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| Walt Disney's Christmas Parade, 1971 |
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| Four Color 367, 1952 |
Redartz: Hello, everyone! How could we get through the holiday season without looking at a holiday-themed comic? Not on our watch! Today we will look at a Disney classic by the great Carl Barks, originally presented in Four Color 367. "A Christmas for Shacktown" has been reprinted numerous times since it's original appearance, the image above right shows a Bronze Age edition. Speaking of which, I have to wonder why Disney (or was it Gold Key Publishing) that chose to replace the original Barks cover art with a similar illustration by artist Tony Strobl. Nothing against Mr. Strobl, but how can you beat that Four Color cover?
Anyway, let's start with a capsule story summary ( the traditional 100 word review just won't work here, but I'll keep it brief).
Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie are walking home from school when they take a turn through "Shacktown", a section of town where the people have very little hope, and even less of anything else. Christmas is coming soon, and the boys are touched by the plight of the local denizens. So they talk to Daisy Duck, who convinces Donald of the need to help those folks (even at the cost of the Duck's own Christmas).
The plan is to raise 50 dollars to buy turkeys for the village, and a toy train for the poverty-stricken kids. Daisy, Donald and the boys are a bit short of the needed funds, however, and are forced to ask Uncle Scrooge McDuck for a contribution. Scrooge is grudgingly convinced to purchase the food, but won't have any part of a "silly, useless toy train".
Many are the challenges and impediments faced by the charitable Ducks, as they try to put together the money. One such scene involves Donald sitting at a park bench where someone tosses a dollar into his cap. This inspires Uncle Scrooge to try his luck at panhandling, but he only scores a dime from his nephew Donald.
That dime is a costly one, however: when Scrooge tosses it into his world-famous Money Bin, the whole thing collapses into a deep underground cavern! Absolutely crushed, the now penniless Srooge moves in with his nephew, who still lacks the funds for the poor kids of Shacktown.
But never fear, the Junior Woodchucks come to the rescue! Huey, Dewey and Louie belong to the ever-resourceful scouting group, and they devise a solution to Uncle Scrooge's loss: they piece together a toy train, run it into the cavern from below, and slowly extract his money car by car. Scrooge is so grateful to the boys, he offers them the contents of the first toy train car as a reward. It turns out that first car contains 100,000 dollars! As Scrooge swoons, the boys are ecstatic. They end up with funds to buy loads of toy trains and treats for the Shacktown kids, who celebrate their glorious Christmas while Scrooge impatiently waits for his money to be shuttled out!
This story is sentimental, and perhaps a bit melodramatic, but that's often the case with Christmas tales. And Barks was known for making many of his stories into little morality plays", as seen here. Uncle Scrooge is rescued from the loss of his fortune by the very thing he ridiculed as useless. There are other gentle messages as well: Donald's cousin Gladstone Gander and his reliance on luck, Daisy and the boys' quick, selfless sacrifice of their Christmases for the sake of Shacktown; Donald's frustrations trying to make ends meet. So "Shacktown" is a fine example of a Christmas-themed story, complete with cautionary lessons and a happy ending, all presented in four color brilliance.
"Shacktown" is also a perfect vehicle for showcasing the contrasting personalities of the Duck family. Barks brilliantly characterizes each one; the boys mischievous but big hearted. Daisy generous and helpful. Donald, pragmatic, just trying to get through the holiday. Gladstone, glibly working his magic for some easy money. And of course Scrooge McDuck: crusty, money hungry (dare we say obsessed), yet also vulnerable- he seems completely defeated as he glumly eats Donald's oatmeal. Barks takes his Duck stories beyond mere 'funny animal' humor and gives them individuality. He makes us care about them; sort of a Stan Lee for the Disney set. There have been others who made some truly great Duck stories (Don Rosa, for one); but Carl Barks is the godfather of them all.
As for the artwork: it's truly wonderful. Barks puts his mark on every panel. He is known for his detailed artwork, from his depiction of Shacktown to the gaping cavern to Srooge's money piles. Even more striking, to me, is the attention he gives to each character and their expressions. Rarely do you see such emotion shown so clearly in the 'funny animal' genre. Indeed, the misery on the faces of the poor residents of Shacktown is almost uncomfortably haunting. And the Ducks? Barks renders each one perfectly; with just a few lines he shows Daisy's concern, the boys' determination and Scrooge's stubbornness. Carl Barks fully deserved his reputation, and today is rightly honored among the comics industry's greats.
To sum up, I find this story to be almost a Frank Capra-esque tale of struggle, sacrifice and gentle heroism. Kind of like "It's a Wonderful Life" but with talking Ducks. I love the artwork, the sentiment, the nobility of the boys, and the humor found throughout. This is a worthy book to add to your 'required holiday reading list'. It is most certainly on mine.
8 comments:
Wonderful encapsulation of a fun yuletide story. It's good to recall when Scrooge McDuck really lived up to being a Scrooge. I also prefer the original more detailed cover - must be a story there, even as simple as the original cover art being lost.
Thanks for the review and pages - possibly my first real exposure to Mr Barks.
I remember just the one Scrooge McDuck story from my childhood - a tale which hinged on Scrooge collecting barbed wire and desiring an example only found in a particular prison. I really liked that story but have no idea who created it and during which era.
What strikes me most about the story here (apart from overall quality) is the visual gold of Huey, Dewey and Louie. Their colors and movements work with such comic synchronicity that I smile at every panel they appear.
I’ve never read this comic but I found the review to be very engaging. And I definitely have an appreciation for Carl Barks. Thanks for sharing the covers. That comparison says a lot.
Thanks for the read Redartz!
The art is fantastic, Banks is a genius. The do it all man, writer, pencils, inks, letters.
Thanks for the comments, friends!
Jeff- yes, Scrooge was in full character here! Feisty curmudgeon, wasn't he?
Colin B- wish I could identify that story you mention. It does sound familiar. And you're right about the nephews- like three legs of a perfect comic pyramid.
Marti and Killraven- You're very welcome; always good to share such a fine story by such a fine creator.
Can I add my congratulations on a fine summary of a story that's so timeless it could be printed today and not seem remotely anachronistic. As you said, it's a tribute to Barks's skill as a writer as much as artist that he can produce a morality play (as you put it) without bashing the moral over the reader's head - something a lot of modern writers would do well to take note of.
One part that really impresses me, I don't know why: Donald Duck is occasionally portrayed as a hotheaded, foolhardy, shortfused so-and-so, but when Scrooge loudly complains about the kids wanting a silly useless toy train, Donald responds with "Kids don't think they're silly." It's such a dead-on-target comeback, and so perfectly true, that there's no way that Scrooge can really weasel out of it.
Wow Red - What a choice piece of work to present! If there were to be a Pantheon for the departed finest of our beloved hobby, Barks would be there front and center! His stories ring true for every generation. (And yet, I have perhaps only a handful of his works in reprint form. What a paradox.)
Thanks again!
On, yeah. I'm a big fan of Barks' tales of the Disney ducks. And this is one of the better comic-book Xmas tales.
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