Mickey Mouse Versus the Mouseton Society of Evil

Apologies for the delay but I accidentally listed my parents' address on the Amazon order. I made it home and collected the volume. Let's do this!

Disney comics can sometimes become struck in the proverbial rut - if you can forgive a tired cliche. Unca Carl and Unca Floyd's shadows loom over Duck and Mice comics, decades after their retirements and passing into eternal rest. Often, artists, editors, and writers feel obligated to craft their stories within that framework. After all, those men were geniuses. Disney Legends with the statues and libraries to prove it. 

Even Don Rosa, for all his articulate scripting, lavished art, and painstakingly demand to detail, still operated within the pages that Carl Barks wrote. Rosa, like Thomas Malory, sought to collect the various stories and establish a stable canon view. Certainly, it was a canon viewpoint that he always maintained no one else was obligated to follow. However, his magnus opus towered over the other flowers and grabbed the most sunlight.

The French Genat series, which invites noted artists and writers - outside of the typical Disney crew, to write Mickey Mouse stories generally breaks away from a laborious approach to tradition and allows more creatively without wondering "Is this how the maestros would have done it?". Yes, Zombie Coffee (review here) operated inside the early 1930s Gottfredson setting. However, the overall story, bustling as it was with Depression-era energy and fervor, was a facsimile. The character actions were modern. Clarabelle and Minnie were more active - a positive thing - than in most or all Gottfredson tales. 

This blog also reviewed "Mickey Mouse and the Lost Ocean," an excellent tale, which draws upon a 1930s Gottfredson character for the plot, but breaks away into more contemporary actions while forging ahead independently. 

Walt viewed Mickey and friends as actors. The comic strip never followed that line of thinking until the Robinson Crouse serial where Walt calls Mickey up on the phone about an acting job! It is rather jarringly to modern eyes. But in those days, newspapers regularly ran amusingly pieces about Mickey and pals as Hollywood actors. The shorts, in those days, reset the relationships all the times - "Building a Building" and the "Klondike Kid" has Mickey meeting Minnie for the first time and "Ye Olden Days" is set back in medieval times! 

"The Mouseton Society of Evil" continues that grand tradition. The year is 2128! This can't be the typical comic Mickey set in our present time. Does the "actor" storyline remove a sense of closeness and caring for the character? 

I used to wrestle with that question. It never bothered me in the shorts but for the comic strips - I specific Gottfredson's stories for this, at the time I knew no others - I heartily disagreed the idea that my black-and-white, newspaper Mickey (the best portrayal) "acted" in his adventures. My passion burned with the fire of the newfound convert - meaning well but not taming the flames. 

Then, I started thinking. As long as Mickey remains the steadfast, bold, plunging ahead, hero; won't I still enjoy his stories? The Brave Little Tailor Mickey excites me as much as the Three Musketeers Mickey and they certainly don't inhabit the same universe. His core personality did not vanish. It doesn't vanish in this story either. 

Mickey Mouse and the Mouseton Society of Evil

Lesson Learned: In villainous team-ups, Benedict Arnolds and Judases are everywhere

The coloring chosen for the cover is a perfect turquoise, reminiscent of Flo from Cars. The retro style mixes perfectly with the futuristic setting. Nicolas Pothier is the author. Johan Pilet handles the art and color. Jonathan Gray brings his usual witty style to the dialogue and translation. 

The story opens with a gorgeous shot of New Mouseton, immediately establishing the venue. The speeding display of rockets, cars, and blimps create a vibrant, live-in world. 

Perfect pastel

The peace harmony is shattered by the Phantom Revenant Blot robbing a bank because digital money is still money even if big money of moolah are more fun. The incident calls Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger MOU-53 of U.F.O. Force Five into action. 

Reminds me of Darkenblot, except Mickey had the jetpack

He chases the Revenant Blot throughout the city before the villain's jetpack suddenly loses power and he plunges into a ball pit. The justice system works a little faster in the future (nice cameo by Clarabelle Cow) and the Blot receives 200 years (!) for his crime. Chief O'Hara credits M1CKEY for his good work but the hero, having seen every action movie from the early 2000s, has an eerie feeling that the arrest was too easy.

Getting captured is so 2012! Seriously, that was every villain's plan.

Turns out, he was right! The Blot, like the Joker, Loki, Silva, etc, planned to get captured to access the prison where all the baddest baddies are locked up. The players are helpfully introduced: Spectrus, Prosthesis Pete (his PC name), Dr. Adenoid Vulter, and the Beagle Bros (it is a family business, after all). The warden decides to tempt fate by bragging about how inescapable his prison is. 

