Monday, September 15, 2014

A Challenge: Cases of Mistaken Secret IdentiTIES

In her comment on my DuckTales wrap-up segment, reader "Anne" made the following observation:

This is random, but did anyone else notice that in the DuckTales cast shot, Fenton and Gizmoduck are both there? :P I know it's a clip-art picture, but I still think it's funny.

Yep.  I don't know precisely how many DuckTales cast group-shots are in existence, but this is the only one of which I am aware in which Fenton appears entirely separate from his robo-suited alter ego. Actually, there is another error on clear display here... at least, it's an error in a strict DT context.  Can you spot it?

** I posted the answer in the comments section -- CEB

Those with long(ish) memories will recall that this is not the first time that Fenton and Gizmo have appeared together in the same scene.  On page 11 of the fifth and final chapter of DISNEY ADVENTURES' crossover epic "The Legend of the Chaos God" (1994), check out the panel at lower left:

When I wrote about this in WTFB at the time, I suggested that the members participate in a "Hey, Fenton, Who Was That in the Gizmosuit?" contest, to mimic the notorious "Hey, Daisy, Whatever Happened to Scrooge?" art-challenge conducted by the German fanzine DER DONALDIST in the 80s.  Two decades on, would any of you blog-readers care to take up the question?

19 comments:

GeoX, one of the GeoX boys. said...

Though I hate to say, it the problem--or at least *a* problem--is that the Beagles are undifferentiated.

Daniel J. Neyer said...

Actually, I spot two errors; the Beagles Boys are all the same height (as well as facially identical), and the Blot (if that's who the shadowy figure on the far left is supposed to be) has his original blank eyes and is missing the Western-Publishing-style pupils he displayed in Ducktales.

By the way, thanks very much for this series of retrospectives; I've looked forward to each new entry, and am sorry to see the series come to an end. I haven't always agreed with your assessments (particularly when it comes to the Catch as Cash Can serial, which I hold in much higher esteem than you), but your observations have always been sharp and great fun to read.

As a future project, I'd be interested to see you review the Ducktales comic-book story City Under the Ice, a European (French, I believe) story published by Gladstone 1 that was a cut above the Diaz Studio stories they typically ran--not in my opinion, as good as a good episode of the show itself, but still the best non-Van-Horn new story from that Gladstone 1 Ducktales series.

Pan Miluś said...

It's Ma Crackshell. She already substituted for Fenton twice in the series from what I recall so third time the charm...

P.S.
Did Scrooge and Darwkin interacted in this story? It's their first official meeting from what I recall so it would be great if it estabish their relationship.

kenisu said...

"Actually, there is another error on clear display here... at least, it's an error in a strict DT context. Can you spot it?"

Is it that the Beagles are clones a la Barks, rather than having separate identities?

Deb said...

Donald Duck is in his traditional sailor suit rather than his Navy uniform. Also Baggy Beagle appears three times.

Pan Miluś said...

Ow! And Gladstones colors are all wrong. His suit and hat are orange, nor green and red and Donald dosen't have his navy hat.

THIS WHOLE PICTURE IS ONE BIG LIE!!!

Chris Barat said...

Pan,

Scrooge does not meet Darkwing during "Chaos God." However, he does know OF Darkwing, as he is seen placing a call to St. Canard at the end of part 4 of the story.

Chris

Chris Barat said...

Dan,

"City Under the Ice" is definitely on my list.

Chris

Chris Barat said...

ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE: The Beagle Boys are all identical (to Baggy, it seems... *shudder*).

The other differences are pretty cosmetic compared to this, I would say. Closest to an outright "goof" is Donald wearing his traditional hat, though this pic could have been taken while he was on leave or something.

I do have to wonder, with Fenton and Mrs. Crackshell both in the pic, who IS in the Gizmosuit??

Chris

Ryan Wynns said...

Ah, "City Under the Ice". I've been meaning to review it on my blog for YEARS now. I wish that more stories like it had been produced.

I noticed Donald wearing his traditional hat right away. No one can ever seem to get the DT Beagles right. The color scheme for Gladstone's outfit seems to be based on the one traditionally used in the Italian comics. (Speaking of which, I'm kind of surprised that the Italians didn't make some of the original DT cast members a permanent part of the duck family, as they're inclined to add new, sillier, more modern characters.)

-- Ryan

Pan Miluś said...

I got it - It's Daisy!

The angian she is strangly abstent from the Duck universe in "Duck Tales" series.
She don't even shows up to tell Donald goodbye as he leaves to the navy and during "Spies in their eyes" (one of my top favorite episodes of all ties BTW) I got asumption that Donald is going "on the town" to look for pretty girls.

(Heck! Maybe in this universe Donald and Gladstone are good friends, since Gladstone is much more plesant and they don't have girl to fight about.)

Chris Barat said...

Pan,

Daisy's absence can't be considered an error, because she was never a part of the DUCKTALES universe in the first place. (Unless you are willing to count "Rightful Owners.")

Chris

Chris Barat said...

Ryan,

"The Curse of Flabberge" was also a French DT story that saw print in this country. Its artwork isn't quite as distinctive or lively as that of "City," though. Plus, David G. had a lot to do with making "Curse" special, thanks to incorporating the "fall of Brutopia" theme into his script.

Chris

Comicbookrehab said...

It's Phooey Duck - the untold sequel to "New Gizmo Kids On The Block" occurred off-panel. Perhaps the world is not yet prepared for how it all went down.

Pan Miluś said...

No, no. "Daisy" was my awnser to the "I do have to wonder, with Fenton and Mrs. Crackshell both in the pic, who IS in the Gizmosuit??" question

Chris Barat said...

Pan,

OK, must have misunderstood you then. Hadn't thought about Daisy as a possibility. More to the point, why she would even agree to wear the suit.

Chris

Chris Barat said...

CBR,

Or Bubba! *shudder*

One of the comments on NGKOTB in the printed version of the DT index was relief that at least we didn't have to endure Gizmo Bubba. Maybe we weren't so lucky in the Chaos God story.

Chris

ramapith said...

The image you're all discussing isn't official art.

It's just one of Rich Bellacera's creations from his old "Hoozoo" pages, where he created a lot of fanon and images that others have since—accidentally—treated as official studio lore.

Chris Barat said...

David,

I had a feeling that this wasn't an official piece of artwork. Just didn't mention it.

Chris