Comics Review: Disney's "DARKWING DUCK #2" Gets Bushwhacked

DARKWING DUCK VOLUME 2 #2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Daniel Kibblesmith

ART: Ted Brandt & Ro Stein

COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: Tad Stones

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley; Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; Ciro Cangialosi; Tad Stones

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2025)

Rated “All Ages”

“Year One” Part Two of Twelve: “Bushwhacked”

“Darkwing Duck” was an animated superhero comedy television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.  It originally aired for three seasons (for a total of 91 episodes) from 1991 to 1992, both as part of the syndicated programming block, “The Disney Afternoon,” and as part of ABC's Saturday morning lineup.  “Darkwing Duck” focused on a suburban duck, Drake Mallard, and his superhero alter-ego, “Darkwing Duck.”  The character was a parody of the pulp fiction vigilante character, The Shadow, and his alter-ego, Kent Allard.

A little over two years ago, Dynamite Entertainment launched a new Darkwing Duck comic book series.  Now, it has recently relaunched the series with Darkwing Duck Volume 2.  It is written by Daniel Kibblesmith; drawn by Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; and colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The new series revisits Darkwing Duck's first year as a superhero.

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #2 (“Bushwhacked”) opens in the city of St. Canard, specifically in suburbs at the residence of Drake Mallard.  There, Drake Mallard a.k.a. “Darkwing Duck;” his adopted daughter, Gosalyn; his pilot and sidekick, Launchpad McQuack; and Gosalyn's friend and classmate, Honker are engaging in some role play.  This is supposed to help Gosalyn and Honker prepare for the auditions for roles in an upcoming school play.  But Darkwing Duck manages to hog the spotlight.

As for getting cast in the school play, however, things don't go as Gosalyn expected.  She and Honker are cast as shrubbery, but one of her teacher's, Mr. Rushboot, says he has a way to help Gosalyn get a bigger role.  All she has to do is help him fix his garden after school, and he'll see what he can do about a bigger role in the school play for Gosalyn.  But come opening night, Gosalyn's bigger role is also not what she expected.  Meanwhile, Darkwing Duck and Launchpad are at the St. Canard Home and Garden Center to discover who stole seeds for a common hedge plant and why.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Darkwing Duck Volume 2, Issue #2, one of a few Darkwing Duck comic books that I have ever read.

I find myself drawn to the work of this series' creative team.  Writer Daniel Kibblesmith spins delightful, imaginative yarns featuring colorful villains.  Meanwhile, his stories depicting Darkwing Duck in the early days of his crime-busting are a delightful affair of family and friends.  Kibblesmith finds the joy in the characters and personalities of Darkwing Duck and the supporting cast while operating the mechanics of a superhero's “Year One” story arc.

The art team of illustrators Ted Brandt & Ro Stein and colorist Dearbhla Kelly once again offer a spry chapter of storytelling that sparks on the page with adventure and humor.  Brandt & Stein capture the Disney graphical aesthetic beyond the mere visual look of it all.  Their storytelling is genuinely entertaining.  Kelly's coloring hints at the vintage element in this story that obviously takes place in the past, while keeping everything fresh.  Letterer Jeff Eckleberry keeps the energy going with battery-charged sound effects, captions, and word balloons.

I hope that Dynamite can find continued success with its Darkwing Duck comic books.  There is an audience for this title, and it could be you, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Darkwing Duck will want to try Dynamite's new Darkwing Duck Volume 2 comic book series.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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