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.
having unwittingly set so many of you onto this lucky goose here’s some A+ cute Gander (‘cause as much as I love Gladstone being an ass there’s always room for genuinely-not-a-bad-guy Gladstone)
just so you know I haven’t died but I am a) working on TPoH like a madman, b) working on TPatJ like a madman and also c) working on a duck doodle comic because I am a madman
NOTE: Posts like this will be tagged #Disney Ducks for Animation
Here’s another short story that serves as a tiny bit of character exploration for Gladstone Gander. It would make a nice half-episode for the genuine sweetness at the end.
(I’m loving how I’m just assuming these stories will magically be in the reboot. Just humor me, will ya?;D)
It starts with Daisy and Gladstone taking a walk around Duckburg together. Daisy finds a coin and picks it up, making a playful comment about how Gladstone ‘isn’t the only lucky one in this city.’
Sorry this is so super rushed but I promised myself I wouldn’t spend more than a day on it- this is actually based off an ancient comic I found on some of my biology notes from secondary school, and is probably the first comic I ever did!
p.s. I am so sorry Donald. I love you, I really do.
