Disney Darkwing Duck #6 - A Review

As a reward for good behavior (or, at the very least, not-as-bad behavior), Drake Mallard has agreed to take his daughter Gosalyn and her friend Honker to the St. Canard Comic Expo-Fest-O-Rama. It's a trying experience for Drake as all of the attendees seem to worship the villains he fights rather than his superheroic alter-ego, Darkwing Duck. It becomes even more trying when Splatter Phoenix - an avant-garde artist with the power to make her art come to life - returns from the dead, intent on striking a blow against low-art.


Disney Darkwing Duck always makes me laugh-out-loud. This issue was no exception, but this time the comedy comes not from parodying superhero cliches but from superhero conventions. That's conventions as in "gatherings of people with a common interest", not conventions as in "a generally accepted way of doing things." Just so we're clear.


The artistic high-point of the issue is the battle between Darkwing and Splatter, as our hero chases the villain as she jumps from comic to comic.  The art team is to be commended for tackling a variety of genres and somehow seamlessly blending them all together with the usual Disney house-style. I particularly liked the 3D-animation sequence by Greyson Orlando and the above image of Frank Miller's Duck Knight.

Disney Darkwing Duck #5 - A Review

The busy life of a crime-fighter leaves little time for petty tasks such as updating your trusty filing system to a more quickly accessible computer. Hence why Darkwing Duck hired next-door neighbor Honker Muddlefoot to sort through his files This action brings to mind an old adventure regarding one of Darkwing's most dangerous yet most obscure foes, which he gladly relates to Honker and Gosalyn. And, by extension, you the reader! Aren't you lucky?!


Again, Arron Sparrow and James Silvani (with Paul Little on color duties this month) have wrought magic upon the printed page. From the hilarious script to the astounding artwork, this issue feels just like a lost episode of the original Darkwing Duck cartoon in comic book form. Whether you're a fan of the original show or just like good, fun comics, you should be reading this book.

Disney Darkwing Duck #3 - A Review

Being trapped in an escape-proof prison with his worst enemies normally wouldn't phase Darkwing Duck. After all, he is The Terror That Flaps In The Night! But when his adopted daughter Gosalyn is trapped in the same space, that's enough to worry the usually unflappable mystery mallard... even though the super-villains may be in greater need of rescuing than Gosalyn!

Words cannot express how much I love this comic. But since this review would be rather short if I didn't utilize them, I will say that this book should be on the pull-list of anyone and everyone who loves comic books. Whether you're a 90's kid who rushed home to watch The Disney Afternoon, a lover of fine comedy or just someone who has this crazy idea that comic books should be about heroes fighting villains instead of other heroes, Darkwing Duck will have something you enjoy.


The spirit of the characters from the original cartoon is captured perfectly by the dialogue. The artwork replicates the appearance of the TV series to a T. And that last panel neatly summarizes Darkwing's relationship with his daughter better than anything I've ever seen.

Disney Darkwing Duck #2 - A Review

Public Enemy #2 Negaduck has taken over St. Carnard's new high-security prison! And the city's protector, Darkwing Duck, is trapped inside, along with every super-villain he's ever brought to justice! Or maybe, just maybe, they are trapped inside with him?!


Before Darkwing Duck #2, I never realized before how badly I needed a mash-up between the Batman: Arkham Asylum games and The Terror That Flaps In The Night! This issue is as hilarious as you might imagine but Aaron Sparrow and James Silvani also allow Darkwing to show off his skills in dealing with various villains. The joke of the show has always been that crime-fighting is the one thing Drake Mallard is honestly good at, right until his ego gets in the way. There's a lot of humor based around that but the action of this issue is honestly thrilling and you can't help but cheer a little as Darkwing outwits his enemies in a manner to do credit to Batman himself.


The artwork continues to impress in the same fashion. The artists perfectly emulate the Disney house style. And colorist Andrew Dalhouse leaves everything looking as vibrant and manic as a cartoon on paper should be.