Forget Luke Skywalker, the true savior of humanity is a duck. In Donald and the Jupiter Mission, Earth is caught between two galactic empires. How will the clumsy hero save his city?
Stronger than Dune
As you have understood, Donald and the Jupiter mission is a dive of Disney heroes into science fiction. Although it can be read separately, this volume is the sequel to Picsou and the Rocket of Fortune. In revenge on Donald, King Rebo of Saturn attacks Earth. However, along the way, he gets lost on an asteroid. He hides in a Jupiter metal-eating shuttle on his way to Earth to retrieve a robot stolen by the uncle. This emperor of Saturn is typical of Disney villains. Pretentious, he had his name added to everything he built. We also find the codes of Disney. We smile when Picsou refuses to lend twenty dollars to his nephew and panic when we eat coins. Daisy is angry because Donald is not at her service.
Saving the Earth is the first of four stories in this volume where we meet most of the Disney characters. Geo Trouvetou and his well-lit assistant Filament are kidnapped by an evil genius. Goofy goes to Wonderland. Donald can never spend a romantic day with Daisy. There is always a more or less far-fetched incident. Indeed, Donald and the Jupiter mission is mostly an excuse to propose a series of jokes. The most crazy parts are the funniest. The witch Hazel is sad because she is no longer scary. An inspector even checks his papers. Goofy didn't believe it anymore. The witch wants to prove him wrong. The moral is strange: being always skeptical of the obvious protects. Géo Trouvetou comes to present its new space shuttle to Picsou to obtain funding but Picsou does not believe it because it is made of recovered objects. Geo imposes a trip to test him and then Picsou hopes to find a treasure by entering a black hole.
A showcase for a great master
The collection of the great masters at Glénat offers the youngest to discover these ancient stories published by Disney Italy but also offers adults a dive into works often denigrated. Luciano Bottaro, writer, penciller and colorist of Donald and the Jupiter Mission, has been giving enthusiasts thrilling stories for decades. His drawing is paradoxically expressive because while being very simplified but we see the different feelings including Filament. He brought a personal touch to the universe of Disney cartoons as shown in the precise biography at the end of the volume. Donald and the Jupiter Mission is a very nice edition with a beautiful print, bookmark and a soft but solid cover. We can only regret that the titles and panels in the boxes are not translated.
One might wonder if his works are marked by time. Moreover, a discreet warning warns that passages are stigmatizing. However, it is hard to see what would be shocking other than the comparison between a witch and the old ladies and the presentation of Daisy as a shrew. The reader of 2022 is on the contrary surprised by the modernity of some scenes. Giant shrimp are scary with their design before they disappear like a balloon. It's like being in a psychedelic music video.
Present in the magazines of our childhood, Disney comics now benefit from a new setting at Glénat that allow you to discover real authors like Luciano Bottaro in Donald and the Jupiter mission.
You can find on the site an article on The holidays of Donald and Donald Junior.
