tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post4894588088314917024..comments2024-03-28T03:15:52.497-04:00Comments on Duck Comics Revue: "Only a Poor Old Man"GeoX, one of the GeoX boys.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14658452994152399308noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-60196967251501561512017-01-25T09:09:00.116-05:002017-01-25T09:09:00.116-05:00"Sounds like great stuff!" Thanks to the..."Sounds like great stuff!" Thanks to the internet we now know that this is called a "shit-eating grin". You gotta love how much Donald is milking that troll smile thorough this whole tale.Vreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17724505940925782459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-42129425404070093932015-10-14T10:36:19.980-04:002015-10-14T10:36:19.980-04:00A real classic. Even as a little child, I always l...A real classic. Even as a little child, I always loved older characters who seemed to have history behind them... SO my favourite characters were Scrooge, Captain Haddock, Hercule Poirot, aaand Väinämöinen and Louhi. (So you can imagine Rosa's Kalevala-adventure is fangirling gold for me!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-59393229053210486982015-06-14T05:45:55.276-04:002015-06-14T05:45:55.276-04:00Maybe not, but it's fun to think about!Maybe not, but it's fun to think about!GeoX, one of the GeoX boys.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14658452994152399308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-22695394921512241282015-06-14T02:50:15.101-04:002015-06-14T02:50:15.101-04:00Is there something to be said about rats' clos...Is there something to be said about rats' close relationship to mice and the killing of one taking place in the first issue for a character who surely exceeds Mickey in the Disney universe?<br /><br />Nah, that's probably going too far.whc03gradyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08304236390575971087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-48374605779232208642015-04-13T11:19:08.454-04:002015-04-13T11:19:08.454-04:00"Does anyone honestly think we can reasonably..."Does anyone honestly think we can reasonably append "…and then, I gave up all that copper money" here? "<br /><br />Well... I do. I also think it's reasonable to assume that Scrooge would NEVER mention that part. What does seem a bit unreasonable though, is the fact that he STILL has that coin. Sure, he might not have had to give up ALL the money, but it still seemed like he gave up enough to have had to spend the rest in order to move around/eat/excavate gold. But, who knows, maybe he always kept the first coin earned from each of his failed ventures in his chest. I never quite understood how all that "keeping every coin" fits in with actually EARNING more and becoming the richest duck. (Another musing, is he actually the richest PERSON in the world, or just the richest DUCK ? Hmm... They do seem to use the word "duck" in place of "man/woman" most of the time, but in that world "duck" is just a race)Natteravnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17395024999038452560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-39361989160832999822014-03-31T05:01:27.805-04:002014-03-31T05:01:27.805-04:00This is a great analysis. Thank you!This is a great analysis. Thank you!Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03343947041898057102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-18399199325238316172014-03-30T11:42:53.518-04:002014-03-30T11:42:53.518-04:00Thanks, everyone. I hope that future posts can li...Thanks, everyone. I hope that future posts can live up to this one--though it's in part dependent on the quality of the stories themselves, o' course.GeoX, one of the GeoX boys.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14658452994152399308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-47552314412885400352014-03-29T20:03:04.746-04:002014-03-29T20:03:04.746-04:00Yes, as others have already said, terrific post, G...Yes, as others have already said, terrific post, GeoX! I love it when you make me appreciate Barks's artistic subtleties, as when you point out that Scrooge never articulates his bright idea (nor even the fact that he got a bright idea, with an "Oh!" or the like) in the walking-into-the-sunset sequence. Such respect Barks had for his child readers! I also like the fact that it's precisely a memory of an "old trick" that gives the old man victory. <br /><br />And I love the expression on Donald's face that goes along with that "understated, amused irony" you so appreciate. That sidelong smile!Elainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-65795527642195875732014-03-29T16:41:23.754-04:002014-03-29T16:41:23.754-04:00I really like your ‘literary’ analysis of this sto...I really like your ‘literary’ analysis of this story, Geo. There really should be more of these.