The Battle at Hadrian's Wall

The Battle at Hadrian's Wall is a 1966 comic story written by Vic Lockman with art by Tony Strobl and Steve Steere. It features Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck, Gladstone Gander, and, in their debuts, the Lepra-Duck, J.P. Pile, Mrs Pile, the Pile Kids, Hadrian, and Titus. Early members of the Clan McDuck appear.
==Plot==
Gladstone Gander's luck has been taken away from him and has been given to his cousin Donald Duck by the supernatural Lepra-Duck. Donald accidentally uses it to send him and his nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck, back to ancient Scotland where Donald is now a sentry on Hadrian's Wall, guarding it against the barbaric early members of the Clan McDuck -- Donald's own ancestors. Perhaps the Lepra-Duck's wishing stone could aid him in this fight, but will that be of any use when Donald throws it to the barbarians?
===References===
*Gladstone Gander complains that his luck has been stolen from him by the Lepra-Duck, a supernatural creature who then reveals to Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck that "[t]here's no such thing as luck! I've taken my wishing stone away from him because he's been acting too proud..."
*One of the Huey, Dewey, and Louie trio reveals that "the nicest restaurant in Duckburg" is one Grand Gravy House. Donald becomes their one millionth customer.
*Donald and his nephews visit "McDuck Clan Land", flying there on a plane with Ducky Airline. Whether "McDuck Clan Land" is just another name for Scotland, Dismal Downs, the village of MacDuich, Cheapside, or is something else entirely is unclear. Notably, McDuck Clan Land is located alongside Hadrian's Wall.
*J.P. Pile is a notable millionaire instantly recognized by Donald.
*Hadrian's Wall was built from A.D. 120-123 by the Roman emperor Hadrian to defend against barbarians, among these barbarians being early members of the Clan McDuck. When Donald and his nephews travel back to this era, a total of twelve different members of the Clan McDuck are seen.
*The "present-day" of the story is implied to be 1966 as the Lepra-Duck threatens to send Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie "back" to that date after their misadventures in ancient Rome.
===Continuity===
*The Battle at Hadrian's Wall is one of several stories to provide an explanation for Gladstone's luck. Among other accounts which offer contradictory sources are On Guard (1968), which posits that Gladstone's luck is derived from the Lucky Wishing Coin, and The Sign of the Triple Distelfink (1998), which states that Gladstone is supernaturally lucky thanks to a distelfink-hex painted on the barn that his mother, Daphne Duck, was born in.
*The Clan McDuck would again be tied to Hadrian's Wall in The History of the Clan McDuck (2011), which states that a member of the clan sold Hadrian the stones with which he built the wall in AD 122. It is not known why the Clan McDuck would sell stones for which the wall to be built one year and attack the very same wall the next year, but it must be imagined that something occurred in between stories to cause the rift between the McDucks and Hadrian.
==Behind the scenes==
The Battle at Hadrian's Wall was released in May 1966. It was written by Vic Lockman. Its art was created by Tony Strobl, who penciled the story, and Steve Steere, who inked the story.
==Notes & References==
Category:Stories
Category:Comic Stories
Category:1966 stories
Category:Vic Lockman stories
Category:Tony Strobl stories
Category:Steve Steere stories
Category:Donald Duck stories
Category:Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck stories
Category:Gladstone Gander stories
Category:Lepra-Duck stories
Category:J.P. Pile stories
Category:Hadrian stories
Category:Centurion Titus stories
Category:Mrs Pile stories
Category:Pile Kids stories