Gemstone Disney Comics Talkback (Spoilers)

[Matt Zimmer]

We didn't have one last month but I think we should have one this month. I'll post my reviews shortly.

[Thad]

I only have the most recent issues from December. I didn't really enjoy them that much. The long modern stories in DD and MM were pretty lame. I enjoyed the Barks 10 pager though (one I hadn't read before).

The second installment of the Caballeros story wasn't that impressive though, in all honesty. Maybe it will look better once we get the conclusion.

-Thad

[rodney]

I just wish I could find WDCS. My local shop is sold out. I hadn't read the Barks story in DD before either though. I liked it a lot.

[ohmahaaha]

I haven't gotten any of this month's stuff yet - in fact, just about ALL of it (except for the manga-sized books) is coming out this Wednesday!! And I'm actually looking forward to all 4 coming out on Wednesday - looks like it's going to be a good month from Gemstone.

[David Gerstein]

We've got Barks, Buettner, Kari Korhonen, Lars Jensen, new and old Rosa and even a bit of Gottfredson this month, so here's hoping we live up to your expectations. I'll be curious to see what all of you think.

[ohmahaaha]

We've got Barks, Buettner, Kari Korhonen, Lars Jensen, new and old Rosa and even a bit of Gottfredson this month, so here's hoping we live up to your expectations. I'll be curious to see what all of you think.
Don't forget Murry - right?! :)

[David Gerstein]

Oh! Er—yes, we've got 32 pages of Murry, and it's his much-requested "Return of the Phantom Blot." How'd I forget that one?

[Matt Zimmer]

Oh! Er—yes, we've got 32 pages of Murry, and it's his much-requested "Return of the Phantom Blot." How'd I forget that one?I don't usually think too much of Murray but this story has been so hyped I really want to see it now.

Part 2 of the Seven Minus Four Calleberos was VERY funny. I love Donald's rotten luck being confused for brilliance by Jose and Panchita. I also liked William Van Horn's Chimera a lot.

Here's another suggestion for trade paperbacks regarding Don Rosa. You've mentioned to me that reprints from Gladstone's second run wouldn't be too in demand for people because the second run is still relatively easy to locate. But the three part serials in WDCS would run you up to twenty dollars or more in back issues PER STORY. Maybe you all could reprint these serials in TPB form to make it easier for people who want to read all of Rosa's stuff? I recall Gladstone was going to do this before they lost the license.

[David Gerstein]

Yep— we do plan to present one-part versions of at least some of those Rosa serials. Most likely not until about this time next year, though.

[ohmahaaha]

OK - finished reading this month's Gemstones.

Overall I have to say that this was an outstanding month from Gemstone. I think the only story I didn't really care for was the Beagle Boys story in Uncle Scrooge, but the rest - in all 4 issues that I got last week - were wonderful.

Standout memories:
Don Rosa - "Last Sled to Dawson" was great, I'd never read it before so this was a real treat. "Caballeros" - man, I didn't want it to end - I sure hope Mr. Rosa will do another one!!

The coloring on the Mickey Mouse & Friends "Return of the Phantom Blot" - for some reason that really jumped out as me as being an excellent job on the colors. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Paul Murry's delightful artwork, but the coloring was also done very well.

Nice going Gemstone!

[Matt Zimmer]

The New Calleberos story by Don Rosa was awesome. I'm glad I finally got to see how it ended. I love the "musical" ending to the story. I'll probably type up a full review later.

William Van Horn's plumbing story didn't thrill me. It's proably just me but Van Horn has been doing the same types of Donald stories (either Donald finds a new fad or thinks he's an expert in something) month after month. I have to confess I love last month's Chimera story because it was so different. When Van Horn is on he's ON. Secrets was one of my favorite stories back in the day and every single one of his DuckTales stories was brilliant. Unca Carl managed a LOT of variety in the types of stories he told. I hope Van Horn does a bigger variety of different stories in the future.

Floyd Gottfredson, Whoo hoo! Four pages wasn't much but I loved the story anyways and I hope they start printing the serials again. This was the best WDC&S in months.

[Matt Zimmer]

Am I the only person whose copy of The Return of the Phantom Blot had a couple of pages printed out of order? I had never read that story before so seeing Goofy in Mickey's House after being kidnapped confused the heck out of me until I realized what was going on.

[David Gerstein]

Hey Matt,

We haven't had any other complaints about the page order of our Blot reprint. But the fact that you got a mixed-up copy suggests that (gulp!) there may well have been others like it.
Hmm, did your copy have an additional Blot-style inkblot on the back cover, accompanied by the statement "The Blot Strikes Again"? That might lead us to the culprit...

Re: Gottfredson, we have a 1948 thriller coming in WDC&S 668 that's long enough to be serialized, though we're presenting it all in one book. You'll get a good two full months' worth of daily strips. And I'm pleased to say that there's more where that came from.

[ohmahaaha]

Re: Gottfredson, we have a 1948 thriller coming in WDC&S 668 that's long enough to be serialized, though we're presenting it all in one book. You'll get a good two full months' worth of daily strips. And I'm pleased to say that there's more where that came from.
Cool news, David! As Capt. Kirk would say, "Keep it comin' Scotty!"

As for Matt, I would think he would be able to take his copy of Mickey back to his comic store (or wherever he bought it) and exchange it for a properly-page-ordered copy, don't you?

[Matt Zimmer]

Cool news, David! As Capt. Kirk would say, "Keep it comin' Scotty!"

As for Matt, I would think he would be able to take his copy of Mickey back to his comic store (or wherever he bought it) and exchange it for a properly-page-ordered copy, don't you?I can't. I got it in the mail because I have a subscription.

[Matt Zimmer]

Hey Matt,

We haven't had any other complaints about the page order of our Blot reprint. But the fact that you got a mixed-up copy suggests that (gulp!) there may well have been others like it.
Hmm, did your copy have an additional Blot-style inkblot on the back cover, accompanied by the statement "The Blot Strikes Again"? That might lead us to the culprit...

Re: Gottfredson, we have a 1948 thriller coming in WDC&S 668 that's long enough to be serialized, though we're presenting it all in one book. You'll get a good two full months' worth of daily strips. And I'm pleased to say that there's more where that came from.Good. I like Gottfredson's stuff. Will it be in MMaF or WDC&S?

Is there a way to get a new issue for a subscription or do I have to go on-line and buy it?

[SharanMcQuack]

If looking for back issues, try the internet. www.mycomicshop.com (http://www.mycomicshop.com/) is a good place to start.

I normally dislike the idea of putting a comic book in a mylon bag and saving it for 50 years -comic books were meant to be READ- but I'd save the copy with the misplaced pages carefully, comic book with boners like that sometimes are worth big money someday.

2 : l ) 3

What happened to the Launchpad Smile? I had to make my own.

[David Gerstein]

Good. I like Gottfredson's stuff. Will it be in MMaF or WDC&S?WDC&S, as you may already have seen (we had a short Gottfredson story in issue 665 last month, with another next month in 667).
We do have some other Mickey classics coming in MMF though, with several Murry and (new-to-America) Scarpa stories planned for the summer and fall.Is there a way to get a new issue for a subscription or do I have to go on-line and buy it?I'm not sure quite what you mean— are you saying you'd like a replacement from Gemstone for your incorrectly bound subscription copy?
I've never personally dealt with a request like this (subscriptions are handled by a department I have no contact with), but note that the inside front cover indicia states subscription rates, then gives a phone number to call for ad rates and other information.
You could try calling that number. Meanwhile, I'll ask around when I'm back in the office over the next day or two.

[Additional note added 02-20-2006: I've now asked, and you can find updated information farther down this thread.]

[Matt Zimmer]

WDC&S, as you may already have seen (we had a short Gottfredson story in issue 665 last month, with another next month in 667).
We do have some other Mickey classics coming in MMF though, with several Murry and (new-to-America) Scarpa stories planned for the summer and fall.I'm not sure quite what you mean— are you saying you'd like a replacement from Gemstone for your incorrectly bound subscription copy?
I've never personally dealt with a request like this (subscriptions are handled by a department I have no contact with), but note that the inside front cover indicia states subscription rates, then gives a phone number to call for ad rates and other information.
You could try calling that number. Meanwhile, I'll ask around when I'm back in the office over the next day or two.I already called them and they were surprisingly friendly about it and promised that a new copy was on the way. I still wouldn't mind you checking it out though because I'm almost convinced it's too good to be true!:D

[Thad]

Hey guys, I bet you thought I was dead? :fethry:

I finally picked up Gemstone's January issues and February's Mickey and Donald books today. C&S 665 was one of the best issues of the series in a long time. It reminded me of how Gladstone would compile them. I also enjoyed "Last Sled to Dawson" in US 350 which I had never read before.

