We are at home again, but today’s trip to the Fantasy Basel, a Swiss Comic Con, is still a part of our holidays. After all, we returned early to participate in the Fantasy which takes place for the fifth time already. And this year we feel that there are more stalls than last year, when parts of the halls were left empty. They have also moved the main stage to a separate building which can be reached via a connecting walkway on the second floor. This is quite good, as the talks on this stage no longer disturb the rest of the event – and vice versa. Even if there is still a lack of professionalism and really famous stars compared to Comic Cons abroad: Fantasy Basel is getting there!

We are here today because of Don Rosa. He is one of the most famous illustrators of Disney comics with Donald Duck & Co. His stories are strongly based on those of his role model Carl Barks. Don Rosa has taken a special liking to Scrooge McDuck and has created a biography and the Duck family tree. His stories are less well-known in the German-speaking area, as they were published almost exclusively in special volumes. The Disney pocket books I’ve been reading since my childhood (called “Lustige Taschenbücher”) mainly feature stories created in Italy or the Scandinavian countries. Don Rosa didn’t always agree with Disney, and this dislike is also reflected in his performance. He strongly distinguishes between right (Carl Barks and his stories) and wrong (all other stories and especially the Ducktales cartoon series, against which he has a special dislike). Well, I don’t see the whole thing as strict at all, which surely has something to do with the fact that I grew up with the (in his eyes) “false” stories and enjoy them a lot. I meanwhile know that there are different worlds, but I accept them as they are. I go more after the motto “live and let live”.

After his talk, we queue at his stand. I really want him to sign my Scrooge biography. I also buy some of the beautiful art prints of his drawings, which he also signs. Which gives me the opportunity to ask him some questions about Donald, Scrooge and the other Ducks. And also here we feel the right and wrong again. For example, he looks at my Donald Duck sailor jacket I’ve sewn before our holidays to wear today and states that it’s wrong to have four buttons. Carl Barks and he always drew only two buttons. Of course I had asked myself the same question when sewing the sailor jacket, and also wasn’t sure of which colour to go for, as we see so many different versions in the comics: Blue or black with blue contrasts, with yellow or white stripes, and with two, four, or no buttons at all on the front. I finally decided on the compromise colour navy blue (after all, it’s a sailor jacket) and four buttons, because two buttons looked funny on me as my torso is much longer than Donald’s. I also wear – as the human embodiment of Donald Duck – white jeans and orange sneakers. I like my outfit! 🙂

After this very special conversation with Don Rosa, Gabi and I share a bag of mini donuts and then walk by the other stands. There is a big area with Japanese stands, a medieval area, a game area with video games to try out, exhibitions with (probably: imitation) props from the Indiana Jones movies, a huge X-Wing and a Tie Fighter from Star Wars, stands with movie items with certified autographs of actors, swords, t-shirts, LEGO sets, Funko Pop figures and much more. All in all, it’s a wide variety of things and food on offer. Much more than last year.

Around eight in the evening we leave the Fantasy Basel and drive home.