I imagine it’s quite difficult to find a way to tell an engaging story involving beloved figures like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. In many ways, they have long left the realm of mere characters – they’re verifiable brands that exist outside the films and comics that gave them life. As part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary, a slew of comics from the Disney vaults have been republished, but this trade is a bit different. Inspired by classic Disney cartoons, this book has classic characters revisit these worlds, asking what Duckburg and Mouseton would look like 100 years from now. Walt Disney’s Mickey and Donald Fantastic Futures: Classic Tales with a 22nd Century Twist is a fun premise that celebrates the storied past of the animation study while creating new tales and lore for young and old fans alike.
Told through six distinct adventures, the storylines focus on throwing beloved Disney characters back into some of their classic cartoon adventures, from 1937’s “Lonesome Ghosts” to 1950’s “Trailer Horn.” It gives a new set of creative hands an opportunity to build on the core premise of those early animated shorts.
Most of these stories feature Francesco Artibani, who is a true talent of a cartoonist. I especially loved “Lonesome Ghosts in the Machine.” It’s beautifully laid out, with nods to cyberpunk and science fiction tropes thrown in for good measure. It looks like a more modern take on the beloved Duck Tales comics of yore, with just a little Luigi’s Mansion snuck under the editor’s nose. The second-best story in the bunch, “ExoPlanet Trailer,” features Donald Duck up against his miniature rivals Chip and Dale. These pages go all out in giving Donald fertile ground to show off his chops, with splashy colorful pages that breathe physical action into the characters. These panels are beautiful to look at, only the more impressive considering the sheer number of pages within each story.
While numerous names are attached to the book, its impressive how much aesthetic range is found within the book. Artibani gave each iteration of the characters a distinct flair and choreography that paid homage to the classic cartoons, allowing each story a distinct tone and feel. I especially liked how each issue begins with a one-page history of the cartoon being referenced, permitting new fans of Disney (who may not be aware of the classic shorts), the capacity to learn about the company’s storied past. They are by no means required to enjoy the comics that follow, but those historical touches were greatly appreciated, especially when placed in the context of Disney’s 100-year anniversary.
While it doesn’t provide much in the way of supplementals, the 250+ page graphic novel is more than enough Disney action and adventure to justify this trade. It’s great to see that current talent is still being employed to create comics using Disney characters, and regardless of your age, this book is perfect for any fan of animation, comics, or Disney history.
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