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TaleSpin Comics: Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge/Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible/For Emergencies Only/A Fitting Display Rant

Reviewed: 09/24/2016
Additional Commentary: 12/24/2025

Welcome To The Wacky World Of TaleSpin Comics, Part Nine!

Original Release: 01/07/1991 (Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge), 09/00/1990 (Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible), 01/00/1993 (For Emergencies Only), 08/00/1992 (A Fitting Display).

All right; we have gone through three of the four main stories outside of the TaleSpin Comic book series with some really great stories. However, this one is the final major one as it is Baloo, WildCat and Kit at the Air Derby preparing to win "Best In Show"! (2025 Gregory Weagle Says: Well, outside of "Legend Of The Chaos God", but TaleSpin is only involved in 1/4 of that story.) However, an inventor -- who looks like the prototype of a certain rabbit character from Sakura Wars 3 -- kidnaps the SeaDuck and Khan's Flying Tiger squad in order to pay back Shere Khan for screwing him out of his designs. This doctor is going to invent a robot plane, with WildCat helping him willfully. (Basically, this is our second inventor planning a driverless airplane since Martin Torque's version contained an actual robot.) Oh; and there's another panda in this series as well; although he's less offensive than the Panda-La denizens, that is for sure. I thought I was done with the TaleSpin comic stories; but somehow I was able to find two of the two pager comics from an archive of one of the oldest TaleSpin websites: TaleSpin Collectables formally web-hosted by Debbie Madden. Whom I help contributed back in the days before social media was even a thing. While officially gone, pieces of it are not forgotten. These comic stories are one spot wonders as one involves Baloo and Rebecca doing a safety check list of the SeaDuck while the second one is basically Don Karnage doing a work out while fitting his new coat. There are at least three more stories like this that I have not ranted on yet, but those one have disappeared down the memory hole for the moment and it's unlikely to be coming back in archive form anytime soon. (All of these I have finally ranted on and have been commented on and edited.) I finally found the last American comic I have to review on this show and this one is a doozy to say the least. (Yup, that one is the unoffical comic pilot story of the TaleSpin comics.) Here is the plot of this story as written by former Geocities member Starshade:

Higher for Hire is sent into a valley accessible only once every thousand years, in search of a missing plane. Don Karnage shows up, steals a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge military jet, and leaves Higher for Hire without a plane. Can they get out of the valley before the entrance closes?

This sounds like a Paradise Lost redo to me, even if this comic story released long before the television episode was. (Heck, I might have confused the accessibility part of the time line between the two since the comics had 1000 years, while Paradise Lost was a hundred years.) This comic story is notorious for being the messiest TaleSpin story ever made and the artwork really shows how right that notority is. Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible was released as part of the Disney Adventures #1-00; which is the first issue of the magazine, around October 1990. Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge debuted on Disney Adventures Volume 1.03 and whomever did artwork loves the color green for some reason. (Although making Kit Cloudkicker's airfoil green deserves a raise.) For Emergencies Only debuted in Disney Adventures Volume 3.03 in 1993 and A Fitting Display debuted in Disney Adventures Volume 2.10 in 1992. Anyhow; how do these stories fare?! Let's rant on shall we...

Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible is written by Cherie Wilkerson with the artwork done by Giorgio Cavazzano. Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge is written by Doug Gray and artwork is done by Luciano Gatto. For Emergencies Only and A Fitting Display are written by Bobbi JG Weiss and artwork is done by Eduardo Savid. The inkwork is done by Carlos Valenti (former) and Robert Bat (later). Doug Gray according to his LinkedIn profile: Doug Gray has worked as an animator and storyboard artist for Renegade Animation, Inc, Nickelodeon, Film Roman, Wild Brain Inc, and Comedy Central, on shows such as The Ricky Gervais Show, Kid Notorious, Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, The Mr. Men Show, Ape Escape, and the feature Christmas is Here Again. He has also worked on video games (Daffy Duck: Duck Amuck), and educational games (Reader Rabbit, Cluefinders). His comic book work has included writing lots of Disney comics, in addition to his own original creations, The Eye of Mongombo and Plato Potts. He is currently working for TinyCo since 2012 and has also worked on video games such as Primal Rage, RBI Baseball 1993/1994; Awesome Possum and Dick Vitale's "Awesome Baby" College Hoops. A really colorful resume to say the least. Here's the profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrgray . Giorgio Cavazzano is an Italian comic book artist, mostly recognized for defining the modern expressive Italian style of Disney comics. Which for this story looks like a really messed up KABOOM! comic before KABOOM! was doomed, if you know what I mean. (Doug Gray is another infamous comic book writer whom because of miscoordination between the television mandates and comic mandates managed to write a story that couldn't leave North America for a really good reason. I suspect that story will never be printed ever again. Dogs of War, everyone.)

Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge: We begin this one at the airport somewhere outside of Cape Suzette and whoever did the artwork has an odd style as everyone looks weird. The SeaDuck's top half is green for no reason at all. (Another Italian style comic book episode in artwork, methinks.) According to the narrator; this is the annual "Air Derby" as it's a full day of shows and expos. (Sounds like they are in Shearwater, Nova Scotia.) We see Baloo and Kit admiring their washing job on the SeaDuck, and apparently; they repainted the top half green for this story. Kit wonders if the SeaDuck will win "Best Of Show" as Baloo proclaims that this will be a piece of cake and it will be like they were the only plane entered. Baloo throws the rag away as he runs off because he wants to check out the competition. Kit follows him as he notices that Khan's "Flying Tigers" are in the competition; which means that Khan will probably try to fix this event for himself as usual. (Thankfully, this will not happen.) I find out that there is an Air Parade and exhibition show as a shadow rabbit furry figure shows up and attaches some green device underneath the nose of the SeaDuck. (Please remember that for later.) Kit thinks Khan's pilots are great stunt pilots as Baloo claims that he could run rings around them. Kit scoffs at this, but Baloo insists that the Sea Duck's quite a plane. Kit's scoffing here annoys me because he's been in the SeaDuck long enough to know Baloo's skills as a pilot; so he just sounds silly here. (Nah, he's trying to put the stunt pilots over as threats to Baloo's crown of the best pilot in the world. Kit knows the assignment, it is not silly at all.) Baloo then wonders where WildCat is as the shadow figure is practicing the fine art of not being seen behind crates and planes with his remote control and his out of nowhere glasses. Kit notices that WildCat is in a yellow painted house near the junk pile. Kit and Baloo go inside as WildCat is looking for parts again as Baloo deduces that he's fixing stuff again. Baloo wants to warm up the SeaDuck now as a brown goat furry in a blue suit, grey pants, wacky top hat and red tie comes in not happy at them. Baloo addresses him as Mr. Scrapper as Mr. Scrapper yells at them. Mr. Scrapper threatens violence if he catches them in his junk pile again and the babyfaces bail stage right. He apparently hates WildCat and his fixing skills as the rabbit figure in shadow behind the crate notices that it's Baloo.

We head into the sky with every plane taking off; except the SeaDuck which isn't moving at all. Huh; that's odd. We then head into the cockpit with Baloo, Kit and WildCat in the cockpit wondering why the engines won't start as Baloo tells WildCat to check the engines. WildCat sells; but is cut off by a rabbit furry wearing a white lab coat, white shirt and red bandana around his neck with glasses on. He also has a pistol and I think this is the first time someone has named a gun; which is Frans. Yes; the dialogue says "Franz"; but the guy has an accent where an "S" is a "Z". Huh. This guy looks awfully familiar. (I'm not spoiling it yet, because it absolutely blew my mind when I saw this the first time.) He tells everyone to ignore the gun because Frans is only used to control people when he feels likes it. (I'm sure this is what every gun fetish dood says before shooting up someone.) Baloo gets up and blows him off as the rabbit pokes the gun into Baloo's belly; forcing him and Kit to raise their arms as Baloo is begging now. Toon Disney would cut this scene out for sure. (If it was at the head, yes. The belly?! I'm not so sure since Toon Disney's practices on cutting scenes is laughable to say the least.) Baloo and Kit return to their seats as the rabbit orders them not to interrupt him as he turns to his attention to WildCat, saying that his notoriety proceeds him. He addresses himself as Doctor Ernest Doyen who is an inventor and a philanthropist. (A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. He's lying of course and the pistol is proof of that.) Baloo calls him familiar, so Ernest points the gun at him to shut him up. Baloo calls him a grouch as Ernest apologizes for the inconvenience. You see, he has a wonderful project in the works and wants WildCat to assist him. WildCat thinks this sounds cool, and Ernest yells at him to come. This causes WildCat to say "sure, why not" as Baloo and Kit are not amused by this. (I don't think WildCat fully understands that he is descalating the situation by doing this. However, this is the right way to go, at least for now.) The SeaDuck finally flies behind the planes as Ernest proclaims that the unsuspecting aircraft do not suspect that they no longer fully control their aircraft.

We see in one of the cockpits a beaver furry wearing a brown bomber jacket with goggle hat along with a dog nose with a matching outfit with a cup of hot coffee. Ernest's remote control has a speaker attached to it as he orders the planes to do loop-de-loop for only fifteen million dollars -- in lawsuit money, which the courts will never allow -- as the planes flip upside down causing the hot coffee to splatter on the face of the beaver furry. OUCH! Back into the cockpit of the SeaDuck as Ernest the Rabbitkat Doyenmiller...POW! OUCH! Ummm... and WildCat exchange notes as WildCat calls it neat. Of course! (Worst rib ever, former self.) Ernest calls is the greatest single thing ever seen as Baloo's mouth is seemly wired shut. Kit asks for Baloo to speak and Baloo refuses to talk. (Because Baloo knows that guns can kill, you see. Surprised Kit doesn't know here despite being shot at with machine gun fire in Plunder and Lightning!) Ernest laughs in Baloo's face, proclaiming that he can talk as long as he doesn't interrupt him. Because you see, Ernest knows nuance and Baloo doesn't. (Ernest knows how to use a gun and threaten people.) Baloo calls him Shortpants -- even though Ernest is like Professor Pantless; only more literal -- and wants him to get to the point, prompting him to cut Bugs Bunny's promo in the process. Yes; even in the comics, we have to do mock Warner Brothers. At least this one is funny; because the doctor is in fact a rabbit and thus it's ironic in it's own way. (The other one was in Flying Dupes with Baloo and Dunder doing the "Bugs Bunny Broadway Signoff" that was so hideously hilarious that it was perversely funny in it's own way.) Ernest proclaims that he'll have to wait and see. However, it's time to proceed because too much time has been wasted. He yells into the remote to basically tell the airplanes in his control to do barrel rolls faster and faster. Remember that this is years before "Do a barrel roll" was a thing in StarFox, or a cheap meme used on the Internet and on Breadwinners. This goes on for a while as the planes nearly hit air traffic control. Ernest orders the planes to stop, they all stop on a dime and the concussion of the stop bounces all the pilots from the Khan's flying tigers -- who have parachute packs which we don't see open them anyway -- from their planes and they free fall.

