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TaleSpin Comics: Flimflam Flyboy/Rise Of The Pillager Queen/Painting The Skies Rant

Reviewed: 09/24/2016
Additional Commentary: 12/26/2025

Welcome To The Wacky World Of TaleSpin Comics, Part 11!

Original Release: 02/00/1992 (Flimflam Flyboy), 10/00/1991 (Rise Of The Pillager Queen), 02/00/1995 (Painting The Skies) .

Now that I have finished up the four major stories (2025 Gregory Weagle Says: They are "It's A Plunder Life", "The Volcano Of Gold", "The Gates Of Shambala" and "Doctor Doyen's Robotic Revenge".) outside of the TaleSpin main comics; I can now dig into the smaller stories done by various writers and artists. (Well sort of since many of them are almost as huge as the ones found in in the main comics.) I am doing multiple comics per rant and see how far it can go. The two main stories for this rant is that the first one is about Baloo giving flying lessons to a cocky wolf pilot who looks like Ace London's son much to the frustration of Kit whom the cocky wolf insults. However; Kit discovers that this young wolf is trying to become an Air Pirate based on the fact that in the comic books, Don Karnage is a hero! (Well, that sounds awkward.) The second story focuses on Baloo being forced by Colonel Spigot to help in digging up an abandoned airship which is owned by the great uncle of Don Karnage himself. Take a guess who wants to take the airship back from Spigot?! The Rise of The Pillager Queen debuted in Disney Adventures Volume 1.12 in 1991; then got reprinted as part of the Disney's Colossal Comics Collection #7 in 1992. Flimflam Flyboy debuted as part of volume 2.04 of Disney Adventures in 1992. The Painting The Skies comic debuted in The Disney Afternoon #4 issue in 1995, so it was a late bloomer. That last one is basically a one spot gag involving Kit painting the SeaDuck. How do these stories fare?! Let's rant on shall we...?!

Flimflam Flyboy is written by Bobbi JG Weiss with artwork done by Oscar Saavedra and Raul Barbara. Rise Of The Pillager Queen is written by Bobbi JG Weiss with artwork done by Oscar Saavedra, Cosme Quartieri and Jorge Sanchez. Painting The Skies is written by Roger Brown with artwork done by Cosme Quartieri and Michael James. Rual Barbero worked for Jaime Diaz Studios and Branca Studios later on working on mostly artwork for DTVA shows and also worked on Los Gruntynos and a couple of WDFA comics like Beauty & The Beast and The Rescuers Down Under. Cosme according to lambeik: Cosme Quartieri was a member of the Jaime Diaz Studios. He has drawn numerous stories for the American Disney Studios, that produced stories for foreign publication. These were mainly stories with Disney movie or television show characters. Among his early production are 'Duck Tales', 'Talespin', 'Roger Rabbit' and 'Darkwing Duck'. Later on, he did all of the longer stories with 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Pocahontas', as well as short stories and gag pages with 'Lion King' characters. He has also done several non-Disney stories, such as 'Animaniacs' and 'Looney Tunes'. Jorge Sanchez according to lambeik: In the 1960s, Jorge Sanchez worked as an artist for the El Escolar supplement of the daily Expreso. He was affiliated with the Jaime Diaz Studios, and produced artwork for foreign market stories for the Disney Studios in the 1980s. In the 1990s, he illustrates stories with movie and TV characters like 'Talespin', 'Sebastian' and 'Goof Troop', often in cooperation with his fellow studio artists Horacio Saavedra and Cosme Quartieri. Robert Allen Brown wrote scripts for Cracked between 1984 and 1992, the script for Infinity Charade for Express Productions in 1992 and then did some scripts for Goof Troop, TaleSpin and Darkwing Duck in the mid 1990's. He also wrote for the National Enquirer in the 1980's, and Good Housekeeping Magazine along with several unknown radio shows. I have zero information on Michael James. Anyhow; all stories reviewed will be based on their USA counter parts; save one that never made it to America. However, Steet was kind enough to translate into English ("Silence, You Cheater!"); but we'll get into those ones later.

Flimflam Flyboy: We begin this one on the docks of Higher For Hire on the right wing of the SeaDuck as Baloo, Kit and WildCat are on the right wing. WildCat is checking the engine while cutting this goofy, wacky promo about fixing the engine in terms of gibberish; causing Baloo to say that he follows it loud and clear. Baloo and Kit turn around and here comes a green plane diving towards the SeaDuck causing Baloo to grab WildCat and dive into the water with Kit soon following. There's something about this buzzing thing that bothers me. (Yeah. Because this is the same thing that almost killed WildCat dead in "Mach One For The Gipper"! Baloo saves WildCat, again!) Baloo and WildCat are treading water while Kit is floating on the water on his back as Rebecca and Molly run in asking what is going on. (Kit, you are not Baloo from The Jungle Book. At least, not yet anyway.) The males all get out of the way squeezing water as the green plane lands on the water. The plane is called "The Corsair" as a wolf fury with brown hair, a red bomber jacket, brown boots, and yellow pants with blue patches on the knees jumps out. (The plane might be called "The Corsair"; but this pilot is a Vagabond.) He asks if this is Higher For Hire and bets that the grey bear is Baloo. Baloo says it depends, the wolf asks "on what", then Baloo asks who he is and why he gave them a bath. The wolf addresses himself as Lupo and he's an ace pilot. At seventeen years old. He has to be Ace London's son, there's no other way to explain it for Lupo to have this beyond the pale cocky, pretentious attitude. (Canon-wise, he is not Ace London. Too bad my headcanon makes more sense if he was.) He calls his buzzing move the "Hedgetrimmer Dive" that he practiced for days as Kit is offended by this. (Why?! Lupo's 17 and Kit is only 12. This offense deserves the Stephen Fry treatment.) I think Bobbi was supposed to use "?!"; but here it's double question marks. Why?! I don't know. Lupo explains that he wants to be an ace pilot. At least Lupo is smart enough to backpedal a little bit. Lupo states that he was at Louie's asking (Read: annoying.) Louie where to find the best pilot and Baloo was it. Baloo gleefully likes it as Rebecca has the Gruffi pose on full blast as this is the cocky leading the cocky. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! POW! OUCH! Ummm...

