Writer: Amanda Deibert
Art: Carlo Lauro
Publisher: Dynamite comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 29th, 2023
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Darkwing Duck #10 Review.
THE DISPATCH
In the final issue of the main Darkwing Duck series, we learn who kidnapped Launchpad. While the villain reveal might be underwhelming to some readers, this issue gave us important character growth for Darkwing himself. He finally realizes that sometimes he needs to swallow his pride and ask for help from friends. Nevertheless, Darkwing still tries to hide it, but he ultimately shows that he cares more about his friends than his ego, and maybe he even enjoys working as a team.
He would never admit it, but he appreciates this team, and that’s what Darkwing Duck #10 shows. Fans of the show may recognize the reference to an episode from the show, called “The Merchant Menace”, where Drake Mallard helps Herb Muddlefoot sell his patented Quackerware. This finale issue did a good job at capturing the personalities of each character and showing them all working together well. It had some humorous lines from various fish, as well as Frank the giant squid. One thing that was frustrating though is they spent an issue and a half trying to get Launchpad back, and when he finally shows up again, he doesn’t have a single line of dialogue, other than collectively shouting with the Justice Ducks. He seems more of an afterthought in this issue rather than Darkwing’s good friend and loyal sidekick.
ART
The art in Darkwing Duck #10 is consistent with the art previously seen in this series, and it captures the spirit of the show very well. It is interesting because most of the issue happens underwater and we haven’t really seen Darkwing and friends underwater for a significant amount of time before, but they adjust to their new environment very well. There’s a great panel of Darkwing shooting a net from his gas gun to capture his enemy. The panels with Frank the giant squid were done well too, showing the enormity of the character, but also showing that he’s not as fearsome as he seems.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Darkwing Duck #10 showed good character growth for Darkwing and it serves as a good segue into the upcoming Justice Ducks series coming soon from Dynamite. Overall though, this didn’t seem to be as exciting of a story arc. There could have been a more exciting villain and more interaction between Darkwing and Launchpad in this final issue. Nevertheless, it still presented the characters accurately with how they were depicted on the show.