Ernest claims that they bailed out on his own as he orders the planes and the SeaDuck to proceed to the coordinates to his base. Baloo wants to protest this outrage. However, Kit restraints him because Ernest still has Frans in retainer just in case. Baloo admits that mums the word and shuts up. I should note that Ernest calling them big babies is so lame considering how absurd that accent on the "S" is. (Because it gives Ubi Soft ideas on future Nintendo DS games, you see.) We head to above a small barn which Ernest calls home, much to Baloo's surprise. The barn door is open as Ernest demands that the planes and the SeaDuck fly into the barn. This causes Baloo to panic and WildCat to point out the obvious because it's a small barn. Everyone except Doyen screams as the SeaDuck and the planes enter the barn and then drop down into an underground base below landing down without further incident. Everyone gets out as he wants them to see his special project as Ernest drops his pistol on the hood of an orange car. WildCat proclaims that this blows his mind causing Doyen to ask if he has a headache or something. Baloo then grabs the pistol and points it at Ernest! If this doesn't make Rebecca look like an idiot before with guns; it sure hell does so now. However; Baloo cannot fire the gun because BS&P RULEZ~! Doesn't matter as Ernest points out that the gun was never loaded because loaded guns scare the hell out of him and are too dangerous. (He knows his enemies don't use guns or firearms, so of course he can afford to use an unloaded pistol!) WildCat is amused by this because Baloo and Kit run in to attack Ernest since it's three on one advantage babyfaces. However; a giant panda furry run in from behind and grabs Baloo and Kit by the necks as Ernest calls him Ping. Note the difference between old and new cartoons in Baloo's reaction to the neck grab: Baloo proclaims that he saw this coming a mile away while modern cartoons like Johnny Ass...ERRR...Test didn't see it coming even though everyone should have seen it coming, even the kids. (Although Kit's neck grab I didn't see coming considering BS&P probably wouldn't allow Kit to be grabbed by his neck.) Hell, Ernest called for him as Baloo and Kit ran in to attack him. Everyone including the characters should have seen this coming!

By the way; the panda is only wearing pants and a belt with no shirt; which is amusing since outside of WildCat and Mr. Scrapper, no one is wearing pants. Ping threatens to do the double coconut move on Baloo and Kit. (Now there's a meeting of the minds we don't need.) as Ernest tells him "no; just hold". Baloo breaks the fourth wall as Ernest talks about his special Project S. I'm tempted to say Project Z; but his accent always uses "z's" for "s'" so who knows. Ernest threatens violence on that one. YAY! I can just hear the modern cartoon critics loving this now, those violent bastards! (Already done in Bullethead Baloo with Professor Buzz, nothing to see here.) Ernest then goes on about his remote control device being able to interface with any plane and make it follow orders. Not unlike drones of today, only on a much bigger scale. (Wow, this is kind of creepy to say the least.) Ernest asks if WildCat wants to see one at work and WildCat says "naw" causing Ernest to freak out as WildCat claims that he thinks he can make one. Ernest claims that this is impossiblem since it took years to create this wonder and he challenges to perfect the interface, calling WildCat a smart guy. WildCat salutes him and gets to work at the bench as Ernest calls this astounding and speechless. Baloo is not liking this. However, he gets blown off by Ernest anyway for interrupting his thoughts again. WildCat finishes the device and Ernest looks pissed off because it took him ten years to perfect the interface and calls WildCat inhuman. Geez; what an ableist this Doyen fellow is?! (Yeah, WildCat is more humanity than anyone in this scene, including Kit for crying out loud!) WildCat asks if Doyen's mad and is going to feed him to Ping. Doyen blows him off saying that this is wonderful. They go into a hanger containing a white plane with Doyen's mug on it. Doyen proclaims that he can now finish his masterpiece... (And this was the point where the clues all piled up into an absolutely mindblowing moment for me because...) Wait a second?! A plane with a rabbit's face on it?! Wait; a rabbit with glasses with a French accent has a remote control airplane with his mug on it. Who does this guy think he is; Ciseaux from Sakura Wars 3?! (Even though I have never played Sakura Wars, I still was able to identify this character. Why?! Because I have played both Project X Zone games before.)