Lupo proclaims that he wants some flying lessons as Kit tells Molly that he needs them because that landing was sloppy. Considering that the landing Lupo actually did looked fine; I think he meant, "After seeing his sloppy attitude, I'd say he needs them." Kit looks a lot more jealous than usual in this story. Molly still giggles anyway as Baloo points out that he doesn't give flying lessons. Lupo claims that he already knows how to fly and just wants to learn the advanced stuff. He wants to really be Baloo as he cosplays the airplane wings, ala Kit from Plunder and Lightning Part 2. I like Lupo; but that cocky attitude is so Ace Londonish of him it isn't funny. (Thus my theory on him being Ace London's son.) Baloo consults with Rebecca and Rebecca is unsure of this. So, Lupo brings out his papers to say that he has a training permit and owns "The Corsair". (The plane, not the attitude. That's call the Vagabond.) Kit then gets on his case about his parents because Lupo is flying without a license?! Ummm; a training permit is a restricted form of a license. Kit just looks like an asshole here; which he rarely is. Lupo is an orphan of course and proclaims that he answers to no one. So, he's basically Kit Cloudkicker pre-Plunder and Lightning, only five years older. (Thus, Lupo can fly and Kit cannot. Kit's pettiness cranked up to ten annoys me a little bit.) Rebecca decides that it wouldn't be a bad idea as long as it doesn't interfere with the cargo runs. Molly asks if Lupo is going to pay Baloo lots of money and Rebecca grabs Molly blowing her off. Lupo isn't offended at all and is kind of amused at Rebecca being a jerk. Which is nothing compared to Kit acting like one in this comic. Lupo claims that he's going to pay Baloo the going instructor rates. (I would love to hear what that is in 1937. It sounds like literally pennies on the dollar at this point.) Baloo and Lupo shake hands on the deal as Lupo reminds Baloo of him. Lupo reminds me of Ace London who is just clueless as to why having a cocky attitude is bad. Baloo and Lupo walk off as Baloo proclaims that he can get started since he has some free time. This causes Kit to whine about Baloo taking him cloudsurfing and Baloo offers to do that tomorrow, because Lupo is a paying customer. To which Molly calls him a "Payin' In The Neck". HAHA! (She's already burying Lupo deep within the earth. Well played Molly, well played, indeed.)

We head out to the ocean of doom as it's been a week since that meeting. (This was pointless detail, but I do respect it.) An orange/red plane with the name "Cape Suzette National Mint" is surrounded by four CT-37's. Speaking of gaping jump cuts; the CT-37's are circling the plane as Don is yelling from a microphone in his plane. Next panel: Don Karnage, Mad Dog and Dumptruck are already inside the plane as Don Karnage is pointing a sword at a pig furry wearing a yellow shirt, blue tie, brown pants, brown shoes and the goggles cap. Because we have to make sure he's a pilot somehow. (That's kind of silly in hindsight, but whatever.) Don is threatening this "portudinous porkbelly" with violence unless he confesses that he has the new engraving plates for Cape Suzette currency. Yes; even in the comics, Usland is never mentioned even though it is considered canon. Something tells me that the Usland thing was considered offensive to the 700 Club. (Considering the religious right being exposed as being "Us Vs. Them", which is the purpose of the joke; this sounds believable because their religion is trying to be "them" while they are really "us" and being "us" means we are the murderers instead of the victims.) Don thinks that Porkbelly is a reasonable personage. (Which makes it official: Only Don Karnage can make fat jokes sound extremely funny.) Don Karnage will keep being reasonable himself, if the pilot hands over the plates, then he'll leave his nose alone, calling it an "accommodational derangement." Can you imagine Jim Cummings saying this on television?! (Karnage derangement syndrome is real and no one is concerned about it because Don Karnage is a fictional character and Donald Trump is the most powerful thing in the world and also real.) Porkbelly gulps and claims he doesn't have them. (Porkbelly has no official name in this story, I should note.) Then blows his cover, admitting that he's a decoy and there are three planes flying in which one of them is the one with the plates. (Take that, Sgt. Hank!) It's the security theater version of the shell game. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Then Porkbelly catches himself about five sentences too late as Don Karnage talks about clever head games. (Which were never clever to begin with.)

Mad Dog asks how they would know which plane to attack. Don asks Porkbelly again about the plane and Porkbelly no sells calling him "slimy sea scum". (Apparently, sky scum doesn't exist in the TaleSpin world...) Logically, this leads outside as Don Karnage is flying his CT-37 as Porkbelly is hanging from a side from a rope. This is the sort of thing you see all the time in modern cartoons. However, here at least it's the heel tormenting the babyface, so I can accept it. Porkbelly submits as he informs us that flight number five hundred seven will be entering Cape Suzette Air Space on Thursday at two o'clock in the afternoon. I'm guessing that Don was going to swing the rope near the props and turn Porkbelly into deli ham. Which would be more than effective enough to get him to submit. (Take that, Sgt. Hank! AGAIN~!) Don thanks him in Spanish and proclaims that he can be reasonable. Then, Don brings out the REGAL CUTLASS and slices the rope causing Porkbelly to splash into the ocean below as Don acts like he slipped. HAHA! (Because heels don't keep their word. Sadly, the ham is soggy but still alive.) The CT-37's all fly away as we get another fourth nephew moment as there are five CT-37's instead of four. Also hilarious is that one looks similar to the Corsair! Huh. (Someone is having way too fun with a gag that wasn't supposed to be in TaleSpin in the first place.) Porkbelly spits water on the rebound as Don reveals that he wants the plate to print bogus money and be the richest pirate in history. I don't see the need for this because they already are powerful enough to steal without resorting to a "smarter forger" criminal heel. However, these pirates are crazy terrorists, so whatever. (Maybe the Air Pirates are getting into the drug trade in a Disney-equse sort of way?! Considering the past between Disney and the Air Pirates group as I mentioned in Captains Outrageous, I wouldn't put it past Disney to try an angle like that, despite all the critics telling me how impossible it is.) Back on the docks of Higher For Hire as WildCat is fixing the left engine while Kit is watching Baloo and Lupo flying the Corsair in the air around the harbor. Kit is sounding more like an asshole by the minute. I just love how Kit is calling Lupo a "poor pilot", even though we have seen Kit's flying skills and Lupo already is better than Kit in that department. (Lupo is backing up his attitude at least, so what is Kit's excuse?!)

