‘Dangerous’ cartoon duck hero returns to comics
An animated mystery duck inspired by pulp magazine heroes makes his way back to comics this month.
The original “Darkwing Duck” series, created by Tad Stones, ran for 91 episodes from 1991-1992 on ABC, the Disney Channel and in syndication.
Darkwing, equipped with high-tech gadgetry, is the protector of the city of St. Canard, fighting crime with his sidekick and pilot Launchpad McQuack, who first appeared in the “DuckTales” animated show. In his secret identity of Drake Mallard, the hero is responsible for raising his 9-yearold daughter Gosalyn. Inspired by pulp heroes like the Shadow and the Green Hornet — with a bit of Batman and James Bond thrown in — Darkwing faces off against rogues, villains and mad scientists in his quest to keep his city safe. Known for his catchphrase “Let’s get dangerous,” Darkwing Duck gently parodies adventure-hero tropes in an engaging, comedic series.
The new comic-book series from Dynamite Entertainment is written by Amanda Deibert with art by Carlo Lauro and continues the adventures from the animated television series.
“Darkwing Duck was huge when I was a kid, and I am thrilled to help introduce the fun, humor, and actionpacked mystery to a new generation,” said writer Amanda Deibert in a news release.
Darkwing will face arch-nemesis Megavolt in the first issue, which will also feature variant covers from David Nakayama, Mirka Andolfo and more.
“Fans of the original TV series are in for a total treat, because Amanda and Carlo are conjuring up a hilarious, thrill-filled adventure series that’s directly connected with the classic feel of the show, but 100 percent accessible for new readers,” said Editor Nate Cosby in a news release.
Set for March is a facsimile reprint of the first comic-book appearance of Darkwing Duck from 1991. In this issue, Taurus Bulba, an oversized criminal, plans to steal a weapon known as the Ramrod from an armed train. It’s up to Darkwing and Launchpad to foil his plans.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.