Comics Review: "DARKWING DUCK #1" Makes Another Strong Debut

DARKWING DUCK VOLUME 2 #1

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Daniel Kibblesmith

ART: Ted Brandt & Ro Stein

COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly

LETTERS: Fabio Amelia

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: Tad Stones

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley; Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; Nicoletta Baldari; Ciro Cangialosi; Tad Stones

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2025)

Rated “All Ages”

“Year One” Part One of Twelve: “Hi, Voltage!”

“Darkwing Duck” was an animated superhero comedy television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.  It originally aired for three seasons (for a total of 91 episodes) from 1991 to 1992, both as part of the syndicated programming block, “The Disney Afternoon,” and as part of ABC's Saturday morning lineup.  “Darkwing Duck” focused on a suburban duck, Drake Mallard, and his superhero alter-ego, “Darkwing Duck.”  The character was a parody of the pulp fiction vigilante character, The Shadow, and his alter-ego, Kent Allard.

A little over two years ago, Dynamite Entertainment launched a new Darkwing Duck comic book series.  Now, it has recently relaunched the series with Darkwing Duck Volume 2.  It is written by Daniel Kibblesmith; drawn by Ted Brandt & Ro Stein; and colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Fabio Amelia.  The new series revisits Darkwing Duck's first year as a superhero.

Darkwing Duck Volume 2 #1 (“Hi, Voltage!”) opens at night in the city of St. Canard. Then, the story moves to the suburbs of St. Canard, specifically the Mallard residence.  Drake Mallard is regaling his adopted daughter, Gosalyn Mallard, with tales of his adventures as Darkwing Duck.  It is, however, early in his crime-busting career, but Darkwing is ready to have... an arch-nemesis?!  Meanwhile, one such candidate presents himself when Megavolt goes after “the max-capacity super battery.”

Meanwhile, Gosalyn does not want an early bedtime when her father is off having adventures.  She wants to visit “the St. Canard-Once-a-Year-After-Hours-Fun-Time-Carnival.”  And to do that, she needs to convince tonight's guard dog, Launchpad McQuack, that he wants to have fun, too.  What are the chances both the father's and the daughter's missions cross paths?

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Darkwing Duck Volume 2, Issue #1, one of a few Darkwing Duck comic books that I have read.

I have never watched an episode of the “Darkwing Duck” animated series, although I have always wanted to do so.  My only previous experience reading a Darkwing Duck comic book was Dynamite's 2023 series, and I only read the first four issues.

However, the work of this new series' creative team might make me stick around longer.  Writer Daniel Kibblesmith spins a yarn that offers the usual fun of Darkwing Duck, while depicting a hero in the early days of his crime-busting.  Still, Kibblesmith finds the joy in the character and personality of Darkwing Duck and in the series' signature brand of humor rather than focusing on the mechanics of a superhero's “Year One.”

The art team of illustrators Ted Brandt & Ro Stein and colorist Dearbhla Kelly offer a spry first chapter of storytelling that sparks on the page with adventure and humor.  Brandt & Stein capture the Disney graphical aesthetic, while Kelly colors the story in a way that suggests something vintage or, at least, of recent vintage.  Letterer Fabio Amelia keeps the energy going with battery-charged sound effects, captions, and word balloons.

I hope that Dynamite can find continued success with Darkwing Duck.  There is an audience for this title, and it could be you, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Darkwing Duck will want to try Dynamite's new Darkwing Duck Volume 2 comic book series.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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