I was excited enough about the approach of this series that I picked up a couple of Duck Tale trades in the used graphic novel section of a local bookstore.

They were $2 each, and the one that I’ve read, so far, felt exactly like a good episode of the old TV show.  Marv Wolfman wrote it and put some heart into it.

While I usually feel like comics are nearly equal part writer and artists (penciller, inker, colorist, etc., letterer {I’m sorry that letterers are mostly ignored in art discussions}), I feel that Disney books severely limit the artists’ creative input.  Yes, they can include details and personality that make the stories sing a little crisper, but for the most part they have to draw/ink/color The Disney Way, and that has to sap your creative energy a bit.

James Silvani does an excellent job of making this look like a snazzy episode of the show.  Andrew Dalhouse plays with the color matte without making it feel too different from the old TV episodes.  Artistically, I was impressed by the look of this book.

Writing-wise, it’s a decent kids’ book.  While series like Shanower & Young’s Oz, and Langridge’s Muppet issues seem like age-spanning art directed mostly at kids, this book felt like…a decent kid book.  I’d certainly recommend it to a parent looking for family friendly comics that aren’t going to put their kids to sleep, but I don’t think it’s going to quite live up to the expectations of those of us…I mean, you…who watched it as teens while our cooler friends were out doing whatever it was popular kids did while the rest of us…I mean…the rest of you watched cartoons.

There’s nothing at all wrong with that.  If you go into it with an expectation of getting a childhood squee, you may be disappointed.  But if you go looking for a fun all-ages book that mostly speaks to the early double digits set, then this could be an amusing, yes, romp.