Darkwing Duck

### Also known as

DW, Dark, Dad, Wingy, Posiduck, Duck-Man, Darkwing Duck Prime, Duck Knight, Masked Mallard, Arachno-Duck, Eddie Erpel, Demolition Duck

### Affiliations

Launchpad McQuack
GizmoDuck
Justice Ducks

## Chronological information

### Video games

*Darkwing Duck* (Capcom)
*Darkwing Duck* (TurboGrafx-16)

### Voiced by

Jim Cummings

**Drake Mallard** is the not-so-mild mannered alter-ego of St. Canard's resident superhero **Darkwing Duck**, and as such, the main protagonist of Disney's 1991-92 television series of the same name. He is also the adoptive father to the orphaned Gosalyn Waddlemeyer. He can be considered to be originated from various comic book heroes from the golden and silver age and was voiced by Jim Cummings. He has been described as a cross between Batman and Donald Duck. He made his debut along with Gosalyn in The Disney Afternoon title sequence in 1990.

## Background

Drake, in his youth, was a Junior Woodchuck, as he still makes use of his "Junior Woodchuck Guidebook." At least three episodes of *Darkwing Duck* attempt to tell the origin of D.W.: the first, "The Secret Origins of Darkwing Duck," relates a pseudo-Superman tale which is basically just hyperbole. The second, "Paraducks," relates how Darkwing, himself, traveling back in time, was the inspiration for young Drakey Mallard to dream of becoming a superhero one day. Thirdly, in "Clash Reunion," a teenage Drake saves his school from his classmate Elmo Sputterspark (the person who eventually became the villainous "Megavolt"), and makes his debut as St. Canard's Defender of the Night, Darkwing Duck.

Darkwing's costume consists of a fedora with an oversized brim, a mask, a cape, and a long sleeved coat over a turtleneck. The vast majority of his outfit is in shades of purple, with the exception of the turtleneck which is a teal color.

### Abilities and equipment

As a non-powered superhero, Darkwing utilizes a variety of gadgets in his fight against crime. His most used weapon is his gas gun, which not only fires gas, but a variety of weapons. It is also designed to function as a grappling hook. For transportation, he will either use the Thunderquack, a duck head-shaped plane built and piloted by Launchpad, or the Ratcatcher, his motorcycle.

While having no superpowers, Darkwing is still a toon, and seems virtually indestructible: he often gets defeated in a painful way, get crushed, flattened, even blown away by explosions, but always rises back. He isn't unstoppable however, as he sometimes needs to wear bandages after being seriously injured. Darkwing suffers several injuries in a slaptsick manner through each episodes.

Despite a large degree of clumsiness, Darkwing is an expert in martial arts and generally quite proficient in physical combat; he employs several techniques he has developed on his own including the satirical but effective "double reverse, paddle drop, boom, boom kick" and his "patented flying web kick". Even though he is referred to as a "superhero" (by himself and other citizens), Darkwing has no true superpower. Instead, he relies on his weapons, finesse, and intellect to solve crimes and stop villains. While he is shown to be a struggling hero at the beginning of the series he later becomes a popular and well known figure in St. Canard.

## Appearances

### *Darkwing Duck*

Darkwing is known for his rather large ego, and can initially be mistaken for a bumbling superhero. However, when pushed, as symbolized by the utterance of his catchphrase, "Let's get dangerous," he can become very competent, proving his skill. He usually works alongside his sidekick, Launchpad McQuack. He typically works at night, appearing with smoke effects and a unique introductory statement. As a hero, Darkwing is often forced to balance his desire for fame with his desire to be a father to Gosalyn and do good in St. Canard.

As a civilian, he is known as Drake Mallard, and he lives in the suburbs with his adopted daughter, Gosalyn Mallard, and his sidekick Launchpad McQuack. His next door neighbors are the dimwitted Muddlefoot family, who, except for their younger son, Honker, Gosalyn's best friend, who also knows of his identity, ignorant of his double life as a superhero. The sorceress Morgana MacCawber is a reformed criminal who has become the object of Darkwing's affection.

Interestingly, the pilot shows that Darkwing had given up his civilian identity in favor of full-time crime-fighting. At that point, he lived in a secret lair at the top of a bridge. Darkwing's return to a civilian alter-ego was fueled by his adoption of Gosalyn.

### Comics

Darkwing appeared in various comics bearing his name. Around the time of the show's premiere, a four-issue miniseries, based on "Darkly Dawns the Duck", was published by Disney Comics. Like the *TaleSpin* comic book before it, the mini-series was intended to spin off into a regular publication, but the implosion of Disney Comics prevented that. After that, *Darkwing* stories were regularly featured in the magazine Disney Adventures from November 1991 to January 1996, as well as Marvel's Disney Afternoon comic book.

