Disney-comics digest #458.

[DAVID.A.GERSTEIN]

      Dear Folks,

      A few comments on the recent stuff.

      Bjorn Are stated that "perhaps Don or David could write a story on 
the Dive Comedy or on the Arabian Knights, and put in a lot of ducks and 
demons?"  Actually, the definitive Disney Divine Comedy has already 
been done.  Made in Italy in 1949, "Mickey's Inferno" is undoubtedly 
the most bizarre Mouse story I have ever read.  After being 
hypnotized by the Gleam, Mickey and Goofy dream that Hell has 
conquered the Disney Universe.  We see characters attempting to live 
their normal lives among devils and demons who spend their spare time 
attacking and blowing people up.  Mickey battles Pete briefly, for no 
good reason.  Eventually Mickey and Goofy discover their destiny, 
which is to rescue Donald from this mess.  Donald needs this because 
the forces of Hades have split him into his "good" and "evil" selves, 
and there is a danger that the two halves will never come back 
together.  Or something like that.  Beautiful artwork, but the most 
convoluted story I've ever seen, complete with verses from Dante 
across the bottom of each panel!  And of course, Disney's banned it 
from use in the United States.  (Or so David Seidman told me.)

      Then, Barks in Holland:

  "Bill Grandy [sic] says that Jippes was Barks' first choice for drawing
  the story "Horsin' Around with History". He says Egmont told Barks
  that Jippes didn't have time, without even asking Jippes. Then they
  proposed their "own" artist Bill Van Horn..."

      I have a hunch Grandey contacted Egmont KNOWING they wouldn't 
really know about Jippes' current state of affairs, and had it in his 
mind from the start that Van Horn should draw the story, then 
maneuvered things to get his way.  We should all note that this was 
long before Jippes knew or sold work through that Weasel.  Anyone 
knowledgeable would have contacted Oberon about exactly what Jippes 
was doing.

"BTW: the Mickey story about hypnotism that has been discussed here
is Gottfredson's "The Jewel Robbery", coded in the Database as YM 048,
running in the newspapers from Jan 19 to May 2, 1942."

      Harry, this story is now known as "The Gleam" (remember, Mickey 
has solved many jewel robberies) and will be titled as such when 
Gladstone eventually uses it.  Isn't it called that in our database?  

      - Fur gawsh sakes Mickey! I did just what you _told_ me to!           

      Let's see -- Mickey is trying to straighten a pipe.  Gives 
Goofy a wrench, then holds up the pipe and says, "When I nod my head, 
you hit it with the hammer."  BONK!  Methinks one Mouse should have 
defined "it" a little more carefully.  ;-)

      I'll be back, tomorrow.

      Best,
      David Gerstein

Bjo/rn Are