THELITTLEHELPERTRIUMPHS

Some of the primary characters in Carl Barks' funny animal comic book stories tend to be perceived as less than successful in several situations. But although they are seen in an unflattering light, they have all had their red-letter days as well. This page attempts to give a few examples of a specific character in uncharacteristic situations.

In most of the stories Gyro Gearloose's little metal stickman (normally referred to as Little Helper) was merely participating with odd activities in the background, but occasionally he came into the spotlight. Below you are treated to some of Little Helper's more rare triumphant moments.

U$47 Man Versus Machine

Gyro has grown tired of modern machines and he decides to live a simple life in the desert, but soon the city man Gyro is brought down by the unforgiving desert and he is in danger of dying of thirst. Little Helper starts off on a perilous and battery draining journey to get help.

U$29 Oodles of Oomph

Gyro enters a boat race and he invents his own boat which should be both better and faster than the other contestants' boats. Little Helper also builds his own tiny boat which he uses to push Gyro's boat over the finishing line when he experiences engine trouble.

U$22 'The Bird-thought Machine'

Gyro invents a special mindreader machine that can disclose and translate the thoughts of birds, but he fails to catch one for his experiment. Then Little Helper steps in and uses the oldest trick in the book; he simply sprinkles salt on the bird's tail in order to catch it.

U$23 'The Swimming Rookie'

Gyro is ashamed that he has never learned to swim so he tries to invent himself out of the problem in order not to be forced to use his degrading water wings. Little Helper has a busy day rescuing Gyro from drowning in the pool several times.

U$36 Duckburg's Day of Peril

A giant robot from a film company runs amuck and no man can stop it. Barks uses the biblical story of small David and big Goliath; Little Helper crushes the robot with a sling. This is the only story where he is shown full appreciation for his merits.

U$25 The Wishing Well

Gyro invents a wishing well and he tries it out by wishing himself to a far-off tropical land. Now, how is he supposed to return from the war torn place? The help is at hand as Little Helper wishes Gyro back because he misses him.

FC1095 The Bear Tamer

A ferocious bear is not being subdued by neither Gladstone nor Gyro, so Little Helper shows proof of his diversity by inventing a powerful repellent, which he successfully sprays on the bear.

U$41 Snow Duster

Little Helper can speak!!! He talks to his friends, the snowbirds, and they are willing to distribute Gyro's snow dissolver crystals all over the snow-covered Duckburg Stadium. Soon the problem is solved.

U$21 'Crow Chaser'

Gyro is tired of the annoying crows in his garden and he invents a scarecrow to chase them away - in vain. Then Little Helper builds a chariot flown by two pigeons to effectively get rid of the crows.

U$32 That Small Feeling

Gyro is visited by an evil witch doctor who can shrink people to a very small size. After Gyro has been shrunk Little Helper courageously jumps in the dangerous fluid, which does him no harm. Then the witch doctor touches him and the evil man is shrunk down to a more easy-handled size.

U$30 War Paint

Gyro invents a special war paint for film Indians, but it renders them out of control and raging. The only way to calm the extras down is to wash the paint off, but no one can approach them except Little Helper, who simply sprinkles the Indians with water from his water pistol.

U$35 Fast Away Castaway

Gyro invents a survival kit for castaways and maroons himself on a desolate island in order to try it out. After having eaten a hearty meal Gyro falls asleep while his food machine produces tons of ice cream. Little Helper manages to get help before Gyro perishes from the cold temperature.