United States

Fantagraphics Books announced at the Comic-Con today that it has partnered with Disney to publish a complete collection of Floyd Gottfredson Mickey Mouse strips. The books will reprint all of the legendary artist’s Mickey Mouse daily newspaper strips from 1930 to 1975, in chronological order.

On Techland.com publisher Gary Groth commented: “There was a Sunday strip, but it wasn’t part of the continuity. We’re going to do the dailies for now, and then I think we’ll probably go back and do the Sundays. The dailies were continuity, six days a week. [...] This is a dream project, just like “Peanuts” was. I think it’s the last truly great, masterful strip that has not been reprinted.

He wants to publish the comic strips uncensored: “I think I’ve persuaded them [Disney] to allow us to reprint it in its original form. There’s some sensitive material–material that would be considered racist today, and should have been but wasn’t considered racist then. My plan and my hope is to reprint it exactly as it was, with some explanatory text for a modern audience. I want to keep it intact.” (Read more)

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BOOM! Studios has announced today that its new Darkwing Duck comic book, which was originally planned as a four-issue miniseries, will now be offered as a new monthly ongoing series beginning this June. You can pre-order it here.

“The fan response for Darkwing Duck has been amazing!” Says Darkwing Duck writer, Ian Brill. “The fans wanted more, so we’ll give them more! Not just more issues but more adventure and more humor. After the first story, which will have big changes for Darkwing and family, we’re going to take the readers on an even crazier ride!”

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Here’s a sneak peak at some of the artwork for the new Darkwing Duck mini-series coming from BOOM! Studios this June. Click to embiggen.

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Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories is currently printing Mickey Mouse and the World to Come by Casty. Starting with issue #707 this June, the series will feature another story by this talented Italian artist and writer. Mickey Mouse on Quandomai Island finds Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Pete shipwrecked on the mysterious Quandomai Island, where ancient beasts run wild and nothing is as it seems! This release in the United States comes hot on the heels of the story’s initial Italian release in Italy this spring. Topolino e l’isola di Quandomai was first published in Italian Topolino #2832 on March 16th, 2010.

“Casty is a modern master that soon will be spoken about in the same breath as Floyd Gottfredson, Romano Scarpa and William Van Horn,” says BOOM Kids! Editor Aaron Sparrow. “It’s exciting to bring this brand-new Mickey epic adventure to North American audiences so soon after its Italian premiere.”

The four part serial “Mickey Mouse on Quandomai Island” will premier in issue #707 of WDC&S with two covers: a wrap-around cover by Casty and a second cover by Jonathan Gray. The story was translated for BOOM! Kids by David Gerstein and Jonathan Gray.

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This week, BOOM! Studios releases the second volume in their hardcover collection of The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck by Don Rosa. Scroll down to see a 14-page preview of this book, which can be ordered from Amazon for $16.49. The deluxe hardcover book, which will be released on Wednesday, April 14th, collects the final six chapters of the 12-part Eisner Award-winning series:

• Chapter 7: Dreamtime Duck of the Never-Never
• Chapter 8: The King of the Klondike
• Chapter 9: The Billionaire of Dismal Downs
• Chapter 10: The Invader of Fort Duckburg
• Chapter 11: The Empire-Builder from Calisota
• Chapter 12: The Richest Duck in the World

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Just a few days ago BOOM Kids! announced the launch of a new Darkwing Duck series in June. Today we learned that this same month will see the return of another classic Disney TV show to comic books in the USA. Starting with issue #392, the Uncle Scrooge series will feature four issues of DuckTales stories.

The kick-off issue will contain the 1991 Danish story The Everlasting Coal (written by Paul Halas and Tom Anderson with art by Xavier Vives Mateu) and a reprint of The Littlest Gizmoduck from 1990 (art by Roberto Santillo), which was originally created for Disney Adventures.

“DuckTales is one of the most beloved television shows of the ’90s,” said BOOM Kids! editor Aaron Sparrow. “It’s just spectacular to be bringing it back for a whole new generation to discover and enjoy!”

Uncle Scrooge #392 will have two different covers. The one shown here is with art by Dutch artist Michel Nadorp.

Do you remember Darkwing Duck, the terror that flaps in the night? The 1990s superhero duck from Saturday mornings on ABC returns in his own comic book mini-series from Boom! Studios this June. Lanchpad McQuack, Gosalyn Mallard and the fiercest of Darkwing’s rogue gallery all join the daring duck of mystery in an all-new, completely original four-issue mini-series: Darkwing Duck: The Duck Knight Returns.

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This week Boom! Studios released issue #703 of Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories with the first part of The World to Come by Italian writer/artist Andrea “Casty” Castellan. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, check out this preview of the first 10 pages to whet your appetite.

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Yesterday Boom! Studios released the first book collecting Don Rosa’s legendary epic story The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. The hardcover album ($16.49 at Amazon) was released earlier than expected, but in case you haven’t seen it yet here are some pictures of this fabulous new book.

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Boom! Studios in the United States is launching two new monthly series this month: Wizards of Mickey and Disney’s Hero Squad.

Wizards of Mickey #1, on sale January 27th, will continue the epic tale of magical adventure that was started in Mickey Mouse & Friends issues #296 – #299. The stories proved popular enough to garner its own stand alone series. Wizards of Mickey follows the adventures of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy as they compete in the Grand Wizard’s tournament, determined to win all the pieces of the Sorcerer Supreme’s crown and free Mickey’s master from the clutches of the evil Phantom Blot! You can pre-order Wizards of Mickey #1 for $2.39.

Disney’s Hero Squad, which will also go on sale on January 27th, continues the Ultraheroes stories that were started in Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #699 – #702. The series features Super Goof, Duck Avenger, Eega Beeva, The Red Bat and more coming together as Disney’s mightiest band of heroes, ready to stomp out the bad guys wherever they may lurk! Pre-order Hero Squad now for $2.39.

“The fan response to Wizards of Mickey and Disney’s Hero Squad has been completely insane,” says BOOM! Disney Editor Aaron Sparrow. “These characters have reached a whole new audience, and fans, old and new, have clamored to have these stories in their own dedicated series. Well, you demanded it and we delivered.”

So what will happen to Mickey Mouse & Friends and Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories? The first one will take a break for a while as Boom prepares the next wave of Mickey Mouse stories. This will delay the series milestone #300 issue, which would have been next. Comics & Stories #703 will see the debut of a new series by Italian artist Casty titled “Mickey Mouse and The World to Come” (I TL 2721-3P, “Topolino e il mondo che verrà”). For a preview of Casty’s work see this fan-made website about his work.

From this website you can even download a wallpaper for the story that is coming to Comics & Stories: