Walt Disney's Donald Duck "The Old Castle's Secret": The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 6

This Valentine's Day, I stopped by a local independent bookshop for an extra gift for my bride. I got her something. But I also ended up getting myself a treat. As I've mentioned before, I want the entire run of these books. But they are NOT cheap. The store I was at had a small used book section and they had a volume for a price that was just right for me!

Like with all of the other volumes in this series, despite the name of just 1 story, there are several adventures, shorts and one-page gags starring Donald Duck, his nephews and several others. During this period of time, Uncle Scrooge makes his first appearances after the holiday tale 'Christmas on Bear Mountain'. The title story has Scrooge in some financial trouble. So McDuck takes his nephew and his nephew's nephews to the family castle in Scotland to unearth a missing inheritance. With hints of the Hound of the Baskervilles and the William Castle feature 13 Ghosts, this is a classic horror mystery romp that I've read before. But that familiarity, my enjoyment wasn't lacking. Ironically, knowing what I do about the massive money bins owned by Scrooge McDuck, I don't see how the small chest of jewels the guys find would help the old miser out of any sort of money troubles.

This book also featured the debut of Donald Duck's familiar adversary for girlfriend Daisy's hand, Gladstone Gander. In these first couple of stories, Gladstone is that cousin who just gets under your skin. He keeps trying to one up you, so you boast back at him. Thanks to a stupid bet made on a hot July day, Gladstone's holiday appearance at Donald's home could mean that Donald and his nephews might end up homeless this Christmas. That is unless Donald will take a swim in the frozen pond behind his domicile.  

The other main treat of this book is the Western epic 'The Sheriff of Bullet Valley.' This is another work I've read before. But the nostalgia brought about from reading this as a little kid made my re-read all that much more special. Donald and the nephews are going on vacation when they stop in Bullet Valley. The community has been besieged by a dastardly cow rustler that everyone knows is guilty. They just can't figure out how the villain is changing the brands on the other ranch's cattle. Inspired by a slew of Westerns, Donald volunteers to save the day. In an episode that doesn't see Huey, Dewey and Louie coming to Donald's rescue, this is a very unusual and violent Disney story. Especially, since Donald gets shot and left for dead in this one!

Donald's nephews are quite the intrepid Junior Woodchucks who come to Donald's frequent rescue. They're still those mischievous scamps who try to outsmart their uncle for their own gain. Uncle Scrooge isn't yet the world's richest duck who neurotically fears everyone is trying to rob him. Gladstone gets under everyone's skin. But he's not the luckiest duck on earth yet. We get to see the early stories of Carl Barks' comic book career. Perfection hasn't yet been achieved. But, there's definite signs of genius throughout this amazing book!

I want more! 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Har-Har Comics #1

Prior to reading this book. I knew nothing about Har-Har Comics. Nothing! I did not even know that such a book existed. But I found it at a used book store for 20 cents plus the protective bag! So this unknown comic was a low-risk purchase for me. 

I'm happy to say that it was worth every cent I paid!

Har-Har Comics debuted in 1990. Published by Fantagraphics, this comic is all about funny animals. That was Fantagraphics' bread-and-butter. The company that brought you Critters and Usagi Yojimbo, as well as human based titles such as Love and Rockets, Fantagraphics has survived unto this day. In an era where Indy publishers are a dime a dozen and unlikely to survive until their 5th birthday, for Fantagraphics to have existed since 1976 is an impressive feat.

This comic book is all about the laughs. The main character is known as Hyper Al. He's a dog or wolf that gets into some odd situations including getting abducted by aliens and tested to become a knight in King Arthur's Court. I laughed several times at his tales. he's drawn more like you'd expect an old 1940s cartoon villain would look. yet, Hyper Al is all sweet and innocent.

The other main feature of this issue is a story that ponders the question 'What if regular pets were "anthropomorphic?' It follows a giant dog name Huck and his hapless owner as they go for a walk through town. When Huck gets loose from his lease and meets the new female in the neighborhood..., well, let's just say that love is in the air. 

I would love to find myself another issue. I'm actually in luck. Fantagraphics' did give this series by Captain Jack's Mike Kazaleh a second issue. But that was it. Considering that the 90s was known for it's gritty comics, a cute book like this getting a second try is an impressive feat in it's own.

I guess the big question is now- will I ever find Har-Har Comics #2? Tune in regularly to my blog and see...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars,

Hip Hop Family Tree Volume 4 (1984-85)

Ed Piskor's award-winning series about the history of hip hop and rap continues. In this volume, East Coast rap is seeing the bright lights of Hollywood as several movies about the burgeoning music genre is finally catching the eyes of both white America and MTV. Over on the left coast, West Coast rap is starting to gain it's own identity which unfortunately is rooted in hard drugs such as crack as well as gang culture.

A number of household name players in hip-hop make their first appearances here. Perhaps the most famous name is Philadelphia's Fresh Prince, Will Smith, who is not quite ready to become one of the biggest names in TV and movies yet. Also expect to see female act Salt-n-Pepa, Biz Markie and Easy E starting to get in on the hip-hop 'fad.'

This chapter started a little slower than the other books. But by the end of the account of 1984's impact on the music industry, the storytelling pace was back to normal. The art however was as phenomenal as always.

