Back to the Klondike (1953)
Back to the Klondike Review
Back to the Klondike is a 1953 Disney comic book written and drawn by Carl Barks. It is one of the better Uncle Scrooge comics.
Scrooge McDuck returns to Klondike where he has made his fortune, bringing Donald and the three nephews along, to find back the gold he has left there. This comic is wonderfully illustrated and it makes great use of its setting. The Klondike is a natural fit for this greedy character and Carl Barks illustrated its landscapes and the cottage so beautifully.
The highlight of this comic is the character of Goldie. She is a past love interest of Scrooge’s and the two share this tumultuous relationship that is unfriendly, but with a romantic side to it that hints at their shared history. The final line in the last panel was too on-the-nose and obviously dumbed down for kids, but otherwise the ending is quite moving and perfect for the Scrooge character.
He was significantly humanized in this story as we get to see that he also has a softer side to him that he likes to conceal with his tougher, colder demeanor. He’s a complex, wonderfully written character. Donald and the nephews did not get much to do this time around, but Goldie was a great addition to the duck roster and she was very memorable. She was uniquely approached and designed as she’s not really sexy, but she actually showed her age with her skinny, skeleton-like body. It’s a shame that she wasn’t used afterward.
Back to the Klondike has its clunky moments with the final third of the plot being a bit rushed, but the overall story is superb as it hints at a sad history of the protagonist, thus making for an epic feel to the story that was surprisingly well conveyed for its short length.
