Darkwing Duck #3 continues to explore Drake Mallard’s past, this time flashing back to the days before he became the self-proclaimed “Terror That Flaps In The Night.” Drake once attempted to train under the martial arts master known as the Venerable One (or “Vinnie”, as Drake refers to him.) But it wasn’t a easy task…especially because Drake left out the part that the Venerable One never really taught him martial arts; his duties were limited to dishwashing, book dusting and other chores.
Daniel Kibblesmith’s script shines due to the simple contrast of pairing Drake’s actual time with the Venerable One with captions featuring his highly exaggerated recollections to his daughter Gosalyn. It makes for some great wordplay, including a sequence where he says he spent countless hours studying cutting to him dusting endless bookshelves.
But Kibblesmith also underlines Darkwing’s greatest weakness, and his greatest strength, in this issue. The Venerable One points out that Drake’s ego is his greatest enemy, as his pursuit of glory causes him to act recklessly or cause bigger problems than the ones he intends to solve. Yet he’s also very dedicated; despite one of the students constantly insulting him he sticks to his tasks, even getting to learn the martial arts he came to study. That balance of hot-headedness and dedication is what makes Darkwing Duck such a beloved character, and I’m glad Kibblesmith is tapping into that.
I’m also glad that Ted Brandt and Ro Stein are still providing art duties on this book. They draw cartoony, chaotic energy in a way few artists can, especially when it comes to facial expressions. Drake’s eyes often go wide in shock throughout this issue, since he’s being forced to learn that the training he came for is vastly different from his actual experience. But Brandt and Stein also manage to make cartoon staples work on the page. Case in point: when one character eats something spicy, he literally starts breathing fire!
My favorite gag involves the trek to the Venerable One’s temple, which is on the top of a snow-covered mountain. When Drake gets there, he knocks on the door…and the Venerable One swings it open, sending Drake tumbling down the mountain and being rolled up in a giant snowball. This gag is repeated later in the issue, but this time Drake isn’t on the recieving end of it and it all ties together. The bright, vibrant colors by Dearhbla Kelly also help, especially when the scene transitions from shadow-soaked St. Canard to the pure white snow surrounding the Venerable One’s castle.
Darkwing Duck #3 isn’t just a fun blast from the past – it also contains some solid insight into Darkwing’s character. The creative team is working to make sure this is a comic that’s a great read for Darkwing fans and comic fans alike, and it’s paying off.
