Marvel & Disney: What If...? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1
Chad Burdette
Recap
In the most unexpected mashup of our time, we travel to the near future where chaos rules as PETE-SKULL has turned DUCKBURG into a super-hero-less WASTELAND. Only OLD DUCK DONALD can turn the tide but he's given up his battling' days and prefers naps and GRANDMA's apple pie over fighting villains. But when MICKEY-HAWKEYE comes knocking at the door with GOOFY-HULK at his side, WOLVERINE-DONALD has to make a choice! Will a trip down memory lane change his mind to save the world or will the lure of the backyard hammock and a long nap keep him from popping his claws one last time?
Review
Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1 is the second installment of the Marvel / Disney crossover collaboration following Jason Aaron’s Scrooge McDuck and The Infinity Dime. However, unlike that story, this issue leans heavier into the Marvel Universe mashing up beloved Disney characters with various Marvel characters.
This, as a larger concept of the issue is a funny and welcome change allowing the creative team a large sandbox in which to play in with these characters. As for the story, it feels thin and rushed, but still allows for iconic moments in Marvel’s history to be reimagined with the Disney crew. This criticism can be overlooked since it is a one-shot and more about celebrating Wolverine and Donald as part of their respective anniversaries.
The plot is a mishmash of Old Man Logan, The Wastelanders (Marvel’s original audio drama which ran 2021 – 2023), and sprinkles of classic/iconic Wolverine mythos such as his days as Patch, hanging with the X-Men, and even the Disneyification of The Fast Ball Special.
Artist Giada Perissinotto seems to be having fun playing with the Disney/Marvel mashups and does an excellent job showing Donald in Logan’s extensive wardrobe through the years throughout the issue.
Overall, this comic is a nice and refreshing palette cleanser that is more about having fun than serious storytelling. It would have been nice if it had been a longer and more complex story like Uncle Scrooge, but at least there is What If Donald Duck Became Thor is releasing soon!
Final Thoughts
Marvel & Disney: What If...? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1 is a fun and entertaining read that has something for Donald Duck and Wolverine fans alike. It is also a refreshing concept that should become an occasional addition to Marvel's schedule and not just a variant cover theme.
Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
