FC0108 The Firebug

FC0275 Ancient Persia

Barks always drew convincing shadows of characters standing next to a fire source. In FC0108 The Firebug it is easy to perceive that Donald's shadow is just right as the shadow only shows a bit of his feet implying that his entire shadow is very long - as it should be in his current position. In FC0275 Ancient Persia a lit torch casts Donald's shadow. Furthermore, the immediate surroundings are shadowless thus adding to the eerie atmosphere.

U$07 'Cibola'

FC0275 Ancient Persia

In some of the stories shadows played an interesting part in different, informative ways. In U$07 'Cibola' Barks drew several panels in which shadows were crucial; Scrooge and the Ducks struggle to find their way through the Mojave desert helped along by the JW Guidebook: Travellers afoot in hot deserts should set their course toward shade! The panel shows one such shadow. In FC0275 Ancient Persia the Ducks fly east from America to Persia passing over the famed Rock of Gibraltar at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula. Barks shows us, via the rock's shadow, that this happens early in the morning...

WDCS056 'The Sleepwalker'

WDCS046 Camera Crazy

It is fairly easy to duplicate a character's or an object's shadow on, say, a nearby wall, and Barks had no difficulty in that area. Still, he slipped once in a while. Here are two examples: In WDCS056 'The Sleepwalker' Donald's shadow shows his little finger in a higher angle, his beak in a lower angle, and 'hair' towards the forehead. In WDCS046 Camera Crazy the bear's shadow is missing as for its left foot and the snout, and the clawed front foot is positioned slightly wrong.

WDCS193 'A Whale of a Whale'

WDCS035 'Dude Ranch'

The ducks were sometimes portrayed with the sinking sun as a powerful backdrop causing long shadows to form. Notice that, in order to maintain the powerful effect of the Ducks' shadows in these particular panels, Barks deliberately had to waive the shadowing of some of the other elements; in WDCS193 'A Whale of a Whale' the boathouse to the left has a shadow pointing out of the panel, and in WDCS035 'Dude Ranch' the left mountainside casts no shadow at all. If drawn correctly these two sets of shadows would have ruined the overall experience.

U$63 House of Haunts

WDCS136 'Turkey Raffle'

Sometimes Barks' use of shadows was a little bit confusing, although you would probably not notice it while 'only' reading it. The confusing bits came in two main categories - single panels and multiple panel scenes. In the single panel from U$63 House of Haunts Scrooge is leaning against a wall, but there is no shadow down wall and sidewalk to the 'main' shadow! In WDCS136 'Turkey Raffle' Barks made a multiple panel scenario showing Donald and Gladstone arguing on the sidewalk, and their shadows were alternately cast towards the adjacent wall and the street...

WDCS034 'Good Deeds'

WDCS229 The Good Deeds

Barks recycled several of his stories (see more HERE), but he always altered the 'essentials' (plot, action, and dialogue) in varying degrees. The shadows in two corresponding panels are, of course, not important at all, but their different 'setting' in these two panels are clearly visible.

FG1946 Santa's Stormy Visit

WDCS146 'Omelet'

Of course, Donald's appearance right next to an extremely powerful light source such as a lighthouse lamp in FG1946 Santa's Stormy Visit should create a massive shadow against the wall, but, obviously Barks forgot to add it. Failing to do so prevented the scene from appearing even more menacing when Donald approaches. In WDCS146 'Omelet' Barks also forgot to add Donald's shadow, which is easily deduced from the convincing shadow from the small ladder right next to him.

WDCS139 'The Racing Pigeon'

This is Barks' wife, Garé's, first attempt at working with shadows in his stories: I started working with Carl in 1952. The very first thing I did was the top half-page with the masthead on it (WDCS139 'The Racing Pigeon' - Editor's remark). It said 'Donald Duck' in white outline, then had a black shadow around the outside. I was so tense about doing it right that I put it in the wrong place - I put the black on the inside of the letters and it all had to be erased!