Comicon Advent Calendar 2024 Day 4: Meet Scrooge In ‘Donald Duck’ #178
by Tony Thornley
We’re only four days into December, but it feels like the season is already flying by. What does the fourth day of the Comicon Advent Calendar hold?
And if you want to check out more holiday comics, look at past years’ entries here!
Did you know that one of the most famous comic book characters in the world was introduced at Christmas? In 1947’s Donald Duck #178 (technically Four Color #178, as Donald had just taken over the series), Donald and the boys lament their poverty. But a rich relative could change things for them forever.
This story by Carl Barks was the classic Donald Duck setup. Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie have a problem, and hijinks quickly ensue. In this case though, we get to meet one of the most enduring characters in comics, Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Here, Scrooge is a bitter, hateful, old miser who invites Donald and the nephews to his winter home on Bear Mountain. If they can prove to be brave, then Scrooge has a present for them. If not … well, it’ll at least be fun. Both Scrooge and Donald are about to learn a lesson they won’t forget!
Obviously, the Scrooge we know and love is not on the page here. A lot of the elements of classic Disney Ducks stories are though. Barks creates a story that feels like a classic Donald Duck short, with a crazy set-up, mistaken identities, a bunch of pratfalls, and a lesson learned at the end.
This story was reprinted earlier this year in Uncle Scrooge & The Infinity Dime and you should absolutely check it out.
Enjoy!
