Fantagraphics’ second Mickey Mouse issue is out this week (legacy #332), featuring four stories that include reprints from old USA printings, imports never before printed in English, and more. While the stories aren’t connected beyond Mickey appearing in all the tales, it’s safe to say history is a big element in this excellent extra-sized issue.
Kicking things off is the tale “Ripples in Time”, part 1. Written by Francesco Vacca with art by Marco Mazzarello, the story opens in ancient Egypt, where the pharaoh is a practical joker. Soon, we learn it’s a major finding by Uma, the time traveller from Mouseton who works for T.O.O.T., aka Time Oddity Obstruction Team. Before she can file what she learned, however, an alarm blares, and some time stream saving is needed!
This is a fast-paced adventure, first published in Italy in 2022 and now published for the first time in the USA. Uma ends up rushing about, but there’s also Mickey’s rival, the Rhyming Man, stirring up trouble while Goofy is mostly none the wiser as he’s focused on his not-so-good novel. There are a lot of scene changes, making it hard to get bored, and the story ends in a way that’ll make you thirsty to find out how Uma, Mickey, and Goofy can possibly save the day. On the flip side of the hectic pacing, the story feels more rushed than character-driven or much of anything. Joe Torcivia’s translation is good, with a few jokes that couldn’t have been easy to translate into English.
Next up is “The Show Mustn’t Go On,” a tale reprinted from 1950, focusing on Ellsworth. The character was unknown to me: a talking crow and Goofy’s pet. The two-page story is a reminder that show business is hard work, and not for everybody. The endearing, comic strip style by writer Bill Walsh and Manuel Gonzales is very endearing.
The art in “Memento” is fabulous.
Credit: Fantagraphics
“Memento” is next up, a story by Noel Van Horn originally printed in Poland back in 2010 and printed here in the USA for the first time. The story opens with Minnie and Mickey digging at an archeological site in Crete. Mickey hopes to learn more about the Minoan people, and while his findings are limited, he gets a crash course in their everyday life thanks to a ghost!
A fairly lengthy tale, not only is it visually great, but there’s some bona fide history and interesting discourse about cultures of the past. I could easily see this tale sparking a fascination with history and archeology in a kid picking this one up.
Last but not least is “Goofy Overdoes It”, another Golden Age short published in 1939. The age shows a bit, given that Goofy still owns a car very close to a Model T. As usual, he bungles things, though in a way you won’t see coming. Writer Merril De Maris and artist Manuel Gonzales deliver a timeless classic.
Fantagraphics’ Mickey Mouse #2 is a delightful celebration of the character’s past, present, and international reach, offering everything from time-travel chaos to gentle Golden Age comedy. While not every story hits the same emotional depth, the issue’s real strength lies in its sense of history, showing how Mickey can thrive in wildly different genres, cultures, and eras. For longtime fans and curious newcomers alike, this oversized issue feels less like a single comic and more like a lovingly assembled museum of Mickey Mouse storytelling.
You must be logged in to post a comment.