Self Control - 1938

Donald tries to avoid flying off the handle by counting to 10: Onetwothree four, five, six, SEVEN... For gosh sakes. It worked!

Comment: Barks used an expression from the 1750s. The term Gosh is a euphemism for God.

Donald's Nephews - 1938

The nephews introduce themselves to Donald: I'm Huey! - I'm Dewey! - I'm Louie! Donald answers: Why, hello, boys!

Comment: Barks was against Donald having three nephews. It was too much to draw he claimed.

Good Scouts - 1938

Donald leads the march in this rather unclear fashion: Left, left, left, right, left.

Comment: When the march continues Donald persists with his 'misdirections'.

Donald's Lucky Day - 1939

Donald tries to avoid a supposedly ominous black cat: Go away! You're a hoodoo!

Comment: The term Hoodoo was used later in an adventure story.

Sea Scouts - 1939

Donald takes command: Avast there, swabs! Watch an old salt do it!

Comment: In later seafaring stories Barks broadened Donald's maritime vocabulary.

Mr. Duck Steps Out - 1940

Donald dances out of his home to have a date with Daisy: Truck on Down!

Comment: A hip(!) expression at the time. It simply means Carefree Strolling.

Fire Chief - 1940

Donald's firehouse and fire chief helmet have burned to cinders: You can't win! You just can't win!

Comment: The exclamation has since been a well-known saying synonymous with Donald's character.

Truant Officer Donald - 1941

The nephews are trapped inside their burning clubhouse: Think fast, men! We're in a spot!

Comment: Interestingly, Barks always let the nephews say Men and not Brothers about themselves.

The Village Blacksmithy - 1942

Donald recites while working: Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands!

Comment: Barks later used the poem in a 10-pager story (see more HERE).

The Old Army Game - 1943

Donald erroneously thinks he has just been cut in halves by accident: Oh, woe is me! Woe is me!

Comment: Barks later used this biblical originated expression in a Scrooge story.

TITBITS

Nash had no problem with any of Donald's lines as for pronunciation. But problems would sometimes occur due to the fact that words or lines could be impossible to understand. Therefore Disney issued a long list of acceptable words, i.e. words that sounded clear, by which Barks had to adhere. This was by no means an attempted censorship, but merely a policy to ensure that the audience could actually understand what Donald quacked.

It is often forgotten that Nash voiced more duck characters than Donald. He also voiced the three nephews with slightly more high-pitched voices, and Daisy, whom he mostly just supplied with Donald's voice, meaning that you must be prepared for an unexpected surprise, when she opens her beak in Barks' cartoons!

In most of Barks' cartoons he added parts of different, popular songs that Nash had to sing. Examples: Old McDonald Had a Farm, Jingle Bells, and For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, but the one he used more times was Oh, My Darling, Clementine.

In several of the cartoons Barks let Donald utter a few catchphrases that became somewhat of a trademark. Some of the expressions Barks later used in his comic book stories. Examples: Oh, boy! (variations: Boy, oh, boy! and Oh, boy! Oh, boy!), Doggone! (variations: I'll be doggone! and You doggone pest!), and Exasperating! (variations: Most exasperating! and This is very, very exasperating!).