Donald Duck is popular the world over, but one place, in particular, is Finland. Every week, a Donald Duck comic will be read by over 1.5 million people in Finland, and there are only around 5.5 million people in Finland. Noting this popularity, and going off a fan suggestion, Don Rosa created what might be the most fitting tribute to Finnish Donald Duck fans with “The Quest For Kalevala”. The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic and is a poem based on folktales and traditions dating back millennia. It was assembled and composed into the form we know, by Elias Lönnrot who traveled the country speaking with folksingers to find the traditions and record them. The tale is a long one but a key part is a quest for the Sampo, a mystical object that can create Salt, Grain, and Gold Coins from nothing.
The Quest for Kalevala sees the nephews find an I.O.U. written to Scrooge by Elias Lonnrot, and sparks Scrooge’s interest in finding the legendary Sampo. What follows is a love letter to Finnish traditions that Rosa spent a long time preparing. He noted that it was just as intensive to work on as his Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck series. Scrooge, Donald, and the nephews head to Finland and soon find themselves on a mystical adventure.
I do not want to give away spoilers for the story, but rather to impress on why you should read it. Rosa mimicked the poetic pattern of the Kalevala and worked in figures from the legends like Väinämöinen and Louhi. It is not only about paying tribute to Finnish fans though, as Rosa managed to give more insight into the ducks as well. We see Donald as an analog to figures in the legends and showing him as a truly heroic figure, building on earlier work. Characters like Magica De Spell and Gyro Gearloose factor in, and work great in the story as well.
But this is a Scrooge story and it is his place to shine. Scrooge may have gold fever when he sees wealth to be had, but there is more to him as we know. Rosa not only shows a deeper side to Scrooge, but we also get a hint of what may be Scrooge’s ultimate fate. Scrooge is himself a figure of legend as established by Rosa and the lands of north and snow have a special place for him. Sometimes, though you just need a reminder even if it is from a legendary being.
The comic can be read in the Don Rosa Library Volume 8 along with many other great stories and I urge you all to read this.