Everything I draw ends up wearing a bow-tie

Anonymous asked: question- as a Danish reader I know the European version of Gladstone is generally a lot nicer than the original Barks/Rosa comics but still has his selfish/being an ass moments. Do you think you'd like Gladstone as much if he was a 100% good guy?

Ooh, nice question, and the answer is- no! Absolutely not. For a lot of reasons, but there is a narrative importance to Gladstone being a neutral force of self interest most of the time; because if he was always on the side of good, everything would be too easy! There would be no crisis, there would be no question as to what the outcome would be, because his good luck is so extraordinary. Instead of being deliciously frustrating his character would quickly become tiresome and a deadly plot killer. 

Gladstone works because Gladstone lands outside of the circle of conventional good. Because you’re never sure whether he cares about what happens to anyone other than himself he is not only complex but compelling. When you see him get his just deserts in the form of a kick up the rear it’s fulfilling, because he deserves what’s coming and it contrasts with his constant good luck. Equally, when he does the morally right thing and goes out of his way to help other people it’s incredibly cathartic, goes against your pessimism, and you cheer for him! He makes you grit your teeth and dances on the borders of antagonism in many stories, but it’s the perfect use of a character with his traits and, while everyone likes a little redemption story now and again, I wouldn’t have it any other way.