I saw this and I'm speechless myself. Ciseaux was inspired from Doctor Doyen in TaleSpin! (Okay, you are stretching that too thin. I betcha the creators didn't even give TaleSpin the time of day.) Sakura Wars uses steampunkery and is usually from the 1920's/1930's era which is right in TaleSpin's era! Also, Sakura Wars 3 uses anthros in that one, too! Plus; six of TaleSpin's episodes and many comics were done in France, and Sakura Wars takes place in France. Amazing! I'm glad I'm reviewing these comics because I'm getting a lot of idea that just look great on television; but no one in the executive branch cared about it. Anyhow; Doyen talks about his interface only being able to work when he is present as he wants WildCat to build a device to have the airplane be capable of independent thought, like driver less cars for instance. Doyen claims that this would mean airplane can solve problems on his own. (Wow, we have reached generative AI levels with this story, in 1991!) Doyen sounds an awful like a cross between Martin Torque and Doctor Axolotte in that he sounds reasonable in his motives. However, his actions are downright insane and heelish. (See O'Roarke as well.) WildCat calls this cool as Doyen wants revenge as Baloo asks if the world has got him down. That pisses off Doyen and Ping literally chokes Baloo and Kit down as Kit is stammering to tell Baloo to cut it out. (Wow, just wow comic.) Then Doyen actually gives as a backstory as he wants to create a true robot plane because Shere Khan stole his designs. Which is doctor carny talk for "Khan fired me after I designed unapproved planes on his dime". The Khan Flying Tigers are in fact designs coming from him and thus he stole the planes back from Khan. Baloo proclaims that he's breaking his heart. So, Ping squeezes and flirts with breaking Baloo and Kit's neck. 4Kids Entertainment would never allow this to happen as Kit and Baloo are actually getting shaken like rag dolls here. (HOLY CRAP~! This would never fly in today's modern Disney world. Maybe not.) Doyen has had enough, tells Ping to leave with them and do something else. Ping leaves with Baloo and Kit in his arms whistling as Baloo tells Kit to follow his lead. (And what a hell a lead Kit is about to do here...)

This leads to the most devastating attack in all of DTVA and the first on-screen moment ever for Kit to dish it out rather than take it: The COOCHIE-COOCHIE-COO OF DEATH! On the breasts no less. (What is with this perverted artist?! I'm amazed they got away with it in 1991, much less now. Now that's what I call TaleSpin!) Ping is forced to let go because he is ticklish there and Baloo and Kit bail stage right. Ping chases them as Baloo and Kit go around the corner. Apparently; Ping can teleport because Baloo and Kit THUMP right into Ping as Kit lands on Baloo's belly in the process. (SUZY SHEEP~?!) Ping grabs them by the necks and walks off saying that he must do something. Kit suggests that they go bowling and Ping blows it off because that's a fun game and he thinks Doyen meant do something mean. Wow, this henchmen is smarter than half of the villains in modern cartoons! (Mad Dog and Dumptruck, be jealous!) Kit points out that Doyen said nothing about doing something, so let's play a mean game. Ping asks what he should play, Baloo suggest seek and go hide and Kit likes this as well. Ping asks what to do and Baloo proclaims that they will count to fifty and he goes and hides. Ping sells and bails away. So, Ping counts towards fifty. (I betcha in the television series, they would waste a minute counting to build up some suspense and have Baloo walk closer and closer to the door.) Baloo and Kit walk around looking for WildCat, when suddenly a door opens and out comes Ping causing Kit to leap into Baloo's arms in fear. HAHA! Geez; where are people getting off that Kit is a Gary Stu?! I don't get it. Are they reading the wrong fanfics or something?! (Or looking for a meal to suck on...) Baloo blows Ping off and tells him to hide again because they are supposed to find him first. Geez; you should have told him that the first time, Pop-A-Bear! (Papa Bear is dumb.) I should note that this story subverts the "Panda-ring to the Audience" trope again, only it's a lot less offensive because it's merely a henchmen who at least has some smarts. Ping then counts to fifty again as Baloo and Kit bail stage left. Then some grey double doors open and Ping comes out yelling as Baloo is leaping into Kit's arms now. HAHA! Kit is not happy about this and tells Ping to go hide, don't tell them where they are and wait until they find them. Ping apologizes profusely and bails stage right. Sadly, I think this is the last time we see him in this story. (It's too bad his story stopped because Ping was awesome as a henchmen otherwise.)

After fifty more counts, Baloo and Kit head into the hanger where the Ciseaux-inspired white rabbit head plane is located. Baloo and Kit notice Doyen and WildCat dancing proclaiming that this is a success. (That was funny.) WildCat called it "easy" as Doyen calls WildCat a genius in repaying Khan. Baloo doesn't think so and Doyen calls for Ping; but there is no response. Doyen swears in DUBBED ANIME STLYE (Aw, nutz!) as Baloo runs after him. Doyen speaks to the remote control calling for the Doyen Rabbit Plane of Doom to start engines and open hatchway. He went eleven words straight without saying the letter S here; which is amazing. Doyen runs into the cockpit proclaiming that he needs to destroy a few things. He also does the promo about he might say that it was fun. However, he hates them now as the plane takes off and destroys the roof of the barn in the process. Baloo gives WildCat the third degree about building stuff for lunatics and WildCat's answer is priceless. I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader. Baloo sighs as he proclaims that it's more trouble staying out of trouble than getting into it with him. The babyfaces run towards the SeaDuck as Baloo takes the green box off of the SeaDuck on the way out. Then we scene change to the SeaDuck flying in the sky and it has caught up to the rabbit plane. We head into the rabbit plane's cockpit which I'm naming it as Doyeneaux. Doyen is reading a red book as there is a transmitter speaker shaped like Doyen's head calling for the doctor. Doyen is talking to the plane as if it is a human being and it has the exact same accent and attitude as Doyen. So, he's basically talking to himself. He is a walking definition of someone who needs to get a life! Doyen's voice tells Doyeneaux that the SeaDuck is calling and they get into an argument about taking evasive action as the Doyeneaux flies off and hangs a right as the SeaDuck still follows. Doyen flies out of his seat into the back wall of the cockpit. Doyen, of course forgot to put his seat belt now like a complete moron as the plane cannot dodge Baloo. Now, it moves around and actually shoots the SeaDuck with bullets. They hit the windshield and appear to miss Baloo's head by within the same amount of space as Kit's near head shot in Plunder and Lightning! (A scene they had to cut for syndication because the bullet would have hit Kit in the head due to how the scene was staged. Amazing!) I'm now convinced that the television series is wussified now compared to this. I'm expecting in the comics for someone to die from a head shot in this series now. It won't happen; but my god!

