There are an awful lot of people out there who feel the constant need to complain about anything that’s popular, anything that has a following, because clearly, it’s Justin Bieber’s fault their garage band hasn’t had a hit yet. What happens when people with this attitude with comic books? Let’s get into it…
Posts Tagged ‘DuckTales
26
Feb
11
My Saturday Morning Shuffle
A little while ago, chatting with Erin and Mark on Facebook, we call came to the conclusion that there just aren’t any good shows on Saturday mornings anymore. Certainly no decent cartoons. And I decided that the only way to remedy this, at least until I take over television programming, is to get an enormous DVD player capable of holding dozens of discs and placing the episodes on random shuffle. So I looked at my DVD collection to decide what I would put on that shuffle if I could do so right now…
- Animaniacs Volume 1 (I so gotta find the rest of these)
- Challenge of the Super-Friends Vol. 1, 2
- Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers Vol. 1
- Count Duckula Season 1
- DC Super-Heroes: The Filmation Adventures
- Danger Mouse Seasons 1 and 2
- Darkwing Duck Vol. 1
- Ducktales Vol. 1-3
- Dungeons and Dragons: The Beginning
- Exosquad Season 1
- Flintstones: The Complete Series
- Galaxy High Vol. 1
- Garfield and Friends Vol. 1-5
- Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1-3
- Looney Tunes: The Golden Collection Vol. 1-2 (I desperately need the rest of these)
- Max Fleischer’s Superman
- The Muppet Show Seasons 1-3 (Not a cartoon, but I dare you to tell me these don’t deserve to be here)
- Peanuts 1960s Collection, 1970s Collection Vol. 1-2
- Pinky and the Brain Vol. 2 (Still need more!)
- The Pixar Short Films Collection (Because they’re cool)
- The Real Ghostbusters Vol. 1
- Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 1
- Star Trek: The Animated Series
- Star Wars Animated: Droids & Ewoks
- Superman: The Animated Series Vol. 2
- Tiny Toon Adventures Season 1 Vol. 2
- TransFormers: The Complete First Season Vol. 1
- Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Black and White; Silly Symphonies Vol. 1; Oswald the Lucky Rabbit; The Chronological Donald Vol. 2; The Complete Goofy
Looking at this list, my collection seems woefully inadequate. Why have I never finished the Looney Tunes collections? Or Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, or Pinky and the Brain? Why don’t I have the Batman cartoons, Batman Beyond, or the Justice League? (Why has Warner Brothers not yet released a complete set of Static Shock?)
:sigh:
Someday, my friends. Some. Day.
The boys get to rambling this week on every topic that comes to mind, including the innovative Godzilla #1 promotion, changes to the Pixar comics, and movie chat about Iron Man 3, All Star Superman, Toy Story, The Muppets, and Blake explains why he would rather pay money to see the Justin Bieber movie than I Am Number Four. Also, Ducktales. In the picks, it’s a Superman Family double feature: Kenny pulls out the Superman: Birthright paperback, and Blake discusses Supergirl #61. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@CXPulp.com!
Music provided by Music Alley from Mevio.
Episode 210: Godzilla, Pixar, Cartoons and Cussin’
Marvel has spent the last few weeks slowly rolling out the rosters for the new Avengers family of titles. This week, Blake and Kenny talk about the members of each team, make their Secret Avengers predictions, and chat about a plethora of other comic book news, including the new Power Girl creative team, the return of Batman Beyond, IDW‘s change in status with Diamond, Captain America casting rumors, J. Michael Straczynski‘s Samaritan X, and more! In the picks, Kenny takes the graphic novel Werewolf By Night: In the Blood, and Blake bids farewell to Dan Jurgens with Booster Gold #30. Contact us with comments, suggestions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!
Music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network.
Episode 163: Avengers Assemble
Inside This Episode:
Put on your Underoos, pour a big bowl of cereal, and rev up your iPod! This week, Chase and Blake banter about some of their favorite 80s cartoon shows! From the top dogs of He-Man, G.I. Joe and the TransFormers to lesser-known but much-beloved properties like Silverhawks and the Bionic Six, the boys talk about their favorite shows, the history of the characters, and where the properties are today. In the picks this week, Chase dug Phantom Annual #2, and Blake is all about Tiny Titans #12. Write us with comments, suggestions, picks of the week, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!
Also, this week features the third of three “variant covers” created as a 100th episode gift by our good buddy Walt Kneeland! Check your iTunes Album Art! Thanks, Walt!
Episode 104: 80s Saturday Morning Cartoon Extravaganza
Inside This Episode:
PLUS: Now that DC Direct has spoiled the identities of the first two Black Lanterns (don’t worry, we give you a spoiler warning before we say their names), Blake sits down and runs through some of the late denizens of the DC Universe and picks out who he thinks may turn up as members of the Black Lantern Corps!
