Loosely continuing Klondike-era stories from last issue, Uncle Scrooge #5 (LGY #465) spotlights Scrooge McDuck’s early association with Goldie O’Gilt, a frontierswoman with whom he had an adversarial but affectionate relationship with in his youth.
Goldie is familiar enough to American duck fans; she was created by Carl Barks, and featured heavily in Don Rosa’s The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. Someone less familiar to American readers is Dickie Duck, Goldie’s granddaughter, who (perhaps leadingly) calls Scrooge ‘Grandpa’. Dickie features in the issue’s first story, “First Aiders of Dawson”, which makes its American debut after originally being published in Italy’s Topolino back in 2018.
Fantagraphics
Dickie, recently hired by Duckstige magazine, hopes to profile Scrooge with a story featuring her grandmother, thus serving as the framing device for a flashback. Her role is short but exciting: it’s a joy to get to know characters who have had little exposure in the States.
The story is tight and even: Scrooge has conscripted Goldie to help him dig for gold as a sort of penance for an off-panel theft of his treasures; she fakes an injury in order to search his cabin for even more loot. The action lies in another scoundrel, Soapy Slick, who waylays Scrooge on his way to fetch Goldie a doctor.
Written by Carlo Panaro, the story focuses more on world-building than it does on snappy dialogue or gags; it’s in artist Daniela Vetro’s artwork where most of the animated adventuring comes in. Vibrant and expressive, Vetro’s work feels cartoon-ready, as if it was pulled from an animated series style guide. The story is packed with critters – foxes and bears that warm Scrooge’s small cabin. The woods feel alive and breezy; the world is lovingly constructed.
Fantagraphics
The issue’s second story, “Klondike Calculations” by Knut Nærum and Arild Midthun (Germany’s Micky Maus, 2018) draws the cartooning in, densely packing detail into each panel. The story follows even more theft, this time committed by a master of disguise. Goldie features here, too, though only for a panel or so. The story features a math-loving bear who helps save the day.
For whatever reason, my biggest laugh from the issue came from a one-off panel in this story: MOUNTIE H.Q. reads a sign. Underneath: ALSO JAIL.
Uncle Scrooge #5 (LGY #465) continues to import great new comics from abroad; both stories are incredibly strong and filled with pleasant hijinks. That there are so many top-quality Disney stories out there, waiting to be imported and translated, leaves me feeling dizzy with the possibility. This issue is just two small drops in that bucket; the comic promises endless treasure.
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