boxlunches:

Scrooge McDuck and his eternal rivalry with the world’s SECOND richest duck, Flintheart Glomgold. This is another place where I disagree with Italy’s canon and a few other Disney Comic writers from around the world…they contest that John D. Rockerduck is Scrooge’s true nemesis and have him regularly appear in Scrooge’s stories as though he were the Joker to Scrooge’s Batman (probably a poor analogy, but it was the first one that came to mind). When you look at the facts though it’s Flintheart who is the better intellectual, physical, and financial match.

1) John D. Rockerduck only appeared in one Carl Barks story as an oil tycoon - nothing more. Rockerduck himself barely appears in the story and he wins in a bet against Scrooge by mere chance, not by being clever or even being a cheat.

2) Flintheart Glomgold on the other hand appeared in three Carl Barks stories - meaning he was compelling enough for Barks to use him that much more. Not only is he rich enough to be the world’s second wealthiest duck, but his way of playing pool is just plain dirty - and at times even murderous. It’s a pretty heavy contrast to Scrooge’s methods, because while Scrooge is quite greedy, he has a very strong set of morals. He earns his money honestly (usually).

3) While Italy randomly latched onto Rockerduck post-Barks, Don Rosa, who had always preferred Flintheart growing up, was sure to include Flintheart in several of his stories, even giving him a similar past to Scrooge. Like Scrooge, Flintheart was born into poverty and had to crawl his way to the top through any means necessary…only Flintheart would do his treasure hunting and money scrounging through malicious means, something Scrooge sinks into eventually, but then snaps out of. Meanwhile Rockerduck in The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is depicted as a bratty young kid by the time Scrooge is an adult who inherits all of his money from his actually incredibly decent and kind father. Compared to Flintheart he is the less experienced money-maker, adventurer, and villain.

To me Flintheart’s rivalry with Scrooge is more memorable because the stakes are higher, the history is there. I’m fine with Scrooge having more than one nemesis - it’s good to have a nice and full rogues gallery - so by all means keep Rockerduck around, Europe. But to me, Flintheart will always be on top (or rather, second after Scrooge).