The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck [Paperback]

Don Rosa (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2007

Presenting by popular demand one of the most anticipated collections! The legendary artist Carl Barks created Scrooge McDuck and chronicled many of his most popular adventures. In addition to superb storytelling and wonderful entertainment, he left behind a character who was not only rich in his stories, but one for whom the stories themselves were rich. Modern master Don Rosa, beginning in 1994, undertook the task of recounting Uncle Scrooge's past in a serialized epic. The wonderful result of his efforts is now collected in trade paperback form by Gemstone Publishing as THE LIFE & TIMES OF SCROOGE McDUCK.A collection of the celebrated 12-part Eisner Award-winning series that details the life of the young Uncle Scrooge. The story was originally serialized in the United States in Uncle Scrooge comics. Now it has been collected in one all-encompassing popularly-priced volume.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck confirmed Don Rosa's status as the heir apparent to the great Carl Barks as Disney's premiere comic storyteller. For this massive 12-part epic, originally printed in Uncle Scrooge 285-296 (April 1994 through February 1996), Rosa combed through Barks' stories for the many clues about what transformed Scrooge McDuck from a Scottish boy to the richest duck alive. Thus, Scrooge's comment that he fought in the "cattle wars of the old frontier" was turned into a story about the young Scrooge's cattle job in Montana. Rosa incorporates actual historical facts with known elements of the Scrooge mythology to spin an incredibly rich chronicle, full of tall tales, crazy gags, and high adventure. The 1995 Eisner winner for Best Serialized Story is even better in trade paperback format, in which Rosa offers his own memories of writing the story, "insane details to look for," and rare art. Want more of Rosa's Scrooge? The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion collects other stories about the life of Scrooge that weren't in the original series. --David Horiuchi

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gemstone Publishing (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911903968
• ISBN-13: 978-0911903966
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB!!!, October 5, 2005

By 

Babytoxie (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck (Paperback)

I am primarily a reader of superhero comics and never, ever had a desire, even as a child, to read any comics involving Disney characters. In fact, I didn't like Disney in general, so my little insulated world of comics would certainly not be tainted with the adventures of talking animals. That all changed this week when I purchased the trade paperback THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK. Even now, I can't say exactly what made me pick up this book. Maybe it was the excellent cost per page ratio. Maybe it was the exceptional printing quality and color. I have a sneaking suspicion that the spirits of Walt Disney and Carl Barks were urging me to give this character a try. I am so glad I did.

The title of this collection says it all fairly well: the story is indeed the life and times of Donald Duck's miserly uncle. It's the way the story is constructed that makes it so engaging. Writer/artist Don Rosa painstakingly researched the original Uncle Scrooge stories by creator Carl Barks, pulling out references and little tidbits to construct a fascinating history in 12 chapters, beginning in 1867, when little Scroogie was a mere shoeshine boy in his native Scotland, to 1947, detailing Scrooge's reintroduction to his nephew Donald, as well as Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Furthermore, you get seamlessly interwoven backgrounds on many characters associated with or related to Scrooge.

Primarily, Don Rosa tells some funny and entertaining stories, but they can also be full of emotion, as when Scrooge and his sisters leave Scotland for America, or when we see Scrooge caring more for money than for his family. I tore through this book in two afternoons, not because it's a quick read (far from it), but because I had such a hard time tearing myself away! Scrooge's adventures are not unlike those of Forrest Gump or Harry Flashman, in that he has a habit of turning up in the right place at the right time and encountering all sorts of famous historical characters or events. At the end of each chapter, Rosa provides informative notes on which occurrences were taken from which of Barks' stories. What really got my attention, however, was the art. The best way I can explain it is, picture the standard Disney characters superimposed on the frantic, crowded artwork of MAD Magazine artist Will Elder. There are so many details and humorous background additions to the panels, to the point that I wonder how Rosa was able to stay focused. In fact, there are several instances where I am convinced he was paying direct tribute to MAD.

It is easy to see why this story earned Don Rosa a Will Eisner Award in 1995. Even though I was totally unaware of it at the time, I fully support it! So, Mr. Barks, thank you for your wonderful creation. And Mr. Rosa, thanks to you for opening a door that I had considered closed long ago. Each of you has a new fan.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest comics I've ever had the pleasure of reading., July 18, 2005

By 

Mister Bad Example (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck (Paperback)

Most people my age aren't too familiar with the characters from the Uncle Scrooge comics, and fewer still realize that so many characters and stories from the "Ducktales" cartoon show came directly from the mind of Carl Barks, a brilliant Artist/Writer for these Disney comics. Don Rosa is one of the writers/artists that Barks had passed the torch on to, and given the brilliant stories in "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," it's no wonder why.

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck follows Scrooge from just before his tenth birthday in his homeland of Scotland, and shows his adventures, begining with aquiring his Number 1 Dime. Scrooge travels to America to make his fortune, becomes a cowboy, a prospector and Argonaut, travels to the Klondike, Australia, South Africa, and even returns to Scotland before building his money bin, founding the town of Duckburg, and then begining the 27-year adventure that would bring him from simple billionaire to the lofty status of "Richest Duck in the World." You really get a distinct understanding of just how tough of an old miser Scrooge McDuck is by reading through this book.

Needless to say, Rosa did a brilliant job putting together "The Life and Times," particularly considering that the majority of the facts within the story came from random bits of dialogue from Carl Barks comics. Rosa won an Eisner Award back in 1996 for "The Life and Times" stories, and it is very well deserved.

There's a whole life behind these characters that you would never know from the Ducktales cartoon. These comics are the truest way to experience the depth and richness behind these characters, and "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck" is a fantastic place to start.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, so?, December 20, 2005

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck (Paperback)

Don Rosa is the greatest creator of Uncle Scrooge comics since Carl Barks himself. This book features Rosa's 12 part biography of Scrooge McDuck. Using clues from old Barks comics, he tells the story of how Scrooge became the richest duck in the world. It's a magnicicent comic, which won the 1995 Eisner award for Best Serialized Story. Highly recommended to any fan of Disney comics.