WildCat rightfully points this out and Kit blows him off for it because he hates it when people rub it in. However, he recoils on cue and then apologizes for yelling at him. (Kit must have figured that he was being ableist there and apologized for his behavior. That makes him kinder than Lupo, then.) Kit is angry that Lupo is teasing about his age and Baloo doesn't seem to care. I don't recall Lupo mocking Kit's age. However, Lupo did mock Kit's height, which is dumb. WildCat nicely tells Kit to not let this bother him because if Baloo could let him fly, he would. Kit is more upset that Baloo is spending more time with Lupo than with him. You know Kit: you have been with him for a long time before Lupo came here. You sound awfully insecure about Lupo sweeping Baloo out of your life. Quite frankly, now you know how Baloo felt when Dan Dawson was sweeping you out of his life. (Stormy Weather, everyone.) We head up in the skies as Lupo and Baloo are flying the Corsair and having a good time doing it. Lupo thanks Baloo for trusting him enough to take this flight with him as Baloo nicknames him Loopy. Hopefully; Baloo gets sued for name infringement by Loopy McQuack. It might actually kill off her stereotypical female teenage persona for good. (Sadly, she never appeared in Ducktales 2017, along with the rest of Launchpad's family. If I recall correctly.) Baloo then explains that he needs to end this session because he has cargo to deliver from Rebecca this afternoon. Oh, this cargo delivery is huge as we land off-screen as Baloo sniffs the cargo on the docks and it smells FOWL...and really bad. Rebecca comes in and tells us that this is an new plant growth stimulation formula that they are delivering to an experimental food crop farm on the island of Bingo Bango. The agricultural department is paying Rebecca top dollar for this because this formula might revolutionize the food industry. Rebecca wants the cargo loaded up; so Baloo tells Kit to load up the stuff while he finds a gas mask to handle the smell. I betcha he's just leaving Kit hanging because he's lazy because I don't think he found one. Kit loads the cargo on a fork lift as Lupo comes in hearing Kit blowing off Baloo for treating him like crap; which is fitting because he is loading it up literally. (Word.)

Lupo cannot stand the smell and calls him shortstop, which Kit blows him off on. I do find it hypocritical that Kit is blowing off Lupo for calling him that and has no problem when Louie calls him that. (Because he trusts Louie and doesn't trust Lupo. It's not that ironic, former self.) Lupo yawns as Kit explains that just because Lupo has a pilot's license, doesn't mean that Lupo cannot forsake real life. Which is true in fact. (Trainer's permit, Kit. However, word still.) Lupo blows it off because he's going to have the adventure of a lifetime. Kit is not amused by this proclaiming that he had more adventures with Baloo then Lupo ever had in his entire life. That is also true. (Lupo has no evidence of him having more adventures than Baloo, much less Kit. So, word again!) Lupo scoffs at him because he's delivering tooth brushes despite the fact that he's supposed to be an orphan and is not tied down to anything. Lupo has no grasp of reality; which is hilarious since he's older than Kit here. (This is the point where Kit's jerkassery does have some justification.) Lupo claims that Baloo's an excellent pilot. However, then Lupo takes out a comic book from Amazing Fanastical Tales. (Yes; Idiots Abroad! is not a one time thing.) On the cover is Don Karnage fighting a grey wolf furry in a red coat, red pants and boots with swords. The pirate is called the "Mysterious" Scourage Of The Seven Seas" and Don Karnage is not only the star; but the lead babyface. (Someone on that writing team has a warped mind. Like someone writing "How To Be A Hitman" and thinking that he wouldn't get sued and lose!) Kit cannot believe this because the real Don Karnage is a monster heel terrorist as he calls the comic garbage. (And Don Karnage fans want to lynch mob this bearcub now. Fitting since Don Karnage would probably want to do the same thing in TaleSpin's world.) Kit is still underestimating Don Karnage as a monster heel by calling him a pickpocket with a plane. Considering that he hijacks planes and what happened in Plunder and Lightning; I wonder if Kit is avoiding the word because terrorist makes Don Karnage sound cool. Trust me Kit, it doesn't. (Otherwise, why would Don Karnage want them to address his group as "Pirates"?!) Lupo blows him off as they grab the comic while Lupo and Kit exchange blow offs; and I support Kit in this one.

