Undoubtedly, one of the most unlikely ingredients in a Disney funny animal story is the subject of Love. Not love for inanimate things - such as Uncle Scrooge's limitless and unconditional love for his money - but warm feelings between living characters. The most prominent reason why Disney's funnies do not contain many love stories is quite simple; such stories are not interesting to young readers. Therefore we very rarely see squishy sweethearts or even married couples in the stories.

But, as usual, Carl Barks broke new ground in his own special way. This was by far not the first time he acted as a spearhead for new ideas in the comics, but he continued to be fairly alone in describing some of the big feelings in the stages of love - seductive behaviour, overwhelming crushes, tireless courting, etc. This page will take you through 10 of the multifaceted stages with the exception of pure sex. THAT subject was NEVER an option in the duck universe!!!

COURTING
You can't go wrong with a serenade...	...nor with a bunch of flowers!	...but who says that Daisy is the only one?

CRUSHES
Daisy and ... Goofy!	Hel-lo, little girl lost?!	What's knittin', Kitten?

ATTRACTION
Donald prefers the female skaters' tricks to the nephews'!	The Mermaid Queen misses Donald: That duck boy was kinda cute...	Donald 'rescues' his first pin-up from the ocean waves...

DREAMS
Eyes like emeralds, lips like rubies...	Giggle-Giggle...	Even a stickman has feelings...

LOVE LETTERS
Oothsie Toothsie Little Woothsie - Yumsie Little Sugar Plumsie.	A perfumed Valentine's Day card from an admirer...	Eftsoon the Merry Swallows Come, and Doves with Titmice Choose to Chum...

SWOON
Head over heels...	Donald's only loving kiss in the stories!	Old love never dies...

SEDUCTION
Flutter-Flutter...	Magica works her magic...	Lipstick is universal!

LUST
Heads turn for a Beauty Queen...	I rustle eats, dig worms, swipe crackers...	Donald sights a film star!

HAPPINESS
Cosiness	Affection	Attraction(!)

JEALOUSY
Jealousy's green-eyed monster!	Daisy thinks Donald is avoiding her!	Is Gladstone going to win Daisy?

WHAT ABOUT GLADSTONE, THE CHARMER?

In the stories, Donald and Gladstone are engaged in an endless saga of rivalry for the fair Daisy. But Gladstone does not seem to have the love gene! He is definitely self-centered, and this is also apparent when it comes to his feelings for Daisy. His primary thoughts lean more towards giving Donald a hard time while HE supposedly has a good time in her company. A telling example of his true character comes from WDCS225 in which he rescues his records instead of Daisy during a fire in her house.