Paul Murry
Yes, I know I haven’t completed my coverage of the MM
Adventures Line but I received the latest Paul Murry Disney Masters volume in
the mail and my muse grabbed me by the ears.
Few Mickey Mouse comic creators elicit such divisive opinions
as the quiet harmonica playing Paul Murry. Floyd Gottfredson is correctly seen
as Mickey’s Second Master (Walt being the first and foremost principal) and
modern-day luminaries like Casty are lauded for simultaneously returning Mickey
to his roots yet moving him forward. Romana Scarpa is noted for keeping the
Gottfredson’s spirit going in the Italian arna as the American Mickey Mouse
lapsed into comfortable domesticity. The same safe suburban attitude entrenched
Mickey into formulaic straight man roles in the animated shorts. Despite Bill
Walsh’s zany and convoluted plots, Mickey steadily devolved from rabid world
traveler to 1950s Father Knows Best fussbudget.
However, Paul Murry has a loud and determined fan base.
Disney comic expert David Gerstein, curator of the Disney Masters comic line,
has repeatedly noted how Murry story requests are the highest among readers
feedback. Clearly, he has devotees. Is it all because of childhood nostalgia? Does
his work hold up? Is he worthy of the term, “Disney Master?”
One of the most common complaint is that his Mickey lacks
spunk. As noted earlier, this didn’t start with Murry but was a holdover from
the Gottfredson run and the general malaise that surrounded Mickey’s character
in that era. Mickey went from ardent explorer to grand marshal of Disneyland.
It is hard to place blame on a freelancer collaborating with an outsourced
comic publisher for limiting Mickey’s personality when the studio itself left
him languish in bland viability. Murry’s Mickey isn’t that far off from what
direction Bill Walsh drove the character. If anything, Murry’s Mickey was
prevented from being made the butt of whatever joke struck Walsh’s fancy;
character consistency be damned.
Furthermore, Mickey’s drive for justice was still present
just understated. He worked at finding out what went wrong. He just wasn’t as
vocal. But when he was placed on a case, his desire to solve the case revealed
itself in staid tenacity with Goofy providing enough hijinks and laughter for
two characters.
That being said, I count myself among the Murry apologists.
I like his work, daresay, even enjoy it. It has a simple sentiment and cozy charm
that always leaves me content. Is it the most ambitious work? No, and I imagine
that leaves it lacking in the eyes of some but if Murry’s work is anything, it
is consistent. While Scarpa and later Gottfredson can swing widely from great
to utterly confusing like a roller coaster designed by a drunk architect, Murry’s
work remained steady as a standing order at the local diner. Not high cuisine
but comfort food.
So, head out and collect all the Murry Disney Masters
volumes. It is well worth the expense.
Two ears up!
