Disney LongBox Reviews: Uncle Scrooge #21
In this month’s Uncle Scrooge, Holiday memories from Scotland remind Scrooge of a time he helped out an orphanage out of a sticky situation. Ludwig shows off his marble skills to Donald Duck and finally Belle enlists Scrooge and his nephews on a riverboat race to Goosetown for a cash prize.
The Subsitute Santa of Strathbungo
First Published in Donald Julealbum #4 (2013)
Country of Origin : Norway
First time published in North America
It is Christmas once again in Duckburg as Scrooge joins the festivities at Donald’s house as the latter gets upset over the fact Scrooge only comes over for a free meal and he has had enough of buying big turkeys for the Christmas meal.
Scrooge felt upset about this as Donald asks him if he ever made someone else happy on Christmas instead of relying on others. Scrooge then recounts an event that happened in his past back in Scottland.
Back when he was a small child selling peat to make Christmas money for his horse and the family. He goes around town checking on everyone’s orders as he notices that the local orphanage does not want more peat for two weeks. He hears crying nearby as he finds an orphan called Brenda who does want Mr.Jolly to know that she has been upset lately.
Scrooge goes inside under disguise to find out what is going on as he soon finds that the orphanage’s landlord MacMiser is raising the rent three times higher as usual as the young girls are over-worked to earn the rent. Suddenly, a lady from England named Lady Meddleson charges in to inform Mr. Jolly he can’t make the conditions worse for the girls.
She donates 100 pounds and informs Jolly if conditions around the orphanage improve, she will donate even more when Hogmanay comes around ( HISTORY TRIVIA : Christmas was banned in Scotland until 1958, they celebrated Hogamay instead).
Things take a grim turn as MacMiser informs Jolly he only has three days to pay rent or he will be evicted along with the girls. Scrooge decides to disguise himself as a girl to see what the hub is all about.
The day soon arrives as Meddleson arrives to see the improvements ( Which are tricks by Jolly since conditions have not gotten better at all) and she gives them 10,000 pounds for the party. She soon leaves as Brenda informs Jolly he has to stand up to MacMiser and spend the money as intended.
How will young Scrooge save the day for Brenda and the orhpanage ? Is there more to Mr.Jolly than meets the eye ? Read the rest of the tale in Disney Uncle Scrooge #21 to find out.
FINAL THOUGHTS :
I loved this festive tale , it shows off that even back then Scrooge did whatever he could to right the wrongs of evil. He did everything he could to help out his friend Brenda. He could have simply done it just to insure his continued contract of peat but instead does it to insure the girls get out of the predictatement they are in. It does also explain how Scrooge got his hat.
The twist in the tale also had me suprised but about halfway through the tale, I began seeing the clues the writer left bedhind. But my favorite part is the last panel. Seeing Scrooge with his pendant made me cry a little.
Scientific Sculptor
First Published in the Donald Duck Newspaper Strip ( 1963)
Country of Origin : United States
Donald Duck orders ten pounds of marble to scultpure as Ludwig Von Drake overhears him and decides to use his scientific knowledge which leads to hilarious results.
The Roundabout Rally
First Published in O Pato Donald #992, 1970
Country of Origin : Brazil
First Time Published in North America
Scrooge rushes over to the docks with 1000$ to help out Belle with another crisis involving her spending habits. Turns out she made a bet with a friend over which ship can reach Goosetown faster.
Scrooge relunctacly agrees to insure his 1000$ is returned to him as he and the nephews volunteer to be Belle’s crew. The race dosent start off well as Scrooge forgot to raise anchor as they are now behind.
More and more troubles arise as the races goes on, who will end up winning the race ? Read the story to find out.
FINAL THOUGHTS :
I made it obvious in past reviews that Belle is not one of my favorite Disney characters and this story does not help change my mind. Most of what I liked with this story has to do with Scrooge and the nephews and their last minute efforts on trying to save the ship from Belle’s cost cuttting measures. An easy skip for me upon future readings of this issue.
CREDITS:
WRITERS: Knut Nærum and Tormod Løkling (Story 1) Bob Karp ( Story 2) Dick Kinney ( Story 3)
ARTISTS: Arild Midthun ( Story 1) Al Taliaferro ( Story 2) Tony Stobl ( Story 3)
EDITOR: Sarah Gaydos
ARCHIVAL EDITOR: David Gerstein
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing