Carl Barks Books

I first heard about this book almost fifteen years ago and then it was out of print. I was thrilled to locate a copy after all these years and the wait has been worth it! Entertaining stories and fun to read about the history of old Uncle Scrooge!

What a find this was when I purchased it as a teen. This large format book (it's pretty heavy)contains 12 full-color classic Carl Bark's stories of the adventures of Uncle Scrooge, printed on thick high quality paper. Includes biographical info on Bark's, plus background on the origin and development of each story provided by Bark's himself. Also includes some restored pages that were lost or deleted from original comics, a checklist of Bark's duck stories, and a never-before published Bark's "storybook" Uncle Scrooge adventure with great watercolor illustrations.

This is a fantastic book, covering Scrooge McDuck's life from his days in the Klondike to space travel and flying saucers. The book contains many of my favorite stories including "The Second Richest Duck" and "Land of the Pygmy Indians". There is extensive written material about and by Carl Barks giving much insight into the man behind the duck. Finally, there is a checklist of the comics in which Uncle Scrooge appeared from 1952 to 1988. All in all, this book is a "must-have" for any serious fan of Uncle Scrooge.

I am writing this within just a few days of one of the saddest days any comic book fan could imagine. Carl Barks has just passed on to that great Duckburg in the sky. This book is, without a doubt, the definitive tribute to a man whose genius is just now being recognized by many.

As you read these outstanding adventure stories - and that's what they are - you will come to know the technique of how this extraordinary man transcended the comic art into the realm of high fiction. Each story is written on two levels, sprinkled with humor and illustrated in such a realistic, yet exaggerated manner that allows the reader to identify strongly with the characters.

My personal favorite is "The Second Richest Duck." In this story, Scrooge, Donald and "the boys" have their true personalities come out with a richness found only in the best writings of major adventure authors and is the equal, at least, to the best Indiana Jones or James Bond story.

I read these stories to my son as he was growing up and promised him the book for his future children. My daughters now each have their own families and the stories are now read by me to my grandchildren. Truly, this tome is part of our family heritage.

I own the hardcover, coffee table edition with a signed, numbered print by Barks. I shall never part with the print, and will hand it down to my son in my estate.

Thank you Carl, for many hours of delicious reading pleasure and the exercise of my imagination. If I could rate this book an infinite number of stars, I would.

One of the best collections of comic art ever published, this superlative volume not only takes eleven of Carl Barks' best book-length Scrooge adventures, adds an original story and includes his own comments on each, but Peter Ledger's recoloring makes these stories look better than they ever have or ever will. The only flaw with the volume is that it will send you into a frenzy to read more about Scrooge...but thankfully, Gladstone Comics has all the stories still in print. Simply superb.

"Back to the Klondike" is one of my favorite Uncle Scrooge stories. If you want to begin reading Uncle Scrooge stories, this is a very good place to start.

That Amazon keeps this in stock is something you shouldn't take for granted; I have had a tough time finding these Gladstone volumes anywhere else. If you like, read "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," by Don Rosa after you check out this album. It will exponentially increase your enjoyment of each book.

Barks' storytelling and composition epitomize the notion of beauty in simplicity, a trait you don't find in too many comics today.

This is the first Scrooge story I had ever read (and first Carl Barks story as well) and I couldn't have had a better introduction to the talent of the Duck Man. Although I had read this story first in "Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: His Life and His Times", this edition is just as good of a read (I prefered the coloring job for this particular story in "Life and Times", although generally I prefer the color in the Gladstone reprint volumes.) Excellent artwork, a well-orchestrated storyline, and an appropriate and clever ending makes this a thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended reading experience. Also includes a Gyro Gearloose story.

As a kid, I collected comic books, and this one was one of my prizes: a very early Scrooge book with one of the very best story lines. Less of the overdone fantastic and more realy storyline and characterization. Barks was superb in this one!