Don Karnage is a monster heel terrorist in this story line's reality. The comic book is a total lie, Lupo. (Word.) Kit points out that he defeated Don Karnage all the time with Baloo, and even names "Redeye Route" and "Twin Tower Peaks". (That would have been redubbed post 9/11 for sure. Also, Baloo and Kit have so many examples that it would make Lupo's head go into a tailspin.) Lupo blows him off, calling Kit's words fantasy. Even though in storyline; everything Kit said is absolutely true, even if Kit embellishes a lot on where they are. (I don't think Kit's embellishing here. There is a lot of evidence in the television series and comics on their own merit.) Lupo's advice is that it's smarter to take what you want in life for yourself and not just haul it around for somebody else. What an asshole, Lupo is?! This only further cements the theory that Lupo is Ace London's son. We head in the air inside flight number five-o-seven with Don Karnage, Mad Dog, Dumptruck and a dog nose version of Cementhead from Plunder and Lightning Part three with a beaver furry in blue as Mad Dog and Dumptruck find absolutely nothing. Don Karnage calls Porkbelly a "sniveling swine". I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Don demands the grey chipmunk to tell him where the third plane is and the chipmunk no sells. They exchange grade school level no sells for a while. However, the guns get pulled out and the grey chipmunk admits that it's flight 289 and it's unmarked. (I wondered when the guns would happen!) The chipmunk admits that it's on the Redeye Route passing the Twin Tower Peaks at 4:45 this afternoon. (Thus meaning that Kit is literally predicting Don Karnage's next defeat! SUZY SHEEP~?!) The chipmunk furry starts begging for them not to shoot and Don Karnage proclaims that they won't do that, because BS&P is watching. Okay; he didn't say that, but it's true. (This is not Chicago PD! This is TaleSpin! We're not that vicious!) Oh; and since the chipmunk is wearing a parachute pack, Dumptruck pushes the chipmunk out of the plane's side door. The victim goes free falling and that is that. We head back to the docks of Higher...For...Hire as Lupo is getting in the Corsair informing Baloo that he has quit his lessons anyway because Lupo feels ready and can feel it. (You are not Shulk, Lupo. Deal with being Ace London's son!)

I can feel the bullshit coming out his crappy smile as Baloo asks what is wrong. (Lupo probably should have said that Kit is toxic and affecting his buzz. Just to really cause trouble like Dan did in Stormy Weather.) Lupo proclaims that he feels that he has learned all he needs to learn and he's going on an adventure. Baloo asks about the flight test and Lupo claims that he can pass the flight test and thanks Baloo for it. Lupo flies the Corsair away as Baloo loads up the cargo into the back of the SeaDuck proclaiming that Lupo will go far as Molly notices an out of nowhere comic book and picks it up. Meanwhile; as the Corsair flies past the cliff guns, Lupo thanks and insults Kit -- in that order - for the tip as he's going after Don Karnage. Yes; the story is that Lupo loves Don Karnage based on the comic book that he grew up and got flying lessons and an airplane just to join the Air Pirates. We head near the Twin Tower peaks -- which looks similar to the rock formation from A Bad Reflection On You; minus the giant mirror -- as the CT-37's are circling the area. Don is on the transmitter telling them to keep their peepers peeled on the target. Scene change to inside the office as Kit comes in with additional papers calling for Rebecca as Molly is sitting against the wall reading the comic book asking Kit to read a story and that Rebecca is outside. Kit takes the comic book -- much to Molly not being amused -- and reads it as it's Lupo's Don Karnage comic book. Kit then starts deducing and realizes why Lupo left all of a sudden: He was planning to join the Air Pirates from the start and he runs out to fetch Baloo while Molly follows her complaining that Kit stole her comic book. Even though it's Lupo's to begin with. Yes; even though Lupo insulted Kit through all this; Kit still wants to save this guy from himself. We head back to the Twin Tower Peaks as the pink plane flies around. (It might be Aunt Louise's plane for all I know.) The CT-37's get in from behind as Don orders the attack. Then the Corsair does a run in as Lupo cannot contain his excitement wanting in on this battle. Shooting ensues as Lupo gets in perfect position to draw fire from Don Karnage and his Corsair gets shot in the front engine by the back guns of the pink plane and it goes into a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!). (Lupo is an absolute moron here.)

Lupo somehow manages to spiral the plane right into Don Karnage's plane even though both planes were at the same height and far away when they started. This is such a laughable logic break and it's not Bobbi's fault here. Both planes splash into the ocean as the rest of the CT-37's cut off the attack and come down to rescue their captain. In other words; Lupo unintentionally saved the day. Yeah. We cut to inside the cockpit of the SeaDuck as Kit is telling Baloo to go to the "Twin Tower Peaks" and to trust him as Baloo isn't certain about this because he thinks Loopy's reckless. (Lupo, not the real Loopy of course.) However, he has no clue as to why he would want to be an Air Pirate. That's a reasonable question for Pop-A-Bear; because seriously, who would want to be an Air Pirate?! (Ask Kit about it and then be prepared to listen for a long while to probably 1% of the story Kit is willing to tell under BS&P.) We head back to the Iron Vulture as they have set up a metal plank just in case they need someone to walk the plank. Future victim: Lupo. Lupo is begging for mercy and Don Karnage blows him off because he ruined everything, which is totally true. Lupo is absolutely clueless as Don continues to have difficulty making us take anything he says seriously; because his promo cutting is still hilarious. Lupo is considered shark meat as he forces Lupo on the plank; and off of it as Lupo free falls. I wished Don would have also said "I already gave an upstart child a chance and he double-crossed me!" and Jim Cummings would have scripted that line a lot better than I could if that made television. Cut to the cockpit of the SeaDuck as Kit has the binoculars on and notices Lupo falling. Baloo has an idea as the SeaDuck flies up and Mad Dog notices the SeaDuck opening the tai lsection of the SeaDuck and Kit invokes the HANS SOLO MOVE OF DISMEMBERMENT as the cargo of crap drops right onto Don Karnage and the pirates. Kit comes out of the back with his airfoil and a rope -- tow rope isn't in evidence this time -- as the airfoil is pure silver in this one. (The French comics would do a massive recolor of the airfoil, along with everything else.) Kit saves Lupo by having him grab the rope as Lupo almost hits the water.

