Heroes become legends.
Some become that by accident, others have a stronger entry game plan with earnest intentions.
Some heroes use extraordinary skills and abilities that make them ready to save the world. Others are chosen by fate and bestowed powers or even magic to save their universe.
But this hero…is none of those things. But rather simply a duck who has enough of an ego that he thinks he can fight crime and become a hero. So he does that.
No, we aren’t talking about Gizmoduck this time. It’s the shorter duck with the oversized hat standing to the side that is the topic of conversation, the mighty masked mallard known as the terror that flaps in the night…let’s stop right there before this writer starts alliterating for another four hundred words.
Because even as mighty as my pen is, he can come up with even more on-the-beak one-liners.
Once again, after many years of lingering in the shadows, the duck who owns the night is back for new adventures. The one and only hero of St. Canard, Darkwing Duck.
This year, Darkwing Duck celebrated a landmark 35th anniversary since its first arrival on screens in 1991. This animated series, created by the legend known as Tad Stones, followed the dual life of DW. By daytime, he was mild-mannered suburban father Drake Mallard to an energetic daughter, Gosalyn. Together, along with best friend and sidekick Launchpad McQuack (yes, from DuckTales), they navigated some less-than-normal life situations — often leading Drake to become Darkwing Duck and become the city’s hero. Or at least attempt to do so.
Together, the trio fought against a range of vibrant and threatening foes in not only DW’s quest to become a hero, but for everyone else to also acknowledge his heroism. From facing off against the likes of F.O.W.L. to the Fearsome Five, Darkwing was always ready to get dangerous and leap into action, lending itself to some great comedy.
While much of the series’ three-season, 91-episode run focused on the adventures of Darkwing as a hero, the real heart — as Tad Stones has said many times — was the bond and relationship of a father, a daughter and a Launchpad. No matter how hard things got or how dangerous the stakes were, they always stayed together and overcame them as a family. It was their family bond that made them heroic.
Though DW finished his run in 1995, the series has never faded for fans.
Far from it. Over the past decades, we have seen the adventures of DW, Gosalyn and LP continue through various comic series that have showcased the stories and characters through various lenses. All bringing something both new, charming and unquestionably, authentically Darkwing to the table.
But Darkwing has not existed alone in a comic book void, though that was a plotline in the main series. He also joined the ranks and became a critical part of the second and third seasons of the 2017 reboot of DuckTales. There, we saw our most dynamic change to the long-standing version of DW fans knew.
And it was kind of epic and something this writer insists you watch rather than read a recap of.
Leading DW to have anything but a listless retirement — not that he would ever be able to do that. After all, this is the duck who thinks he can fight crime; therefore, he is a grand hero no one has rewarded yet.
But what fans have been hoping for has, at long, long last, arrived. A brand-new Darkwing Duck series has officially been announced and greenlit for Disney+.
It may be the start of fall, but danger is in the air.
And this time, the very thing that has always made him strong — made him a hero — is the thing he lacks and must get back to.
In this upcoming 2028 Disney+ series, Drake is back in a continuation of the series. But those last 35 years we lived through are drastically different from the reality DW has faced — and moreover, one he has faced without Gosalyn and Launchpad by his side. That hurts — not only for him, but for us as well.
For the last 35 years, Darkwing Duck has been trapped in his worst nightmare: an alternate world that’s never heard of his superhero exploits. Now a rebellious teen named Duckie who knows all about his heroic past shows up to pull this ego-fueled vigilante back into battle. Together, this unlikely duo will get dangerous to fight old enemies like Negaduck and Megavolt and reunite with allies Launchpad, Gosalyn and Morgana to save the entire universe.
As a longtime fan of Darkwing, this actually and legitimately hurts in the deepest sense of the word.
Sure, Drake is so overwhelmingly egotistical that he could occupy — at the very least — the entire landmass of Australia. But dropping him inside a world where his grand feats, legacy and stories fall hollow, as if he is a crazy duck rambling to the sky? That stings. Removing his core pillars of support and love to the point that he has spent decades away from his family? Crushing.
At the same time, we have no hope for his vehicle after Launchpad has put so many crash miles into it.
So when Duckie, this rebellious teen, finally puts some belief in his words, it is like a new life is given to Drake. The resolve not to give up that we hope drives him forward to return to where he belongs.
There is no question much of the story will be an actual traditional — as much as Darkwing can do, anyway — hero’s journey. But the wound is deeper than that. Drake is fractured because of the lack of his family. His family is likely mentally damaged due to the lack of Darkwing. If one day Darkwing vanished, it would emotionally crush them. Launchpad would hold himself emotionally hostage and responsible, as he would now have to raise Gosalyn into a teenager as a single, impromptu parent.
And Gosalyn…she is without her rock.
There are going to be a lot of tears.
This new reboot isn’t the story of how DW becomes the greatest hero. It’s about finding a way back home and to family when the entire universe is against you. How to find the resolve to stand again and move forward toward what is cherished. It’s a bold narrative choice, one that feels dark, imposing and emotionally damaging in the same breath. Not even something I could ever fathom.
But that is why it’s so remarkable.
We have seen Darkwing being organically DW for years in different lights. Now, now we see what happens when everything is shattered like broken glass that has to come together again — even if it’s not perfect.
But being a hero isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being there.
This action-packed continuation of the beloved franchise comes from Sean Tretta (Star Trek: Picard) and Borja Peña Gorostegui (Lost & Crowned), who both serve as executive producers. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Alex McAtee and Gabby Grantham are producing for Point Grey Pictures. Tad Stones is the creator of the original Darkwing Duck series and consulted on the development of his new adventures.
The lead cast includes Mark Hamill (Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham Asylum) as Drake Mallard aka Darkwing Duck, Seth Rogen (The Muppet Show) as Launchpad McQuack, Lizzy Caplan (Party Down) as Gosalyn Mallard, Lilimar (Inside Out 2) as Duckie, Dan Stevens (Onslaught) as Glade McTowers, Tiffany Shepis (Star Trek: Picard) as Rosa, Kathryn Newton (Avengers: Doomsday) as Firecracker, Teo Briones (Final Destination Bloodlines) as Timb, Tyler Dean Flores (Neon) as Pondsy, Katie Rich (Saturday Night Live) as Officer Shanks, and Nat Faxon (The Descendants) as Officer Webb.
In his own world, Darkwing Duck may never have been quite as big a deal as he believed himself to be.
Today?
The terror that flaps in the night is trending so hot he’s somehow generating more conversation than a certain trio of musical heroes who moonlight as demon hunters.
Maybe Darkwing was right all along.
Heroes become legends.
I guess he doesn’t miss either. But we missed him
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