A Graet book A realy must have A there is only one word that says how graet it is and that word is GREAT

This book is one of the finest Barks' comic books ever made. The story brings you to the Klondike and the beginning of Uncle Scrooge's career and also introduces his one and only girl friend. The whole story builds around Scrooge's thrift and the lure for more riches and has a surprising ending! It is definetly a must for all people who like humor, a good story and great images.

Do not be misled by the appearance of Don Rosa's name as a author. This wonderful compendium actually has stories by Barks, Scarpa, Rota, Van Horn and others, in addition to Rosa. Admirers of the warm hearted, money loving, webbed foot, duck will need no encouragement to purchase. The presentation is attractive, the paper good, and the humor and satire unmissable.

Maybe this is an obvious, uh, observation, but this collection is much more focused than the first Walt Disney Treasures volume. That collection, while enjoyable, tried to cover so much ground that its contents would probably seem like a bizarre mishmash to anyone not already familiar with Disney comics. (I am speaking somewhat of myself here.)

This volume, with its focus on Uncle Scrooge, allows a reader to get to know each character a little bit better because it doesn't jump around so much. The stories are all fun and the collection includes selections from a variety of creators rather than just Carl Barks or Don Rosa. I enjoyed reading these somewhat different takes on Scrooge. The capstone story of the book, "Whatever Happened to Scrooge McDuck" is a winner. The author found a way to wrap up the lifetime of Scrooge McDuck while still leaving the impression that the old duck's adventures will last forever.

After reading two of these Walt Disney Treasures volumes, the feeling that I get is that these stories are meant to whet the appetite rather than to satisfly. Unlike the Treasures DVDs, neither of these volumes are comprehensive or definitive. So, know what you're getting if you purchase it: not a chronological, all encompassing collection of materials but rather a curious and enjoyable grouping of tales by some of the most prominent creators over the last 6 decades.

The Walt Disney Treasures collections have expanded into the world of Disney comics, and how great is that?!!! "Walt Disney Treasures: Uncle Scrooge, A Little Something Special" is the second volume of these fine new paperback collections sure to thrill fans of both the Disney Treasures DVDs and Disney comics alike. Here, we have 8 collected tales of my favorite Disney character, Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, uncle to Donald Duck, and the true face of Disney's comic book legacy, the other world of Disney that many self-proclaimed Disney fanatics aren't even aware of.

This 160 page collection opens with an editorial about Scrooge's origin and his portrayal in comics both in the States and abroad, with insight into the stories chosen for inclusion in this collection. Then comes the first story, 1954's "The Seven Cities of Cibola", a true classic tale from the Duck-Man himself, Carl Barks, creator of Scrooge and many of the characters in his world. In this tale, Scrooge, worried that life is becoming stale without a new enterprise to take under his wing, is thrilled to be introduced to arrowhead collecting by Donald and the boys (Huey, Dewey, and Louie). Even with 3 cubic acres of money, 50 cents per arrowhead found is too good a deal for Scrooge to pass up! While searching though, he and his nephews end up on the trail of bigger treasure, that of the legendary Seven Cities. Just their luck, however, that the Beagle Boys would happen to be listening in on their plans to go after it.

The second story in the collection was written 10 years later by Carl Fallberg, and is presented in its complete version here for the first time in North America. "Getting that Healthy, Wealthy Feeling" once again depicts Scrooge in a lackluster mood, as he feels his wealth is coming too easy and misses the hard work of earning a dime. This leads him to put Donald in charge of his fortune in the hope that separation and hard work will revitalize him. But Scrooge's plan goes awry when his money-making "luck" seems to dissipate without being able to touch his lucky dime. As editor David Gerstein points out, the story presents both the best and worst aspects of the period. It seems that other writers taking on Scrooge at times would misunderstand the concept of the lucky dime, turning him into a superstitious character in their stories and the dime into a magic talisman.

Story three is "Daisy Duck's Diary - Witness Persecution", an Italian story from 1966 by Romano Scarpa. A car crash, a hair growth formula, an expert legal analysis, and most significantly, the romantic pursuit of Scrooge by Brigitta MacBridge, make for a fun tale with fanciful art from overseas. These Italian Disney comics stories are a great treat for the American fans who get to meet completely new and wacky characters when we are presented with translated versions.

