Note: This review was written by my father, Stephen, a life-long comic-Duck fan, and one much more apt to give this book a proper review. We hope you enjoy this as much as my father did.
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck
Art and Story by Don Rosa
Lettering and Titles by Todd Klein
Color by Susan Daigle-Leach
Gemstone Publishing
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Don Rosa’s tribute to a comic immortal, and to Carl Barks its creator. Make no mistake: this is an effort worthy of the Master.
Can Carl Barks be compared with Mark Twain? Obviously so, as they are both American literary geniuses. But perhaps comparisons are pointless; the sad truth is that while many U.S. citizens would know Mark Twain, very few would know much about Carl Barks.
Indeed it is probable that more would know about the creator of Scrooge McDuck in Europe, South America, and elsewhere. (Based on sales figures, it is estimated that some 25% of the population of Norway and Finland regularly read the comics of Carl Barks.)
From 1941 till 1966, Barks was the (uncredited) writer and artist behind the Disney Duck comics. Being uncredited, he was known by fans as ‘The Good Artist.’ During those years he invited a gallery of memorable characters, of which perhaps the greatest was Donald’s Uncle Scrooge.
The world’s richest man (OK! Duck), he dragged Donald, his nephews, Huey Dewey and Louie, into fantastic adventures in every corner of the earth. The journeys included: The Wilds of Africa, the mystical Himalayan realm of Trala La, the Australian Outback, and the Ancient City of Colchis (home of the Golden Fleece).
Don Rosa, one of Barks’ greatest fans, has put together in this gem of a book, twelve episodes of Scrooge’s early life. Don worked through every mention of Scrooge’s references to his younger years, in all of Barks’ stories.
Believe me, this is a ‘must have’ for any Duck-lover. References to those classic stories warmed my heart, and I roared laughing at Rosa’s own Barks-inspired story-telling.
When Carl Barks died in 2000, many of the cream of today’s’ comic writers and artists told of what Barks meant to them. Most said they not only grew up with Barks’ stories, but they also grew up through them. Primarily an entertainer, he managed to imbue his work with his honest, solid values. Boy, could we use a man like that today.
Winner of the coveted Eisner Award for ‘Best Serialized Story’ in 1995, Don Rosa’s The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is an epic achievement in graphic storytelling. From his humble beginnings as a young shoeshine boy to the height of his financial achievements, the story of Scrooge McDuck is collected her in one volume, with updated text features by Don Rosa, original cover galleries, and more!
