FANTAGRAPHICS AT 50! Such are the quirks and whims of serial comics publishing that Fantagraphics’ recent issue #3 of Donald Duck is also #391 in legacy terms. Much like IDW’s five-year run from 2015 licensing the classic Disney titles, Fantagraphics have been publishing some of the finest European Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Uncle Scrooge stories for new audiences in a traditional comics format (the term “floppy” is anathema to us here at Broken Frontier Towers!) and translated for US readers for the first time. Donald Duck #3/#391 is the most recent issue of the title before the books went on what we can only hope is an indefinite hiatus.
Cover by Henrieke Goorhuis
Given Fantagraphics’ long association with Disney favourites like Scrooge McDuck and Donald it would have been remiss not to have at least some Duck-themed coverage as part of our ‘Fantagraphics at 50’ month of coverage and the two offerings herein are fine examples of how everyone instinctively raises their game when it comes to these characters in comic strip form.
The first, ‘Call of the Wild Sea’, was originally published in Italy’s Topolino #3512 in 2023. Written by Vino Stabile and illustrated by Christopher Possenti it begins with Donald having ominous dreams about the sea, resulting in him embarking on a multi-leg quest for the answers to his nightmares. Along the way it explores why Donald wears a sailor suit and gives us a clever twist as punchline. Stabile’s story is witty, Possenti’s cartooning animated and replete with wonderful character design, Chiara Bonacini’s colouring suitably moody and vibrant in turns, and Ben Horak and Paul Baresh’s lettering (in both stories) really emphasises the humour of the piece.
The second story, ‘Two-Bit Tycoons’ (above), comes from 1999 and the Swedish Kalle Anka and C:o #1999-38. To be fair this is really an Uncle Scrooge story with Donald as supporting character but it’s still a lot of fun. Writers Lars Jensen and Chris Spencer show us what happens when an argument between Scrooge and rival Flintheart Glomgold as to who is the most wealthy spills over into a trip to Amsterdam and an encounter with European billionaire Velma Vanderduck. This one is far more compressed in approach so artist Tino Santanach has to work double time to ensure the slapstick, comedy timing and visual gags land.
Cover by Michel Nadorp
A final mention to translators Joe Torcivia, David Gerstein and Lars Jensen for the often unrecognised task of ensuring the humour carries through the language barriers. An immensely enjoyable 40 pages or so that underlines the sooner these Disney series return to a regular schedule the better.
Vito Stabile, Lars Jensen (W), Christopher Possenti, Tino Santanach (A), Chiara Bonacini, Big Doors Studio (C) Joe Torcivia, Ben Horak w/ Paul Baresh (L), David Gerstein & Lars Jensen (T and dialogue) Henrieke Goorhuis, Michel Nadorp (CA) • Fantagraphics Books, $4.99
Review by Andy Oliver
Fantagraphics at 50 Month runs through August at Broken Frontier. You can see articles as they’re published in one tagged list here.
