As a child of the 90s, Darkwing Duck was a HUGE part of my daily afternoon. Superheroes were (and still are) a perfect escape for my wild, wandering imagination. As a young kid my parents never bought me the “villain” action figures because they wanted me to focus on the good in life. It wasn’t until I was maybe five or six that someone in the toy aisle told my mom, “The good guys have to have someone to conflict with. It makes them better heroes.” From that day on, my favorite villains were always the ones that had a little bit of the heroes dark side in them. Reverse Flash, Sabertooth, Red Scull, The Shredder…these were the distorted reflection of their nemesis. So, it was no surprise that my favorite Darkwing villain was Negaduck.
Negaduck #1 is a flashback to the good ol’ Disney Adventure Magazine. Artist Ciro Cangialosi mimics the 90s Disney-Toon style with effortless perfection. The colors are vibrant, the visuals are LOUD. This book is beautifully cartoony in a way that takes me back to weekday afternoons doing homework by the TV. The plot and script hit with those nostalgia notes as well. An opening line makes it clear that Negaduck believes Darkwing is the knock-off character. The copycat theme carries throughout the entire issue as Negaduck tries to come up with the perfect crime only to be beaten to the punch at every turn. It is clear that Jeff Parker truly understands the WORLD of Disney Afternoon.
This is a must-pick-up for any 30-something longing for the days of Super Ducks and Detective Chipmunks. I give this one 4.5/5 Krackles!
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