not consciously- but then, Gladstone was basically an unconscious influence himself! it was only when I’d really started the comic that I realised they had so much in common. If Hero has any influence from the ducks it’s probably the original flavour HDL trio, being the mix of upstart, genius and cute affectionate lil’ darlings that they are. On the whole though what went into the melting pot for Hero was very different than for RGB- there’s Moomin, Snufkin, and Snowy and Tintin in her to name but a few. A little bit of Winnie the Pooh, Toon Link and Cheburashka, too.