Gladstone Gander's role in Carl Barks' comics was clear from the start. He was created as an immensely lucky guy and as such he was a counterpart to Donald Duck's distinctive unlucky streak. His primary ambitions were twofold; tormenting Donald and winning Daisy from him. Neither of these characteristics added much to his likeability, and Barks did not succeed in giving Gladstone human values or redeeming features as he did with Donald and Scrooge. In fact Barks later stated that he grew tired of the character and found it hard to come up with new means of displaying his uncanny luck and his arrogant superiority towards Donald.

THE CHANGES

Gladstone is by far the most modified character in Barks' duck universe. In reality, he does not even belong in the duck family. He is portrayed as a goose (like Cousin Gus) but it is only his beak that differs from that of the ducks. But as you can see from the few panels below, Barks ended up giving him a duck's beak.

1948 1950 1953 1966

THE DISPOSITION
Despite all his luck Gladstone has a hard time living in Duckburg since he is disliked (though tolerated) by almost everyone - Donald despices him for his luck, the nephews for his trampling on Donald, Daisy for his lacking personal qualities, and Scrooge for his unwillingness to do honest work. The only person who is seen with him who has no bad feelings is Gyro who helps him out from time to time when he is in a spot.
WDCS095 His bad character clearly shines through in his eternal boasting.	WDCS225 His feelings towards Daisy are not as deep as those to his belongings.
WDCS140   WDCS110 It is a common belief that Gladstone only had one regular job in his entire life namely the one in which he earned a salary of one (one!) dime. Afterwards he was so ashamed that he hid it in his safe. But Barks in fact showed Gladstone doing another job as a camp guard in an earlier story! However, he only took the job, because, as he puts it, there was absolutely nothing else to do....

THE RIVALRY
In many of the stories Barks focuses more on the ongoing fights between Gladstone and Donald than on his lucky streak.
WDCS088	WDCS117
WDCS128	WDCS270

THE GOOD LUCK
Gladstone entered the scene in WDCS088 and Barks soon equipped him with an incredible amount of good luck. He was able to find diamonds and wallets everywhere and he never neglected to brag about it to Donald in great detail.
FC1047   WDCS251 According to himself Gladstone was born with this rare talent but nevertheless he is sometimes seen using common good luck charms - a rabbit's foot and a horseshoe.
WDCS136 Gladstone is given a donation just because he is 'a man with spats, webfeet, wavy hair, and a bow tie'!	WDCS140 All the items on Gladstone's shopping list are miraculously tossed his way. In this panel the main course is served!
WDCS143 Of course Gladstone can find precious stones in a barren field. It only takes a meteorite...	WDCS207 And why not a manufactured diamond - dropped from a ring - in an equally empty desert?
WDCS163   FC0256 What is good luck worth if you are not able to brag about it? Luckily, Donald is always about to 'rejoice' with Gladstone...

THE BAD LUCK
Incredible as it may seem a multitude of stories in fact end with Gladstone having bad luck. But before his downfall Donald and the nephews can bear witness to his good fortunes.
MOC41 Gladstone thought that he had it made when he found the missing Scrooge on a tropical island, but the old miser did not want to be found.	DD46 Gladstone splits the reward money with Donald during a trip to Hondorica but he is also the unwilling receiver of a special metal collar!
FC1161 Gladstone's dream of being a toreador ends abruptly as Grandma's good-natured bull refuses to play...	WDCS103 In this story Donald finds a precious ruby and Gladstone is reduced to being the driver of Donald's brand-new car.
WDCS131 Barks wrote this story with a wonderful twist: Gladstone is unlucky all the time, Donald is lucky. Until the last panels...	WDCS136 One can also be too lucky. Gladstone wins so many turkeys that he is not even able to give them away!
WDCS167 Gladstone wins the great fishing prize - an elaborate car - from under the noses of Donald and the nephews, but they rescue a little girl from drowning instead and reap the benefits.	WDCS243 He who catches the most Thanksgiving turkeys wins a date with Daisy, the festival queen. But she has to back down and the winner (Gladstone, of course) becomes the loser...