'Toon Reviews 5: DuckTales Vol 1 Part 22

Launchpad’s Civil War

We’ve got ourselves another episode to explore the background of a great character on this show and that great character is once again Launchpad.  That right there is a recipe for great entertainment from this show, and it really delivers.  Launchpad gets invited to pose as his great-great grandfather General Rhubarb McQuack in a re-enactment of the battle of Duck Ridge as part of an upcoming Civil War pageant.  Given that he’s pretty much established to be bumbling, yet extremely loyal to those in his life, it’s no surprise that Launchpad is more than willing to do his great-great grandfather’s honor.  Then, scenes of everyone snickering at the sight of Launchpad dressed as his ancestor, and his usual clumsiness being taken as rehearsing seem to suggest that there’s a catch to the role Launchpad’s set to play.  They’re here to serve as a build-up to the catch that the pageant is meant to highlight how General Rhubarb McQuack failed to draw his sword and ultimately messed up his attempt at starting a charge, causing his troop to suffer a humiliating defeat at Duck Ridge.  This reveal, while appropriate given that the general is part of Launchpad’s family tree, does provide some major sympathy for Launchpad since he was so set on honoring his ancestor, yet in doing so, he has to be laughed at.  However, more sympathy is geared towards Rhubarb’s troop of Civil War fighters who have been hiding out in a cave after their humiliation at Duck Ridge so long ago whom Launchpad and the kids later come across.  This is a pretty clever scenario for the story to have soldiers who were actually at the war, but it really begs the question of how they survived all these years.  They say they used all the resources they had to survive, but that couldn’t have worked for over a century.  I guess I could possibly chalk it up to sheer will power.  That said, their baggage over their defeat at Duck Ridge and the moment being popularized is as funny as it is understandable.  The great thing about this pent-up sympathy is that in the end, it’s Launchpad who resolves the issue by giving the soldiers a chance to show everyone how they would’ve fought the battle despite the antics of their general.  It all comes together in an awesome climax with fast-paced scenes, humorous shock of Launchpad and the soldiers going against the script, and an extra dose of charm only Launchpad can bring.  I can’t think of a better and more entertaining way to get the soldiers and Launchpad himself the dignity they deserve.  This is an interesting and creative episode priding itself on high energy, messages on respecting those who fought for us, and character moments. 9.5/10


The Ranking

1. The Curse of Castle McDuck
2. Hotel Strangeduck
3. Maid of the Myth
4. Hero for Hire
5. Top Duck
6. Robot Robbers
7. Much Ado About Scrooge
8. Magica’s Shadow War
9. Duckman of Aquatraz
10. Launchpad’s Civil War
11. Armstrong
12. Sir Gyro de Gearloose
13. Master of the Djinni
14. Sphinx for the Memories
15. Send in the Clones
16. Down and Out in Duckburg
17. The Lost Crown of Genghis Kahn
18. The Money Vanishes
19. Where No Duck Has Gone Before
20. Dinosaur Ducks
21. Pearl of Wisdom
22. Superdoo!

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where we learn just how active Scrooge is for his age in "Sweet Duck of Youth."
If you would like to check out other reviews on this blog, click here for the guide to all the reviews posted so far.