Corporate synergy is more alive than ever over at Marvel/Disney as can be seen by What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1. Out today in comic book shops, Luca Barbieri writes a story melding Disney characters with Marvel ones in a super kid-friendly one-shot. Come for the great art by Giada Perissinotto, but expect a younger, kid-oriented comic.
What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1 opens with Pete-Skull and his goons messing with Duckburg. Meanwhile, Donald-Wolverine sleeps soundly. Yep, every Disney character will be hyphenated with their superhero likeness. That includes Mickey-Hawkeye and Goofy-Hulk. Soon, Mickey-Hawkeye is waking up Donald-Wolverine to stop Pete-Skull. Soon we learn Donald-Wolverine has a temper, and that’s what this book is largely about.
Marvel references are aplenty in this issue, from Weapon X to the time Donald-Wolverine and Goofy-Hulk teamed up in white suits. We learn Donald-Wolverine’s temper is where his fighting ability comes from, even though he’s working on it. It’s all very cute and Marvel parents who have kiddos might want to get this for them. It’s endearing stuff.
This looks familiar.
Credit: Marvel
That’s particularly true due to the art by Perissinotto. This book by Lucio Ruvidotti is gorgeous and has fabulously bright colors. The cel-shaded look is quite good, with a sense of volume that really makes the characters pop. A double-page spread of Donald-Wolverine thinking about the times he kicked butt in different Wolverine suits is definitely a highlight.
Enough can’t be said about how well Perissinotto puts these Disney characters into the costumes. Donald has a fat bottom, with stocky legs, yet he looks pretty cool in the classic yellow and blue costume. Throw in the fact that his hair does the pointy thing when he’s in Wolverine mode, and it’s a great design.
The biggest issue with this book is that it definitely reads for young kids. Adults won’t find a ton of entertainment here since it’s not funny on an adult or even teen level. It’s quite clear this isn’t for adults, however, unless you want a hefty dose of nostalgia for your own kiddo days.
If you’re worried about adult themes creeping into the comic, you don’t need to worry. Even the flashback to Weapon X is tame as it’s revealed he’s being tested for his temper, not being turned into a monster.
Put this in front of a kid 9 or younger, and they’ll love it. The art is fantastic, the story is simple but fun, and the adventure is a nice blend of Marvel and Disney.
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