Lars Jensen said: 
"Hey, Rich, you forgot the kitchen sink! ;-)" 

Talking about my list of characters: 
> I'm still hoping to see Gideon McDuck (Scrooge's brother); 
> Kildare Coot (Sgrizzo Papero); Bruto (Mickey's talking bird); 
> Dugan Duck (Biquinho); Gloria (dal Brasile), Fethry's girlfriend; 
> Trudy (Pete's moll); Super Daisy (Papernika) and, especially , 
> some of the NEW Junior Woodchucks (Giovani Marmotte) stories 
> featuring Moguls Bertie McGoose & Clarissa von Scout finally make 
> their USA debut! 

I know you seemingly meant that as a joke, but I am TOTALLY serious with respect to that list of characters. 
The inference behind it, of course is that here in the US we are doled out a very minute measure of what is 
available and has been available for decades. And that measure is more than often infused with a very 
healthy dose of what's been published and republished and republished again. Sure, I know it's been said 
that the reason we are so frequently "re-Barks'ed" is because:
1) the stories are good, 
2) they sell comics, 
3) they are often requested and probably 
4) because a new generation of readers probably hasn't read them. 

Granted... But *sigh* I guess it's my fault I've seen them, read them and own them already... 

It's the doomed destiny of being a longtime fan, reader and collector of Disney comics that go all the way 
back to the 1930 (not that I do, just my collection does). I also know that part of the reason given is that 
many of the older material (at least that which was published originally here in the US) was in a Disney 
legal imposed exile for various reasons and couldn't be republish, though thankfully, only of late, much of 
this material has finally been approved for reprint for the FIRST TIME IN DECADES (here in the US) such as 
Gottfredson's "Love Trouble." Also, I know that another valid reason given is that not all older material, 
either foreign or domestic is necessarily "good" or "suitable" for reprint, thus a form of filtering and 
sifting occurs before material is actually chosen for reprint... Then, and finally, the biggest reasons so 
little is published in the US... There are only 6 formats for reprinting this material and their pages are 
very limited, the books that hold the most pages are quite expensive, and the readership is is probably 
limited as well... Thus, despite all the effort that goes on "behind the scenes" to produce any one of the 
six regularly scheduled titles, the final product still means we are limited. 

Granted... I believe I understand that Gemstone works very hard to balance all the factors together to put 
out a product that they believe will both sell and be profitable. I really appreciate the work that goes on 
behind the scenes, the recoloring, the editting for language and content and format, the sifting through 
material that is believed would be marketable in the US, etc... I guess, it's just that I'm both happy and 
sad at the same time... I'm grateful for what is produced... I just want MORE new, but I know it needs to be 
balanced by all the factors I listed and probably many others, including legal issues, etc. 

So, if you look at the list again, Lars, you'll note, it consists of all NEW characters to the US audience 
and a boat-load of potentially interesting stories. 

I'm excited about the coming of Scarpa's "Delta Dimension" which will both present more Scarpa storytelling 
here and introduce a brand new continuing character! The problem, for me, is that this sort of thing only 
happens very rarely. I mean, I've know Atomo for decades, own many comics from various European markets 
which present different stories with him, but he is only NOW, in the later half of 2006 finally finding his 
way to the US. 

Again, I know there are a variety of good (and probably some bad) reasons for that, but it's just a bit 
frustrating, again, for ME, as a longtime fan to wait this long. 

So yes, I had a long list of things and characters I'd like to see published here in the US. I don't 
apologize for that list. I love Disney Comics and I especially love seeing NEW characters and concepts mixed 
with the old explored. The Foreign Disney market has capitalized on innovative new (supporting) characters 
for decades, I'm just glad they are finally, if slowly, making their way to our shores. 

So yes, Lars, you can add the Kitchen Sink to that list if it'll make for an interesting new story for the 
US marketplace. 

Lars, I was only answering your comment in my defense, and not annoyed in the least by your making it, but 
it did provide me with an opportunity to step up on my Soapbox! :-) 

Thank you Gemstone and everyone behind the scenes for all the hard work you are doing and the obstacles you 
face in order to even attempt to please such a hard-to-please, outspoken fan like me. I really DO appreciate 
what you are doing. 

Speaking of Lars :-D, he also said:
> Rich wrote:
>
> > Mortimer Mouse = Montmorency Rodent
>
> No, not really. Not in the beginning, anyway. Although these
> days the two characters have indeed (and unfortunately)
> been merged into one.

Why "unfortunately"?  Even if there was an intention on Floyd Gottfredson's part to create an independent 
character from "Mickey's Rival" Mortimer Mouse, the two are redundantly similar in nearly every respect.  If 
it's an arguement that they had some visual or story differences, then we could/should say there were many 
different Mickey Mouses, Goofy/Dippy Dawgs, Donald Ducks, Clarabelle Cows, etc.  There was very little in 
the way of evolution between "Mickey's Rival" and "Love Trouble"... the two characters looked, acted and 
were motivated in the same manner.  And another piece of evidence, in my mind, that links the two named 
characters together is that even the Early Disney comics seemed to believe they were the same character as 
was evidenced in "Mortimer Rodent" from WDC&S #67 (Apr. 1946) in "The Copper's Catch".
 
Mortimer Mouse = Mortimer Rodent = Montmorency Rodent.

I'd even say that "Mortimer Mouse" is probably his "real" name, while "Montmorency Rodent (pronounced "Ro-
dawn") is his attempt to have a High Society wealthy-sounding name as a way to further impress Minnie.  As 
we learned, he only DRESSES and ACTS like he's rich, but he's really NOT.  He's a fake and a jerk.


Thanks, 

Rich 
xephyr@cwnet.com 


---- Msg sent via CWNet - http://www.cwnet.com/