Kit and Lupo get towed up as Kit proclaims that Don and company need some soap for that crap as Baloo was cutting a promo about farms. Don calls this totally unfair because he has never lived on a farm. Well, that kills one angle I had for AeroStars. Not that it matters since I no longer writing fanfics anyway since I suck at them. Mad Dog is dizzy and wanting the hose while Dumptruck calls this all gross. Which is true in fact. We head back to Cape Suzette and go inside the cockpit of the SeaDuck as Lupo is shocked beyond belief that Baloo isn't yelling at him and cannot understand why. Baloo only asked if he still wanted to be an Air Pirate as he points out that he doesn't need to since Don straightened Lupo out more than Kit ever could. Lupo even admits that he treated Baloo and Kit like crap. (Actually he treated Kit like crap; he treated Baloo like a tool, that's more like it.) Baloo tells Lupo to ask Kit about it. Kit finally explains that he thought the Air Pirates were pretty easy until he tried it because they took what they wanted in life, too. One thing about the comics: More so Bobbi Weiss, is that Bobbi actually cared enough to reference Kit's backstory even if it was for a fleeting moment. Which I'm glad Bobbi does because it means that she has watched the show more carefully than most comic book writers and even a few television writers at this point. Lupo finally admits that he was a jerk and considers Baloo and Kit heroes now. Lupo also wants to make up for it and Baloo has the greatest idea ever and the setup for the payoff was great. Lupo is willing to do this as Baloo proclaims that it won't be fun, it'll take time and patience and he might have to fight for his life. However, if he makes it, he'll learn to never use people again. Kit shudders in fear along with Lupo as Kit asks what this is and Baloo basically proclaims that Lupo has to explain to Rebecca Cunningham what happened to the cargo. Even though; it was Kit Cloudkicker himself who dumped the cargo along with Baloo. This is not going to work, Pop-A-Bear; because Rebecca is not going to buy that Lupo is the cause of her cargo missing even if this was the truth. Which is isn't. That ends the story. This was a pretty fun episode and while this would need major modifications on television, I think it would be a great episode in spite of the flaws. Call it a reverse Stormy Weather of sorts. That ending was just lame by the way; but in a good way. *** 1/2 (70%).

Rise Of The Pillager Queen: We begin this one in the snowy, icy mountains of Thembria as there is a Thembria riding a cow on a non-icy ridge as the narrator is classic here: "On a cliff side trail, high in the frozen mountains of Thembria...where even the polar bears are cold...". Somehow this Thembrian warthog panics as an out of nowhere avalanche comes down and engulfs the warthog and his cow. Cow moos and the Thembrian rider gasps in horror. (Even though there is a lot of mess ups in the comics interpetation of Thembria, this scene was spot on.) They look up to discover that there is a giant airship that has a red dragon serpent on the front. Geez; it's an airship and it already looks cooler than the Eclipse from MAVO. That is just sad folks. (The red dragon is so tone deaf by the Thembrians here. Cyan blue or dark blue would be more apporos.) We head in the skies over the icy waters of Thembrian airspace as the SeaDuck is flying overhead. We head into the cockpit where Baloo is piloting and wearing a beige fur coat, Kit is wearing a green fur coat and WildCat is wearing a white fur coat. Yes; their normal clothes can turn into furcoats. Even though, they are wearing their normal pants. Or in Baloo and Kit's case, a lack of them. Which is funny because Baloo and Kit have been to Thembria in the television series and they never wore fur on the top. Kit is confused about hauling fridges to Thembria because it's always a cold climate. Maybe they need them to fridge their women?! Yeah; that is a sexist comment. However, I put NOTHING...AND THE ROCKS SAYS NOTHING past Thembrians to be doing this. Baloo has no idea and doesn't care because he simply hauls cargo. WildCat of course; uses Occam's Razor in the most hilariously wrong way possible. (I'm not going to repeat it here because you'll all sleep better if you see it for yourself.) They make it to a Thembrian area; and already the artists have never watched the show: The houses around the area are completely colorful and they treat it as if Thembria is a winter paradise. Problem is: Thembria is supposed to be a hilariously fascist country which everyone is depressed and the area is supposed to be a desolate area. So, Baloo's plan is to drop off the stuff at the warehouse and then go to the Penguin Palace for chocolate slushies.

Now, while the artwork is not Bobbi's fault, her writing is in this case. If this made television; this would be changed to Baloo saying that they'll go to Ivan's instead and have some pickle slushies, with Kit being confused or repulsed. Either one works; because Thembria is supposed to be a terrible place to live. The story here is making it like Thembria is a wonderful paradise when it is not. (At least do an angle where this area is like Montreal in Quebec, while it's mostly English, while the rest of Quebec is French. That makes a lot more sense and creates some decent nuance of the place. Heck, it might be enough to justify having the Thembrians in a TaleSpin reboot. Might.) The SeaDuck lands and we head to outside the warehouse as the Thembrians have turned into pig furries instead of warthogs, although they are in the far shot; so chalk it up to laziness here. Baloo, Kit and WildCat are standing in front of a Thembrian in a fur coat and hat with a piece of paper. Baloo asks the guy why they need fridges and they inform us that they are being used as heaters. Yes folks; fridges are warmer than Thembria itself. That was funny. (Better than my Fridge Horror, that is for sure.) Then in comes the ULTIMATE SHORT JOKE with the thickest Russian accent possible. Bobbi has been really good with the characters. However, Spigot's accent is the one which is causing problems for me at least. Spigot has a lisp; but his accent isn't as profound as this one here. It is so much so that I have a hard time listening to what he is saying. I should note that the crack art crew has no idea that Dunder is wearing a completely green version of his own outfit. I don't understand why they made that change. (Apparently, the original uniforms were too close to blood red for some reason, so they changed it to green, I guess. At least the rest of the design was kept.) Two Thembrian warthog aides -- which you have seen in The Time Bandit and Spy In The Ointment -- put Spigot on a icy wooden crate. The dock official notices him as WildCat is stunned that Baloo and Spigot are pals, considering how informal Baloo is to Spigot; calling him Spiggy. Spigot acts as if he is just hearing this now; and sees this as a way to screw Baloo over. He wants Baloo to do a job for him as the official bails to get Baloo's cheque. Spigot claims that he wants Baloo to fly to a certain area north of here to recover a certain item.