11
Nov
08
The Duckburg Mafia
So how many of you guys out there have ever played a Mafia game? C’mon, show of hands. Lessee… one… two… two. Okay, that’s about what I figured. So for the rest of you, this will be new information. A Mafia game is a game played on an online forum, like we have over at Comixtreme.com. Players are randomly assigned roles and given an objective. Traditionally, there are two factions: the “town” and the “scum.” During the day phase of the game, players vote to eliminate someone. During the night, certain players have special abilities they may use for various purposes. The thing that makes it tricky is that the “town” members don’t know who each other are, but the “mafia” members do.
It’s actually simpler than it sounds, but it’s an awful lot of fun. On some forums, like at CX, games often take themes based on comic books, movies, and TV shows. In the past several months, as a player, I have portrayed such notables as Mr. Fantastic, Rodimus Prime, and Willie the Snitch (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
This week I’m going to start running my own game for the first time and, because I’m that screwy, it’s themed on the DuckTales cartoon. This is actually a fun little exercise as a writer. You have to establish your roles, compose an opening, and then you have to try to figure out every possible outcome that the players could lead the game to. It’s like writing one of those old Choose Your Own Adventure books. I’ve had an awful lot of fun doing the preliminary work, and I expect the actual running of the game, beginning tonight, to be a lot of fun too. Now I say it’s based on DuckTales because almost all of the characters have appeared in (or even originated in) the universe of the cartoon we all loved in the 80s. But when it comes to the Disney Ducks, I consider myself a disciple of Carl Barks, so in terms of character, motivation, and history, I defer to him more than the cartoon.
You can see more of the past games archived at the CX Mafia page. If you want to get in on the fun yoursef, you can go register at Comixtreme, then sign up for the next available game at the Games Forum on the board.
And as an added little bit of fun, I thought I’d share the opening text that will begin my game, Of Dimes and Destinies. Enjoy!
Day One: Life is Like a Hurricane…
“Gyro, why did you call me all the way down here?”
The wiry inventor pushed his glasses back on his beak. “I wanted to show you my latest invention, Mr. McDuck.”
Scrooge McDuck’s cheeks turned red. “Another new invention? You’re supposed to be fixing the bugs in the security system you just set up in me money bin!” The richest duck in the world waved his cane under Gyro Gearloose’s nose. Gyro started backwards, his glasses sliding back down. Behind him, a small dog yipped happily. Gyro tossed him a biscuit.
“The security system? What’s wrong with it, Mr. McDuck? I designed it to be impenetrable.”
“Oh, it’s impenetrable all right, Gyro,” Scrooge said, “but only as long as there’s a human operator at the controls, and the controls are exhausting! I’ve had to train everyone I trust to use computer just to keep up with it! I need some way to make it automated!”
“Are you sure, Mr. McDuck? After the trouble we had that time with Armstrong–”
“Ach, forget it,” Scrooge said. He walked up to Gyro’s newest invention – a large silver shell with a hatch in the front and a large LCD display across the face. Scrooge banged the side of it with his cane. “What is this thing? It looks like a giant Easter Egg.”
“In a way it is, Mr. McDuck. I call it the Deanthropomorphizer.”
“The De-hoochie-ma-whatnow?”
“The Deanthropomorphizer. It takes whoever is placed into the chamber and reverts him to an earlier stage of evolution. It would turn you into an ordinary duck. It would turn Grandma’s assistant, Gus, into an ordinary goose.” Gyro’s dog barked again, now sniffing the door to the refrigerator.
Scrooge’s lower beak quavered. “It… de-evolves a person?”
Gyro smiled. “That’s it, Mr. McDuck!”
“What possible use could anyone have for such a beastly device?” He felt a tugging on his sleeve and looked down at the small creature biting his topcoat. “And when on Earth did you get a dog?”
“Well, I thought it would be used for home security, sir. That dog there… well… until he tried to rob my lab last night, that was Burger Beagle.”
Scrooge looked down at the dog again, noticing for the first time the thin domino mask around its eyes. “This mutt was one of the Beagle Boys?”
“That’s right.”
Scrooge stammered. “This… this is horrific! Gyro, I want that machine destroyed!”
“But Mr. McDuck–”
“No buts! Take that thing apart!” He turned around and started to walk away, but stopped. “Just as soon as you finish fixing my security system!”
Gyro sighed, his shoulders slumping. Scrooge McDuck’s deep pockets made him an ideal benefactor, but his pragmatic attitude often made him short-sighted about the possibilities of science. “Yes, Mr. McDuck.”
Huffing, Scrooge stormed out of Gyro’s lab, back into a bright, shiny Duckburg day. He was grumpy enough, having to come all the way here from his Money Bin, but for such a ridiculous invention? He needed to relax, and he knew just the way to do it: take a quick dip in his cash, then back to work polishing his five multiplujillion, nine impossibidillion, seven fantasticatrillion dollars and sixteen cents. And he’d start, as always, with old Number One. How else to spent a bright, shiny Duckburg da—
Now where was that dark cloud coming from?
* * *
When Scrooge awoke, there was a lot of commotion around him. His eyes adjusting to the darkness, he tried to get up, only to find his hands bound behind his back. He was tied to a chair, arms and legs lashed together, completely immobile. As he started moving, he started hearing voices.