Story number four is "The Money Ocean", a highly imaginative tale from Italy, 1974. This Marco Rota tale depicts Scrooge as having several money bins and in a fret over their security. Donald prompts Scrooge to create one massive bin, and the result is an ocean of money with plenty of new ways to play with it, thanks to inventor Gyro Gearloose's help. But their's something sinister about the waves.

Our fifth story is the Danish "Pipe Dreams", published in 1980 and written by Brian Claxton and Tom Anderson. This two-part story is a charming if simple reunion between Scrooge and his old flame, Glittering Goldie.

Story six is a DuckTales adventure from 1989, "Windfall on Mount G'Zoontight", written by John Lustig with art by William Van Horn. I remember when Van Horn first came on the Disney comics scene, and I must admit, I was not a big fan of his whimsical style. I've grown accustomed to it though, and this story is typical of the slightly oddball duck stories his illustrations are usually attached to (perhaps they were all Lustig's? I don't recall). In this one, Scrooge, Launchpad, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie find themselves on an expedition to find the treasure of a mysterious, mountain-dwelling being called the Williwallawa.

The seventh, and one of the finest stories in this collection, is Don Rosa's 1997 "A Little Something Special". This special birthday story is not a mere tale of Scrooge's 50th anniversary in Duckburg, but also of a scheme by Scrooge's greatest nemeses banding together in something of a Legion of Doom fashion. Could've made for a great animated feature, like many stories from Rosa, and of course Barks, if only Disney had turned to their comics for the direct-to-video animation market instead of making sequels that could only look poor next to their feature film originals. Anyway, if there's one thing you should notice when reading a book like this, it's that the true masters of the duck comics are Carl Barks (naturally) and Don Rosa (who followed Barks' story style and take on Scrooge and his world more truly than anyone else).

Finally, after a brief and touching editorial, comes the story to round out this look at Scrooge and his legacy, the Danish "Whatever Happened to Scrooge McDuck", from 2006, written by Lars Jensen. This well-chosen tale shows the ducks of the future looking back on how Magica De Spell finally got Scrooge's number one dime, how Scrooge disappeared soon after, and the events that followed. But don't worry, it has a happy ending and Scrooge's adventures manage to continue as usual.

"Walt Disney Treasures: Uncle Scrooge, A Little Something Special" is both a treat for the longtime Scrooge fan and a great introduction for those new to Mr. McDuck and his legend. If you have any interest in exploring this character beyond the wonderful television series "DuckTales", this is a great place to start. Of course, "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck" and its companion are also excellent to give you the full McDuck story, and there are many, many other comic books and collections out there, including a couple of collections specifically featuring the Carl Barks stories that inspired some of the best DuckTales episodes ever. And, of course, there are Scrooge's other animated moments besides the TV series DuckTales and its bigscreen movie. Scrooge can also be seen in Mickey's Once and Twice Upon a Christmas direct-to-video movies, Mickey's Christmas Carol, the still-not-on-DVD-in-North-America "Sport Goofy in Soccermania", and Scrooge's as yet unreleased-to-DVD screen debut, the fantastic short "Scrooge McDuck and Money". Though, even before that he could be seen as part of the animated opening to the original Mickey Mouse Club, and Scrooge also has appeared on Mickey's House of Mouse and in cameos on other Disney animated shows, like "Raw Toonage". So, do yourself a favor and get into the fantastically rich world of one of Disney's finest characters and a true Disney legend in the comic book medium, Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world!

Even by the first story (or second) I know it's going to be a great book. I bought this book because I wanted to know what old Uncle Scrooge comics were like. And for some amazing coincidence, Uncle Scrooge's first dime is also my favorite coin of his collection and I've read about all his coins. I hope Walt Disney makes more "Walt Disney Treasures" books. And for all the people who like this book like me out there, I suggest you look for "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck" and "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion". This review is written by Elias.

If Mickey Mouse embodies the Horatio Alger myth in animated cartoons, then Uncle Scrooge McDuck fulfills something of the same role in comic books, with a slight twist: McDuck is what becomes of the Alger character when he makes his fortune.