The Blot sneaked a bunch of shrinking capsules in his gloves because apparently this advanced society doesn't perform security checks. He shrinks down and goes from cell to cell, recruiting his team. As they move about the Blot is amusingly crushed by a guard's foot. For a character often taken seriously, perhaps too seriously for someone clad as a Scooby Doo villain, this story casts him in a more comedic light. It reminds me of the 1960s Western stories. 

Off on the wrong foot

The collection of villains hitch a ride on a recently released Kat Nipp (talk about a deep cut) and his rocket back to Earth. Unfortunately for the motley crew, the shrink drops wear off. 

Everyone is always messing with Nipp

Back on Earth, the news of the prison break hits and Chief O'Hara and M1CKEY are pondering what to do when suddenly a giant robot crab attacks the city. Well, I didn't see that coming. M1CKEY says "Great squeak!" in another attempt at raising my blood pressure with that catchphrase. O'Hara references the 1960s Batman show (the best Batman) when asking if he has any anti-giant-crustacean spray. Elite writing!

The script is full of those references and it really adds to the story's fun. Just don't play a drinking game with them. 

As M1CKEY fights Sebastian's mutant cousin, the villains in their mountainous base pondered the most important aspect: what to name their team? The Blot declares them the New Mouseton Society of Evil. Of course, his conspirators disagree and list their suggestions. All of which are terrible. However, there is one villain or, as the Blot puts it, "RPG party member" left to reveal. Drumroll, please. It is Emil Eagle! Hooray!

They are villains, not publicists

Quick timeout. Villain team-ups generally fall under the categories of awesome or missed opportunity. There are plenty of chances for good character interactions or for folks to slip through the cracks. This tale does a decent job of juggling its varied villains with one exception. 

Eagle's crab nails M1CKEY's rocket, forcing a crash landing. Since the crustacean robot took out the antenna, all the egophones (commentary!) no longer work. The Blot reveals his plan. Using Spectrus' hypnotic powers to connect to every egophone in Calisota, they will turn the world into zealous fanboys and girls. 

However, because this is an action comic, they also have a giant robot called Jojo. 

I love Disney comics! 

The Blot breaks down the plan. Pete and Vulter will steal the giant batteries from Scrooge McDuck for Jojo. The massive robot, piloted by Beagle Bros, will replace the broken antenna, so Spectrus can hypnotize the city. A solid plan but Kat Nipp disagrees. He pays the price for his cynicism, as another robot boots him out. 

Nipp never learns

The scene transitions to M1CKEY standing trial for his failure to stop crabzilla. The future is a tough place. He is stripped of his job title and returns to his main job of theme part operator. Of course, it was a sham trial, designed to drop M1CKEY off the grid. Like a true hero, he sacrificed his reputation for justice. 

Since the Blot built a team, M1CKEY decides to emulate his adversity and forms the Avengers. Since he learned nothing from multiple shorts and decades of comics, he recruits Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and a robotic Pluto. 

Where is Horace???

He gathers the team and explains how he knows the plan since Kat Nipp squealed to the cops. You can't trust cats. The costumes have no caps - delighting Edna Mode - but Donald says a duck can't avenge without his cape.

The new team poses - as they must - as part of the new U.F.O. Force Five. Toys available in the store!

I would buy the Bend-ems

We get a couple of great references: "The Houseship of Mouse" (put House of Mouse on Disney+) and Donald wants to call the team the Fighty Ducks.

Pete and Dr. Vulter drive the latter's pirate submarine through the canals to the vault. That will be the extent of Vultur's contribution as Pete steals the show. Minnie and Goofy appear as the villains drop the batteries into the smuggler's tunnels below. Minnie blasts Pete but the duo fall into the water and take a ride. 

Petebilt!

Meanwhile, M1CKEY and Pluto are fighting bullet blots outside the villains' lair. Donald, being incredibly useful, is back at base making cappuccinos. The scene cuts back to Minnie and Goofy ending up in Barks Lake (I warned you about the drinking game!) Pete flies by with the batteries but Vulter picks the wrong spot to resurface and is quickly captured. 

Barks Lake! Next to Gottfredson Falls

Speaking of captured, Mickey and Pluto are about to assault the lair when the Blot stuns them from behind. He brings them inside and prepares to shoot the pair out of a Super Space Cannon. His over-the-top-evil plan is halted by Emil and Pete. Emil says there has been a change in management and orders the Teleroboxer to knock out the Blot. This is why you don't work with other villains, Blot. 

