
boat-sinking sequence, of course. I don't say anyone is dying in that
scene. I show people leaping into the water near lifeboats. Naturally I
change history in that scene; after all, I change history in the sense
that $crooge wasn't REALLY on that boat anyway, and that the people all
had little black noses. So I also change it in that nobody died.
As to how much attention the editors pay to what they do in
Europe, sometimes I'm afraid they aren't trying very hard. Of course, I
can't READ the issues I receive from Denmark or Norway, but I can see
the COLORING (which is the same in all Egmont countries). And I can see
something wrong in many spots...
Chapter 11, part 1, page 1: no "kr" symbol on bin, and a comment
concerning a date of "1864" as regards the cannon from the Boer War. At
least the photos in the splash panel were sepia-toned as they were
supposed to be since chapter 1.
Page 2 - the scoop is dumping gray money into the bin (but I
don't approve of the bin money being colored GOLD anyway, so why should
I kick?).
Page 7 - panel 6: $crooge's collar is colored orange like his
beak, so it looks like he suddenly turned into $crooge McPelican.
PART 2 - page 1: $crooge takes a blue neckerchief and ties it
into a red bowtie. BUT I SHOULDN'T GRIPE. YOW -- I drew $crooge with TWO
pairs of glasses in panel 4!!! How could I spend such endless hours on
those pages and not see that till now?!?!
Page 2 - panel 1: due to sloppy coloring, $crooge has three
hands. Then he picks up a stick and it turns as blue as that strangely
colored cane that he uses in Europe. In panel 6 we see how the colorists
don't have a clue, and think that the light shining from the tent flap
is a trail leading to the tent, regardless of how I shaded it and that
the rest of the scene is obviously at night.
Page 5 - what a panel #6 is, as someone here already mentioned!
The colorist, having not read the story, had no idea what he was doing
and colored the land as water and the water as land in the map! Wow!
But looking back over chapter 11, I'm amazed that I seemingly
decided I was doing NORMAL comics which would never be shown to Disney
for approval, which they won't be until Gladstone is ready to use this
story. I really doubt that Disney will allow all the stuff I show in
chapter 11. Time will tell. With all the coloring errors, this may be
the ONLY version of this story the world will see!
You went to the Oakland convention center on Thursday and later
learned that I wasn't there that day? The convention I was a guest at
("Wondercon") didn't begin until FRIDAY, so no, I was not there on
Thursday. What sort of function did you search for me at there on
Thursday???
SIGURDUR:
You have just read the "Lo$" chapter 11. There will be ONE more
chapter, #12, to complete $crooge's life up till when we first met him
in "Christmas on Bear Mountain" in 1947. Too bad the foreign publishers
don't bother to let their readers know what's going on as they should...
their editorial content is quite limited. Or it's even possible that the
editors don't pay attention to what's going on either?
The "death of hundreds of people" you refer to is during the
boat-sinking sequence, of course. I don't say anyone is dying in that
scene. I show people leaping into the water near lifeboats. Naturally I
change history in that scene; after all, I change history in the sense
that $crooge wasn't REALLY on that boat anyway, and that the people all
had little black noses. So I also change it in that nobody died.
As to how much attention the editors pay to what they do in
Europe, sometimes I'm afraid they aren't trying very hard. Of course, I
can't READ the issues I receive from Denmark or Norway, but I can see
the COLORING (which is the same in all Egmont countries). And I can see
something wrong in many spots...
Chapter 11, part 1, page 1: no "kr" symbol on bin, and a comment
concerning a date of "1864" as regards the cannon from the Boer War. At
least the photos in the splash panel were sepia-toned as they were
supposed to be since chapter 1.
Page 2 - the scoop is dumping gray money into the bin (but I
don't approve of the bin money being colored GOLD anyway, so why should
I kick?).
Page 7 - panel 6: $crooge's collar is colored orange like his
beak, so it looks like he suddenly turned into $crooge McPelican.
PART 2 - page 1: $crooge takes a blue neckerchief and ties it
into a red bowtie. BUT I SHOULDN'T GRIPE. YOW -- I drew $crooge with TWO
pairs of glasses in panel 4!!! How could I spend such endless hours on
those pages and not see that till now?!?!
Page 2 - panel 1: due to sloppy coloring, $crooge has three
hands. Then he picks up a stick and it turns as blue as that strangely
colored cane that he uses in Europe. In panel 6 we see how the colorists
don't have a clue, and think that the light shining from the tent flap
is a trail leading to the tent, regardless of how I shaded it and that
the rest of the scene is obviously at night.
Page 5 - what a panel #6 is, as someone here already mentioned!
The colorist, having not read the story, had no idea what he was doing
and colored the land as water and the water as land in the map! Wow!
But looking back over chapter 11, I'm amazed that I seemingly
decided I was doing NORMAL comics which would never be shown to Disney
for approval, which they won't be until Gladstone is ready to use this
story. I really doubt that Disney will allow all the stuff I show in
chapter 11. Time will tell. With all the coloring errors, this may be
the ONLY version of this story the world will see!