While Mickey became the trademark, and some would say the "lure," of the Disney empire, Uncle Scrooge became the delight of Disney comic book readers, his ever-growing and troublesome fortune taking readers to all corners of the world and mythology. It helped that McDuck was the creation of Carl Barks, whose stories had already become the favorites in the "Comics & Stories" and "Donald Duck" titles.

"Treasures" series editor David Gerstein has wisely chosen a Barks classic, the "Seven Cities of Cibola" story, to lead-off this collection. Barks defined the character and set the standard for both the stories and the artwork. The stories that follow provide an interesting and entertaining cross-section of American and European takes on the McDuck mythos. Readers who have been away from comics for awhile may be surprised that so thoroughly American a character (despite the Dickensian shadings)has taken on such epic popularity abroad. "The Money Ocean" is a beautifully realized story from Italy's Marco Rota, known only to a handful of American fans until a decade or so back.

Other worthy artists represented here include Tony Strobl (with Carl Fallberg), William Van Horn (with John Lustig), and modern maverick Don Rosa, who wrote and drew "disguised" Uncle Scrooge adventures before breaking into Disney comics in the '80s. One story, "Getting That Healthy, Wealthy Feeling," has been restored to its original length, an extra-mile effort to be expected of editor Gerstein, who has also had a hand in the Disney Treasures DVD series.

Having read through this volume, I'm still convinced that nobody has done a better job than Barks with his creation. But Scrooge McDuck has provided a wealth of inspiration for all the storytellers that have followed Barks, and the riches go to the readers.

I bought this book quite a few years ago and am assuming that it remains essentially the same. If you know who Carl Barks is, and if you appreciate/enjoy his definitive comic book Duck stories, especially "Uncle Scrooge" (whom he created) and the Donald Duck feature in the old "Walt Disney's Comics & Stories", then you absolutely must have this book, despite its kingly price in hardcover. My first edition copy has no interior color and the b&w pics are not the best reproduction quality but, still, it is something that any self-respecting Barks fan must have in their library.

I bought this book quite a few years ago and am assuming that it remains essentially the same. If you know who Carl Barks is, and if you appreciate/enjoy his definitive comic book Duck stories, especially "Uncle Scrooge" (whom he created) and the Donald Duck feature in the old "Walt Disney's Comics & Stories", then you absolutely must have this book, despite its kingly price in hardcover. My first edition copy has no interior color and the b&w pics are not the best reproduction quality but, still, it is something that any self-respecting Barks fan must have in their library.

Back when I was just a tater, I spent a lot of time waiting anxiously with the other kids for the next Donald Duck comic to hit the stands at the drugstore. Even at this undiscriminating stage, we all knew that one artist drew and wrote better Donald Duck stories than anyone else. He used exciting words that expanded our vocabularies, and his pictures were full of wonderful, imaginative details for us to pore over. We called him the "Good Duck Artist." The GDA, of course, was Carl Barks. His stories were filled with wry humor which made it possible for our folks to appreciate his comics as much as we did. If you haven't been introduced to Barks and his work, you've missed out -- and this book belongs in your library. It gives the comic aficianado a look at Barks' life, career, and artistic vision, beyond just "the ducks." From his early, sometimes rather racy work for "Coo Coo" and other "spicy" magazines to his current jewel-like oil paintings (of ducks and other subjects), this book provides a comprehensive review of a unique body of work by a surprisingly complex man. Whether you're an aspiring comic artist, or a Barks fan who wants to know more about Barks, or if you're just looking for a good book with lots of fun comic art, you should find something of interest here.