Emil packages the trio into the ball and shoots them 300,000 miles away to Planet Palindrome. Minnie, Donald, and Goofy can't believe the GPS readings from M1CKEY. They locate the planet and Minnie and Donald board the Halojet for the three day journey.

Emil Arnold

With the space rangers out of orbit, Emil launches his operation with Jojo, piloted by the Beagle Bros, competently placing the rabbit ears on the tower. Spectrus begins his hypnotism when PLOT TWIST! Pete betrays Emil and commands the Teleroboxer to waylay the competition. 

Et tu, Pete?

As Benedict Pete works betrayal on Earth, Minnie and Donald land on the planet and discover M1CKEY, the Blot, and Pluto tied up. They free the trio and almost escape but Donald's crackling transmitter awakens an extraterrestial. The alien tripod has the group in trouble when suddenly Deus Ex Eega Beeva appears to dismantle the foe. 

Oh great, now I have to read all these Ps! 

Eega Beeva explains his appearance on the isolated planet - he likes dark caves and eats palindromian rocks and not that his agent negotiates great deals. He also shows off his lectro box- er Deus Ex Boxina - another great reference! As they talk, the Blot slips away and steals their ship! Beeva says no worries. His ship can teleports everyone home. That sounds too convenient and, of course, Donald ruins it by breaking the ship with the Deus Ex Boxina. Beeva comments it will take three days to fix - the perfect amount of time for a climatic ending! 

Always take the keys with you!

M1CKEY arrives outside the mountain lair as the Blot and Emil also appear to set up a battle royale of betrayal. As the three fight it out, M1CKEY captures Spectrus and orders him to release the citizens and drop an anvil about thinking for yourself and buy Disney stock. 

As M1CKEY walks away with Spectrus, the fighting trio notices and the word bubble amusingly uses the Mickey Mouse comic logo! Pete grabs his robotic hand but M1CKEY uses the Boxina to send him flying around the room. He inadventerly smashes into M1CKEY and sends the Boxina flying. Pluto catches it and flips the gamechanger to M1CKEY. Like Russell Wilson in the Super Bowl, his throw is intercepted by Teleroboxer. Whose fist crunches the Boxina, setting up an explosion. 

I just love the logo insertion

Meanwhile in New Mouseton, Minnie, Donald, and Eega Beeva are fighting the Beagle Bros and Jojo. The massive foe goes down in two pages. The villains are returned to prison (they will break out again but only if a sequel occurs) and the heroes receive a medal ceremony. Except for Goofy, who is flying the robot to space and forgot to turn the thrusters off. Death in space. Gawrsh!

I think M1CKEY did this on purpose

If you are looking for a fun, escapist yarn with plenty of clever references and retro artwork, "Society of Evil" fits the bill. But don't take my word for it. Think for yourself! It might not have the depth of the deepest Mickey stories, but sometimes a reader just wants to blast off into a good time. This story delivers! Now, reshare the review on your egophone!

Two ears up!

Floyd Gottfredson May: Mickey Mouse Joins the Foreign Legion

Opening disclaimer: Objectively about this saga (because this isn't just any story) will be nearly impossible. A friend from church made a Mickey Mouse Foreign Legion plush for me. If people ask why I remain a dedicated Mickey Mouse fan in an era where the company only seems interested in keeping him active as a theme park spokesmouse, a preschool show host, and a merchandising icon, I point to serials like these. 

Poke around the internet and the typical complaints about Mickey emerge in a predictable pattern. "He is too squeaky-clean." "He has no edge." "He isn't funny." etc etc. In fairness, some of those notes have legitimacy. The last Mickey shorts in the 1950s were fallow. They were pleasant diversions but nothing more. Mickey isn't certainly the funniest character in the Disney stable but he has chops. They simply aren't easily exploitable as Donald or Goofy. 

"Foreign Legion" portrayals a Mickey that is far from home, lacking allies, in a situation where the villains can remove him under the guise of legality, yet he retains his plucky spirit and can-do-attitude. This Mouse isn't staid or unwilling to embark on adventure. He bravely takes the case and prevails with his steadfast spirit and a bit of luck. 90 years later and the tale continues to inspire. That, Mouseketeers, is immortality. 

Mickey Mouse Joins the Foreign Legion

Lesson Learned: If someone follows you across the world, they work for the Secret Service

The narrative opens with Mickey and Minnie heading to Captain Churchmouse's house. The plot point originated at the end of the last serial, "Oscar the Ostrich" and Gottfredson wastes no time in continuing the arc. They arrive at the house and discover the abode overrun with weeds and unkempt. A neighbor informs them that the Churchmouses (Churchmice?) are away on a journey. 