This volume of Hip Hop Family Tree is from 2016. Supposedly, Ed Piskor is planning on making 7 total volumes. But I am wondering if that's ever going to be the case. Piskor keeps saying throughout this edition to expect more details on certain artists in future books. But with 2 and a half years having gone by and X-Men books now appearing to be his main focus, I'm not going to hold my breath for volume 5.

I'm guessing I'm never going to witness the greatest crossover event in hip-hop history between Run-DMC and Aerosmith in comic book form.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Hip Hop Family Tree, Volume 2

Ed Piskor continues his Who's Who of major players of the evolution of hip hop. This chapter finishes out 1981, blows through 1982 and ends at the waning days of 1983. While West Coast Rap is still pretty much in it's infancy here and the majority of the action is taking black in the 5 boroughs of New York, there's a few moments in which you see the early days of Dr. Dre, Easy-E and Ice T. 

But as I said, the majority of the action occurs in the Big Apple. Afrika BamBaataa and Grandmaster Flash are clearly the leaders of this new revolution in music. Some Jewish kids named Adam Y, Adam H and Michael are making some waves in the music dungeons of white New York. And Joseph Simmons and Darryl McDaniels are fresh out of high school and ready to take Run's big brother, Russell, to task on his promise to make them big stars upon graduation.

You see a lot of names of hip hop legends that at the time of 1981-83 aren't even a blip on the music industry's radar. While I wouldn't want to spoil the fun, let me just say there's at least one cameo that is a 'biggie.'

One interesting aspect is how much hip hop has to thank the punk scene and the art scene of New York. Musicians of punk were considered outcasts and always open to new players who were accepting to them. And these artists of the era's hottest sound had connections to producers with money, time and studios. Then you've got subway taggers who with their graffiti, were making waves with punk artists who wanted something wild on their next art cover. With up-and-comers like Basquiat making connects between artists with musical inclinations and art lovers with money to burn, who would have guessed that a can of spray paint would be as vital to a hip hop performer as a loud mic and a turn table?

There's a great documentary called 77: My Year In Hell. It focuses on the rise of both punk and hip hop music in 1977. But it fails to really connect the symbiotic nature between the two genres. Ed Piskor corrects that oversight in this epic collection.

I love his old school artistry that reflects mainly the Marvel Comics of this era. Piskor does experiment with one visual element not seen in the first volume. Scenes that take place in the 90s and later are rendered in a pastel palette that is almost done in a black light style. (I kinda wish I had a black light in order to test this theory out for myself.) Anyways, what I am saying is that while Piskor is firmly in trenched into the comic medium style of early 80s, he finds plenty of ways to be experimental!

Bring on volume 3!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Critters #11

  
   Really, I choose this issue because of it's cover. I know you're not supposed to do that but I couldn't pass up the image of a smiling feline dressed as Santa, riding atop a flying snow mobile with gifts and a moose in tow! It's a bitching holiday scene.
   The comic itself wasn't terrible. Especially for a 1986 indy comic. It's filled with talent like a Usagi Yojimbo adventure by Stan Sakai, a yarn by Ty Templeton, and many others. 
    Only 2 or 3 of the stories in this book are Christmas themed but I can excuse this as a couple of the tales, like the Yojimbo one, were parts of a multi-issue story arc. Not a bad funny animal offering from Fantagraphic Books.
     But if the stories aren't funny, is it still a funny animal comic? Most of these adventures are dramatic. A couple episodes are sexually charged, and one is bloody- very bloody. These animals might look cute and cuddly, but it's not a comic for kids!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Christmas With Superswine #1

We all remember Superswine, right? The beer-swilling, cigar-chomping, ethically challenged porcine member of the Superman Family. You don't? Me neither. From what I can tell Superswine was a parody of all the super pets in the pages of Superman comics in the fifties and sixties. From Krypto the Super Dog to Supergirl's cat Streaky and flying horse Comet. Plus, if not mistaken there was a giraffe, two otters, and a talking parakeet.

  Anyway, back to Superswine, the character was published by Fantagraphic and from what I gathered reading this special, he appeared in the funny animals anthology 'Critters.' The series featured some of the biggest names in the industry during the 80s including Alan Moore, Stan Sakai, and Cerebus the Aardvark's Dave Sim, who also created, wrote and drew Superswine and this Christmas issue.

  Christmas with Superswine isn't for kids. The book starts off friendly enough with a parody of ' The Night Before Christmas." But referencing Santa as a drunkard, dope fiend, and slob, plus numerous swears in the back-up features clearly moves this book from all ages to teen plus (generally ages older than 12.) The short stories in the back were all Christmas themed and they had some laughs and very good art. It was just a little too edgy and controversial for my tastes. If Archie Bunker was ever turned into an animated superhero pig, this would be what I'd envision his Christmases to be like.

  One this book did have going for it was the ads promoting the sister comic 'Critters.' I'm very interested in getting my hands on it as it has some early Yosagi Yojimbo tales, as well as an arch-type character based on the intergalactic rabbit Bucky O'Hare in them. Also, there was an advertisement for a Comic Book Legal Defense Fund comic called 'True North' that I am interested in getting my hands on. I'm a huge supporter of the CBLDF and while I know that my purchasing of a back issue of it wouldn't benefit the cause right now, I think it would be an interesting time capsule into the censorship issues of comics in the late 1980s.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.