Bolivar/Bernie/Bornworthy

[Rob Klein]

Bolivar, based on Taliaferro's Bolivar in his  Donald Duck newspaper strip, was used by 
Barks regularly from 1943-1947.  I assume that he was told to stop using him or change 
his name in 1947.  He used "Bornworthy" in 1951 for The Junior Woodchuck dog story.  
In 1955, for "Three Dirty Little Ducks" he called him "Bernie".  He used Bernie again in 
1959, and a few more times after that.  I agree that The Ducks always had him.  
Sometimes we saw him, and sometimes we didn't.  I've used Bernie (Bernhard or 
Loebas) in one or two of my own stories, and yet he is "missing" in all my other stories. 

Does that mean he died?  NO!!!  In The Netherlands and all of Europe we see him in 
maybe 10-15% of the stories.  Does that mean he's dead in the others, or the others are 
before The Ducks got him? NO!  I see no problem in re-introducing him to The US 
market, as if he's always been there.  He was there from 1938 from Taliaferro, used by 
Barks in the 40s, used by Barks under other names in the '50s and early '60s.  He 
appeared in Barks reprints in the rest of the '60s and '70s (and early '80s).  In Barks 
reprints in the '80s an '90s from Gladstone, as well as Dutch and Danish stories from 
Gladstone.  He is still appearing in US market in Barks reprints and Dutch and Danish 
stories from Gemstone.  So why would anyone have a problem putting The Ducks' St. 
Bernard in a story that "might" be reprinted in USA???  NONE of us is doing stories 
directly for Gemstone!  All of our publishers use Bernhard/Loebas.  So, use him, and 
indicate for the English Publication to call him "Bernie".  Personally, I'd rather they
call 
him "Bolivar".  I really doubt that South American governments would really have a 
prolem with that.  Maybe Matalart would say The Americans are being Imperialists by 
making fun of former South American leaders, but I don't see why anyone should really 
have a problem with that.  What if Egmont were to resurrect Moby Duck, and give him a 
new parrot named George Washington?  Would the US Embassy withdraw from 
Denmark?  Would The Walt Disney Co. Headquarters in USA say "Change that now, or 
we withdraw your franchise!"  I think
not.

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