"Thank you for the copy of Carl Barks and the Art of the Comic Book by Michael Barrier, which we are thrilled to see finally in published form. It was worth the years of waiting, and we hope will supply the answers to the myriad of questions which Carl must answer thousands of times over. Now he can just say buy the Barrier book published by M. Lilien..." -- Gare Barks (Mrs. Carl Barks)

"Carl Barks and the Art of the Comic Book is the very long-awaited biography/bibliography/critique fo the Good Artist's work by Michael Barrier. It is published in a handsome, sturdy, well-designed hardcover edition by M. Lilien of New York, with a lovely dust jacket featuring a self-caricature of Barks on the front and a color photo of the Duck Man on the back. Inside you will find a detailed account of Barks' life and career, with each story discussed and highlighted. There are many photos of Barks as a young man, sketches and cartoons he did for the Calgary Eye-Opener and as inter-office gags at the Disney Studios... If you are a fan of Carl Barks, you simply, absolutely, positively and unquestionably must have this book and right now. If you are a comic-book student, you must have this book to see how thoroughly and well comics can and should be studied..." -- Don & Maggie Thompson, The Buyer's Guide For Comic Fandom (R)

"...Barrier covers not only the life of Barks but his particular thematic preoccupations (the "rescue theme" in which the parent/child roles are reversed is documented with considerable wisdom, for instance). The photos of Barks, his house, and other people he worked with are precious glimpses on an important period in comic book history, and the many drawings by Barks and others constitute a real treasure trove for both fans and scholars..." -- Cat Yronwode, The Buyer's Guide For Comic Fandom (R)

Great Comics! Inspired my youngest to love Scrooge and his nephews as I much as I do!

I first read these stories as a child when they came out in Disney comic books and I've never forgotten them. My friends and I would check out the latest Disney comics to see if the Donald and Scrooge stories were drawn by the "good duck artist" and only buy the comic books if they were. Of course Carl Barks was uncredited, so we never knew the "good duck artist's" name, but his drawings and his humor were unmistakable. Barks was one of the most talented cartoonists of his time, and his stories -- they're really quests, often based on ancient myths -- are always delightful and have stood the test of time. A wonderful gift for any child (or grown-up) who likes good graphic story-telling.

This is great stuff... It's hard to beat these old, classic Carl Barks "Donald Duck" stories for their sheer entertainment value and craftsmanship, and for their family-friendly content. My kid recently expressed an interest in comic books, and I was dismayed to find out how little there is out there for really little kids to read... The old Harvey stuff is no longer on the market (and was way too dumb, anyway) and the superhero books I grew up on are just too violent, even reprints of the older stuff. The comicbook industry has grown up along with its readers, but it unfortunately forgot to leave some room for younger readers to enjoy the medium as well. Thank goodness, then, for these Disney reprints from Gladstone publishers -- if you're looking for kid-friendly comics that won't insult your intelligence, this is one of your best bets. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

It's nice to have these two low price collections of those of Carl Barks duck comics from the 1950s that were adapted into the "Ducktales" cartoon series in the 90s. Carl Barks is one of the greatest comic book creators of all time, he's up there with Will Eisner, Osamu Tezuka, Jack kirby and Hergé. For some strange reason his stuff isn't as well known in the english speaking part of the world as in Scandinavia and Germany - over there he's considered one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century, and his stories have been as popular with generations of kids as the Harry Potter books are now. Barks wrote and drew 6.000 pages of duck stories, so this is only a small taste of his storytelling talents. The longer adventure strips collected in these books were one of the main influences on the Indiana Jones movies. His shorter 10 page stories set in Duckburg (not included here) are an obvious influence on the humour and storytelling in The Simpsons.

This is great stuff... It's hard to beat these old, classic Carl Barks "Donald Duck" stories for their sheer entertainment value and craftsmanship, and for their family-friendly content. My kid recently expressed an interest in comic books, and I was dismayed to find out how little there is out there for really little kids to read... The old Harvey stuff is no longer on the market (and was way too dumb, anyway) and the superhero books I grew up on are just too violent, even reprints of the older stuff. The comicbook industry has grown up along with its readers, but it unfortunately forgot to leave some room for younger readers to enjoy the medium as well. Thank goodness, then, for these Disney reprints from Gladstone publishers -- if you're looking for kid-friendly comics that won't insult your intelligence, this is one of your best bets. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

Carl Barks did for talking ducks what Herge did for adventurous boy reporters. His Uncle Scrooge stories are fantastic examples of all ages material that is genuinely entertaining for all ages. A must for anyone with eyes.

