Mobil Disney Comics #5
In "A Whale of a Tale," Carl Barks delivers a classic slice of seaside mischief as Donald Duck, ever the dreamer, hatches a scheme to capture a whale and turn it into a paying attraction. With help from the nephews, he lures a massive whale into a cove, only to face the exhausting reality of feeding it nonstop—until the sheriff arrives to shut the whole operation down. Cover by Carl Barks, this 1983 freebie from Mobil Oil New Zealand captures the charm and wit of Barks’ storytelling at its finest.
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Relaxing at the seashore, Donald gets the idea that if he could capture and pen a live whale, people would pay money to see it. The ducks lure a whale into a cove, seal off the entrance and prepare to rake in the cash but they soon find they must catch tons of fish to feed it. After a grueling night of fishing and feeding, Donald is told by the sheriff that keeping the whale in captivity is illegal and they must release it. As the weary ducks prepare for the unpleasant task of digging an outlet, the nephews hear the welcome sound of the school bell ringing and leave Donald on his own.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).