So I've read Barks a ton, I've read Rosa. Love it, love the universe, love the characters. What's next for me? Who else is good in the universe? Anything modern going on? Specific story lines or tpb recommendations appreciated!
Are you in the USA? Are you buying the IDW comics? They will give you a nice cross-section of Duck comics by folks other than Barks and Rosa. Are you looking for stories published in English? That will narrow things down quite a bit, though there's still PLENTY of great stuff to explore. Have you used INDUCKS, the online fan-produced index of Disney comics worldwide? You can use their "Top 100" listing to find stories highly rated by fans, and then click on the story to find out whether/where it has been published in English. If you find a particular author/artist you like, you can go to that person's page on INDUCKS and click on the "top stories" tab, and find the stories by that person which have the highest fan ratings.
Then, it's a question of your personal preferences. So, for instance, Scarpa was the major early Duck story writer/artist in Italy. I myself have only liked a couple of Scarpa-written stories enough to keep them, but many people who love Barks and Rosa also enjoy Scarpa greatly. It's too far from my sensibilities. So far none of the characters he created have become "real" to me, in my headcanon (though I'm holding out hope for Dickie Duck). I tend to like better some of the stories by North American, Dutch or Scandinavian authors. My headcanon Duck universe is dominantly Barks and Rosa, but characters created by Michael T. Gilbert, Dick Kinney, Bottaro, Miguel Pujol, Korhonen, Paul Halas & Charlie Martin have all become permanently installed in my mental Duck universe.
Just sticking with stories published in the USA: here's a list of stories I'd recommend, a sampler of other writers/artists. This is, naturally, a very idiosyncratic list! But other people on the forum can give you their own suggestions.
The Last Voyage of Ringtail Van Dukke (Geradts/Verhagen) Donald Duck Adventures (Gladstone) 39 The Treasure Temple of Khaos (Jan Kruse/Verhagen & Jippes) Uncle $crooge Adventures 35 The Money Ocean (Rota) published complete in the TPB Walt Disney Treasures 2 The Perfect Calm! (Cimino/Scarpa) Donald Duck 371 (IDW #4) No Room for Human Error (John Lustig/William Van Horn) Uncle $crooge 252 The Ghost of Kamikaze Ridge (William Van Horn) Donald Duck Adventures (Disney Comics) 20, or Walt Disney's Comics & Stories 663 Sons of the Moon (Korhonen) Walt Disney's Comics & Stories 637 The Green Attack (Wejp-Olsen & Kenner/Branca) Uncle $crooge 221 The Peril of Pandora's Box (Arno Buitink/Bas Heymans) Uncle $crooge 412 (IDW #8)
One suggestion: the stories of William van Horn. They are not Barks or Rosa, but another dimension to Donald and his universe. I am not the type to laugh out loud at a television show or a book; it takes a lot to get me to do that. I have done that with some van Horn stories. There is a comedic, madcap energy to them that can be quite entertaining.
So I've read Barks a ton, I've read Rosa. Love it, love the universe, love the characters. What's next for me? Who else is good in the universe? Anything modern going on? Specific story lines or tpb recommendations appreciated!
Current artists I like are: Daan Jippes, Jan Gulbransson, Ulrich Schröder, Mau Heymans, Ben Verhagen, Henrieke Goorhuis, Carlos Mota, Bas Heymans, Wanda Gattino, Tim Artz, Kari Korhonen, Noël Van Horn, Sander Gulien, William Van Horn(if he's not yet retired)
Current writers I like are: Gorm Transgaard, Frank Jonker, Jan Kruse, Evard Geradts, Lars Jensen, John Lustig, Arild Midthun, Ruud Straatman, Byron Erickson, David Gerstein, Pat & Carol McGreal, Pat & Shelly Block, and I like to think I write some good stories, myself (Rob Klein).
All time(retired or deceased:
Artists:
Barks, Floyd Gottfredson, Romano Scarpa, Freddy Milton, Al Taliaferro, Daniel Branca, Ken Hultgren, Victor Arriagada Rios (Vicar), Tony Strobl, Paul Murry, Dick Moores, Jack Bradbury, Manny Gonzales, Bill Wright.
Writers:
Barks, Bill Walsh, Merill De Maris, Bob Falkenberg, Ted Osborne, Bob Karp, Dick Kinney, Hubie Karp, Freddy Milton, Bob Gregory.
Yup--"Tycoonraker! or From Zantaf with Lumps!" is in Donald Duck 376 (IDW #9). Mad scientist Zantaf is the Bottaro character that has become real in my mental Duckburg. The Faustus story has not been published in English. And as I've said elsewhere on this forum, I myself rarely care much for the literary parodies, though many of them are highly rated on INDUCKS.
Yup--"Tycoonraker! or From Zantaf with Lumps!" is in Donald Duck 376 (IDW #9). Mad scientist Zantaf is the Bottaro character that has become real in my mental Duckburg. The Faustus story has not been published in English. And as I've said elsewhere on this forum, I myself rarely care much for the literary parodies, though many of them are highly rated on INDUCKS.
Well, it hasn't been officially published in English, but GeoX's delightful scanlation is widely available.
One suggestion: the stories of William van Horn. They are not Barks or Rosa, but another dimension to Donald and his universe. I am not the type to laugh out loud at a television show or a book; it takes a lot to get me to do that. I have done that with some van Horn stories. There is a comedic, madcap energy to them that can be quite entertaining.
William Van Horn is one of the worst creators. His stories (at least those i have read) are based on mocks and insults real life family members say to each other (well, except me, i don't talk much to my family... actually i don't talk much at all). Anyway, the point is i don't read Disney stories to feel like hearing my annoying family members smartmouthing.
So I've read Barks a ton, I've read Rosa. Love it, love the universe, love the characters. What's next for me? Who else is good in the universe? Anything modern going on? Specific story lines or tpb recommendations appreciated!
I wish there was someone who would continue Barkses and Rosa's canonicity. Even for Rosa, it's not too late. Somebody should tell him about Fanfiction Net...