Baloo of course no sells because he's not a Thembrian, you see. Even if he has the size of the average one. (Plus, the guards can wreck Baloo up!) Baloo then invokes the Gruffi pose, which is a no-no because this is a Thembrian Military Operation as Spigot has the riding crop on full blast. Then the official runs in with the cheque for $40,000. Spigot steals it as Baloo wants an un-order. (Colonel Spigot is stealing it as a down payment in order to make Baloo do the job.) Spigot snaps his fingers and Dunder runs to the SeaDuck as he is looking for Baloo's keys to the SeaDuck. What an idiot to leave the keys inside the SeaDuck?! Kit knows this and attempts to follow. However, Kit is cut off by the two aides who have rifles now. If they are willing to point their guns at Molly; they'll do it to Kit, too. Kit thinks they are cops, which just sounds so stupid. (No, not really.) Spigot proclaims that he'll do whatever it takes to get the treasure for the glory of his Mommyland. Which I have said many times before, their head of state is male. Dunder returns with the keys as Spigot basically says that Baloo obey him; or he can forget about getting the SeaDuck back. Baloo rolls us his sleeves to threaten to slug the Spigot -- which is probably worse than him being teased into being shot at this point -- and Spigot counters with one of his aides as the aide and Spigot sneer at Baloo. This is enough for Baloo to sort of back off. However, Baloo still sneers at him as Baloo asks what the job entails. We head inside a Thembrian cargo plane as the babyfaces are standing and sitting around while Spigot is pacing around. Baloo calls Spigot out for being in such a rush. I don't blame Baloo. I cannot understand 90% of what Spigot said in this scene. The guise of this is that the airship is in the tip of Mount Koldernhec and that his workmen will melt it free, WildCat will fix the engine and Baloo will fly it. (Kit can just be their eyes at this point. That was sad.) Kit asks with the authority of someone pissed off asks why he would take the whole ship. Spigot responds that it'll make him a fortune and no one knows how to fly an airship which Baloo blows off on Spigot because he doesn't know how to fly an airship. Spigot blows him off back because Baloo will obey him.

Baloo will obey him in order for Spigot to make a grand entrance into Thembria with the airship with all the treasure and become a national hero. I somehow believe that if does this; he will be shot again. (Although it would be everyone involved this time around.) Because if you become a hero in Thembria...of course. End of discussion, indeed! We head to Mount Koldernhec as boardwalks and pulleys are already set up as the workmen are working. (All pigs and dognoses. Yes, dognoses and pigs are slaves in Thembria. I'm guessing that the village from earlier is really Tiny Tundra and they have relations with Thembria. I'm certain this little detail would be featured if this made television.) The workers use torches and pick axes to chip the ice away as Spigot wants them to work faster. Baloo asks why he is in a rush and Spigot blows him off. One of the dog workmen -- the one wearing cheese colored clothes -- informs us that they have tunneled through to Dirigible and they can get inside the airship now. We scene change to Spigot, Baloo (with lantern), Kit (with hat changing all red ala The Long Flight Home) and WildCat inside the basement which is littered with the CHESTS OF DEMONS. Spigot is jumping around with glee as he demands them open the chests because he can feel the gold and jewels all over him. Spigot opens one of the chest and there is gold coins inside. Spigot acts like he just won the Wrestlemania main event as Kit looks around and notices something rotten in Tiny Tundra as he asks Spigot whose ship it is. Spigot claims that it belongs to a pirate who died many years ago. That was the gist of it because Spigot's accent is beyond the pale too think for me to translate it properly. Kit then gets the LIGHTBULB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY as he notes that this is the Pillager Queen; which was owned by Don Garbajo. Wait; that sounds familar?! Yes folks, Don Garbajo is Don Karnage's great uncle! The fact that Kit knows this so well implies that when he was an Air Pirate, Don Karnage must have told him this story. Because if Kit was Don's protege, Don Karnage would have trusted this information to him. Not to mention; that Garbajo is so dangerously close to Garbage that it makes all the insults to Don from Kit, Baloo and Rebecca sound fitting. This also explains why Spigot was in such a hurry to steal the treasure.

Baloo protests this outrage because it's Don Karnage we are talking about. Thembria's not Cape Suzette and Don Karnage is not a rookie. Spigot tells them to be realistic. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projection much there, Spigot?! Dunder then runs in yelling to Spigot that there is an urgent message from Thembria. Everyone heads outside as Spigot is on the transmitter. The Thembrian official proclaims that Don Karnage is here and then gets cut off as Don is speaking calling himself the "prince of pillagement". HAHA! (At least Bobbi is really getting Don Karnage's torturing of English really well this time around.) Basically, Don tells him to hand over the airship or suffer the consequences. Spigot whacks Baloo in the kneecap with the riding crop and demands Baloo that they stop Don Karnage right now. Because the Thembrian pilots suck, of course! (Sounds realistic to me.) Baloo protests this; but Spigot doesn't care how he does it -- even accepts them throwing snowballs -- and threatens Baloo with no cheques, no clearance and no SeaDuck. (Considering that Don Karnage would have more incentive to kill Kit now that Kit has found the big secret. I would defend Colonel Spigot here.) Spigot walks back into the cave as Baloo didn't think he would be put on ice literally and then gets a Krackpotkin plan.

