Scan barcode
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Uncle Scrooge: The Seven Cities of Gold is a collection of Uncle Scrooge comics written and drawn by Carl Barks, originally presented in Uncle Scrooge 7-12 and 14.
I've seen Carl Barks mentioned as being influential time and time again, from sources like Jeff Smith and Bill Watterson. Since I grew up on the Disney Afternoon and Ducktales was one of my favorite shows, I finally decided to take the plunge.
The tales within range from comic-length adventures or 1-4 pagers detailing with the world's richest/cheapest duck, Scrooge McDuck. The stories are meant for kids but clever enough for adults to enjoy.
I mentioned Ducktales earlier and that's what this book primarily reminds me of. Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck, and nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, go on adventures around the world, looking for gold, lost cities, and the like. In fact, Barks created the nephews! And their damn Junior Woodchuck Guide Book! The money bin and Gyro Gearloose also make appearances, further making me wonder if Carl Barks was mentioned in the credits for Ducktales.
The shorter stories are mostly one page gags, usually revolving around Scrooge's cheapness. While treasure hunting and prospecting was his bread and butter at the beginning, Scrooge isn't above screwing the local diner owner out of a nickel every chance he gets.
The book itself is a gorgeous hardcover that's built to last. The colors aren't overly vibrant, which is how I imagine they looked on newsprint back in the 1950s. Between the Carl Barks Library and the EC Artist Edition Library, Fantagraphics isn't going to go broke on my account.
Superheroes are the first thing that comes to mind when people mention comic books but that needn't be the case. Uncle Scrooge: The Seven Cities of Gold is an enjoyable all-ages collection. Four out of five stars.
I've seen Carl Barks mentioned as being influential time and time again, from sources like Jeff Smith and Bill Watterson. Since I grew up on the Disney Afternoon and Ducktales was one of my favorite shows, I finally decided to take the plunge.
The tales within range from comic-length adventures or 1-4 pagers detailing with the world's richest/cheapest duck, Scrooge McDuck. The stories are meant for kids but clever enough for adults to enjoy.
I mentioned Ducktales earlier and that's what this book primarily reminds me of. Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck, and nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, go on adventures around the world, looking for gold, lost cities, and the like. In fact, Barks created the nephews! And their damn Junior Woodchuck Guide Book! The money bin and Gyro Gearloose also make appearances, further making me wonder if Carl Barks was mentioned in the credits for Ducktales.
The shorter stories are mostly one page gags, usually revolving around Scrooge's cheapness. While treasure hunting and prospecting was his bread and butter at the beginning, Scrooge isn't above screwing the local diner owner out of a nickel every chance he gets.
The book itself is a gorgeous hardcover that's built to last. The colors aren't overly vibrant, which is how I imagine they looked on newsprint back in the 1950s. Between the Carl Barks Library and the EC Artist Edition Library, Fantagraphics isn't going to go broke on my account.
Superheroes are the first thing that comes to mind when people mention comic books but that needn't be the case. Uncle Scrooge: The Seven Cities of Gold is an enjoyable all-ages collection. Four out of five stars.
gjmaupin's review against another edition
5.0
I love these Barks reprints so much. No home should be without them.
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting collection of Uncle Scrooge strips, with a focus on exotic trips. The story named in the title is top-notch, but a few others lack that spark (notably a story about the golden fleece). Surprisingly, I most enjoyed a series of one-pagers where Scrooge does his best to outwit a diner owner by getting the cheapest cup of coffee ever.
jimmypat's review against another edition
3.0
I thought that this was a pretty weak volume in this Carl Barks collection. It was entertaining, but nothing memorable.
I will say that the commentary in this volume is pretty awful: a bunch of essays that bend over backwards to find deep meaning in Barks' work, but fail miserably. The most egregious is Ken Parille's reflection on "The Tuckered Tiger", where he tries to make an argument that Barks was writing a story about "competition and gender." Sometimes, folks, these are just good stories about ducks who happen to like money.
I will say that the commentary in this volume is pretty awful: a bunch of essays that bend over backwards to find deep meaning in Barks' work, but fail miserably. The most egregious is Ken Parille's reflection on "The Tuckered Tiger", where he tries to make an argument that Barks was writing a story about "competition and gender." Sometimes, folks, these are just good stories about ducks who happen to like money.
rigbymel76's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
philipf's review against another edition
5.0
I sometimes forget just how good Barks was. Then I read (or re-read) something of his, and I am reminded what a master of the form he was.
More...