                                                             I hope they canceled their mail

Mickey naturally assumes that Goofy and Horace - those cads - played a prank on him. A reasonable conclusion but instead two hooded figures ambush Mickey and steal him away. They take Mickey to the boss (you know he is the boss because his hood is gray) and the leader demands to know the blueprints for Captain Doberman's new airplane. 

Mickey refuses to answer the claim and the hooded figures unveil a machine gun! Naturally, Mickey is too clever and smirks that they won't shoot him because dead men tell no tales (and they don't make good Pirates of the Caribbean movies either). 

                                                                        Shooters shoot!

What follows is the wonderful juxtaposition between drama and humor that only funny animal comics can bring us. They tie Mickey to a table and sprinkle chickenfeed on his chest. A hen is released and pecks all the food. The ploy fails. What happens next is massive acceleration as they send Mickey to the gallows! 

They don't show this on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. 

Anyhow, Mickey refuses to squeak and apparently plunges to his death without complaint. What a downer to end the strip on. 

Well, of course, he didn't die. Captain Doberman is waiting for Mickey and congratulates him on passing the test. They need Mickey for a secret mission and absolute secrecy was needed. Major Beagle (who is an actual dog and not a duck) reveals the mission. Trigger Hawkes (great name) is the suspect behind the stolen gun plans. 

                                                                                    Doberman's trolling grin                                                               

Mickey argues that he is no detective (heroes don't lie, Mickey) but Major Beagle appeals to his sense of patriotism. With the exposition completed, Mickey heads out on the case. While waiting to call Minnie about developments, the phone booth door opens and, in a stroke of luck, Hawkes walks out. 

Mickey tails him down the docks where Hawkes is meeting with his informant. Our hero ducks into a crate of cabbage and listens in. Before he can hear the important details, some sailors scare off the conspirators and throw the carte into the storage hold. The impact knocks Mickey out and the ship sets sail. 

Mickey awakens and attempts to flee the ship on a lifeboat. Unfortunately, he is caught and thrown in the brig before being set to work cleaning the deck. He attempts to send a telegram to Major Beagle but stowaways aren't allowed that privilege. Lost at what to do, his luck once again kicks in. Mickey, in a fit of anger, knocks aside his bucket and spills water on Trigger Hawkes! 

All washed up

Realizing that Hawkes is headed to Africa, Mickey finds his room and profusely thanks the traitor for not reporting him to the captain. Hawkes brushes it off and heads out. Mickey fiddles with the lock and slips in. While snooping, Hawkes suddenly returns and catches him in the act. Mickey immediately plays the naive waif and begs for a chance to prove his worth. Hawkes agrees and gives Mickey a package to slip past customs. 

As the ship docks in Africa, Mickey attempts to head ashore only to discover that stowaways aren't given that privilege either. Next comes a tactic which hasn't aged well. He dons some paint for a native disguise. The local cops caught him sliding on the rope and mistakenly assumes he is trying to board the ship. They tell him to stay on land which works for Mickey's purposes. 

He opens the box to discover, not the gun plans, but a string of diamonds. He asks a legionnaire who happens to be Trigger in disguise. Hawkes takes back the package and tells Mickey to return to the ship. Mickey then enlists in the Foreign Legion. Meanwhile in Mouseton, Doberman informs Minnie where Mickey in a cute, little domestic scene.

Minnie does well in this tale

Now the action starts heating up, as we receive back-to-back strips where a character discovers a major and unexpected surprise. First, Hawkes relaxes on the train thinking he is entirely safe and asks a fellow soldier for a match. The soldier spins around to reveal Mickey saying, "Nope! Sorry! I don't smoke!" 

Secondly, Mickey receives instructions to report to Major Beau Chest. He announces, "Private Mickey Mouse reporting, sir!" The major spins around and declares, "Well, I'll be a cockeyed camel!" That's right, Mouseketeers, it is Pegleg Pete! 

10/10 surprises

Pete, being no dummy, quickly asserts his line-of-command over Mickey and delivers a number of threats to the Mouse. He calls in Hawkes and reads him the riot act for letting Mickey follow him into the Legion. In a nice use of irony, both Mickey and Pete think they have the advantage. 

Pete knows the gig

The next series of strips see Pete physically, verbally, and commandally abuse Mickey to the breaking point. Mickey is knocked around, forced to dig and then fill in a massive trench, perform sentry duty, and shoot endless rounds of ammo. There is a method to Pete's cruelty. His hands will be legally clean if Mickey should die. 

