Donald Duck celebrates 90 years. His success? He is the character who resembles us the most
On June 9, 1934 Donald Duck, the famous Disney character loved by children and beyond, made his first appearance in a cartoon
ROME – Happy birthday Donald Duck! On June 9, 1934 Donald Duck, the famous Disney character loved by children and not only, made his first appearance in the cartoon ‘The Wise Little Hen’. Thus Donald Duck was born in the guise of a friendly lazy duck and a slacker in his inseparable uniform: hat and sailor’s blouse. The debut on the printed paper, however, also occurred in 1934 thanks to Al Taliaferro who began drawing American daily strips (comic strips published in newspapers). In Italy, however, the first Donald Duck stories appeared between 1937 and 1940 by Federico Pedrocchi, in the magazine called Paperino Giornale.
THE ANTIHERO THAT LOOKS LIKE US
How to define it? Donald Duck is the antihero par excellence, certainly the opposite of the upright Mickey Mouse. “Donald Duck is like us, he is very human, unlucky, he has to face all the same problems as us – says cartoonist Francesco Artibani to RaiNews24 – People are reflected in him, despite his disorder he faces all the problems strong>: he has three dependent nephews, he is unemployed and has a despotic uncle and a very jealous girlfriend. At first Donald Duck starts out as a pain in the ass, starting from his voice, then he grows up and as a reckless man begins to deal with reality. After 90 years he is finally a little man in all respects.”
MICKEY MOUSE CELEBRATES HIS 90TH ANNIVERSARY
On the occasion of his birthday, Panini Comics celebrates him with a special issue of Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse 3576 is a special “100% Donald Duck” collector’s issue, with a summary of stories created by a parterre of great authors to which are added many articles from “wack!” and an amazing vintage-style cover created by Andrea Freccero, inspired by the visual mood of the early animated shorts. Among the adventures, we start with Donald Duck and the Shady Man, written by Marco Nucci and drawn by Maestro Giorgio Cavazzano; then Donald Duck and the Wolf Gang, by Francesco Artibani and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio who – after the tests already carried out previously with Mickey Mouse and Goofy – close their “classic trilogy”, a triptych of adventures graphically and narratively inspired by the atmospheres of the beginnings; there is no shortage of the funniest Donald Duck with All Paperino’s Works, written by Tito Faraci with drawings and inks by Enrico Faccini; and finally The Dachshunds and the mission in reverse, scripted by Alessandro Sisti and drawn by Andrea Malgeri, with the participation of Luke Papertano, Mickey Mouse’s homage to the astronaut Luca Parmitano.
Together with Mickey Mouse 3576, the exclusive collectible figurine will also optionally be available – conceived and designed by Emmanuele Baccinelli – which portrays Donald Duck lying in total relaxation in his armchair. The same issue will also be found with the cheerful and folkloristic variant cover signed by Marco Gervasio and colored by Mario Perrotta created for Etna Comics 2024.