Here we have a big one! And a favourite among my own drawings. November the fourteenth 2022, was the 75th anniversary of the first Uncle Scrooge story, Christmas on Bear Mountain,Ā which was published in 1947. Carl Barks introduced us to an elderly micer, clearly inspired by his namesake in Charles Dickens story. One who famously stated that everyone hates him, and he hate everybody! Nevertheless, Scrooge was here to stay. And Barks developed him to quite a multidimensional character. He softened him, but kept the personality traits that made him interesting. And Scrooge's popularity grew until it rivaled both Donald and Mickey, and in 1952 he finally got his own comic book. "Only a poor old man was the beginning of a long line of Scrooge comic books both written and drawn by his creator Carl Barks. Here Scrooge would go on many adventures with his nephews. From traveling back to the Klondike, to the lost mines of King Solomon, battling the Beagle Boys and enteringĀ outer space itself. Barks created a whole universe around his ducks, and brought in many new foes to challenge the old gazillionaire. And they got mightier and more imagnetive to challange Scrooge's grit. Resulting in villains like Flintheart Glomgold, McSwine and Magica de spell. One important thing to know about Scrooge is what makes him love his money so much. He made his fortune trough hard work as a prospector, and later businessman. Traveling all over the world before he finally struck rich in the Klondike gold rush of 1898. Every coin in his vast money bin is thus a memory of an old adventure. Scrooge is a collector, and his money is more of a plaything to him. Which he can swim through like a porpoise, burrow through like a gopher, and toss it up, and let it hit him on the head. But Scrooge have secretly a soft heart behind his hard facade. A side he don't want people to see, but that he sometimes expose. TheĀ perhaps most skilfully written example of this is the ending to the 1952 classicĀ āBack to the Klondikeā.Ā Many artists all over the world have made stories with old' McDuck over the years. From Don Rosa and his great "The life and times of Scrooge McDuck series" To Ducktales TV adaptations of the old classics. The legend of Scrooge McDuck lives on, and is experienced by new generations. IĀ celebrated with this huge drawing I made two months prior to theĀ anniversary. It's filled with easter eggs and references to many of Carl Barks great Uncle Scrooge adventures. Can you identify them all? Tell me in the comments. And let us give a little toast to the old adventurer and penny pincher!