In 2010, Darkwing appeared in a new comic series, which opened with a 4-issue arc titled "The Duck Knight Returns". In the series, Drake has apparently quit the superhero business, for a cubicle job at the Quackwerks company which produces robotic police enforcers, and he is no longer speaking to Launchpad, ever since an incident where he accidentally lead NegaDuck to discover his identity. But then returns to hero work when finding that things aren't as they seem at Quackwerks and some of his old enemies start working together again. After defeating Taurus Bulba again, who was revealed to be behind Quackwerks all along in a scheme to control the city, Darkwing returns to the public spotlight again. As the comic progressed, he finds himself confronting numerous versions of himself from alternate universes and running for mayor of St. Canard. The comic was eventually cancelled, but is planned to be continued by Joe Books (however, said plans are currently on hiatus).

### *Disney Infinity*

Darkwing appears in the form of a costumed townsperson in the game.

His motorcycle and gas gun appear as power disc.

A developer for *Disney Infinity* at E3 stated that Darkwing was very close to getting into the game, and was scrapped, but may appear as a playable character in a future *Disney Infinity* game.

## Allies

Though generally a lone hero, Darkwing occasionally works with other heroes. He sometimes serves as the leader of a network of superheroes called the Justice Ducks comprised of Launchpad McQuack, Stegmutt, Neptunia, Morgana McCawber and Duckburg's own defender, GizmoDuck. Occasionally Darkwing serves as a secret agent for the government agency known as S.H.U.S.H. Director J. Gander Hooter, Agents Double-O-Duck (Launchpad McQuack), Feathers Galore (double agent), Vladimir Goudenov Grizzlikof, Dr. Sara Bellum and "Dr. G." (Gyro Gearloose), are all members of this secret organization, where Darkwing even serves as the leader of the Darkwing Squad (Darkwing Deer, Darkwing Dodo, Darkwing Donkey and Darkwing Dog).

## Enemies

Darkwing's most famous arch-nemeses are Megavolt, Bushroot, Quackerjack and the Liquidator, as well as the villainous alternate-reality incarnation of DW, NegaDuck. They usually work separately, but the first four along with NegaDuck are known to group together in a group known as "The Fearsome Five" with NegaDuck serving as a leader. In the *Darkwing Duck* comics, NegaDuck would not included in the group and Quackerjack would take over as leader as the group of villains would be known as "The Fearsome Four".

Steelbeak, Ammonia Pine, Ample Grime, and the henchmen known as Eggmen all serve as agents of the nefarious F.O.W.L. (Fiendish Organization for World Larceny), an organization headed by Dr. Nogood. Taurus Bulba was even resurrected by F.O.W.L. to become a cyborg. Other notable adversaries of Darkwing include Splatter Phoenix, Tuskernini, Jambalaya Jake, Lilliput Gooney, Fluffy, Anna Matronic, and Professor Moliarty. In the Boom! Studios comic book series, Darkwing would also face off against classic Disney villains Magica De Spell, the Beagle Boys, and the Phantom Blot (however, the story arc in which he battled the latter two is no longer considered canon).

## Live appearances

Following the premiere of his series, Darkwing made semi-regular appearances at the Disney theme parks. He was most prominently featured in the Disney Afternoon-themed stage show at Mickey's Starland from 1991 through 1996. He also made a guest star appearance in the *Disney On Ice* show *Double Feature... Live!*, in which he rescues Daisy Duck from a gangster named Ice-Head Harry.

Darkwing still makes occasional rare appearances at Walt Disney World at Disney's Animal Kingdom and, when it was still open, Mickey's Toontown Fair. Darkwing and Launchpad served as "training characters" for cast members in the walk-around character departments.

In 2013, Darkwing resurfaced at Disneyland Paris, for the Disney Dreamers Everywhere Event.

In September 2014, Darkwing and Launchpad appeared in Disney's California Adventure for meet and greets.

## Gallery

*Main article: Darkwing Duck/Gallery*
Template:Darkwing Duck

Disney core universe characters

Secondary
Pete • Oswald the Lucky Rabbit • José Carioca • Chip 'n' Dale • Clarabelle Cow • Magica De Spell • **Drake Mallard** • Max Goof • Horace Horsecollar • Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck • jiminy Cricket • Scrooge McDuck • Phantom Blot • Panchito Pistoles • Ludwig Von Drake
Groups
Beagle Boys • Mouse universe characters (Mouse family) • Duck universe characters (Duck family • Clan McDuck • Evroniani • *DuckTales* characters)