(To David, let John know that I've sent/am sending a bunch of critiques in - I'm amazed my Riverside Rovers comment made it to MM 286.)

[David Gerstein]

If looking for back issues, try the internet. www.mycomicshop.com (http://www.mycomicshop.com/) is a good place to start.I should also point out we've got our own top-notch back-issue service, too. You can still get all available issues at cover price, and you'll find 'em here (http://www.gemstonepub.com/disney/).

Meanwhile, I've just done some checking up, and the best people to call in the future re: replacing defective subscription copies would be Angie and Judy at our West Plains office: (800) 322-7978.

[Matt Zimmer]

I should also point out we've got our own top-notch back-issue service, too. You can still get all available issues at cover price, and you'll find 'em here (http://www.gemstonepub.com/disney/).

Meanwhile, I've just done some checking up, and the best people to call in the future re: replacing defective subscription copies would be Angie and Judy at our West Plains office: (800) 322-7978.Heh. That's who I called. The lady on the phone was TOTALLY cool.:D

:scrooge:

[Debbie]

While the CVS thread seems to have disappeared, I thought I'd post this update here...Today on my way to work, I stopped at the local CVS on my bus route (which is in Arizona, btw)...and they finally had some of the Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck comics there (I think they were all back issues, but that's okay)! I was happy to see them for the first time since I moved to Arizona last May.

[ohmahaaha]

I picked up "Donald Duck and Friends # 338" this week; what a great issue!

Lead of spot went to Carl Bark's classic Easter story from WDC&S # 151 (?) - one of the best (and funniest) Gladstone rivalry stories IMO.

Next was a very funny Mickey and Goofy satire; last but not least was Donald again in "Master of Mice" with dialog by David Gerstein and art by Vicar. David, if you're out there, I must say I enjoyed that story tremendously - laughed as hard as I did at the Barks story! Keep the good stuff coming! :cool:

[Matt Zimmer]

I just read "Mickey's Inferno" in WDC&S and I have to say this is the first and only time I will ever use the phrase "mindblowing" to describe a Disney Comic. I've never read Dante's Inferno but this story although a bit long and hard to follow was probably the trippiest Disney Comic I have ever read (including William Van Horn's Whistling Flea epics)

I really liked the fact that the story had two sets of dialogue going at the same time, one of them in verse. David Gerstein has a very good ear for rhymes (the article said the prose was set to the same meter as the poem) and I though it was great how witty the prose was.

I think I really liked how the story was DEFINATELY old fashioned (lots of castor oil and punished school-boys) but the newly translated dialogue gave it a modern flavor (and even a Darkwing Duck reference with a St. Canard shout-out). All of the character cameos from early Disney stars (Eli Squinch, Pluto, Donald Duck, Dopey, Bashful, Clarabelle, Pete, Pflip, Pluto, Huey Dewey and Louie, Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, Gepetto, Dumbo, and even Clarabelle's Cousin Bertie) made it seem like a huge story to encompass all forms of Disney characters sixty years before House of Mouse. I really liked the fact that the story dealt with Hades and the character's vices that landed them there.

I will be honest and say that I was definately confused for a lot of the story but that's part of what made it so fun for me. This was the first Disney Comic I have read that I actually had to think about and sort out in my head while I was reading it. That is definately something new and I liked it.

I really hope Gemstone publishes more rare fringe stories like this. It was awesome. ****1/2.

[David Gerstein]

David, if you're out there, I must say I enjoyed ["Master of Mice"] tremendously [...] Keep the good stuff coming!I'll share your kind words with Gorm Transgaard, the author of "Master of Mice." In my opinion, this is one of the best stories Gorm's ever penned, and it was a privilege for me to "Americanize" it and help bring it Stateside.
John, Sue, Travis and I do have some more good stuff in the pipeline. Watch for our Easter issues of WDC&S and US next week—we promise the eggs will fly. Oh, and Fethry Duck will take up child psychology.