Fantagraphics has launched its new Disney comic books with Uncle Scrooge #461 “Flintheart Glomgold’s Sinister Secret,” the first of three 40-page issues containing an epic 120-page serial, written by Italy’s Francesco Artibani and translated and localized by Jonathan H. Gray.
Scrooge McDuck’s longtime rival, “second-richest duck” Flintheart Glomgold, claims to have reformed! Flinty claims he’s doing good deeds on behalf of his late brother, the kindly Trueheart Glomgold. He even invites Huey, Dewey, and Louie to Ophir Island—his jaw-dropping new estate off the African coast—to offer them a special Junior Woodchuck gift!
Scrooge and Donald are more than a little shocked when their nephews decide to take Flintheart up on his offer!
Last week we shared an exclusive Q&A with Francesco (read his part of the interview here), who finished with a special shout-out to Jonathan, famed for his past works with both Disney comics and Sonic the Hedgehog. And this week Jonathan is here with us himself to continue the Q&A!
Fantagraphics: Jon, is Flintheart your favorite of Scrooge’s enemies? Even if not, what elements of him strike you as most memorable?
Jonathan H. Gray: First things first, I need to thank Mr. Artibani for his kind words. Localizing these stories and doing them justice is a big thing for me, because we Americans have missed out on so many Duck-universe tales that exist beyond the most famous talents like Carl Barks and Don Rosa. Francesco’s work stands out because of the clear love and care he shows within his writing for these characters.
As for my favorite Scrooge enemy, it’s a close tie for me between Flinty and Magica, as both serve very different villainous purposes. As established by Barks, Flinty is the darkest duck villain because of his sheer ruthlessness. Yes, he can have moments of conscience before he makes bad choices and cheats (Barks’ “The Money Champ”), but he’s also willing to do anything to win, including putting the Ducks’ lives in serious danger (Barks’ “So Far and No Safari”). Magica has her limits, but Flinty has none; even compared to other villains, he’s morally reprehensible.
Fantagraphics: What aspects of Uncle Scrooge and Donald do you value most—and did you find them in “Flintheart Glomgold’s Sinister Secret”?
Jon: In the real world, there may be no such thing as a good or ethical billionaire—yet for Scrooge to function in modern times, his character has to be predicated on the lie that one can exist! The best stories showcase how Scrooge’s renewed love for his family serves as the beacon of his very humanity. Glomgold has none of that. In the few stories where we have seen his kindhearted nephew Slackjaw, for instance, Flinty refuses to fully appreciate or acknowledge him.
Scrooge and Donald value their family more than anything, as do I. In “Sinister Secret,” it’s interesting seeing Scrooge and Donald getting the nephews out of a jam instead of the usual trope, where it’s the other way around. As our story continues, readers will see that Scrooge is willing to use almost all of his money to save his family—with nary a second thought, outside of surface-level grumbling!—speaks volumes if you truly understand Scrooge’s character.
Then again, Scrooge did once say that money is “just a lot of paper and metal” (Barks’ “A Financial Fable”); and that’s why he’s still our admirable hero, even if he is a billionaire.
Fantagraphics: Jon, you’re as well-known for your work translating, localizing, and drawing covers for Mickey Mouse as for Scrooge and Donald. How do you think Scrooge, Donald, and Mickey stories differ in the challenges and personalities they provide?
Jon: If the Ducks are all about family, then the Mice are all about community. The best Mickey stories are adventure stories that aren’t just about Mickey, but also about his friends—how they relate to him and keep him grounded.
Mickey and Donald can function in similar kinds of plots, but come into them differently. Whether a story involves the hero battling known ne’er-do-wells, investigating a third party’s need for help, or simply joining his peers to make the community better, Mickey actively seeks out adventures and sticks his nose into trouble—trying to preemptively solve problems—whereas Donald tries to avoid challenges and trouble until they actively get in his way!
In the few times I’ve seen that Scrooge and Mickey have interacted, there’s a mutual respect between them. Mickey appears to be the only non-employee and non-family member allowed into Scrooge’s Money Bin (“The Search for the Zodiac Stone”); if you really think about it, that implies a profound level of trust on Scrooge’s part.
I like to think that Scrooge recognizes Mickey and Goofy as the only stable friends his nephew has; he knows they’d drop everything to help Donald if he asked. Scrooge is a thrill-seeker and adventurer but in a very different manner from Mickey, in both approach and execution. Scrooge is aged and conniving; Mickey is young and curious.
Fantagraphics: Before working with Disney comics, Jon, you spent years writing and drawing Sonic the Hedgehog and your own webcomics, Chip and Walter and Time Trouble. Are there any themes in Sonic that you also see in the best Scrooge or Mickey adventures?
Jon: I don’t want to make this a Sonic thing, as we’re primarily discussing the Ducks—but to be honest my absolute dream would be to write and draw a Sonic/Duck/Mouse crossover (not to mention write and draw my own Duck and Mouse comics from scratch!) because oh my goodness, yes!
The Sonic characters really do mirror many aspects of the Duck/Mouse gang. Especially Sonic himself and Mickey: they’re both adventurous, eager, clever, and slightly sarcastic. Both tend toward selflessness; they can and often do make friends with former enemies.
As for the stories as a whole, Sonic’s themes of found family match with the Ducks, while his theme of adventure matches with the Mice. This is why I like comics! No two series are the same—everything is different, and imaginations flourish within them!
Thanks a lot, Francesco and Jon. Fantagraphics is glad to have you on board for our classic Disney comic book launch…why? Because we like you!