Ever Closer To That Goal

 

Walt Disney Comics Digest #39 (Feb. 1973)

Donald gives a gorilla a haircut, Moby Duck gives us the Morse Code, polar bears at a lodge give Mickey and Goofy the business, Bucky Bug and Bo take off in a balloon, and Grandma Duck's cranky neighbor thinks she's sabotaging his hens!

Walt Disney Comics Digest #51 (Feb. 1975)

The Wicked Witch stoops to a new low and catches Chip and Dale (where'd her ambition go?); the Big Bad Wolf is evicted and tries building his own houses out of straw, sticks, etc., with ironic results; Goofy tries out his detective skills with the help of his nephew Gilbert. I remember when The Island at the Top of the World came out; it turned out to be the end of a certain era of Victorian/Edwardian 'steampunk' movies.

Walt Disney Comics Digest #55 (Oct. 1975)

A back-to-school themed issue, with various citizens of Duckburg teaching classes with Huey, Dewey, and Louis as the springboard for the beginning of each adventure. Young Sequoyah and Young Dick Turpin find their vocations early.

Walt Disney Comics Digest #56 (Dec. 1975)

Mickey and Goofy face "The Threat of the Stone-Eaters" in a four-part story; Bucky Bug and Bo find a "Ghost Ship"; Chip and Dale vie for the attention of Miss Chichi, who seems to ignore the dangers of the woods; Uncle Scrooge finds the Fountain of Youth, and all its drawbacks; Goofy and Gilbert dress as each other at a masquerade party and Goofy is accidentally summoned to work on a secret government rocket fuel project; Pluto contends with a bratty kid; and Grandma Duck contends with Gyro's new weather predicter and a cantankerous goat.

Dear 1970’s Bryan,

          You will be pleased to hear that yesterday (Monday Oct. 3, 2022) I got four more of the Walt Disney Comics Digests in the mail. You might especially be tickled that the earliest one (#39) dates from February 1973, right in the sweet spot of our Fourth Grade Renaissance. To give it some perspective, Susan wouldn’t even be born until that March!

The other three (#51, #55, & #56) are from the period when the series was winding down (February through December 1975) though #56 seems to rally quite nicely. They came out during the Briesemeister years. We never had any of these issues, so it’s all new to me.

Although I had ordered the four digests from three different companies on September 28, they all arrived at the same time. That left three issues unavailable from Amazon at the time of ordering:  #31, #38, & #53. Today after the delivery I checked again. Thirty-one was available but at a prohibitive price, Thirty-Eight was still unavailable, but Fifty-Three was there, at the quite reasonable price of $15, so I ordered it right away. It’s due on the 12^th.

Although I see the others are on eBay at very reasonable prices, I don’t know that I want to open that can of worms again. Which is a shame, because the pricey #31 is giving me vibes of familiarity. I seem to remember Tinkerbell blinding Smee with reflections off that golden ring she’s wearing as a tiara on the cover.

Anyway, I’m hoping that when (and if) I finish this collection and fulfill this long-held desire, it will help you to rest a little more easily, deep down there in the back of my memories.

Sincerely Yours,

    2020’s Bryan