Hawkes, tired of the delay, suggests shooting Mickey but Pete disdains of the idea saying they will get caught. Instead, he requests a volunteer for a dangerous mission, asking "What are yuh? Men or mice?" Hawks jabs Mickey with a bayonet and his vocalization of pain is taken as a yes. 

Pete orders Mickey to walk 200 miles in the desert on a spying mission. Mickey heads out and Pete and Trigger drunkenly sing about their enemy's impending demise. As a reader who isn't fond of the recent Italian trend of making Mickey and Pete frenemies, sagas like these reinforce why the idea doesn't jive. There is too much bitter history. 

Mickey's water quickly depletes and the situation looks hopeless. The Colonel calls in Pete and asks why a private was sent on a forlorn hope. He orders Pete to bring Mickey back or be shot. Well, Pete isn't down for his death and gallops off to save his archenemy. 

Should have just shot him, Pete!

He finds a passed out Mickey and we receive a great comedy scene where Pete pleads for Mickey to live. Mickey, half-awake, enjoys hearing the pleas and then steals the horse, leaving Pete to walk 40 miles. Of course, Mickey heads back and allows Pete to ride together until the ten mile mark where he bucks Pete off. There is your edgy Mickey!

The Colonel hears both sides of the story - as Pete stares at a sheepish Mickey, who knows he poked the bear - and reprimands Mickey publicly while agreeing Pete received what he deserved. Interestingly, a continuity error pops up with the Colonel addressing Pete as a segreant when he was previously introduced as a major.

That side-eye

Mickey heads to Pete's room looking for the blueprints and finds them underneath the mattress. He is ready to grab them when Pete and Hawkes walk in. Pete lays out his plan. He received orders to lead three scouting parties into the desert. Once there, he and Trigger will desert and join up with Sheik Yussuf Aiper and lead 1,000 men to wipe out the scouting party. 

Mickey immediately reports the information to the Colonel. The Colonel says they can't arrest them on mere suspicion (iffy logic) but Mickey has a plan for a more dramatic ending. Pete's party heads out on the expedition while Mickey, disguised as a salesman, travels to see Yussuf Aiper. 

He meets up with the sheik and sells some guns and ammo (Mickey Mouse, Arms Dealer) to the Scourge of the Desert. He brags about all the plundering and loot he will do with the new guns. (VILLAIN SONG TIME) Then, he pulls a Darth Vader (or does Vader pull an Yussuf Aiper?) by altering the deal and taking back the money he paid! This is why Disney doesn't offer refunds. 

Villains don't pay off their credit cards

Mickey gallops to the Legion's scouting camp and reports to duty. Pete and Hawkes are thrilled and head out leaving Corporal Hank in charge. Well, if you called Hank, you are only good for singing country music. Mickey issues some orders and Hank says he was left in charge. Mickey pulls out some papers from the Colonel and turns out he is now Lieutenant Mouse! Mickey unveils his plan of keen strategy. Hank has his doubts but follows through. 

The men are spaced out fifty yards apart, as Aiper, Pete, Trigger, and the cavalry charged into the camp. Aiper is enraged to discover zero Legionnaires. Mickey jumps up and demands their surrender. Well, villains hate that maneuver and Aiper orders his men to shoot Mickey. 

The guns misfire (there is a pill for that) and Aiper decides to ride him down. Mickey commands his men to fire and Aiper immediately invokes the Geneva Convention while saying he will never surrender. Mickey says too bad and prepares for the fire order when Aiper gives up the ghost. 

Strategy!

The entire tribe is processed and unsurprisingly Pete is nowhere to be found. Corporal Hank, a brave soul but not too bright, admits he saw the fiend slip away. Mickey asks why he didn't shoot him? Hank replied that he was following orders to not shoot until commanded. 

Everyone is angry about Pete's clever deflection but Hawkes reveals that he didn't trust Pete and swiped the blueprints. He yields the document to Mickey in a sportsmanlike gesture. Mickey tells the Colonel that Pete escaped. The Colonel isn't worried, saying they will offer a big reward for his capture. Aiper sneers that his tribe will take care of the big palooka. (Silly Colonel and Aiper, don't they realize reoccurring villains can't be killed?)

The Colonel offers Mickey to name his reward. Mickey, of course, asks for a vacation house on the French Rivera and the right to build EuroDisney. Just kidding, he requests his honorable discharge from the Legion and the right to salute the swellest officer the Legion ever had. 

