Disney Long Box Reviews: Donald Duck Sunday Newspaper Strips Volume 2
Hello and welcome to my first review of a hardcover Disney compilation book. Today’s subject will be Donald Duck : The Complete Sunday Comics Volume 2 :1943 to 1945.
WARNING: These comic strips were created in an earlier time and may contain cartoon violence and occasional historically dated content, such as gags about smoking, drinking, gunplay, and racial stereotypes. Needless to say, Donald wouldn’t mix up with these elements today; IDW and Disney Comics have included them here with the understanding that they reflect a bygone era.
Some of these comics will be shown in this review to analyze its content. Parental guidance is suggested for this title.
REVIEW
The collection opens up with an introduction from Disney scholar Alberto Becattini that tells us about George Waiss, who joined the creative team in 1943, taking on the inking chores over Al Taliaferro’s pencils.
In summary, Waiss first started at Disney working on Fantasia before leaving briefly to join with rival animation studio Warner Bros. He returned in 1942 as an inker on the Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse newspaper strips.Waiss also did freelance comic book art for Dell/Western Printing, working on such Disney characters as Mickey Mouse, Bucky Bug, and The Li’l Bad Wolf, as well as on the Warner Bros. characters Porky Pig and Sniffles and Mary Jane. In the late ’60s he returned to animation at studios such as Playhouse Pictures and Filmation Associates before retiring from the field in 1977.
Below is a sample of Waiss’ work on the Big Bad Wolf comic book series.
Other important information to know about this volume is that the strips have slowly removed Donald Duck’s many pets from the picture in favour of more strips featuring Neighbour Jones or the nephews. Hortense the Ostrich, Bolivar the St. Bernard dog, Kitty the Cat, Basil the Burro all make their final appearances in this volume. Also of note is the debut of dog-nosed human female characters in the strip.
I love these Donald Duck strips. I know they are a different breed than the Carl Barks Donald Duck comic books running at the time that would further change with the introduction of a certain character in 1947. But the simpleness of the humour of the strips makes it a worthwhile read for any fan of the temperamental duck. These strips more closely resemble the animated shorts playing in cinemas at the time. Taliaffero’s art is stunning to look at, he did create Huey Dewey and Louie after all.
Below are some samples of the many strips you will find in the volume, Donald Duck : The Complete Sunday Comics Volume 2 :1943 to 1945 is now available in stores and a perfect fit for your Disney collection. Be sure to look for future volumes to come out next year.