<br /><br />Only now do I appreciate this story on a deeper level. I’ve always found it a cracking yarn, but I’ve been taking a bit of a break from Disney comics because I thought there wasn’t much of a deeper level. I mean yes, I have read some commentaries on Barks stories, in specific and in general, but few of them go this deep. This one shows really well at what level these stories work, especially the whole thing Barks has with money.<br />So congratulations – you’ve reached new heights in blogging.<br /><br />It also makes me wonder whether other Barks stories could be examined in this way. I personally prefer the genre stories, ‘Old California’, ‘Shacktown’, ‘Dangerous Disguise’ and all that, but this essay (if I may call it that) has given me a fresh way to look at this story.<br /><br />If I may add my two cents: I’ve always found it very hard to like the general idea of this story, because it suffers incredibly from thousands of Scrooge stories being based on it. Which really is a testament to the strength of this story, but it’s also harder to see the uniqueness it had back in 1952.<br /><br />I slightly prefer ‘Klondike’ to this story, though, for the little peek it gives us into Scrooge’s past. There’s just one thing in that story that I find really glaring and gives potential for other stories, but nobody ever comments on. Rosa’s opinion is that ‘the month in the shack’ is the last time Scrooge and Goldie meet before ’40 years later’ (seriously Barks, what the math?). But just look at all that Scrooge remembers from their time together, all just fighting and yelling, and ‘now’ Scrooge utterly falls for her. Rosa interprets this as, well, ‘Prisoner of White Agony Creek’, but I have my own story...Duckfannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-11745278193073516122014-03-29T02:11:52.277-04:002014-03-29T02:11:52.277-04:00Thanks, Joe. That really means a lot. I think it...Thanks, Joe. That really means a lot. I think it helped that, while I know perfectly well that this is one of the most famous stories ever, I am unable currently to call to mind or to hand anything that Geoffrey Blum (eg) has written about it, so there was no choice but to strike out on my own. And, of course, I knew in the back of my mind that it would be necessary to dig a little deeper than usual for anything I wrote to justify its existence. Let's also give some credit to Mr. Barks himself, for writing such a rich, multi-layered story. It's sure easier to find something cogent to say about "Only a Poor Old Man" than "The Flying Farm Hand," I'll tell you that much. :)<br /><br />Now, will I be able to find the stones one of these days to work up an essay on "Back to the Klondike?" That remains to be seen!GeoX, one of the GeoX boys.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14658452994152399308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-63610613601046977702014-03-29T00:45:06.488-04:002014-03-29T00:45:06.488-04:00Geo:
As one writer / blogger / would-be Disney co...Geo:<br /><br />As one writer / blogger / would-be Disney comics historian to another… This may simply be the BEST piece you’ve ever written! <br /><br />You’ve just taken a story about which countless words have been written – over DECADES – and given us a new, fresh, and most importantly, well-written commentary on it! <br /><br />As to why this is all the more impressive to someone like me, who operates in a similar arena, is to consider (for example) that I’ve written a fair number of Humphrey Bogart movie DVD reviews for my blog – but would never touch the true classics like <i>“Cassablanca”</i> or <i>“The Maltese Falcon”</i>. <br /><br />Why? It’s certainly not because I’m disinterested in the films, or don’t have the DVDs. It’s because I don’t feel as if I can add anything of significance to the <i>“…countless words</i> [which] <i>have been written – over DECADES”</i>. Instead, I’ll merely upturn some semi-fresh earth on lesser known films like <a href="http://tiahblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/dvd-review-two-mrs-carrolls-1947.html" rel="nofollow"><b>“The Two Mrs. Carrolls”</b></a> or <a href="http://tiahblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/dvd-review-chain-lightning-1949.html" rel="nofollow"><b>“Chain Lightning”</b></a>, about which far less has been written. It’s simpler that way! <br /><br />Or, to take it closer to home, I may choose to introduce Mickey Mouse stories such as <i>“Rumplewatt the Giant”</i> or <i>“Mickey’s Rival”</i> in the series of Floyd Gottfredson hardcover books from Fantagraphics, rather than those better covered historically – because I can say something more original about them. Again, not because I’m so cleverly creative – but because there’s been far less extant material on those particular stories to contend and compete with. <br /><br />But you, my friend, have just done a clever, informative – and ORIGINAL – piece on one of the most oft-covered tales in Disney comic book history! Take a bow!