WildCat states the obvious as Baloo pilots some more and Doyeneaux does more gunfire. Kit notices that this is getting them nowhere and asks for a plan. Baloo is thinking and then notices the remote control and a red box interface -- which changed colors from green to red apparently -- which means Baloo has a plan. Kit grabs the red box and opens his airfoil, which is a matching green color this time. Kit tells Baloo not to worry, which is silly because this is a worrisome plan since the plan involves Kit jumping out from the side door of the SeaDuck, swooping down, landing on the pink nose of the plane and putting the interface on it. One false move and he could die from getting shot or landing wrong on the airfoil. (No wonder Kit was amazing on this show. No adult would ever allow a child in this position, much less do a great job of it all the time.) Doyen blows off the plane for being ineffective and the plane blows him off in kind. Doyen calls Kit a rotten sneaky kid. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Kit flies back to the SeaDuck and gets to co-pilot the SeaDuck with Baloo while Baloo is on the transmitter calling for the robot plane to obey him, go to the airport terminal in Cape Suzette and not to destroy anything. Doyen is angry at himself more than Baloo as the plane calls him a lunatic, of course. That was pretty great as Doyen forgot to destroy his original invention like a cocky genius would and despite all the smarts things he did; he basically outsmarted himself. Just like Martin Torque did. Awesome! We head to the landing strip with the SeaDuck already landed as a grey dog police officer in uniform comes over to the babyfaces thanking them for stopping Doyen because they were trying to arrest him for years. Implying that everything Doyen had was in fact stolen. Baloo states that they can't hand him over right away as the officer points out that he's a wanted criminal. (Isn't this obstructing justice under the law, Pop-A-Bear?!) Baloo knows that. However, Doyen is the star of the show as he's ordering the Doyeneaux to fly stunts over the skies to a waiting crowd. Doyen feels sick off-screen and that ends the story. This was an ultra fun story and would probably have been even better if done on television. Doyen's influence would be noted when Sakura Wars 3 came about as a Doyen look-a-like dressed up in gentlemen clothes, uses shears and has a robot tank shaped like a rabbit, complete with the most hideously hilarious laugh ever. Ciseaux (French for Scissors by the way.), everyone. **** (80%).

Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible: We begin this story as the SeaDuck arrives at the Thembrian mountain range. First major hilarious moment: The SeaDuck has one of the most absurd color schemes ever: The underside is the correct color, but the top is all green with a yellow flap on the tail section. Also, Starshade's wrong about the plot as the valley is accessible via an open passage once a year, which makes a lot more sense plot wise. (Damn, even current me screwed that one up and wrote about it.) Rebecca and Baloo exchange notes for a while as Kit wants a shiny new airfoil for his reward. Personally, him collecting different color airfoils would be a blast and if the TaleSpin reboot is real, Seth Rogan can have this idea for free. Second hilarious moment: The cockpit of the SeaDuck is mirrored so Baloo is on our left side and Kit is on our right side. (The artist work appears to be European, so I can see why the scene is mirrored since the driver's side is often on their right side when driving on the roads. It happens.) Kit controls the plane equally with Baloo, as seen in the pre-production images when the show was approved. I think Cherie at the time assumed that the show was going to take place in 1990's and would have a 1930's style. (As evident in some shots of Rebecca's desk having a 1980's style computer.) However, those plans changed and Cherie didn't have time to fix it. Crunch and deadlines will own you in more way than overtime pay, let me tell ya. (Mental health is something that you just cannot throw money at and say it's done. It's just not.) Baloo seems to look closer to a polar bear than the usual sloth bear colors used in the series, at least in the first page panel. (The continuity in the artwork is going to get even more funky the longer this story goes.) Baloo gets darker shades of grey later on; but it's usually inconsistent in this entire comic story. The inside of the SeaDuck is just as weird as Rebecca explains that some rich billionaire is after a plane after Baloo calls it a puppy while the gate opens and apparently the reward is $60,000. (At least the storyline is the least messy of this comic strip; but I'm certain that there will be problems later on, too.)

The opening looks like going through a large oak tree and the SeaDuck turns all green when it goes inside. Kit and Rebecca for the most part look like their television counterparts. There are statues inside the cave, along with giant dog statues with armor and weapons. The one with an axe apparently moves out of nowhere as Rebecca spots it and Baloo thinks it's silly. However, the dog statue axe proves Rebecca's right of course. The SeaDuck continues the messy logic break streak as a giant spider appears which prompts Kit to ask for bug spray, Baloo counters with a smoke bomb. I know this because Baloo tells the spider to stop smoking. I know it's a weapon. However, it's not a legit gun, so it works all right even if it's less unusual than the usual fruits used as ammo. (It's more realistic to use as a weapon, but it shouldn't have any effect on a spider. Plus, using spiders at this point is kind of dumb.) We head into the ancient city which looks like pumpkins with ornaments and steps inside. There is clearly a destroyed plane on the southeastern portion of the panel. Baloo thinks no one is home; but I don't believe him for a second. (At least the artists are trying to make this ancient world look funky as it should be. However, the continuity is not helping it any at all.) Anyhow; as the SeaDuck looks for the billionaire's plane, we cut back to the Iron Vulture entering the cave and it's colors are so colorful, someone thought TaleSpin was the Wuzzles sequel or something. (Too bad Hasbro had the rights to The Wuzzles because the Land Of Wuz would have worked so well in the TaleSpin universe.) Dumptruck fears bugs and Don Karnage blows him off because they are pirates. Don Karnage has lost his accent, but then again so did the 2017 Ducktales version of the character and it does make it easier to understand what he is saying. (I think this was a BS&P decision. Although in storyline, the Ducktales 2017 version is not the TaleSpin 1990 version of Don Karnage, but someone cosplaying Don Karnage. That makes more sense and that Don cannot pull off the act enough.) Although it's mostly weird since he subverts grammar all the time, which doesn't happen here. Don Karnage is pretty much the same otherwise. (To be fair, this comic story was probably written before the personalities were finalized.)

