Disney LongBox : Walt Disney Comics and Stories #731 REVIEW

Hello, Mat here, welcome to my first review for a IDW published Disney title, usually I would only do a straight review since most comic book titles have one continuous story for the whole issue but the Disney titles from IDW are a little bit different since they are split between two to three stories  per issue. I have decided to review each segment in separate sections  to make things easier for my dear readers.

Hope you enjoy this new format 

The Search for the Zodiac Stone Part 11 of 12

The Partners of the Pendant

Originally from Topolino Number 1790 (1990)

Country of Origin : Italy

First time published in North America

 

The year-long event Search for the Zodiac Stone is nearly finished with only one issue left. I felt this adventure was a little too long for its own good due to some chapters feeling like filler that could have been solo stories if the pendants were removed from the plot.

 

This issue is different since it has a big focus on the pendants sending Donald and Mickey around the world after finding out a lead on the eleventh pedant formally owned by Scrooge’s old partner Jake Marley ( See what they did there ?). This leads to many pages of false leads from Scrooge’s so –called iron memory as they finally manage to find the pendant much closer to home than they expected.

Unfortnately, during one of Donald’s stops in Carthage, Greece, Magica spots him while she was on a hunt for a long lost mystical object controlled by one’s magic. She finds the object and brings it to Duckburg to use against Scrooge’s bin on her quest to claim the Number One Dime.

 

I won’t spoil what happens after Magica rams in the bin , you will have to read that for yourselves for a very funny ending. Be sure to tune in next time for a Goofy centered story with Pete and Phantom Blot lurking about in the upcoming conclusion of this year-long event.

This story was very well written and translated by the talented Jonathan Gray who leaves a lot of funny one-liners from Donald and Mickey when they insult poor Scrooge’s memory. The art is vey well done and the digital coloring is flawless considering past issues had some hiccups.

Petrified Perfection

From the Brer Rabbit Comic Strip (1953)

Country of Origin : United States

Previously Published in Newspapers

 Here is a rarity from the days Disney had numerous newspaper strips being published by Kings Feature Syndicate at the same time, the adventures of Brer Rabbit and the gang from the Laughing Place. Nowadays, kids now mostly know Brer Rabbit and his friends from the Splash Mountain attraction at select Disney parks.

In this particular short story, Brer Rabbit is up to no good once again , sampling some honey from Brer Bear’s tree. In order to hide from him , he decides to do the old fake statue gag which , with some fresh cement from fellow resident  Brer Turtle fools the old bear but the expected result soon happens leaving him to reflect on his past action.

Overall , a very nice short story to fill in between two bigger stories.

Why Robot?

From Journal de Mickey Number 2999 (2009)

Country of Origin : France

First time published in North America

 

During a rainy night, Goofy and Horace Horsecollar must stay at a rather shady hotel for the night run by a suspicious couple who have an obession with robots as the lads’imaginations soon gets the better of them , suspecting each other of being robotic clones through various hilarious mis-understandings.

Be sure not to miss the ending, yet another good twist on a beautifully drawn tale with lots of nice angles as Goofy and Horace’s delusions get grander and grander.

The artist has a very nice style remaining much closer to the original versions of the duo rather than the unique European style making it stand out much more compared to its sister stories.

Overall this issue is full of action packed stories , wonderful writing and beautiful art across all three stories featured in this issue but I still yearn for a true Comics and Stories issue full of solo one shot stories like in the past. I am very happy to see this method will soon return after next month’s issue.

What did you think of this issue’s hunt for the Pendant ? Are you excited it will soon be over ? What classic stories would you like to see published in future issues ? Be sure to leave your thoughts down below.

PUBLISHER: IDW

WRITERS: BRUNO SARDA ( STORY 1) GEORGE STALLINGS ( STORY 2) STEFAN PETRUCHA ( STORY 3)

ARTISTS: FRANCO VALUSSI ( STORY 1)  RILEY THOMSON ( STORY 2) FABRIZIO PERTROSSI ( STORY 3) 

COLOURS: DIGIKORE STUDIOS WITH NEA AKTINA ( STORY 1)DAVID GERSTEIN ( STORY 3)

EDITOR: SARAH GAYDOS

ARCHIVAL EDITOR: DAVID GERSTEIN