Great comic! Just as I remember the original stories. Great for jogging childhood memories!

See my review for the first volume -- a wonderful collection by a great graphic storyteller. I hope more of Carl Barks' duck tales will be published in this series.

This is the first in a new series of collections pairing Barks originals with Rosa's 'sequals'.

I look forward to the future ones in this series (I know #3 and 4 have been announced at this time).

While I recall the Barks story (from an old Gold Key reprint most likely), I never read the Rosa sequel, so this was a new experience for me.

My interest in the Ducks has recently been renewed, after growing up on Duck Tales cartoons and such. I had read a couple of Gladstone comics as a youth and somehow the experience has stuck with me. Perhaps I am turning to these comics now that the Marvel and DC superhero comics that I loved have become so much less innocent.

I am at the point in my life where I expect to be a father soon, and I hope to pass down a love of comics to my children, someday. But what do I want to give them? Dark, gritty, murderous modern superhero comics, where someone is as likely to get their brains blown out as they are to save the day? You know what? Life is hard enough, already.

I'd rather give my kids a bright world, with an incredible sense of adventure. I have recently read Rosa's "The Life and Times of Uncle Scrooge" and truly enjoyed it. I found myself entertained, absorbed, and - remarkably - educated by the experience. These may be "funny animal" comics, but they are in no way dumb comics.

Rosa grew up as a fan of Carl Barks and his landmark Duck stories. You can tell how very much his artwork is inspired by Barks' own. There are still some differences. While the Ducks themselves look very similar (compare Barks' page 1, panel 3 with Rosa's page 1, panel 1), Rosa's backgrounds are more intricate. Also, I have noticed that Rosa's lines are a little thinner, and reminiscent somehow of Sergio Aragones in that there may be small gags in panels that you really have to look for.

Aside from all that, what this volume highlights - and what I believe is Rosa's real gift to the world of the Ducks - is continuity. Here we have an original, classic Barks' tale paired with Rosa's sequel. That kind of continuity appeals especially to me as a longtime fan of serial superhero comic stories. After living that way for so long, it is hard to switch to purely episodic tales. That is why I am grateful to Rosa, and for this collection.

Thanks to Rosa's "Life and Times of Uncle Scrooge" I will be able to go back and enjoy Barks' classic Scrooge tales with a feeling of the greater picture. Thanks to this volume, I have enjoyed a classic Barks' tale and a satisfying follow-up. And thanks to the fine folks at Gemstone, I will have bright, smart comics to pass down to my children.

What can I say.... it's Don Rosa. The best drawer Disney have had since Carl Barks. A must have for all Disney fans. Allso the more adult crowd

This huge comic album is great and is loaded with good long stories. The theme of the album is Uncle Scrooge versus his nemesis Flintheart Glomgold, the second richest duck in the world. It has four long and really good stories in it. In the first story Scrooge and his nephews go to Africa to see if Glomgold is richer than Scrooge is. Then they become involved in a fierce contest to see who is the richest duck. In the second story Scrooge and Glomgold get in another contest to see who is richer when they change all there money into silver dollars and measure the piles. But the cheating Glomgold is up to no good. The third story is safari/adventure themed with Scrooge and his nephews in the wilds of Africa trying to beat Glomgold to an important auction. And in the fourth story Scrooge and his nephews race towards the Inca gold high in the Andes so they can try to get to it before the pursuing Flintheart Glomgold can. These were very good high quality stories with better color on the pages compared to other comic albums.

