Synopsis:
Scrooge takes Donald and the nephews to Florida to buy some cheap land. He soon realizes that he has bought the Fountain of Youth as well...

Comments:
Barks would occasionally describe and draw subjects that most of us have heard about but have never actually experienced. In this story Barks was inspired by the Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon who in 1493 joined Columbus' second voyage to the Americas. After de Leon had discovered Puerto Rico he went on to search for the fabled Fountain of Youth. He discovered Florida which he explored meticulously for 8 years without finding any trace of the elusive waters.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In U$17 A Cold Bargain Scrooge buys an edible substance that tastes of whatever you are thinking of. In U$35 The Golden Nugget Boat Scrooge finds a gold nugget the size of a boat. In U$50 Rug Riders in the Sky the ducks experience flight on a magic carpet. In U$65 Micro-Ducks from Outer Space we are introduced to tiny aliens.

Synopsis:
Scrooge wants a unicorn for his zoo so Donald and the nephews are sent to the Himalayas after the fabled animal which they know does not exist. Or does it?

Comments:
Horses have always been present in myths. Just think of centaurs and Pegasus. And the unicorn. Mentioned in the Bible and in mythology, a unicorn is generally known as a white mare with one spiralled horn growing from the center of its head. Barks sent his ducks on the seemingly 'wild goose chase', but they managed to deliver after all.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In DD26 Trick or Treat we meet the cyclops Smorgasbord. In FC0223 Lost in the Andes we see square chickens. In FC0318 No Such Varmint (Barks says it himself!) we are presented to a giant sea serpent. In U$14 The Lost Crown of Genghis Khan Barks gives us his version of the elusive Yeti. In U$54 The Billion Dollar Safari we experience a square-trunked elephant.

Synopsis:
Scrooge decides to hide all his money on an asteroid far away from thieves. But the asteroid is inhabited...

Comments:
Barks has led his characters into space on many occasions, and it all seems quite natural to them; they never have to train for the missions, they overcome very lengthy trips in no time, and they are not especially restricted as for their gear and freedom of movement.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In DBP 'The Impenetrable Money Bin' Scrooge and Gyro visit a faraway planet. In U$24 The Twenty-four Carat Moon and in U$49 The Loony Lunar Gold Rush all the ducks travel to two moons. In WDCS093 'Rocket Race to the Moon' Donald pays a brief visit to the moon.

Synopsis:
An old zombie confuses Donald with Scrooge as he delivers a curse from his witch doctor. Donald and the nephews travel to Africa to get free of the curse.

Comments:
In its basic form a zombie is a dead person who is brought back to life through the means of Voodoo magic. The legend originated from Africa but is nowadays more commonly believed in Haiti where thousands of people are thought to be zombies. One noted example is Felicia Felix-Mentor of Haiti, who died and was buried in 1907, but who was found wandering about the countryside in 1937.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In FC275 Ancient Persia a whole royal household is brought to life - and put to death. In U$26 Krankenstein Gyro the famed inventor tries to create life. In U$McD Go Slowly Sands of Time Scrooge will not accept that he is mortal.

Synopsis:
By accident, janitor Donald at The Duckburg Museum discovers that a square rock from Peru in fact is an egg. He is promptly sent out to get more...

Comments:
It is possible that the globe today, still holds a number of ethnic tribes and undiscovered nationalities in rugged mountain regions and unwelcoming jungle areas. Barks dreamed up such a community for this story, and the people were even giving the trait of being square physically as well as being harshly opposed to anything round. Maybe such a tribe will emerge some day in reality?

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In FC0062 Mystery of the Swamp we meet the Gneezles. In U$05 'Atlantis' we see Atlanteans. In U$13 Land Beneath the Ground we encounter the Terries and the Fermies. In U$18 Land of the Pygmy Indians we are presented to Pygmy Indians. In U$53 Interplanetary Postman we meet both Venusians and Martians.

Synopsis:
Following a trip to the movies, Gyro is inspired to create life. Now he waits while his egg is being hatched under Cluckery Cluck...

Comments:
Barks portrayed Gyro in the role of a wannabe Frankenstein, the creator of nothing less than life itself. Judging from just the title there can be little doubt that Barks had the British author Mary Shelley's novel about Dr. Frankenstein and his monster in mind when he dreamed up his comic book version about the impossible task of creating life from dead objects.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In FC0328 In Old California! the Duck family slept for 6 whole weeks during which time span they mysteriously dreamt the exact same dream. This also happened for a shorter period of time for Donald and Scrooge in U$16 Back to Long Ago and for all the ducks in U$37 Cave of Ali Baba.

Synopsis:
Donald reads a book about black wishing stones on a tropical island and the nephews make fun of him for believing the story. But soon after they are all on their way, and Donald ends up rich!!!

Comments:
Having Donald receiving great wealth despite his normal role in the stories should be as unlikely as Scrooge losing his money, Gladstone his luck, or Gyro his inventive genius. Still, from time to time Barks broke with the 'conventions' and made Donald a rich and happy duck.

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In FC0009 Pirate Gold and in FC0029 The Mummy's Ring Donald ended up with fully loaded treasure chests. In FC0263 Trail of the Unicorn he received one million dollars. In FC0422 The Gilded Man he was given 50,000 dollars. In WDCS130 'The Rare Coin' he earned 20,000 dollars.

Synopsis:
Scrooge is stressed and after having reached his breaking point he travels with Donald and the nephews to Tralla-La where the concept of money is unknown. Until they arrive...

Comments:
The initial idea was Barks' desire to show a billion of something (in this case it ended up being bottle caps). This was combined with the 1937 Frank Capra movie Lost Horizon (adapted from a novel by James Hilton) which Barks had recently seen so he decided to place his ducks in the unwelcoming mountains of the Himalayas. Here they spend weeks on end in an Eden-like Shangri-la (Hilton's name for his mountainous resort-like dreamland where everybody is happy), but they finally - and reluctantly - have to leave for the real world...

Additional stories with the same basic theme:
In FC1025 Dream Planet Gyro and Gus Goose travel to a planet where nobody has to work. In FC1184 Monsterville Duckburg is converted into an - apparently - ideal society. In U$29 Island in the Sky the ducks settle down on an asteroid with an abundance of food.