A Guidebook to the Carl Barks Universe

Additional credits: The original idea for the story came from Barks. During the time that the story was fleshed out more fully Barks made a number of suggestions. Later on, he also contributed some additional gags.

The story has been accompanied with two covers:

walruses pulling sled [inked]
sled dogs pulling sled [inked]

Description: Donald is "junior assistant sidewalk super-intendent" for the McDuck Crackless Cement Company. Donald learns that Bearflanks in Alaska is a place where Scrooge doesn't own anything and he bets with Scrooge that he will be a succes there.

Surviving material:

One page synopsis for a 10 page Donald Duck story, with a small role for the nephews
One page synopsis for a 10 page Donald Duck story, with a bigger role for the nephews
Apparently, all finished art by Pat Block
Pencil drawings by Pat Block, offered for sale at Ebay from September to December 2000.
Pig villain study by Pat Block, offered for sale at Ebay in about November 2000.
Pencil layout by Pat Block, with notes by Carl Barks on at least two pages.

Appearances: McDuck Crackless Cement Company; Bearflanks in Alaska; Hamalot McSwine (inventor of hot-peppered Blubbersicles); Sourdough Sally (postmitress at the Bearflank Post Office); The Great Nowhere.

Backstage: At the end of 1996 Barks worked on a new Donald Duck comic book story, called "Somewhere in Nowhere" (28 pages). The story idea, by Barks, was worked out in travel to Orlando. Bill Grandey and Kathy Morby of the in 1998 defuncted Carl Barks Studio, hired freelancer John Lustig to put Barks' gags and story together with dialogue. Pat Block provided the art. Barks' role was editing his and Lustig's work as well as art. Detailed information

Interviews:

1997 Carl Barks phone interview by Fabio Pozzo (Rapallo, Italy)
Published in Italian "La Stampa" daily paper in February 6, 1997. Possibly as part of an article by Guido Tiberga.

Questions: When did Carl Barks travel to Orlando?

Sources

I TL 1061-A Zio Paperone e il casco d'oro [part 1]

Barrier: ---
CBL: ---
Type: story, three tiers per page
Art: Sandro Zemolin
Pencil: Romano Scarpa
Script: Romano Scarpa
Hero: Uncle Scrooge
Publication date: 1976, March 28 (Europe, Italy)
Issue: Topolino (Libretto) 1061
Pages: 40
Based on: siren idea

Additional credits: Part 2 of the story has been published in Topolino (Libretto) 1062

Description: Gyro produces money perfume for the Beagle Boys who give it to Brigitta. Their plan is simple: once Scrooge will be engaged with Brigitta they'll have the chance to attack the money bin. But Donald "saves" Scrooge from the marriage with Brigitta.

Surviving material:

siren idea

Status: Apparently, Barks' sketch has surfaced? See siren idea

Appearances: Beagle Boys, Donald Duck, Gyro Gearloose, Huey Dewey and Louie, Brigitta McBridge, Uncle Scrooge.

Backstage: The original Barks sketch with the idea got lost, before it was printed anywhere. Scarpa has tried to recreate it as close as he could and it is published in a Italian book on Scarpa by Luca Boschi, Leonardo Gori and Andrea Sani, as well as in "Uncle Scrooge" No. 242, April 1990. (Another recreation of this sketch, also by Scarpa, has been published in the "French Picsou Magazine - 60° anniversaire de Donald.")

Notes: As far as known, this story has never been reprinted outside of Italy. It is mentioned as "The Golden Bunch" in "Uncle Scrooge" No. 242.

Sources