Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Last of the Clan McDuck

Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Last of the Clan McDuck by Don Rosa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A rather long story and uncomfortable experience is connected with this collection of Uncle Scrooge comics that spans a total of 25 years and comes to an end at a comic bookstore with a side of sexism.
I first read this story as a child in German and I was so impressed by the story that I wanted to keep the weekly editions of my comic books that contained this part of Uncle Scrooges story. Unfortunately, over-enthusiastic grand/parents that like to clean up their grand/child’s room (to be fair, I used to be a bit of a slob) and a few moves including one halfway around the world guaranteed the loss of these comics. Fast forward to this past May when I happen to browse through a comic bookstore and came across what looked like the original collection stored in a plastic bag and taped up. I returned the next day and ask an associate if it was possible to take a closer look at these comic books i.e. take them carefully out of the plastic bag, because at $75 I would like to make sure these are in fact the ones I have been looking for before buying them. The associate, a young and very helpful woman, was rudely interrupted by another associate (he turned out to be the manager) and decided to give me a lecture on the differences in Don Rosa comics versus Carl Barks (I grew up with them, I know what I’m talking about and that certainly wasn’t my question). I repeated the request to take a look at the comics more closely a few times and explained what specifically I was looking for, because all I had to go on was one frame I remember vividly and a German title. He interrupted me again and ushered me towards the shelf of the Uncle Scrooge comics, again pointing out how one artist uses more detail than the other, sweeping his hand across the shelf and said: “It all depends on which one you like best,” and then left.
I was fuming. I wasn’t there to pick out a handbag to go with my new sparkling rhinestone shoes. I was there to make an investment in a lifelong hobby of mine. I found a remastered version of the same collection at half the price. I bought it and left, finally understanding why comic bookstores usually have a greater male clientele than female one, because of jerks like this manager.
I did a bit more research and found most of the Don Rosa collection on Amazon, the rest I can get from my local library.
Having said all of that, let me finally make a comment or two on the comics themselves: I adored these stories. The detailing in story and art made this a wonderful reading experience.
Overall, these comics bring back the cozy feeling of getting lost in the world of Duckburg and I really have to work hard to pace myself reading the rest of Don Rosa’s library to extend this wonderful feeling.