Flatworm Jim was the original pilot of the "Steel Duck." A six-foot-tall intelligent flatworm, Jim’s usefulness was cut short when he was injured, resulting in three versions -- good, bad and a two-headed neutral version. All three (or four) now live on Ralph’s asteroid tending to over 6 million hamsters.
Mayberry Melonpool is the television-addicted, somewhat clumsy, not-all-that-intelligent Captain of the "Steel Duck." Oh yeah, and he's obsessed with getting a date. In short, he doesn't have a lot going for him.
Ralph Zinobop is the inventor of the "Steel Duck." He is eager to enter the next phase of his plan: to make money off his inventions to regain his rightful place as ruler of the Planet Zinobop — a planet that he was exiled from by his paranoid father several years ago. His other hobbies include wild get-get-rich schemes and drinking copious amounts of coffee. He also has a terrible temper.
Sam T. Dogg is completely out of his element. He’s super intelligent, a highly-skilled pilot and has the most common sense of anyone aboard the "Steel Duck." Also, no one takes him seriously because he’s a dog.
Sammy the Hammy is a genetic experiment gone horribly awry. Sammy is part of the ship’s equipment (he’s the engine) as well as a member of the crew. For this reason, Ralph never bothered giving him a name and he remained known as “Hamster 42” for much of his life.
This is the strip that ran roughly at the same point in the original run for comparison’s sake. I think I’ve improved a bit — at least storytelling-wise — in the last 20 years….
… I heards rumours of Carl Barks once quitting a script because it would force him to draw loads and loads of rats…. Don Rosa later took up the challenge, but besides him I think you would be the only one crazy enough to accept! 😮
… I heards rumours of Carl Barks once quitting a script because it would force him to draw loads and loads of rats…. Don Rosa later took up the challenge, but besides him I think you would be the only one crazy enough to accept! 😮
I didn’t realize they were like tribbles
This is the kind of page best left to computer-aided technology.
I actually drew it all by hand.