THEGIRLFRIEND

Nearly all the recurring characters in the Disney duck comics universe are male. Carl Barks, himself did not use very many female characters in his stories. He seemed to have little use for them. When he started using Daisy Duck she was merely acting as a sidekick for Donald. Just as Mickey Mouse has Minnie, Donald Duck has Daisy.
Over the years Barks did not attempt to develop her stereotypical, flat and shallow personality, although he tried to show a few different sides to her. It is important to be aware that about one-fourth of Barks' stories with Daisy were scripted by other writers and they usually showed her more negative qualities. Because of this, Barks had little influence on her behaviour.

Still, Barks must have liked Donald's girlfriend, because he drew 80 stories with her...

THE START

Carl Barks did not invent Daisy. She was first seen in the animated short Don Donald from 1937, and she was called Donna. In 1940, Barks had his first encounter with the lady when he was Story Director on the cartoon Mr. Duck Steps Out. In this cartoon her name was changed to Daisy.
In 1938, Al Taliaferro began working on the Donald Duck daily newspaper strips, and two years later, on Donald Duck Sunday pages. In November he introduced Daisy in the comics.

The cartoon that introduced us to Daisy

The very first comic strip with Daisy

THE APPEARANCE

Barks changed Daisy's appearance over the years, but most of her exposition was fixed from the start. This is especially true for her feminine appearance; she is wearing high heels and a bow on her head. Furthermore, she is always drawn with frilly feathers around her hips that resemble the lacy ruffles of old-fashioned bloomers.

1946
WDCS73

1955
WDCS175

1959
WDCS224

1959
FC1150

THE JOBS

No doubt Daisy spends most of her time doing voluntary work and sitting in commitees. Over the years Barks placed her in numerous Ladies' Clubs where she acts as fund-raiser and arranger of multiple events. But on rare occasions we also learn that she has real - and paid - jobs.

WDCS147
Fund-raiser

FC1150
Secretary

FC1055
Librarian

THE DISPOSITION
Daisy is a female version of Donald and as such she is blessed with every bit a furious a temper as her boyfriend. But there is more to her than meets the eye. Although she has all the cultural stereotypes of women (poor driving abilities, house cleaning, cooking, and so forth) she is also very sophisticated. Here are some more characteristics:
WDCS139 Romantic	WDCS150 Helpful	WDCS064 Temperamental	WDCS205 Garden-minded
WDCS224 Vain	WDCS201 Domestic	FC1150 Mocking	FC1150 Modernistic
WDCS225 Pleasure-seeking	DD60 Jealous	FC1150 Chauvenistic	WDCS149 Talkative
In short - she is just a normal girl

But - she is first of all Donald's girlfriend with all her heart ...