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90 years of Donald Duck: Lustiges Taschenbuch celebrates the birthday of the cult character

14.3.2024

Translation: machine translated

A notorious jinx. A choleric man with a penchant for outbursts of rage. And yet a lovable cult figure from Disney: Donald Duck. The famous duck turns 90, which is being celebrated with a special four-volume edition of Walt Disney's Funny Paperback.

Donald Duck is a hero for all situations. One of my favourite characters from the Disney studios. Yes, he's clumsy and choleric, but that's also what makes him so likeable and endearing. And above all funny. This year, the famous duck is celebrating his 90th birthday. To mark the occasion, Egmont Ehapa Verlag is publishing a special four-volume edition of Walt Disney's Funny Paperback (LTB).

The first volume, entitled "90 Years of Donald Duck", is on its way to us. It is expected to go on sale on 31 March. According to Egmont Ehapa Verlag, volumes two to four of the LTB special edition will be published between April and October. They will then also be available in our shop.

Unfortunately, the comics will not be available in all country shops.

Fiction

Funny Paperback Special Edition 90 Years of Donald. 01

German, Disney, 2024

The first volume in the series shows Donald with his three nephews Tick, Trick and Track. They often help their uncle out of trouble. In the second volume, his role as Scrooge McDuck's nephew takes centre stage. He very often drags Donald along on countless adventures - the poor fellow has to pay off his debts to his uncle in this way. The third volume is all about love. At least that's what we can assume, because the focus is on Donald's relationship with Daisy Duck. It concludes with his adventures with the biggest slob in Duckburg, Dussel Duck, and the luckiest man in the world, Franz Gans - his two cousins.

Donald Duck: His most important stations in a lifestyle magazine

In addition to the four-volume LTB special edition, there will also be other anniversary products. These include a 96-page issue of a Donald Duck lifestyle magazine. It is due to go on sale on 21 May. According to Egmont Ehapa Verlag, "Donald's story has never been told in such an exclusive and entertaining way". The most important stages of the last 90 years are highlighted in the book: from his first film role to the world-famous comic hero he is today. Among other things, comic authors and illustrators provide insights behind the scenes of their work.

Birth of a comic icon

On 9 June 1934, Donald Duck appeared for the first time in a supporting role in the cartoon "The Little Wise Hen". After a few more supporting roles, it wasn't long before Donald got his own series. The time had already come in 1937. The first short film in this series, "Don Donald", premiered on 9 January of that year.

The illustrators Don Rosa and Carl Barks had a particular influence on the development and success of the character. The latter created Donald's home town of Duckburg and introduced other important characters: Scrooge McDuck (1947), Gustav Gans (1948), the Tank Boys (1951), Daniel Gyro Gearloose (1952) and Gundel Gaukeley (1964).

Fun fact for Donald's birthday

In some comics, 9 June 1934 is Donald Duck's birthday. The exact day of his first appearance. In the animated film "Donald's Happy Birthday" from 1949, 13 March is set as his birthday - hence his licence plate number "313". The cartoonist Don Rosa later set 1920 as the year of his birth. <p

Header image: Kim Muntinga

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