We scene change to the Iron Vulture as Don Karnage is in the wheelhouse in glee as he calls Gabajo nasty, so he doesn't care about being sacred to anyone. (What a devious monster heel Don Karnage is in betraying his own dead uncle?! I love it!) Mad Dog is the only one wearing a blue fur coat with red fur trim on top as he notices the Thembrian cargo plane heading towards them. Don is shocked and calls them "frosty-bitten piggy people" as he wants them to attack. Cut back inside the cockpit of the Thembrian plane as Kit asks if this is going to work, because the plane is awfully heavy. Baloo doesn't care as long as it lasts for more than a few minutes to show a sight no one has ever seen. Kit runs to the back as Baloo wants Kit to get the equipment ready. Cut back to the Iron Vulture wheel house as Don Karnage calls this most curious. That's because there is complete radio silence and asks what the hell is Baloo thinking. (Without the word "hell" of course.) Well, this leads to the side door of the Thembrian cargo plane as Kit is shooting a water cannon from the side. The water splashes onto the props of the Iron Vulutre and it all turns to ice within seconds. Since there is no such thing as deicing equipment until at least 1980, the props stop causing the Iron Vulture to free fall and force the heels onto the ground. There is a wolf dog nose furry wearing a yellow cap and sweater as the Thembrian cargo plane flies away. Baloo believes that Don is snorting fire right now. Don panics as he yells at stupid idiot Mad Dog to go full power. However, Mad Dog points out that they are at full power as the Iron Vulture sinks into the water. Don tries to keep calm. However, he cannot resist the urge to kill Baloo into a thousand kingdom comings! HAHA! We head into the wheel house of the Pillager Queen as WildCat is fixing the engines with Spigot literally sitting in one of the aides' arms with the Gruffi pose on. WildCat calls Spigot lucky, which Spigot blows off because he's a Colonel of course. He's also a short asshole. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Very short. WHACK! OUCH! Ummm... WildCat claims that most of the helium surivived the long freeze. Which is amazing because that would imply that the helium somehow stayed in it's chamber as a gas, or if it was a liquid; the temperture was near absolute zero! I mean it. This has to be a logic break. (SUZY SHEEP~?!) Kit and Baloo run in saying that the pirates are on ice for the moment.

Spigot tells them it's no big deal because they'll be safe when they return to Thembria with the treasure. In which half of it goes into his personal vault. Baloo for some unknown reason protests this. Wait; so Baloo was going to get some of the treasure?! Even if he did; so what if Spigot gets half of it being a hero?! Thankfully, one of Spigot's aides gets in Baloo's face. Spigot orders Dunder to bring the cargo plane into the airship because they are leaving at once. We scene change to the airship leaving the mountain side as the denizens on the ground have rifles for no reason. Baloo is checking the dials and levers (JESUS~!) as Baloo instantly figures it out and proclaims that all he needs is a peg leg and a parrot. You still have no clue about Air Pirate culture, Pop-A-Bear! After all these stories against them. Baloo is steering the airship as Kit has the telescope and wants a loaded cannon. The Air Pirates are coming in their CT-37's shivering in the cold. Mad Dog whines about the cold and Don tells him to shut up, while they stutter because it's so freaking cold! Spigot finds a cannon; but WildCat cuts him off because it's not loaded. Baloo tells Spigot to calm down and WildCat to man the wheel. Kit and Baloo re-enter a room filled with pirate coats and boots. There is more scenes of the airship in the air as Don Karnage notices this and is in shock that the Pillager Queen is in the air. Then he hears someone talking on his radio and gasps because this is supposed to be "Don Garbajo"'s ghost who calls Karnage his nephew. We head inside the wheelhouse as Kit is now sailing the Pillager Queen -- which I bet Kit has never flown the Iron Vulture before -- wearing the coat and making sure he's underneath the coat so his head is not showing. Would have been more effective if his hands weren't showing either. The captains' hat is actually stuck to the riding crop pulled by Dunder. Note the logic break: When Don sees the "ghost of Dan Garbajo"; the riding crop is there. However, Dunder has disappeared despite there being no indication that Dunder ducked underneath the window. Baloo is lying on his belly as Kit is on his back with the microphone calling Don Karnage a scurvy brat and he'll see him in hell, basically. only Baloo said "eternity". Don Karnage is scared of this as we get the evil laugh of doom. Don turns his CT-37 away stage left causing Mad Dog and Dumptruck to turn around as well wondering what the hell happened here. So, to answer Nosedive's questions:

(1.) Karnage was scared of his uncle simply because "Garbajo" basically told him that he was going to hell with him and that he was going to kill him. Even Karnage is going to be scared of that. Most so when the Pillager Queen actually has a cannon weapon that may or may not work. It also helps that Baloo delivered an ultra scary ghostly like voice.

(2.) Don Karnage is related to Garbajo. However, it is only on a uncle/nephew basis. Sort of like Huey/Dewey/Louie/Donald Duck. Yes; Garabjo was the captain by divine right since he was the owner of the Pillager Queen. None of the other pirates are related to Garbajo though, or there's no evidence to suggest that aspect at least.

(3.) The Pillager Queen crashed over Thembrian Airspace because of the Thembrians. I assume Garbajo and his crew were captured and/or killed. Although I can understand Nosedive's confusion here because Spigot's thick accent prevented me from understanding what the hell he was talking about here.