Respect!

Captain Doberman greets Mickey at the docks as Hawkes is handed over to the authorities. Major Beagle closes the case and hands Mickey two checks. 

Maybe not a book but a newspaper strip!

What follows is a delightful vignette that touches perfectly on why Mickey and Minnie work as a couple. Mickey, in another salesman disguise, heads to her house. He tries to push some merchandise on her but she angrily refuses. Mickey pulls off the gag and reveals himself to her. He jokes about leaving again as he has two job offers on the table and admits they are hard to turn. What does Minnie have to keep him on the home front? Turns out, pie does the trick. 

Mouseworks refers his pie obsession

"Joins the Foreign Legion" succeeds because Mickey is such a strong character. Most stories pair the Mouse with a sidekick, who often swipes the spotlight, or handles the comedic material. Here, Mickey carries the brunt of the action and comedy and the villains' stabs. 

Francesco Stajano and Leonardo Gori wrote a brilliant foreword for the story in the Floyd Gottfredson Library. Their final paragraph perfectly captures why the narrative resonates. In its entirely:

"Overall, "Foreign Legion" is an uplifting story, with Gottfredson and his team at their graphical apogee. Mickey rises from lowliest private soldier to decorated war hero, proving any man can be great in the face of adversity if he trusts his potential and his beliefs."

Two ears up! 

On the docket? A Scooby Doo caper!

Floyd Gottfredson May: Oscar the Ostrich

Would you believe that, despite the tagline, I haven't reviewed a Gottfredson story yet? Clearly, I have been delinquent in my duties and obligations! Since May is his birthday month, I am dedicating my time to reviewing the Fourth Volume of his astounding library published by Fantagraphics. 

*I will also fit in Mickey Mouse Versus the Mouseton Society of Evil. Unfortunately, the preorder address was my parents' home. When I ordered the volume last August, I assumed a different job location. The best laid plans of mice and bloggers. 

Volume Four is the most read in my collection. The binding is nearly faded away. Compare that to Volume 12, which looks barely touched. Gottfredson was at his storytelling best, churning out classic after classic serial, including my personal favorite, "Mickey Mouse Joins the Foreign Legion." When people ask me why Mickey is my favorite character, I point to this volume. 

All that praise leads me to my ironic lede. The first story, "Oscar the Ostrich" is my least favorite in the volume. I have never cared much for the animated-preferred scenario of Mickey versus mischievous and troublesome animal and the tale, coming right after the magnificent and high-staked "Pirate Submarine," pales in comparison. However, there are still amusing moments and Floyd's art brings a level of kinetic energy to the newspaper. 

Oscar the Ostrich

Lesson Learned: Jerkish animals are financially ruinous

Historically, this tale holds an important milestone as the first appearance of Goofy under his current moniker. The name Dippy Dawg has been retired and the Social Security card updated. However, some old vestiges of the strip remain. The tale begins with Mickey and Horace Horsecollar talking shop and the latter showing off his newly purchased and renovated secondhand automobile. 

                                                               I don't miss car payments!

Horace allows Mickey to borrow the car to take Minnie for a pleasant Sunday drive. The lovebirds use the opportunity to drop exposition about the "Pirate Submarine" when an ostrich hops into the backseat. The perils of open-air cars. 

Mickey explains how he only take chances with his stuff and not other peoples, bringing down the god of irony down upon his red shorts. Oscar eats the upholstery and the flower on Minnie's hat. Horace is understandably outraged and forces Mickey to keep the giant bird. 

Mickey heads to the local pet shop where Tony Dinero, taking a break from Lady and Tramp, lies and pretends he has never seen Oscar before. The Mouse decides to give Oscar away but the bird's jerk behavior and wanton destruction makes him impossible to give away. 

Goofy stops by to talk with Mickey and Oscar decides to risk his future in the strip to by hammering the Goof's head like a woodpecker. Goofy, displaying the masochistic behavior characterized on Goof Troop, keeps trying to make friends with the angry, flightless bird. 

                                                                    I call it self-defense

Mickey, becoming increasingly desperate to unload the most annoying feathered creation since Big Bird, LOCKS OSCAR IN A WOODEN CAGE and leaves him by the roadside! Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would be a thousand times better with this Mickey.  

Of course, it doesn't work as the thumbless bird breaks free and zooms by the car with a beep beep! The sheriff tracks Mickey down and tells him to appear in court because of property damages. The toxic relationship reflects on how Mickey hasn't become a core consultant for the police. At this point, Mickey and law aren't best pals. Of course, Mouseton law in the early years was one step above Somalia. 

