"Wispy Willie"

I have to admit, the main reason I haven't been more active here in recent months is horror at the direction my country is going in, and not fun, seasonal horror either. I think that's basically what I said LAST Halloween, so...that may not be a good sign. BUT. The show must go on, so let's look at a not-really-Halloween story. Hey, it's not the first time, nor the last. You know, of course, that this story isn't actually called "Wispy Willie;" Barks wasn't titling his ten-pagers at the time. Granted, that title refers to the most memorable thing in the story, but it's certainly not the story's centerpiece. It doesn't really have a centerpiece. It does have its moments, though.

A classic David-and-Goliath story, or so one might think. "By refusing to sell, you are stopping progress!" seems like an ideologically freighted thing to say. The story does not really pursue this line of thought, however. Just an excuse to have a fracas. Though really, why would you need an excuse? A fracas is a fun thing to have!

Can't help but support Donald's principles here. Bite me, you vile plutocrat!

Yup. This is purely Evil Scrooge, though not quite in the alienating way you see in so many Italian stories. His Book of Diabolical Stratagems is funny. I will admit it.

So the story is really a fairly standard thing: a series of short set-pieces as Scrooge tries to do his thing, and then a kind of arbitrary denouement. Still entertaining, though. I really enjoy those mice in the top left panel, just sittin' there looking on. And WHOA, "our cat?" Just stuck that in like it waren't no thang. Is this Tabby from "Joe from Singapore?"

Sure, why not? The difference seems to mainly amount to a matter of coloring.

And the second thing is scary monsters (and super creeps) trying to scare the ducks off, and I very much enjoy Donald's sangfroid in the face of all this terror. That broad, ironic smile is the aspect of Donald that basically nobody does but Barks, occasionally. See also: "Only a Poor Old Man," my avatar.

Seriously, I love the fact that he doesn't even come close to cracking at any point, even in the face of HDL's more reasonable reactions.

Note non-dogface woman.  If Donald had seen that, he would have known TRUE terror.

Yeah, if only assault were legal...again, this is a pretty darned brutal Scrooge we've got here. You wouldn't be likely to see him so hard-edged in later years.

Well, now we come to the part of the story that people remember. It does have an excellent atmosphere. The scientist's equipment in the top panel and the spooky surroundings in the bottom really do say "Halloween" loud and clear. Please drink it in.

More. It does feel a little awkward that we never see the ducks actually venturing into the mine's mustiest depths. That could've provided some extra chills.

Yeah, that's the stuff. Definitely a super-cool and spooky character design, even if we don't actually see much of him. I was never quite sure if ol' Wille really was meant to be alive, or just a special effect. You'd certainly think he was, given that he has to eat, and also given how cool he is and it would be disappointing if he were just a phenomenon, so what the hey, let's say he is. Has anyone ever written another story featuring the character? Alas, no, not even Brazil (they're too busy these days electing fascists to worry about such things, is my understanding).

NO LIVING THING CAN STAND THE HORROR OF SUCH A SIGHT! That line always cracks me up, as does Donald's and HDL's reaction. Alas, however, that is the last we will ever see of Willie. He is unceremoniously dumped when no longer needed.

Unfortunately, I really hate the ending to this story. "Rich bastard uses his money to force his will on the common people" is only an edifying outcome if you're a Republican. Otherwise, it's kinda dispiriting and doesn't seem thematically in accord with anything that's gone before.

And phooey to this. I can't stand this "oh they're both so nutty" stuff. Yeah, they are, but only because you just decided to make Donald's principled resistance into a joke. I DO NOT APPROVE. Well...even Homer nods, I guess. I can't say I love this story as a whole, but it has enough good moments to recommend it anyway, I think.

Thanks to Pan Miluś for suggesting this one.  Expect another Halloween entry tomorrow.  It's another Barks story.  You can try to guess if you want to, but I would be rather surprised if you were right, unless you're just indiscriminately hurling titles out there and you get lucky.