In the history of anthropomorphized animals, there have been a lot of pigs and mice and even a number of buzzards, but for some reason, also an unexpected preponderance of ducks. Certainly some of that is due to the massive cast of Carl Barks’ Disney work, introducing Donald’s nephews, rivals, uncles and love interests, but there’s also the massive Baby Huey, the conniving Daffy, the existential Howard. Mallard Filmore lives on the comics page, while the Disco Duck ruled the airwaves for a hot minute in the 70s and, amazingly, Count Duckula and Count Quackula prove that ducks even make for good monster parodies. (Seriously, what are the odds that there would be TWO vampire duckies, anyway?) Indeed, scientific studies have found that “duck” is an amusing word in many languages, and our feathered friends are nearly everywhere in pop culture, leading to today’s farcical aquatic query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) will always choose Howard, but ‘greedy little coward’ 1950s-era Daffy is in my top three as well, asking: What fictional fowl is the greatest cartoon duck of all?
7 Comments
Count Duckula by far. That show was the greatest and he was so hilarious and naive. Close second would be Uncle Scrooge. People misunderstand him I think because of a Christmas Carol but he worked hard for his money and didn’t like to see people want free handouts. Plus, I like him cause he’s grumpy like me.
I’ll second Count Duckula. I do love the Disney ducks, such as Scrooge, Darkwing Duck, Launchpad and Donald, and I like the Looney Toons ducks like Daffy (and even Tiny Toons Plucky) but Count Duckula appeals to me in a very different way. I even used to have a replica of his portrait a friend had painted for me back in High School. Wish I knew what happened to it.
Donald for me. I’ve heard and read stories from “Aku Ankka” (Donald Duck, the most popular comic book and published continuosly in Finland from 1951) from the day I was born to my late teens almost daily. Uncle Scrooge is close second and rest of the Duckburg follows.
Darkwing Duck!!
I didn’t always get to watch it often but when I did I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Uncle Scrooge
He is self made from nothing and then can do anything he wishes.
Mic Drop.
Let’s get dangerous! I second the vote for DW!
I have been reading some Don Rosa Uncle Scrooge books. They don’t really get much better than that.