The judge fines Mickey $264.13 or risk prison for five years. He has two weeks to raise the cash or risk becoming a cellmate's lover. He decides to use Oscar in a delivery service plan. See, once upon a time, grocery stores delivered to their customers. Then, the practice went away. Now, it has begun to return. There is nothing new under the sun!

                                                            This isn't how things worked in Marceline!

It starts off promising before the hungry and jerkish Oscar eats multiple and expensive groceries. Mickey decides to give up - seems out of character - and turns himself into the police. They make some gallows humor before throwing him out on the street. There, he discovers that a wacky animal race is taking place with a rich prize of $300. 

                                                                    The cops' joke is great!

Mickey hawks some items for the $10 entry fee (he was quite poor before opening the theme parks) and then the sheriff shows up. Mickey the fugitive takes off for the course and pays his entry fee. Contestants include Goofy with his horse and Donald Duck in a bathtub. 

The Duck floods the track with water but Mickey and Oscar trudge through the muck. Donald is hoisted by his own petard after getting stuck in the mud. 

                                                                      Would be great animated

Goofy knocks out Oscar with his special glove but the bird rejuvenates and remembers he bleeping hates the Goof. Anger leads to the Dark Side and second place as Oscar's pecking eliminates Goofy's vehicle and his already meager IQ. 

There is only one contestant left but he doesn't have a name, so Mickey obviously passes him for the win. Oscar eats the winner's flower arrangement because he is a menace. Mickey is about to win $300 when Tony Dinero barges in and says he owns the bird. Because winning has a thousand fathers and defeat is an orphan. 

                                                                        Restaurants aren't cheap

Mouseton law is Mouseton law and Dinero has the $300 dollars and laughs in the Mouse's face. He gives Mickey $25 as a mocking reward but our hero is smarter than a stereotype and rushes the Sheriff over. Mickey tricks Dinero into admitting he has always owned Oscar and the man's continuing ownership of an Italian restaurant for dog dating takes a hit. 

The scene cuts to Mickey and Minnie on a moonlight scroll. Mickey admits it is time for a good rest and once again the gods of irony strikes. A message attached to the door says Captain Churchmouse needs his help. Cliffhanger! 

Dramatic music!

Re-reading the serial for this review has grown my opinion. It is still my least favorite of the volume but the energy is great and there are some fun gags. The story forms a nice interlude between "Pirate Submarine" and "Foreign Legion."

Speaking of "Foreign Legion," it is my all-time favorite Mickey story! You won't want to miss that review!

One and an half ears up!

                                                      COMING SOON!

Happy 121st Birthday to Floyd Gottfredson!

Thank you for essentially creating and developing Disney Comics!

The debt of gratitude can never be repaid!

Check out my Ode to Floyd written in 2022 - time has passed but the sentiments never change!

COMING SOON!

April 28 cannot arrive soon enough!

Ripples in Time (Part II)

In my field of business, March is madness, but I survived the month and the latest edition of Mickey Mouse arrived in my mailbox. So, it is time for the review of the thrilling conclusion of Ripples in Time! 

Quick recap of Part I: the villainous Rhyming Man returned in another mad attempt for world domination. A series of vibrations have occurred, caused by interference with the timeline. Our heroes, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and time traveler Uma, track down the Rhyming Man to a laboratory, who escapes via a time machine. 

No, that is not Minnie Mouse in a blonde wig

 Proving the adage that heroes react while villains act, the trio and the scientists discuss what to do next. Goofy apparently had no clue who the Rhyming Man was (Mickey never shared his stories and Goofy has never faced him?) and Mickey casually drops how he and Eega Beeva clashed with the foe. "World-famous villain? Yeah, I beat those by lunch."

Uma asked about him and Mickey is like, "Yeah, he is my other time traveling buddy. I am the everyman mouse with fantastical friends."

Next crossover should be Uma and Eega Beeva. 

The scientists ask how Uma is and she mentions her status and her assignment. Goofy inserts some delightful word play "verse-spoutin' vermin." Mickey questions them about how the villainous villanelle broke in. 

The scientists use a flashback to explain how the Rhyming Man broke in earlier after the trio left and blackmailed the duo. 

By the way, the i in the Rhyming Man's speech bubbles aren't capitalized because he is a fan of e.e. cummings. 

Does this mean Mickey and Goofy fought in the Crusades??? I know in one Italian story Mickey served under Robert E. Lee!

