Three of Carl Barks' main characters have bragged about both real and imaginary feats and skills throughout the stories. Gladstone Gander, Scrooge McDuck, and Donald Duck often boasted about their accomplishments, but there are general differences, as you are about to discover in the examples chosen below.

THE LUCKSTER

Gladstone Gander seems to have been blessed with a distinctive good luck gene. Some may even assert that he has earned the right to brag about his good fortune. True or not, that is exactly what he does! In fact, he is a genuine pain in the neck to those around him, because he does not possess the gene that tells him when to stop. Most of the time Donald is at the receiving end of his bray as we shall see in these examples:

WDCS117   WDCS128 Many of Gladstone's best moments come when he competes against Donald for the fair Daisy's grace. He is always sure to win points whether they are trying to impress her on picnics or at tryouts for the leading role in a theatrical play in which Daisy has the part of the princess.       WDCS136   WDCS143 A few times Donald has been fool-hearted enough to attempt to give Gladstone a bad time, but he usually winds up regretting his actions, whether he sells Gladstone one single ticket (out of several thousands held by Donald) to a turkey raffle, or selling him a worthless strip of land that immediately after the purchase is hit by a meteor containing valuable stones.       WDCS103   WDCS167 Sometimes Gladstone shows up just as Donald is about to have a lucky break. Donald is either about to find a Maharajah's lost ruby or land a big salmon in a contest, but Gladstone's bragging presence makes him loose his nerve.       FC0256   WDCS163 What is good luck worth if you are not able to brag about it? Lucky Donald is always about to 'rejoice' with Gladstone...

THE BUSINESSMAN

Scrooge McDuck is usually down to earth when he is heard boasting - and he has earned the right to do so. He worked his way up in the world, so he has a lot to brag about but he seldom does so. Here are a few exceptions:

U$11   WDCS138 Scrooge is always game when he is challenged by others on his abilities and wealth. One day he takes a bet with Donald that he can find gold anywhere on the globe, and another day he competes recklessly with the Maharajah of Howduyustan building the most expensive statue of Duckburg's founder, Cornelius Coot.       U$15   U$27 On three occasions Scrooge has been up against the biggest bragger in financial circles - Flintheart Glomgold. This upstart really brings forward the worst in Scrooge when the two compete in contests where they brag about their endless fortunes and assets.       U$41   U$44 In a few stories we see another side of Scrooge when he wants to brag by joining certain exclusive communities. In one story he longs to be part of Duckburg's posh inner circles but he lacks the position. Then he remembers he owns a prestigeous striped ruby. In another story Scrooge seeks status by trying to join the very prestigious Archaeologists' Club but he is not admitted because he has not found any lost cities.

THE EXAGGERATOR

Donald has often boasted of skills beyond his abilities. In fact, he does so - to smaller or greater extents - in the majority of the stories.

WDCS062   WDCS042 Donald often takes leave of his senses when he gets stricken by megalomania. Countless times we have seen him boasting of being the greatest hunter, skier, water-skier, fisherman, or kite flyer without ever having an ounce of skill to support his bragging.       WDCS132   WDCS228 Donald's bragging is often triggered by his wish to show the nephews that he masters all sorts of different skills. But it always becomes strikingly apparent that he is no match to his nephews who really possess the required skills such as creating properly made boy scout items or returning home safely from a white water boat journey.       WDCS161   WDCS192 On occasion Donald only needs to read a book about a certain subject in order to convince himself that he is a born talent in whatever skill the book describes. Over time he has considered himself an expert in child upbringing, repair jobs, flower growing, and salmon hatching - just to name a few.       WDCS156   WDCS264 Donald has also been a genuine expert at different odd jobs. How he required the necessary skills we shall never know, but the fact remains that he really mastered some very diverse vocations. Still, he often tends to overrate his skills, which quickly brings him down.

THE CLASHES OF THE TITANS

In some of Barks' stories two or more of the primary characters are up against each other. Here are a few examples:

WDCS088   WDCS095 In most cases Donald and Gladstone are trying to surpass each other by bragging recklessly; who can perform the most impressive feat or who is the richest?       U$20   WDCS157 In other cases Donald and Scrooge are bragging to establish who is the best salesman or who is the best mountain climber.       WDCS207   U$35 We also witness examples of Scrooge and Gladstone battling to see if hard work or luck is the best policy. Who can win a gold digging contest in the desert or who can find the biggest gold nugget in Alaska?