Dumptruck is literally peach-face, even more so than the gray-face we often saw in Walt Disney Animation France episodes with Dumptruck. Dumptruck asks what they are afraid off and Don Karnage blows him off because the plane with the sloth bear is what he is interested in, or the billionaire's plane. Both would be the best bet. (Baloo for revenge, the billionaire's plane for money. Classic double motive for plundering.) Meanwhile, as the Iron Vulture flies over the city, some shadow figures are not going to allow the Iron Vulture get away with this like the SeaDuck. Yeah, I've gone over the problematic nature of this in previous rants; so let's cut to Rebecca running a 1990's radar in what was supposed to be a show in the 1930's. Yeah, I told you all this would be a mess and this story is just getting started. (It's not really because of radar per se here since the invention started right around TaleSpin's period and past experiments happened well before this. Or even calling it radar in 1939, about three years after. It's too modern, like 1980's sytle of radar. I think "A Bad Reflection On You" had the same problem as well.) Next up, Baloo cannot see a thing so Rebecca tells Baloo to fly lower and Baloo flies the plane like he is in a Z-Grade movie. Kit panics and I don't blame him. Going full on Z-Grade never ends well. (I know it's a cartoon, but come on now!) Rebecca demands Baloo to fly higher and Baloo hates this indecision. So, he crashes the plane into some vines and everyone gets out. (Wow, Cherie actually got an aspect of "On A Wing & A Bear" setup well.) Baloo brings his sword from Paradise Lost as time is running short and the runway is even shorter, thus the sword. Back to the Impossible Village as Don Karnage, Dumptruck and Gibber confront the natives, who look like someone from BC's Quest For Tires or something, only dognoses. Speaking of noses; poor Gibber! He is a purple noser now. (Kit Cloudkicker: First time?!) Don Karnage is interested in the plane, the native do the "We're not worthy" and pray homage to him. (This won't be the last time someone loves him and worships him besides the Air Pirates working for him.) Which Dumptruck claims that they are sticking their asses in the air, only they used DUBBED ANIME STYLE words here. The chief is apparently an unnamed red nose dognose with red feathers.

The chief invokes the FLASHBACK OF DOOM as it explains that Don Karnage is the one true pilot and Don Karnage is confused and humbled for some reason. The chief explains that the temple was built many years ago as a black haired dognose in a green dress discovered what we know as momentum and some dognoses in yellow dresses come in roller skating. If you ever wanted to see random humor in John Enter's favorite era, call Cherie. (The best way to counter John Enter is to critically think like him, only you just watch the stuff he likes and has his own bias, too. You don't even have to invoke any cards either since his arguments are easy to crumble with good eyes and a sense of thinking for at least ten seconds.) Apparently, the BC Dognoses found a plane and went on pilgrimage to recover it. Don Karnage is bored and Dumptruck is snoring as chief asks Don Karnage his orders, Don basically tells them to capture the trespassing bears and bring them to him. Sounds reasonable to me. So, back to the SeaDuck as Baloo continues to cut the vines and chops trees like Suzy Sheep on a tree cutting binge, enjoying seeing the plane he no longer owns. (I hope that Mary Lamb has a daughter who loves to cut trees down as a one off joke parody of Suzy Sheep.) The natives run in and throw a net on top of Baloo. Rebecca has a red book and she does the most bigoted reading of peace ever. Remember, peace is often slang for death, so she deserves an arrow into her heart. BS&P won't allow it, so the book has to take it instead. (I betcha Cherie is a book burner (no she isn;t), which would be ironic because comic books are books. It says so in the terms, dammit!) Baloo gleefully retort's Rebecca's dumbassery. Baloo decides to do some blocking as Kit flees, but the bears are cut off and tied up as the chief calls the bears "ground walking scum". HAHA! (I betcha Don Karnage's orders included that line.) The bears are marched into the city by the natives in shadow as the artwork continues to be a mess. Baloo claims that he is not going to like this one true pilot. He sees Don Karnage and does not like him. (What a shocker?! We all know Kit will be the one true pilot in ten years from now and Della Duck is not going to like it either.) A lot of solid color backgrounds in this one, too. (Yeah, this was a total rushjob. Story of TaleSpin's life in general.)

