Random Happenstance

Thanks to my childhood in Montana, any car drive longer than five minutes, if I'm not driving, I'll fall asleep. An exaggeration, but not much of one! But, I also recall occasionally driving through a stench, usually attributed to "skunk cabbage." Which, if we're honest, I thought was a local expression, or family-safe euphemism, for roadkill! But there are real plants known by that unfortunate sobriquet, although I tend to doubt any are considered a delicacy. Unless you're Uncle Scrooge, I guess. From 2019, Disney Comics and Stories #7/750, reprinting "The Money Tree" from 2015's Topolino #3132, written by Laura and Mark Shaw, translated by Erin Brady, art by Giorgio Cavazzano.

Donald Duck's horrible job for Uncle Scrooge this week: protecting Scrooge's skunk cabbage patch, in the shadow of the money bin. The skunk cabbage has a distinctive odor, and vaguely resembles big cauliflower balls: Scrooge loves it, and surprisingly he's not the only one, as a very determined crow is locked in a running battle with Donald to get it. Is it weird that Donald's fighting a bird? Well, I think there are a bunch of Thanksgiving covers where Donald's having turkey, so who knows. The situation is escalated by the passing Gyro Gearloose, who after brainstorming with Donald, settles for some super plant food to accelerate the skunk cabbage yield. Which also multiplies the stench!

Unfortunately, Donald then throws the plant food at the crow, which causes another plant to grow: a mighty tree, which Scrooge discovers, sprouts bags of money! So much better than skunk cabbage. Except that money's coming from somewhere, isn't it? And that crow hasn't given up yet either...Multiple fun bits in this, like Scrooge recognizing a seemingly random dime ("I remember earning it!") or swimming through his money bin like he was the Sub-Mariner. ("It's your element!")

Also this issue, "The Distracted Delay," from 2017's Topolino #3230, written by Daniele Vessella, art by Maurizio Amendola. Donald's date with Daisy is in ten hours, and if he's late for this one it could be months before he gets to see her again. After avoiding a visit from time-thief Fethry, though; Donald gets into jam after jam, including getting hassled by the cops again! If I randomly hit a third in a row with overzealous policing, per Ian Fleming that'll count as enemy action!