Mobil Disney Comics #4
In "Spare the Rod," Carl Barks delivers a classic tale of parenting gone awry when Donald Duck’s attempts to be a more understanding uncle backfire spectacularly. With his nephews testing every limit under the guise of psychological enlightenment, Donald learns the hard way that balance is key—especially when the professor’s advice leads to chaos and a very startled duck. The story, written and illustrated by Carl Barks, features his signature humor and expressive artwork, with the cover by Barks capturing the moment of comedic mayhem.
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Donald's disciplining of his nephews is witnessed by Prof. Pulpheart Clabberhead, a child psychologist, who convinces the duck that punishing children for their misdeeds will hamper their development. He soon learns that children without boundaries become spoiled brats, as the nephews take full advantage of Donald's new leniency. At the end of his rope, Donald invites the Professor to his house where the nephews set off giant firecrackers under his chair, proving that even an indulgent child psychologist can chase kids with a switch in his hand.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).