Don Karnage is ordering the natives to send the bears to the PIT OF HELL. Or something. (100% certain it wasn't called the "pit of hell" officially. Former self wishes it was though.) Oh, and Don Karnage will steal the dilapidated plane and return home in time to not be involved with what he calls "hicks". (Speaking of bigots...) The natives with torches that make tiki torches look realistic make it to the cliff as there is a lake of boiling oil, the most cyan blue oil ever. It looks like boiling sea water. (Which actually makes more sense, but that is the least of this comic's problems, continuity wise...) The shot continuity in this page is horrible: The natives are literally switching clothes in each panel. Baloo wants to be somewhere else. (Me too, because this artwork sucks John Enter's ass!) However, Kit -- of course -- says "Nuts To You!" and jumps off the cliff!! (About time Kit Cloudkicker did something daring and at least the North American comics make him look good for the most part. Sometimes too good!) Rebecca panics and then out of nowhere, Kit manages to find the conveniently placed turbo-prop hand-glider -- which was barely shown on the previous page -- and flies into the sky, with only toasting his claw toes. (We can now add poor staging to the list of this comic's messy history.) This comic is too goofy for my usual jokes. I should point out that Don Karnage called the SeaDuck a jet plane. Incorrect, Cherie. (No excuse, since the script can be easily edited.) One of the natives is outraged that Kit committed the sin of not being a "pure of heart pilot". Kit fits the bill, so go pound sand. (Betcha Don Karnage said that as revenge for Kit turning on him, too.) Baloo steals a torch and tries to bail. However, Rebecca and Baloo get cut off. Baloo then takes the torch and sets one of the spears on fire. Which is BS&P'ed because Baloo bops the native in the head with the hammer fist of doom and it goes down. What was the point of setting the spear on fire?! That sounds like overkill that led to nowhere. (Someone must have said: Cannot even tease setting someone on fire in this comic!) I should note that Baloo was talking about Rebecca (lady) then he was talking about himself, just in case anyone gets any ideas.

Baloo and Rebecc run into the temple grounds and in comes Kit Cloudkicker riding a purple skateboard. Ah, that's where the creators for the Chip 'N' Dale's: Rescue Ranger movie got it from with the poster. I should have known. The natives are behind Kit in an act of hate as they call it "the scared skateboard". Because Cherie thinks the show takes place in 1990 instead of 1936, since skateboards were invented in the 1940's. Whatever. (You get the sense that former self has lost patience on this story?! It's going to get even messier now.) We have a chase and the bears discover that the SeaDuck has been burned into steel frames and ashes. Rebecca, saying "damaged" is making light of the situation! (Yes folks, there will be a SeaDuck Mark III in this world! No wonder no one considers this comic book story, canon!) Everyone goes into the temple, arrows are dodged. Baloo opens the door, they go inside in shadow and it's a dead end. No more bigot talk from red book, Rebecca! I mean it! More arrows are fired, Baloo nails the brick wall door of doom and it slides 90 degrees as the bears go upstairs. Wait, Kit is carrying the skateboard now?! I thought the Christmas PSA proved that Kit was a god and could just skateboard up with ease?! Whatever. (Listen, it makes sense in the comics. However, the PSA contradicts that logic.) Kit throws the skateboard at the natives, just because it's Kit Cloudkicker. (A very selfish, heelish Kit I might add.) The bears make it to the top and there is the billionaire's plane which is all green. Baloo checks the engines as Kit is troubling Baloo with troubles because the natives want Kit's blood, or something. They are gone as the engines are start up in a whiplashing jump cut as the natives throw spears at them. (This logic sucks John Enter's ass!) The plane is flown away; but it's too slow for Rebecca's liking methinks. The chief wants to stop them because Don Karnage has spoken, one of the blue dress wearing natives is like "Why doesn't Don help us?!" (The smartest native in the room isn't so smart.) The plane is heading for the gate entrance as they got a few minutes left. Rebecca claims that there is a lot that she hasn't told him yet as Baloo is going to try to make it. (Is one of those involving Rebecca's beloved?! Probably not, but with Cherie writing...)

Rebecca opens a panel called the "turbo jet overdrive". Which is fine because it's another plane and not the SeaDuck, so in storyline this makes sense. Rebecca pushes the lever (JESUS~!). However, nothing happens as the ticket out of here has been revoked. But, wait! Kit finds a bunch of broken wires and it's time for Baloo to splice them because we cannot allow children to be electrocuded. (Honker Muddlefoot: Ooops, too late!) The SeaDuck goes fast enough to fly through the gate before it closes and that is that. Kit's "victory" promo was so bad even Rebecca was calling him out on it. Then a purple plane flies out of nowhere and mocks Baloo because it's Don Karnage. I assume the Iron Vulture got out safely as well because that would suck if it didn't. Don Karnage calls the plane a future washing machine before leaving. We head to the runway as Baloo is sulking in front of the plane. Kit's idea is to chase Don Karnage to get half of the money and Rebecca shoots it down like no one's business. Kit has to admit, he was an idiot as the rich dude arrives with blond hair, blue suit, red with green spots tie and yellow dress shoes looking extremely...happy? You see, the plane they got back is in fact his old lost plane that he flew for the first time, known as Gertie. The only new name in the entire comic story and it's the airplane's name. The rich dude doesn't even have a name. You can tell this was rushed due to the unrefined nature of this story. Yes, the military jet Don Karnage stole is not the one the rich dude wanted. Multiple military jets chase Don Karnage in the sky and that is that. Jump cut to the runway as Baloo is cleaning up the new SeaDuck from the $60,000 and Rebecca is not impressed because they are back to where they started. This allows Kit Cloudkicker -- the clueless putz -- to say that he got a new airfoil out of the deal. I'm sorry; but adult Kit in Ducktales 2017 does a much better job than 12 year old Kit does in this story. This officially ends the comic story. What a mess this was?! The story was ok, the characters for the most part were fine, but the artwork and continuity was shot all to atoms in this one. The artwork has zero consistency and at times the characters just sounded off. It felt like Ducktales during the KABOOM! era; but with better characters. Call it ** 1/2 (50%) because I feel generous. It's not like Pirate For A Day, that is for sure. (No trainwreck scale rating, either. It's just there to suck Mr. Enter's...you guessed it.)