The physical evidence explains why he went around defacing books. Another reason why reading is more important than Netflix. Uma discovers he went to the year 2053 - the Browns finally win a Super Bowl that season - which is Uma's year. The scientists figure out that the disruptions are coming from his presence there. Mickey is all gung-ho to catch him - adrenaline junkie - but the scientists explain his traveling would only cause more trouble. 

Uma says she will go and catch him - no harm, no foul by returning to her time. The only catch? Her time is so advanced that a return window has become obscure. Mickey is still eager to go (nothing good on TV) but Uma denies his request on the reasonable grounds of continuum destruction. 

Mickey, remembering the script from The Amazing Lost Ocean, suggests using the scientists' hologram machine that allows people to virtually go to the future. How convenient. This is why I don't care for time travel stories. 

Uma likes the idea and heads back to the future before Goofy can return Chernov's disc. That will be an important plot point. Mickey dismisses his concern and asks him if he is ready for a peek at the world of tomorrow (I get that reference!)

Joe Torcivia, our clever dialogue man, drops another reference with Uma's world to come quote. Which works on two levels since the Rhyming Man starred in that adventure. I might have chortled with glee. 

Mickey is amazed by the futuristic world but frankly it looks the same as the city in Darkenblot. 

The city continues to quake due to the ripples and as long as the Rhyming Man stays in the future, events will only continue to worsen. 

                                                          I love how future clothes are always so tacky. 

"Bad vibes give me worse vibes" is a lame line that crosses over into being hilarious. 

The Rhyming Man heads to a library to collect additional information and checks out. He discovers that inflation (are we sure this isn't set in the present?) has accelerated to unprecedented levels and the bill comes to $45,000.16. Interestingly, the future still takes cash! 

Two things: 1. I like how an unexpected thing like incredible cost trips up a devious plan. 2. Why is a library charging to checkout? Did something get lost in translation?

Like a true villain, he decides to shoplift, grabs one CD, and darts for the exit. He races out the door and runs into the trio. A massive ripple arrives, allowing him to slip away. 

They decide to lay a trap, like a fly with honey. The word triggers Uma's memory about the H.O.N.E.Y. (Hypertechno-Logical Omnidisc Numerically Encoded By Year). Of course, that disk was the one she dropped back in 2026. But no worries, she has a plan.

The Rhyming Man rants about how the disc he stole only covers ships and fish. His mood might explain why he falls for the trio's most transparent trap in recorded history. They brag about having an important disc and Mr. Poet falls for it. Uma grabs him and returns to 2026. 

They subdue the Rhyming Man until Goofy, once again proving loose lips sink ships, opens his gawrsh-dang mouth and mentions the omnidisc. The Rhyming Man gains a second wind and breaks free. The trio chases him across some gorgeous twilight artwork. They head to the Williamsbird Bridge - because Spiderman homages are great for brand synergy. 

(Thoughts on the new Spiderman trailer?)

Uma pulls out how zapping gun which creates amnesia - you know if it shot real bullets the struggle is over. She tells him to forget the future and how to rhyme (that is a war crime, Uma) for a week. Which means, the Rhyming Man talks normally! 

I would have enjoyed this twist even more had the Crosstalk update on the inner cover not spoiled it. 

Despite his lack of rhymes, he is still a physical threat (if not as fun), and rushes at the heroes. He plunges over the side, quoting "I appear to be doomed" and falls into the water. Because if a story features the Rhyming Man, he must plunge into the murky depths - it is the law. 

They wonder if he will ever come back - and Mickey knowing how these things work - says yes. 

Artistic homage to the World to Come

Uma immediately dips out, forcing Mickey to recount the story to the scientists. Dr. Marlin says he knows why she left early and says he will remember your adventure. The scene cuts to the future where Uma reports back to her superiors. 

The head scientist reveals himself as knowing how everything would proceed since Mickey and Goofy told him everything in 2026, thus the disc was actually a bunch of 1940s cartoons. What a twist!

Ripples in Time works well enough as a fun story to attract readers. The interplay between the trio carries the story. The Rhyming Man doesn't really do as much as in his previous jaunts and the final twist, if I am reading it correctly, suggests that the outcome was predestined, so even if he obtained the disc, it only contained cartoons. That is not much better than "it is just a dream" trope.

Torcivia's scripting once again does a great job of enhancing the plot. I assume the references to other stories are his own. It is a nice touch that adds to the richness of Mickey Mouse's comic universe. 

I can't wait for the next issue. But until then, the Mickey Mouse Versus the Mouseton Society of Evil releases this month. I already preordered. I suggest you follow in my footsteps! 

One and an half ears up!