Comics Review: DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #350 (Boom! Kids, January 2010)

The two women in Double Duck's life finally meet in the opening pages of this issue, and the effect is not unlike that of two ships passing in the night. Catching Kay K giving Donald a buck-'em-up hug, Daisy pitches the jealous rage that we had been expecting and brains Donald with a flowerpot, but we don't even get to see the details; the pot simply appears on Don's head. Personally, I would've preferred for Daisy to tear into Kay, but perhaps they're saving that for an even "tetchier" part of the story. Given that Kay seems to be legitimately attracted to Don (or at least his Double Duck persona) -- and Don responds to the "challenge," showing bouts of actual competence when he's around her -- Don's inevitable return to Daisy seems almost unfair. Don should get a chance to enjoy some quality time with a babe who actually appreciates him.

The "distaff-assault-that-wasn't" is a good table-setter for an issue with virtually no action and lots of palaver about trust, double-agentry, treason, and such. Indeed, the plot is getting so thick that I expect someone to let loose with a Xanatos-style rant about a "Master Plan" -- or a Jack Bauer-esque roar of "Who are you working for?!" -- any time now. This much we know: (1) Donald's erstwhile partner B-Black may actually be a double agent in cahoots with the missing B-Berry; (2) another spy, the as-yet-unidentified "Red Primrose," may actually be pulling everyone's strings behind the scenes. Having stumbled upon the conniving B-Boys, Don is in some peril at chapter's end, but a newcomer then arrives on the scene to upset everyone's applecart. I see no reason to abandon my theory that B-Berry may actually be an anti-hero of sorts and "Agency" head Jay J is hiding something big, but how does B-Black fit in? And why do I get the uneasy suspicion that Kay K may be the big brain? She certainly seems intellectually capable of such a gambit. If she is, then Don may actually hanker after the shrewish Daisy for a touch of "normalcy" before all is said and done.

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Collector's Edition Alert: The first issues of the new DISNEY'S HERO SQUAD (aka Ultraheroes) and WIZARDS OF MICKEY are slated to be released this coming week.