Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When Rosa began creating Uncle Scrooge comics in 1987, his work instilled childish wonder in readers. Disney comics had entirely disappeared from circulation, and those that had just preceded the fall had become completely hackneyed-rife with repeating storylines and drab artwork. But under Rosa's creative flair, a zippy, glamorous franchise suddenly appeared, with riveting stories and detailed yet kinetic artwork. While remaining totally true to Scrooge McDuck's ornery persona, Rosa turned the moody miser into a plucky adventurer worthy of Tintin. The billed billionaire, in Rosa's hands, seemed to overpower his own Disney persona and become a full-fledged character. For instance, "Last Sled to Dawson" is a romantic, evocative depiction of the untamed Klondike. Explaining the how and why of young prospector Scrooge's transformation into "Unca Scrooge," this origin tale isn't just bursting with intricate plot twists and flashbacks, it provides new insights into Scrooge's complexity and humanity. Every chapter is a romp, from the Indiana Jones-inspired title story, which pits Scrooge and his enterprising junior woodchucks against his arch nemesis Flintheart Glomgold, to the zany "Mythological Menagerie." (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up-As a child, Rosa was a huge fan of the comic book series "Uncle Scrooge," featuring Disney's Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck, and aspired to one day write and draw for the series like his hero, comic legend Carl Barks. After a decade-long lull in the comics, Rosa finally got his chance to write for the series and created several Scrooge and Donald Duck adventures from 1987 to 2005. Staying true to Barks's original characters and vision while adding his own artistic style, Rosa not only meets the expectations created by Barks but at times exceeds them. These two volumes are filled with epic adventures, like hunting for buried treasure or recovering stolen money, and kid-friendly humor and hilarious situations. Overall, the creator's work has aged well, and newer audiences will have no problem immersing themselves in these stories. At the end of each volume are whole pages of reference notes, explaining each comic in depth and addressing Rosa's process and nods to previous works. These notes show just how passionate he was about his work and the series as a whole.With the resurgence of popularity in retro comics such as "Tintin" and "Asterix," these entries make for a solid addition to comics and graphic novel collections.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