Back in the wheel house as the babyfaces laugh their asses off while Kit proclaims that Don Karnage will never sleep for a week after this. Personally, Kit turning on Don Karnage already has done that, only it's more like a decade. (Don Karnage's successor is a lot worse. Adult Kit Cloudkicker can completely wreck this guy.) Spigot calls Don Karnage a degenerate pirate scum and demands the airship fire back when their backs are turned like a bunch of heels would. (Ooooooo; will Don Karnage join DX?! Nahhhh...) Spigot jumps up and pulls a rope thinking that it's the cannon, despite the fact that no rope is attached to the cannon. What a stupid short little bastard Spigot is?! WildCat panics as only he can, informing him that it's the helium release valve. Spigot blames WildCat for not telling him that as Kit wants this to stop, of course. Baloo claims that there's no time for that as everyone has to get into the cargo hold. We scene change to the cargo plane flying out of the airship as the airship hisses like a balloon out of air...Oh wait...and falls into the icy drink below. Cut to the babyfaces and Spigot in the cockpit as Baloo is piloting and proclaiming that Garbajo is keeping his airship. Spigot protests this outrage and I think "Thave it!" means "Damn it!" in Spigot speak, which is a unique way to cover up a swear word if nothing else. Baloo then offers to tell Don Karnage that the whole ghost thing is a joke and he'd be happy to help him. Spigot cuts him off and gives up. HAHA! (Well, that's one why to humble that short joke!) Baloo asks for the SeaDuck and his check. Spigot agrees to give him both as long as he would just shut up and let him greive. HAHA! That was so glorious as we head back to inside the cockpit the SeaDuck as Kit is glad this is over. Baloo agrees with him because it was too cold. (In more ways than one.) The final shot is the SeaDuck flying over the Iron Vulture as Don Karnage is shivering on the roof while Mad Dog is shivering using a torch to melt the propeller ice. Dumptruck is no selling this cold of course; because his brain is made of solid bone. Dumptruck is using the hammer, of course. Baloo's parting shot is that some will thaw out a little faster than others and that ends the story. The story is really good on paper; but it was a mess of continuity errors that would require modifications on television to make it work better. As it is; it's *** 1/4 (65%).

Painting The Skies - Here's a little one page comic book which starts with Baloo entering the SeaDuck checking for Kit's work on repainting the SeaDuck. Kit is in the back on a small crate trying to paint the ceiling a pink color. However, he can barely paint it and the paint is coming down on the floor. Baloo asks how the painting is coming along as Kit tells us that he was doing fine until he started painting the ceiling. He couldn't find a ladder that wasn't broken and he's way too short. I should note that the artwork looks good; but Kit looks like he's literally a Bluenoser. Umm; Kit, you're doing it wrong! (A bluenoser is supposed to be a marathon runner, not a painter.) Also of note is the green patch on the sweater and a full blue hat with no red rim. Apparently; judging by the shot, Kit painted the door pink and then went for the ceiling. Also; Baloo is calling him Li'l Buddy here when it's supposed to be Li'l Britches. (Yeah, that is Champ Bear's Nelevana gimmick!) The backgrounds outside the SeaDuck aren't good as Baloo has a Krackpotkin Plan. Baloo is in the sky with the SeaDuck as it's upside down. (I've seen worse plans than this.) Kit paints the ceiling on the ceiling as the pink paint is now beige for no reason. Kit thanks him as Baloo simply tells him to tell him when he's finished so he can fly it right side up again. Dumb, but cute one scene wonder. ** 3/4 (55%).

THE REVIEW LINE

Filmflam Flyboy was the best episode of the lot as it was a reverse Stormy Weather of sorts with Baloo trusting Lupo instead of Kit trusting Dan Dawson. The major differences between the two are obvious: Lupo is basically Ace London's son; but without the murderous tendenices to cover up his crimes. Lupo is also basically a clueless dolt who thinks his cockiness attitude and fantasies -- which he projects onto Kit in this story -- will get him anywhere. It's always awesome when the cocky guy gets put in his place by the smaller and younger babyface that he treats like crap. Kit was a jerk in this episode and some of his jerkiness didn't feel justified mostly because the artwork didn't help Bobbi's writing here. This seems to be a major problem with a lot of the TaleSpin comics: The adaptations by Bobbi are well written. However, the artwork does it no favors. I also love that "Amazingly Fantastical Tales" can get away with publishing a Don Karnage comic book even though he is a terrorist in the storyline of the show. (I re-wrote this to clear up the differences between the real world and TaleSpin's world.) Not only that, they book him as the hero! That takes serious gall stones to do that; and no sane person post 9/11 is going to sell that without being labeled a terrorist sympatizer. Because in this storyline, Lupo believed all this crap and it took him walking the plank before he realized how wrong he was. The finish was pretty lame because Kit was the one who destroyed the cargo while saving Lupo even though they really didn't need to. I would change the finish to saving Lupo first and then have Lupo and Kit throw the cargo out so there is a sense of Lupo being responsible for the destruction of the cargo. Overall; this was another fun story marred by logic breaks, which is the story of TaleSpin's comic life.

Rise Of The Pillager Queen is a really good story that got marred by logic breaks and continuity errors out of the wazoo. I cannot buy that Thembria was this colorful and while the story itself was great in a sense that I wanted to see the Thembrians fight the Air Pirates which was lacking a lot in the televised series, the lack of coordination between the comics and television series showed here. Bobbi did everything she could to make this story work. However, the artwork didn't help her in any way. If you want to keep the colorful buildings, then have it booked the village as a place Thembria owns. However, make it similar to something like Montreal where it's mostly English; while the rest of Quebec outside of Montreal is mostly a French state for instance. That would actually give Thembria a sense of believability. Otherwise; just make the place as desolate as the rest of Thembria. I didn't mind Dunder wearing all green; but that was out of place as well. Also; another major modification is to get rid of Spigot's ultra thick lispish accent and it's not because I hate accents. It's because I couldn't understand 70% of what Spigot was talking about in this. There were a few other logic breaks in this piece. However, overall; I liked this first fight and it could have been wonderful. Painting The Skies is what it is: A cute little spot of Kit trying to re-paint the SeaDuck ceiling and having no success. The artwork colors were way off; but the artwork was fine for what it was. The gag makes sense; but that was all it was. More comics to come and...

Thumbs in the middle for all three stories and I'll see you all next time.

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