In retrospect, after re-reading "DUCK AVENGER: LEGACY" from Donald Duck Adventures 
(Gemstone) #18 (D D 2003-017) I realized that part of the discussion is missing, 
which does acknowledge that even Donald as a Super-Hero, using the 
name "Paperinik' (or "PK" or "Duck Avenger" as we call him in the USA) has really 
been recreated several times in his history.  I think, even his original influence 
was changed as it seemed the Earlier Duck Avenger stories had more in common with 
DC's "Crimson Avenger," Walter B. Gibson's "The Shadow," George W. Trendle's "The 
Green Hornet" and even Will Eisner "The Spirit" or Lee Falk's "The Phantom," 
rather than Batman though Batman, too, can be said to have been originally from 
that same genre (something PK shares with "Darkwing Duck").  Later, PK seemed to 
follow Batman's transformation from costumed detective to dark, brooding 
crimefighter as in his "Dark Knight" persona, which PK emmulated.  Still, later, 
PK became a spaceknight of sorts, fighting villains from other worlds.  I'm not as 
big of a fan of this last incarnation.  I prefer seeing Donald still dealing with 
life in Duckburg, and having his usual supporting cast.  Even in the USA, Duck 
Avenger now seems to have TWO separate origins as is demonstrated by his FIRST 
appearance in the U.S. in the pages of DISNEY ADVENTURES MAGAZINE where Ludwig von 
Drake was his mentor and he had a sidekick in Spike the Bee.  The "Legacy" story 
revamped Duck Avenger's origin to indicate that Gladstone was originally intended 
to become Duck Avenger and the legacy was passed down by a Sensei-like character 
called the Phantom Duck. Still, despite having a boat-load of comics published in 
Europe and South America, the Duck Avenger has only made (less than?) a handful of 
appearances in the USA.

Rich 
xephyr@cwnet.com

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