DuckTales

[kimba1962@comcast.net]

How can I NOT get involved in this sudden proliferation of "DuckTales" 
discussion... 

Jonathan Gray seriously overstates things when he says that "DT" featured too 
much reliance upon the "magical" powers of Scrooge's #1 Dime.  "DT" used the 
dime in this manner MUCH LESS than did Barks (in his later years, at least).
I wouldn't agree with him that Bubba and Tootsie marked the "downfall" of the 
show, but in hindsight, it was a mistake to allow Bubba to remain a part of 
the cast after the "Time is Money" serial.  The writers evidently recognized 
this right off the bat, as Bubba appeared in relatively few later eps (and 
generally served merely as a "fourth nephew" when he DID appear).  And thanks, 
J., for sticking up for Launchpad.  There's no earthly reason why LP couldn't 
continue to appear in modern Duck stories as a supporting character.  He 
brings a different set of motivations and a different "attitude" to the table 
than Donald, so it'd make perfect sense to let him participate in an adventure 
with Scrooge, Donald, and the boys.  Unfortunately, I suspect that it would 
take some sort of "revival" of "DT" (perhaps in the form of a reissue of the 
series on DVD -- hint hint) to reignite LP's comics career, and that probably 
ain't happening anytime soon.

Don Rosa's comments point up the one thing about "DT" that purists tend to 
miss... that ON ITS OWN TERMS, as a TV-show version of a classic comics 
series, it was a magnificent achievement.  I don't happen to agree with his 
specific interpretation of "DT" as an "unauthorized and fanciful" take on the 
Barks world, but I do appreciate the words of praise.  Among its other 
virtues, "DT" showed the animation industry that it was possible to produce a 
quality syndicated series; no need to rely on toy tie-ins and such.  
Without "DT", there'd have been no "Tiny Toon Adventures," no "Animaniacs," 
no "Disney Afternoon"... and who knows, perhaps no "Simpsons".      

Chris Barat