Mickey's Birthday and The State of Duck Fandom in the States

[Matthew Williams]

Concerning Mickey Mouse's birthday:

Oh boy, I know this one!  I feel so important!  Mickey's birthday is
actually November 18.  At least that's what the Walt Disney Studio says NOW.
I know a lot of books published overseas or in America before the
mid-eighties say Sept. 18.  Do any of the rest of you know why this is?  I
know the Studio likes to engage in revisionist history from time to time!

And something else entirely.

Daniel J. Neyer's mentioning his age brings up a topic that interests me
greatly.  I think I can speak for many American Disney Comics fans when I
say that I am quite jealous of our European and international brethren!  I
have never visited Europe, but from what I understand comics (especially
Disney ones) are most certainly not heading the way of the dodo and carrier
pigeon in Europe!  I hope I don't insult anyone by saying this, but comics
(especially Disney comics) are unfortunately a pretty fringe interest in the
States.  I have never traveled to any conventions, and I have only twice in
my life met folks who knew and loved Carl Barks.  I got into Disney comics
around when I was ten when Gladstone and DuckTales were at their heights.
At any rate, I've always gotten the impression that as twenty-six year old
American, I was something of a minority among Disney comic fans and that
most American fans were hooked by reading the original editions of Barks's
works.  What I would like to ask (and I don't want to delve into anyone's
personal space) is if there are very many of you out there who are American
AND were hooked into the comics in the eighties or afterwards?

This is a little off-topic, but let me share it anyway!  I teach freshmen
English courses at a state university and I often ask my students out of
curiosity, "How many of you have heard who Carl Barks is?"  Usually about
five folks raise their hands.  Then I explain that The Communist Manifesto
was written by some other guy.  Sigh.

On a very positive note, I LOVE this mailing list!  After a lifetime loving
Disney comics but never having had an extended conversation with another
fan, this is a hoot!  I've been tickled to death by the wonderful Gemstone
comics so far, and I really hope that they're successful at bringing all new
fans into the fold.

Matthew A. Williams