“Well, well, lookie who finally woke up.”
“About time ye joined us, McDuck.”
“Welcome back, dahlink.”
A darker shape still moved in front of the others. “Hello, Scrooge,” it said. Although Scrooge could see no smile through the mask, he could hear it in his adversary’s voice… in all of his adversaries’ voices.
“All of you?” he whispered. “Together?”
“Indeed,” said the one that seemed to be in charge. “You see, Scrooge, we’ve come to the conclusion that our mutual hatred of you is enough of a binding element to put aside our own petty differences. We have a plan, Scrooge, a plan for Duckburg, and I’m happy to say, you’re going to help us achieve it.”
“I’d never help the likes of you!” Scrooge spat.
“Well, I didn’t say you’d want to do it,” the shape said. “Now, I do have one concern. We’ve searched you already, but it’s not here. Where is it, Scrooge?”
“Where is what?”
“You know vhat!” shouted one of the voices from the back.
Scrooge’s eyes narrowed. “Where it always is – back at me Money Bin, safe from the likes of you!”
The shape laughed. “Safe? Oh, Scrooge, the Money Bin won’t be safe much longer.”
“I’ve got the most advanced security system in the world!”
“Yes, and from what I hear it has only one flaw – it must have a human operator.”
Scrooge sputtered. “You’ll never get your hands on it. My friends will–”
“Ah, yes. Your friends. Tell me, Scrooge, which one of your friends are you counting on saving you this time? Your imbecilic nephew with the speech impediment? That tin-plated fool you call a security guard? Oh! I know! The insipid pilot who can’t even land a plane in one piece! Yes, Scrooge, which of them is going to thwart this little collection of villainy assembled?”
“I… I…” Scrooge’s face fell. “Ach. I’m in trouble.”
* * *
“We’ve gotta find Unca Scrooge!” Huey shouted over the assembled shouts. There were murmurs of assent all around, quacks and screams as people tried to make themselves heard over the throng. Finally, rolling to the front of the crowd, Gizmoduck deployed his mega-megaphone attachment.
“QUIEEEEEET!” he howled. The crowd outside the Money Bin suddenly fell silent.
“Thank you,” Gizmoduck said. “Go ahead, Gyro.”
The little inventor stepped to the front of the throng. “Ahem. Yes. Well, it seems that some time after he left my lab yesterday afternoon, Mr. McDuck went missing. To make matters worse, we’ve received intelligence that several of his enemies have been plotting to converge on Duckburg for weeks now.”
“Intelligence?” Gladstone Gander asked. “From who?”
“A reliable source, trust me,” said Launchpad. “But we don’t know which one of ‘em got Mr. McDee.”
“I believe I do,” Gyro said. He held up a small scrap of black fabric. “I found some items outside my lab. Does this look familiar to anyone?” There was a rousing chorus of gasps, and several of them nodded. “Or this?” A small coin – a South African 5-rand piece. “Or how about this?” He produced a small sprig of wood, carved meticulously and polished to an obsidian sheen.
“Magica DeSpell’s shape-shifting wand!” Louie said. “Does that mean… they’re all working together?”
“And worse,” Gyro said. “They could be anyone… any… one… of… us.”
The good citizens of Duckburg began to look around, eyeing each other suspiciously. Donald was the first one to point at his neighbor, Mr. Jones. Jones pointed right back. Soon, the shouting again was deafening. Gizmoduck didn’t bother with the megaphone this time – he whipped out an air horn and let loose an ear-splitting blast.
“We can’t start fighting amongst ourselves now,” Gyro said. “That’s what they want. If Magica gets her hands on the first coin owned by the world’s richest man, she can finally make her Midas Amulet. Imagine what these villains would do with the power to turn anything into gold!” The murmurs this time were of assent.
“Only those of us Mr. McDuck trusts know how to work the security system,” he said. “Number One will be safe as long as there’s even one of us to protect it. But we have to find them before they get rid of us.”
“How can we do that?” Dewey asked.
“The Deanthropomorphizer,” Gyro said. “It can scan anyone… but only while it’s de-evolving them.”
“Sounds like fun,” Launchpad said.
“So we’ve got to be careful who we put in the chamber,” Gyro said. “We have to be sure.”
There were nods and words as the friends of Scrooge McDuck walked away, each pondering how best to use their vote. But not everyone was content to just wait. Launchpad walked away and took out his cell phone, dialing an out-of-town number. “DW?” he said. “It’s me. We need ya here, pal.”
Gizmoduck’s tire spun as he began his patrol of the grounds. The security system was all well and good, but he was Mr. McDuck’s bodyguard as well, and he’d failed in his duty. He wouldn’t fail again.
And as the adults all wandered away, three small ducks grit their beaks in determination. “Come on, men,” Huey said, taking off his red baseball cap and replacing it with one of coonskin. “Dewey, get the book. We’re gonna save Unca Scrooge… no matter what it takes!”
DAY ONE BEGINS NOW
Come on by and enjoy the fun!
Evertime Realms 
People are saying…