<br /><br />Jakarta must be agreeing with you!Joe Torciviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00421096229407174474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-49761299534063600962014-03-28T22:49:43.404-04:002014-03-28T22:49:43.404-04:00What a wonderful story. DUCKTALES filleted it for...What a wonderful story. DUCKTALES filleted it for "Liquid Assets" and a fair bit of the original's power still managed to come through.<br /><br />ChrisChris Barathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06845538037091279990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-44001608922070953992014-03-28T16:06:57.483-04:002014-03-28T16:06:57.483-04:00If there's such a thing as a perfect comic, it...If there's such a thing as a perfect comic, it'd be this. Not a hitch or a misstep. A lovely analysis.<br /><br />I think you're wise to mark that Barks is not remarking that there is but one way to live. But Donald is wrong on one key element, I think. In the end, Scrooge wants the fruits of his labor. To earn, to have and to hold, to treasure his... treasure. The Beagle Boys want money. I posit that Donald doesn't see, or know, that there is a distinction between the two. While it is clear to the reader, much of what we see and understand of Scrooge's love of the money is shown either in soliloquy, or to the nephews. A very different argument is presented to Donald. Comfort, safety, security, all of those things ARE happiness! Diving in money is presented as a cheap pleasure, rather than bathing in the memories of the past. The feel in the act of earning is never spoken of to Donald, at least not that I recall.<br /><br />One wonders how long it took for Donald to understand his uncle. Whether he ever came to the realization at all. And whether, as certain Rosa stories suggested, he looked at Scrooge with a kind pity. After all... no matter the story or hijinks, he could always quit.<br /><br />Regarding the Barks/Rosa canon, such as there is, I have always believed Scrooge's love of each coin faded after he found Donald and the boys in his life again. They certainly mattered. "The Coin", one of Rosa's best, shows that. But he could finally, finally, learn to let <i>some</i> of the old memories go, so long as new ones were there to be made.<br /><br />This story is so beautifully simple, but it is so easy to talk about at length. A thousand times over, I will call Carl Barks a genius for his work, and point to this as one of his highlights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-34725900488990301532014-03-28T12:43:32.537-04:002014-03-28T12:43:32.537-04:00This story holds up remarkably well given that it,...This story holds up remarkably well given that it, like much of Barks's work, has been used as a template for numerous very mediocre stories by other authors (and sometimes Barks himself). And I say that as someone who only read it as an adult - but when I read it I recognised patterns from other stories I'd read in the Donald magazine since I was a kid. I think it really comes down to a sense of wonder that Barks approaches Scrooge's character with: As he introduces his odd habits, he does so with creativity, analysation and understanding of the character that no imitation could ever allow for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-80527757215965335542014-03-28T09:52:06.026-04:002014-03-28T09:52:06.026-04:00It's a plesure to read such fine review of suc...It's a plesure to read such fine review of such fine story :)<br /><br /><br />Pan Miluśhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364446151493198587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423579092779163824.post-69308748621641738062014-03-28T09:23:56.898-04:002014-03-28T09:23:56.898-04:00This wasn't the first story to show Scrooge sw...This wasn't the first story to show Scrooge swimming in his money: "Billions to Sneeze At" 3.4-5 and "A Financial Fable" 3.5-7 and 10.5-7 preceded it.<br /><br />I recently made a list of all Barks' stories that say something about the amount of money Scrooge owns (mostly a good excuse to reread a lot of great stories) and I see you corrected me, because I thought "You Can't Guess" 21.1-3 was the first story with Scrooge bathing in money.<br />http://bb.mcdrake.nl/neddisney/viewtopic.php?p=64264#p64264<br /><br />The trapped rat seems quite alive to me. I think it just prevents the animal to withdraw its head. Of course Scrooge does kill spiders and moths.Unca Paspasunoreply@blogger.com