Sleepwalking Ducks: Society's Greatest Threat

Today we dive back into the world of Disney, particularly into the life of the perennially unlucky superstar, Donald Duck. This time he's sleepwalking, all the while his nephews have to deal with the aftermath.

The artist this time is Riley Thompson (10/5/1912 - 01/26/1960). Born in Alhambra, California, he started as an animator at the Leon Schlesinger studio, working on Porky Pig and Merrie Melodies shorts. In 1936, he went to the Walt Disney Studios to work as an animator on various shorts and on Fantasia.

In 1940, he was promoted to director and for the next 10 years, he directed various Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy cartoons. His filmography includes one of my favorite Mickey cartoons, Symphony Hour.

During the fifties, he did a lot of comic book work, mostly for Disney and Walter Lantz titles. For a short time, he was an animator for the Walter Lantz studio. That was his final job for animation, as he died in 1960 for reasons that I don't know.

Thompson has a very interesting drawing style. It's much cartoonier than his colleagues, and more or reflects the squash and stretch effect of animation. I will have more of his work up soon. Enjoy.

From WDC&S Issue No. 123

Writing: Unknown /Art: Riley Thompson

Until Next Time
Happy Trails

Do the Duck Fair

Here's another piece of Disney delight. Here is the third and final story from the comic Donald Duck and the Flying Horse.

Jack Bradbury was a former Disney animator until leaving the studio to go into comic books. He worked a lot for Dell Comics (the publishers of the Disney comics). His artwork is good in other books, but he is not that good at drawing the Ducks. When I see his work, it always looks like the beaks aren't that well-attached to their faces, like they glued them on wrong.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

From Walt Disney's Donald Duck Issue No. 27

Writing: Unknown Art: Jack Bradbury

Until Next Time
Happy Trails

More DuckTales to come.

Guess Who's Going To Be Dinner?

More Disney goodness!! It just keeps coming. I'm going to give it to you until it comes out your ears. Aren't you glad to have a blogger like me?

Anyway, this story concerns The Big Bad Wolf, his son, and his eternal struggle to get The Three Little Pigs into his oven. Only this time a new player is added into this classic farce.

There's also a nice little cameo from some of the birds from Cinderella

From WDC&S No. 115 (April 1950)

Writing/Art: Gil Turner

Until Next Time

Happy Trails

Donald vs. Gladstone

Here is more fantastic Disney artwork from my comic book collection. Today, it's a ten pager from "The Good Duck Artist" himself, Carl Barks!! This story is another installment in the eternal struggle between Donald Duck and his everlucky cousin (and nemesis), Gladstone Gander. I hope you enjoy.

"Gladstone's Luck" (WDC&S No. 131)

Writing/Art: Carl Barks

More Disney goodness to come!!

Happy Trails

Al Taliaferro Ducks

These comics are more pieces of the comic book collection I own.

These are drawn by Al Taliaferro. He began as an animator for The Walt Disney Studios in 1931 shortly before joining the comics department. He was an inker early on Floyd Gottfredson's run on the Mickey Mouse strip. After working on the Silly Symphonies strip, he began his run on Donald Duck. That gig would run for 30 years, from 1938 to his death in 1969.

He was the artist to originally introduce Donald's famous nephews, one full year before their appearance in the animated short Donald's Nephews. He also co-created other Donald Duck mainstays like Gus Goose, Grandma Duck, and Daisy Duck. Out of all the artists I've seen, Al Taliaferro is the artist who most closely captured the look of the animated shorts.

All of these are from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories Issue No. 115

Writer: Bob Karp Artist: Al Taliaferro

More Taliaferro to come!

Happy Trails

Haunted Houses and Talking Ducks

Today I bring you a piece of the collection of Disney Comics I own.

The earliest issue I own is Walt Disney's Comics and Stories no. 115 from April 1950.

Art: Walt Kelly

After this, and an inside comic strip, is the first story of our comic book. Drawn by regular Mickey Mouse artist Paul Murry, it shows he was slightly better at drawing the Ducks than the Mice. Less mushy, but still plenty of energy in the poses and drawings.

Writer: Unknown Artist: Paul Murry

There will be more to come later.

Coming soon: Al Taliaferro Donald strips