Carl Barks is to little known in the US; in my homecountry of Sweden he is a minor deity on the other hand. Whole generations of Swedes have grown up reading his fantastic tales about Donald Duck, his nephews, Gyro Gearlose, and Scrooge McDuck.
Barks himself never understodd his own greatness. He thought that he only wrote dime-a-dozen stories for kids. Yet, once you are hooked on Barks you read him also as an adult - the genius is so obvious.
On the surface this is a simple adventure tale with comic interludes, but lurking beneath is fear and madness. This is perhaps his darkest tale. Set in an ancient Persian royal tomb. The cramped corridor, where the darkness waits just outside the circle of the torches gives a claustrophobic feel, which follows us throughout the story.
One moment the professor appears rational and sane, then he is revealed to be an insane megalomaniac. While the antics of the resurrected royal family are funny, there, again, are traces of hysteria and mental unbalance.
In the end they are so disgusted by the modern ways that they voluntarily seek oblivion in death. Donald Duck survives only by dying and being resurrected several times.
The tale is funny, but it also gives the impression that the artist had far darker things in mind when he wrote it: this was the fifties, we were living in fear of the atom bomb, and what else the scientists were dreaming up in their laboratories. The tunnels and darkness are our feeling of insecurity in a world bordering on war, and our helplessness to prevent it.

I Suspect many people will buy this because they already know the artist, as well as the story. Over the years since this, and many other stories by Barks, have appeared, they have come in many formats, of which the best is the COLLECTED WORKS OF CARL BARKS, and now this series, including this title, comes in a nicely done cover, with Library quality paper. I have copies of this in a previous incarnation of the GLADSTONE prints, prior to the Publishers going bust. Thankfully, someone has realised that these titles are being bought by Adults who could not afford the collected works, but who wanted a title done in a collectable format that would last. Way too many versions of this title published since the late 50's and again in the 70s have been done on poor quality paper, and were priced accordingly.
This Ancient Persia title works well in this comic format, however, some of the titles occurred originally in a strip format, and suffer when transferred to the comic page format. However, I managed to get some of these titles in a "hard" cover binding that preserved the strip ratio, without resorting to the comic page ratio that was edited with apparently little thought ( these editions in original strip format came out about 1982-84, and as far as I am aware are not currently available anywhere... so I hope someone can examine some of the original formats, and see what best goes back to the strip format).

Enjoy ANCIENT PERSIA, if you read the original story years ago, this will echo beautifully in your mind in this lovely high quality paper print edition.

The Golden Helmet is a classic work. It's fun, its funny, its dramatic, and its packed with the typical set of funny references in Carl Barks work. In this edition you actually get five stories, including the main adventure, there are also two short stories and two one pagers. The Golden Helmet is well researched, and in the inside cover, you have a superb little mini-guide to the work.
The one element that please me, is that this edition deviates very little from the original strip format as published in a bound format in 1980-81; mostly unknown to current collectors, but known to collectors of my vintage, the bound versions are half way between the top of the line Collected Works of Carl Barks, and the edition in this case; all are good, but will be more tailored to/for different budgets. I just wish that the Collected works was out at a more accessible price.Whatever edition you get, or can get, if you are a Duck fan, you will love these beautifully crafted, and lovingly written works.
Whilst I love getting these editions, with superb quality paper, and it is good, qualifying for a library standard low acidity specification. The one production caveat is that the main inside comic tends to easily separate from the cover. It's not a major problem, but you will need to consult a collectors repairer for a basic fix, or check with a binder to get a more longer term solution.

Donald Duck works as a museum guard. He yearns for the adventures of the old vikings. Suddenly it is discovered that a golden helmet is buried somewhere on inhospitable eastern Canadian seaboard. Possesion of the helmet will make the holder the rightful lord of North America. Obviously, the bad guys are after it, so it is for the good guys to try and beat them to it. However, when they arrive after having fought the elements, time, and each other, they must face the most difficult task of all - their own secret desires. The true horror of the helmet is
while it does make the wearer the ruler of North America, it also makes the wearer insane... One buy one the brave fighters succumb to its lure, both the good and the bad, and they outline their weird vision of their new North America.
This is on the surface just a comic book for kids, but it has an epic format that makes it stand out. Both the drawings and storyline are more reminiscent of Prince Valiant than of pulp comics.
The underlying ideas of the story are that power corrupts, and that the helmet is in no ways magical - the insanity is part of all of us: "Hold up a mirror to your soul, and tell me what you see - if you dare..."