(David Gerstein) Various things

[9475609@arran.sms.edinburgh.ac.uk]

      Dear Folks,

      A few bits of news.  First:  I just got this week's British MM and 
discovered that the Donald 'temper' story IS the same one that I was 
told about at the San Diego Con.  So we now know:  D93520 = "Temper 
Fugit."  I don't really know who wrote it.  Was it you, Dave?  Certainly 
a VERY GOOD story.  
      As predicted, the MM "farm" story is in this issue.  D93477: "The 
Poultry Pilferer."  In the long run, I don't think this artist's Mickey 
is so bad (although I DON'T like how prominent he makes Mickey's shirt 
-- it ruins any hope of body language), but his Goofy has an oversized 
chin and pupils so small that his eyes lack expression.  >Sigh<  This is 
a really BAD story!
      The recent Wolf tale which will almost certainly never see 
American publication is "Wild West Wolf" (D93168).  Swell art, rather 
detailed;  looks like Carl Buettner imitating Don Rosa!  But it's not.
      The issue ends with a Goofy one-pager, "The Dentist Visit" 
(D93070).  Tello art, maybe;  his Goofy looks more Feriolian now, but 
his dogface incidental characters give it all away.
      The inside back-cover shows the cover of next week's issue.  This 
points out that a MM story titled "Art Attack" (???) leads off the 
issue, followed by a Donald story about his being an animal lover (exact 
title not given).

      KARL-ERIC:  Since MM doesn't really have a "formal" meeting with 
Ellsworth in the Goofy strip you mentioned, I'm assuming the one I've 
seen is the immediate week after.  I can lay the issue to rest just now, 
and sooner or later ask my Dad for the date of that strip.

      JORGEN:  The answer to why Donald's car's engine looks different 
than it should, for his make of car, is that (as pointed out in the 
Barks tale "Volcano Valley") the car has had some parts replaced as they 
wore out, with those from other cars.  I believe that the car is said to 
have a "1920 Mixwell engine" -- there must be a car brand called Maxwell 
which this spoofs, but I don't know it.

      IMPORTANT NEWS!
      MY TRIP THROUGH EUROPE will tentatively land me in FABIO'S neck of 
the woods on Friday 16 December, or Saturday the 17th (depends on when I 
can get a ticket);  I can stay until the 20th when I'll get a train to 
Germany.  Then, if it's okay with HARRY FLUKS I'll come in to Amsterdam 
via train on January 4th, stay for a little over two days, and leave via 
plane for Edinburgh on January 7th.  More detailed information next 
week.  I need both Fabio and Harry to send me their PHONE NUMBERS -- 
this is vitally important!

      Also, Fabio, I understand COMPLETELY what's holding up "Colossus 
of the Nile" -- it's perfectly okay!  I'm nearly as busy as you are, I 
think (although you'll never know it from my letters;  these, and dates 
with my girlfriend, are my only release these days!).  I really like 
this Scarpa story, by the way.  My only real problem with it is that 
Page 3 has nothing to do with the rest of the story, and in a way 
trivializes it.  Anyone else who's read this story in a jumbo-book have 
any comments?  (If you hadn't guessed, Fabio and I are preparing the 
English version of this much-requested Scarpa story, for Gladstone, 
right now -- should appear Fall 1995.)

      That's all for today, folks.
      David Gerstein
      <9475609 at arran.sms.ed.ac.uk>