Customer Reviews

The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck

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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.

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.

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.

When I was a kid in the fifties, the only comic book artist whose work I recognized on sight was Carl Barks. Others knew him as "the Good Artist." I had no name for him. But I knew and loved his work. It stood out as something special from the other artists who drew Donald and the other Disney duck characters, and he was my favorite. Don Rosa, who wrote and drew "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," felt the same way. And here Rosa demonstrates that he is the only artist truly worthy of inheriting the Barks mantle of "the Good Artist." His loving retelling of the adventures of Uncle Scrooge, from his youth in Scotland to his adventures in Australia and the gold fields of Alaska, Rosa fills in the details hinted at by Barks, never violating what is already known about Scrooge, or the actual history of the times. It's an exciting tale, beautifully drawn and written, and with the added bonus of extensive story notes by Rosa. Definitely a work of art, and one from the heart. Carl Barks would have been proud.

I am a huge fan of Don Rosa's. In my family room hangs a Print by Rosa autographed to me and my family. I've met and spoken to him several times at local comic book shows. He is just a fantastic gentleman. So to say I was a bit excited about this collection is an understatement. People may say it's just Disney art but true fans know the differences between Rosa, Barks, and other famous Disney artists. This collects the 12 volumes originally published by Gladstone and now put out by Gemstone). The story traces Scrooge McDucks life from the very beginning to coming to America and amassing his fortune to become the world's richest duck.

The book reprints issues 285 to 296 of Uncle Scrooge comics. The story opens in Scotland where we learn the history of Clan McDuck who've lost their fortune and been run out of their ancestral castle by the Whiskervilles and their hoax of a devil hound that haunts the castle grounds. We meet little Scrooge McDuck and his family as they struggle to make ends meet as Scrooge is determined to make his fortune one day. He earns his first dime shining shoes and then sails off to America in search of riches.

In his first American adventure he meets uncle Angle McDuck and helps him to recover some sunken gold bars in the Mississippi only to lose it to the dastardly Beagle Gang. Over the next several issues Scooge's globe-trotting adventures take him to the wild west, Africa, Australia, and back to Scotland where he has to help save the McDuck castle when his family falls behind on their taxes and the Whiskervilles threaten to take over. Eventually Scooge would travel to the Yukon territory where he would first strike it rich with the discovery of a solid gold egg. From there Scrooge would establish the town of Duckburg and we get to see his first ever meetings with his nephew Donald, and his great nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

As great as the stories are, perhaps even better is the commentary by Rosa after each story. Don explains the genesis of each issue and how he built upon stories that Barks had wrote and added to them to create the rich history of Scrooge and his family. We also get to see rare overseas editions of Disney comic covers and how they varied from their American counterparts. Don's admiration for Carl Barks is evident in his hiding of the word "duck" in every cover and splash page so readers get to spend hours looking to find the hidden tributes.

There's just nothing bad to say about this book. It looks fabulous; the colors are crisp and bright and just leap off the page. It's funny, it's exciting, and it's well-edited and done right. Thank you Gemstone for taking care of your fans!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Perhaps I'm a bit biased, since Scrooge McDuck is my favorite Disney character, but I found this to be one of the most captivating and amazing stories I have ever read in comic form. This comic tells the tale of Scrooge McDuck from his humble beginnings as a poor boy in Scotland with dreams of fortune and adventure. The comic follows Scrooge's exploits throughout the world, from meeting the Beagle Boys, encountering Flintheart Glomgold, founding the town of Duckburg, and meeting his nephews for the first time. It's a shame there aren't more backstories like this for other Disney characters. You'll enjoy this book if you're a fan of Scrooge, watched Ducktales as a kid, or just a fan of Disney in general.

It may seem presumptuous to call something only ten years old a "Classic" but these stories by Don Rosa certainly fit the bill in everyway. The spirit of the late Carl Barks certainly permiates these pages while the artistry, wit and charm of Don Rosa actually pulls off what would seem to the impossible task of telling the life of Scrooge McDuck in one comprehensive and cohesive package. Although there have been more than a few cartoonist's who have tried to do the Ducks as well as Barks did only Don Rosa has managed to capture the energy and spirit of Barks' original Duck stories. In addition he provides a good historical backbone to the real events and time periods that form the background of Scrooge's quest to become the richest Duck in the world. Get it and you won't regret it.

Don Rosa has taken the Scrooge stories of Carl Barks and filled in all the blanks, both in story and in art. His background art is so detailed, and contains so many gags, that you have to read his stories many times to get it all.

This book is the biography of Scrooge McDuck, probably the most American comic book character ever created, even though he was born in Scotland. He is a capitalist through and through, but totally Horatio Alger. All he has he earned through his own efforts, by being "Tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties." Scrooge participated in every fortune-making opportunity of the late 19th century, from the South African diamond mines to the Klondike gold rush. And all these efforts are brilliantly captured in Rosa's books.

We want more!

Actually, being from Finland, I have had the luck to read this book over 4 years ago. Finland, being one of the most, if not THE most Donald Duck-loving country in the world, has the privilege of getting many Don Rosa publishings before others. We do appreciate it.
I loved the book. It's truly a detailed saga with hours of reading and picture-looking. All the little itty-bitty details fulfill each other and also Carl Barks' works. Keno Don Rosa is very dedicated to his work.

I've been savoring every panel of this book for last few months - afraid of finishing it too soon. I'm now about 4 pages from the end of the most fantastic story - the most intensely researched - the best drawn images in comic book history ... and I will absolutely read it again and again and again.

I already have a copy of the Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion (also by Dan Rosa) and can't wait to dive into it.

If you've never known why comics were great - get this.

If you've grown tired of the current spandex-heavy, story-lite mainstream comics - get this.

If you ever loved cartoons or Scrooge or Donald or a great story - or history or pretend history - get this!