For Emergencies Only! - We begin in the offices of Higher...For...Hire with Rebecca at her desk with Baloo as Rebecca is going over her papers. She tells Baloo that she wants to make sure the SeaDuck is properly equipped to handle any situation that may come up. (Consider this story to be a PSA of sorts on preparation tactics, although it shouldn't be taken as a documentary.) She wants to have a safety equipment inspection. We head into the back of the SeaDuck as Rebecca calls out the item and Baloo checks them. Baloo starts with the red tank on the wall for the fire extinguisher, with a yellow tank containing strawberry soda. That was pretty cute. Next is the first aid kit, which doubles as a candy storage box. Next; Baloo finds blue blankets and Bobbi has watched Bygones since there is a comic book in the box which has "The Adventures of Rick Skye" on top of his comic book pile. (Another neat clapback in a short story. I have stated in my head canon that Rick Skye is Kit Cloudkicker's grandfather.) Baloo is cleaning a purple parachute while finding the portable radio and we check the bench of parachutes as there is a safe containing candy canes and jars of jellybeans. (Baloo is so prepared to eat so much candy, I wonder if he's getting sugar shock at this point.) It appears the artwork is showing these things are all under a Christmas tree. Baloo wraps this up as Rebecca calls this excellent and everything is in tip-top shape. Yeah; this is the cleanest the SeaDuck has been as Baloo proclaims that his motto is to always be prepared. And really; who can argue with that overwhelming logic?! (He's preparing for a Christmas party behind Rebecca's back, it seems.) That's the end of the story, folks. This is actually the first comic story I have reviewed that didn't have Kit in it and really didn't need him. (One of about four stories in North America not involving Kit at all.) Baloo was capable of doing this all by himself. The thing is what it is and nothing more. ** 1/2 (50%).

A Fitting Display - We begin this on inside Don Karnage's bedroom as Don Karnage is doing sword swinging moves and cutting promos being a fighting air pirate. Suddenly; his coat rips as Don stops swinging and looks in the mirror. A kangaroo furry wearing a yellow coat comes out of nowhere and is scribbling something on a notepad. (I'm guessing that this furry is related to the postman in Sheepskin Deep.) Don continues his sword swinging training and his other arm rips open as the kangaroo furry continues to write down on his notes. In comes Mad Dog as he opens the door and asks if Don has finished his workout while Don takes off his coat. The kangaroo furry wearing glasses goes over to the coat as he proclaims that the captain is not working out, he's just fitting his new coat. Yes folks, this guy is Don Karnage's seamstress/tailor. Sadly; he has no name and that makes me sad. That ends the story and this was cute for what it was. This is second story where Kit is not involved; although much more understandable in this case, since this is a post-Plunder and Lightning story. Although it could easily be a pre-Plunder and Lightning story given that this could have happened at anytime and not break logic. *** (60%).

THE REVIEW LINE

I don't have much to say about this one other than this was a really fun episode with good artwork; but with wonky coloring styles, as evident in the SeaDuck's green top half. The story line was absurd as it's another mad scientist trying to screw Shere Khan again. While this doesn't have the story line epic tone that Bullethead Baloo had, it was fun and the finish was gloriously well done as Doyen was cocky throughout and was able to outsmart the babyface until the moment when he forgot to destroy the original invention that screwed him over like an idiot. I also see after every story in the comics I rant; the more and more I'm convinced that the comics' BS&P is much, much looser than the television series as demonstrated by the neck wringing of Kit by Ping. Ping was a perfectly acceptable henchmen, who actually lasted long enough to be a threat for a while. Overall; this was a fun episode and nothing more. As I said in Gargoyles: What is wrong with loving a fun episode?! NOTHING! Let's be positive for this! Also; "For Emergencies Only!" and "A Fitting Display" were fine one spot affairs; but not much more outside of the Rick Skye reference. "Mission Maybe Sort Of A Little Impossible" certainly lived up to the hype of being an utter mess as there was logic breaks galore (mostly the artwork), some characterizations that were off in places and the story was merely just okay with the finish being perfectly acceptable. "Paradise Lost "did a far better job with the lost paradise trope. I swear I was reading a KABOOM! Ducktales comic and it showed like nothing else before. Yes, I no sold the human thing because this was written and designed before the characters and rules of TaleSpin were finalized and it's not like a few episodes of TaleSpin haven't violated the rule. (Old Man & The SeaDuck, I'm looking at you!) However; that's two less stories I need to review now. Next weekend, I'm going to work on Legend Of The Chaos God and the transcript for The Wrong Culprit in order to review that comic book. By the time you read this; there should also be four rants of random TaleSpin comic stories added to this celebration and I'm already two-thirds into the fifth one; leaving me with two more rants of six comic stories left. Can this get anymore fun?! (Yes, yes it can.) So...

Thumbs up for Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge, thumbs in the middle for the rest and I'll see you all again next time.

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