Globality

[Carl Lund]

I would add to what Gary says that it seems to this American reader, at 
least, that it makes for better stories to have them originally in 
English rather than translated into English.  Let me rephrase that 
slightly: it makes for better Duck stories.  Part of what made Barks' 
stories so successful is that they were more than adventures; they were 
more than comedies; there was also some social satire in there.  And 
while there are universal themes that lend themselves to social satire, 
certainly, the best and the sharpest--I would argue--come from the 
country whose society sets the framework for the action and the satire.  
Duckburg (to me at least) seems quintessentially American.  I say that 
not to be jingoistic; it just does.  I miss the highly literate 
translations of European stories in Gladstone Series I (as well as the 
erudite commentary often provided), but it takes a very special 
translation to capture the spirit of the original while capturing the 
imagination of its new audience.

At various times, I've subscribed to Kalle Anke & C:o, Micky Maus, and 
Picsou.  I haven't seen art that I enjoyed other than translations of 
Barks, Rosa, or Strobl work.  I'm not an artist, so I don't know why 
that is.  I have the utmost respect for all artists--especially since I 
have not an artistic bone in my body.  But my aesthetic response to most 
of what I've seen from other Duck people has been at best neutral. (With 
the exception of Jippes depending on in what style he's working.)  I 
don't know that my experience is going to change with American artists, 
but I think that the larger the pool of artists, the better. 

Carl