Personally, while I vaguely remember watching Darkwing Duck on tv as a kid (under the name, translated, of "The Duck with the Black Cloak"), I never watched the full series, so I read the Boom series more out of curiosity than anything- and was pleasantly surprised with a really interesting, nice story. So while I don't care much for the Disney Afternoon licenses, I'm pretty hype for this- here's hoping it's a good series celebrating a good anniversary for Darkwing Duck!
For anyone wanting more info, here's a couple posts quoted from another forum by user SurrealBrain, whom I found did a nice catch-up of the situation;
WARNING: There will be a long post ahead. If you value your time, here's the short version. There were comics before the Boom series, and the Boom series was rewritten for an omnibus. Haven't read the original versions, but I love the omnibus.
Now, for the long version...
There have been several comics since Darkwing Duck first aired on TV. There was a miniseries, and there was the Disney Afternoon comics, which primarily featured Darkwing, and there were the Disney Adventures series.
I haven't owned any of them, other than that one Disney Afternoon issue I got from the local used bookstore. Have yet to fully read it.
However, the most well known of the comics is the one Kaboom published from 2010-2011.
The comics took place a year after the show ended, and saw Drake Mallard coming out of retirement after a certain incident cause him to go into it. I won't go into too many details for first time readers, but basically, he gets his ego and bravado back after going back to being the Terror that Flaps in the Night.
Other stuff happens, such as a campaign against his best friend Launchpad for being the mayor of St. Canard. The omnibus version, at least, is better than it sounds, since other stuff happens.
The series ended with a crossover with DuckTales, known as Dangerous Currency. However, it was poorly received, with criticisms pointing to plot holes and the general rushed feeling.
A common misconception is that Boom lost the license simply because Disney bought Marvel. However, while I'm not gonna say many of the details (I don't know all of them, and this will be long as is), a bunch of crap happened that wound up costing Boom the license.
Want to know what thing I do know of? Well, I actually asked Aaron Sparrow on twitter if it was at all possible for Dangerous Currency to be reprinted, and he said it was unlikely. As it turned out, the story was published without Disney's approval. Apparently, Kaboom made a professional-grade Bootleg.
As a result, it won't be considered canon by the new series.
Speaking of which, a new Darkwing Duck comic is in the works, and it is to be written by Aaron Sparrow. To prepare us, a rerelease of the first 16 issues of the Boom series, plus the annual, was made courtesy of Joe Books. But this wasn't just any old rerelease.
No, this had rewrites courtesy of Aaron Sparrow, and some art was redon by James Silvani, who drew the series.
I have and enjoy the omnibus of the Boom Darkwing comics. Looking forward to more! It'll be great to be getting FIVE new English-language Disney comics per month--three to four of them with Ducks!...hope that continues for a long time to come.
I never watched Darkwing when it was originally televised, but I've seen many of the episodes that were released on DVD, and I keep hoping that the rest of them will be released one day. I'd especially like to have "A Brush with Oblivion" and "Paint Misbehavin'". I also keep hoping for a release of the rest of the DuckTales episodes on DVD--I especially want "Ducky Mountain High" and "Trala-La". Some people were saying that perhaps Disney will release the unreleased DuckTales eps as part of the publicity in the run-up to the new DuckTales series slated for 2017.
Here's the solicitation for the first issue. Cover art is not final.
DISNEY`S DARKWING DUCK #1 Publisher: JOE BOOKS INC. (W) Aaron Sparrow (A/CA) James Silvani The Terror that Flaps in the Night is back in this all-new, ongoing comic series! Megavolt, Darkwing Duck's most electrifying nemesis, has been defeated once again, and is now locked up in St. Canard's new "escape-proof" prison. But is this all just part of a much more dastardly plan? Item Code: FEB161603 In Shops: 4/27/2016 SRP: $2.99
After the terrible state the Dangerous Currency crossover left the DW comic in, I was actually surprised to hear Darkwing got picked up for a new ongoing. I'll probably try to at least check out the first few issues, just for Silvani's great art that captures the Disney Afternoon style if nothing else.
Also who in blazes are Joe Books, I've never heard of this publisher before.
They were established just last year, these seem to literally be their first books.
I just want to point out that I love the detail they're keeping the new design for Darkwing where he's got the tie from his Drake Mallard outfit. I really like that thematically, even if visually it does end up a bit busy.
Post by ElectricAngel on Jan 29, 2016 20:28:19 GMT
I'm definitely excited for some new Darkwing Duck comics! It's great to see they are also being offered at a budget price of $2.99 in the US. I personally haven't finished reading the Boom run yet. I have the Definitely Dangerous Edition graphic novel but have been more interested in the European published comics. ^^ I'll get to it soon enough though. I've finished around half of it already and I can tell they did a great job keeping the spirit of the cartoon. I hope the new ongoing comic is a success. It's great to see Disney trying to push comics a lot more in the US as of recent.
Post by ElectricAngel on Jan 29, 2016 21:01:48 GMT
Well yeah, I know that. I just like that they are putting in money for production of more books under their brand name. From what I understood, the Boom comics were quite successful with audiences, despite quality issues later down the line, right? So it makes sense they would continue with licencing.
My point is that they're passive in this, they're not putting money into it (again, as far as I know, feel free to correct me Mr. Gerstein if you happen to register here :V). Doing a parallel I'm sure you know, it's like Archie's Sonic comics- all SEGA does with them is be paid for the license, it's Archie who has to publicize them, etc. In this case, all Disney does is go "ok, I like your pitch to publish these comics, here, go ahead, I'll allow you to", but then IDW and Joe Books are the ones actually doing everything.
Don't take me as gospel, I'm just talking based on what is known out there of behind-the-scenes stuff in various licensed comics. Don't know what deals Disney's done with IDW and Joe Books, but it's likely something like that, yeah. "You pay us to use our characters".
I was beginning to become concerned that this had fallen off the radar. This will definitely be a must-buy.
With regards to the Disney Afternoon titles - I liked them. I also didn't hate Dangerous Currency as much as some - though I recognize the story's flaws.
That's somewhat problematic when your audience is used to the fine efforts of Gladstone or Gemstone.
I would imagine most fans view the efforts of IDW and Fantagraphics as a return to an effort that respects the source material and balances what fans want as well as what a good editorial team thinks they might like.