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Darkly Dawns the Duck Part 1 is the first episode of the series.

Synopsis

Darkwing Duck is a little known crime fighter dying for a big break, and the publicity that goes with it. Yet when he gets on the trail of the infamous Taurus Bulba's latest scheme he gets into more trouble than he expected. Bulba has masterminded a scheme from within prison revolving around a powerful invention - the Waddlemeyer Ramrod, but is missing the arming code. Darkwing foils an attempt to kidnap the only living relative of the late inventor of the Ramrod, an orphan named Gosalyn.

Plot

The story starts off by introducing a little known crime fighter by the name of Darkwing Duck. After a long night of crime fighting he heads out to his secret lair, which happens to be at the top tower of the Audubon Bay Bridge. After having breakfast he heads to bed and wishes he had a shot at a real big time criminal.

Meanwhile we are introduced to the notorious criminal Taurus Bulba, who is talking to his henchmen, Hammerhead Hannigan, Hoof and Mouth, about stealing the Ramrod, some kind of super weapon. As Warden Waddlesworth approaches, his henchmen and secretary Clovis leave, his office is turn to a jail cell and we are shown he is in prison and Waddlesworth is oblivious to what is going on.

Darkwing Duck watches the city when a condor, Tantalus - Bulba's pet, holding a large box/trunk passes by. Darkwing quickly gets on his motorcycle and follows him. The condor drops the trunk to Bulba's henchmen, who have been setting up the train carrying the weapon. The trunk unpacks revealing a jet. Darkwing arrives and recognizes Hoof and Mouth as Bulba's henchmen. Excited he is finally dealing with big time criminals he proceeds to fight them. Just as he defeats them the jet takes off to the sky with the train wagon carrying the weapon. Darkwing holds on with his grappling hook but the rope is soon cut off by the condor and Darkwing falls

Darkwing lands in the hanger of Launchpad McQuack, who is his biggest fan. Darkwing makes Launchpad fly him to the flying wagon but Darkwing is picked up by the condor as he lands on it. The condor releases Darkwing but Launchpad manages to catch him just as he is going to hit the ground. Launchpad crashes and Darkwing walks off angry.

Back in prison, Warden Waddlesworth is teasing Taurus Bulba. As the Warden leaves and Bulba starts talking to his henchmen as he explains that he is angry that he has the Ramrod weapon but not the arming code since arrange "accident" for Professor Waddlemeyer, the Ramrod's inventor, before he could learn the code. He sends Hammerhead, Hoof, and Mouth to kidnap Waddlemeyer's granddaughter Gosalyn from the St. Canard Orphanage since she was his only family and he must have gave her the code. Hammerhead goes to the orphanage but as he is about to kidnap Gosalyn, Darkwing arrives to save her.

Darkwing grabs Gosalyn from his motorcycle and flees but Bulba's henchmen goes after them. As Darkwing runs away with Gosalyn, the police also start to chase him as they confuse him for the real burglar of the Ramrod. And Launchpad chases him as well since he wants to be Darkwing's sidekick. To end the chase, Darkwing jumps into the harbor and takes Gosalyn to his hide out, which is the watch tower on top of the bridge. Gosalyn blackmails Darkwing into staying at the tower and Darkwing lets her.

While back at Taurus Bulba's cell, his henchmen are terrified of what Bulba would do to them for losing Gosalyn. Bulba, seeing he needs to find Gosalyn him self, tells his assistant Clovis that “its time to say goodbye to the Warden”. Clovis moves some things and the prison cell is turned into a flying ship in the shape of a bull’s head. As the ship flies into the sky, Bulba laments loosing a hideout as perfect as a prison. Bulba tells Clovis its time to meet Darkwing Duck.

Trivia

As Taurus Bullba takes off in his ship, Clovis eye shadow changes from blue to brown a few times.

While hovering above the train car in Launchpad's plane, Launchpad's window is visible through Darkwing's head.

When Darkwing changes into his bed clothes, he is still wearing his mask, but then the camera does a close up as he approaches his bed, his Darkwing mask is suddenly gone.

The newspaper carrying the story about Darkwing supposedly robbing the train shows a photo of him fighting Hoof and Mouth, but the conductor only started taking pictures after Darkwing had knocked them out already.

While hovering above the train car in Launchpad's plane, Launchpad's window is visible through Darkwing's head as he ponders his next move.

The two soldiers whose uniforms Hoof and Mouth swipe are shown to be armed with rifles. Yet after stealing the uniforms the two henchmen are armed with machine guns.

notes

The statuette that Drake Mallard/Darkwing Duck pushes down to enter his secret lab is of Basil of Baker Street from the Disney feature The Great Mouse Detective (1986).

Launchpad McQuack is the first Disney television cartoon character to appear in two separate cartoon shows (he first appeared in "DuckTales" (1987).

This show not only spoofs elements of the Batman films and comics and the Shadow, but the intelligence organization, S.H.U.S.H., also parodies Marvel Comics' S.H.I.E.L.D., a super spy organization that often requests the aid of superheroes, especially Captain America, on missions.

According to an interview with the show's creator, Tad Stones, Gosalyn was partly based on what he believed his then two-year-old daughter would be like when she grew older.

This show was inspired by two episodes of DuckTales, entitled Double O'Duck and The Masked Mallard. The original concept had Launchpad McQuack as the star.

There are five different versions of the Darkwing Duck introduction. The first one was aired on the Disney Channel when Darkwing Duck first premiered and featured alternate animation and a different version of the familiar theme song.The second version was used in syndication, and is actually the one they use today. The third is the version used on The Disney Afternoon, and is the same as the second version only cut for time. The fourth and fifth introductions were used on the ABC Saturday Morning airings, and contained mostly scenes from those episodes, starting with Darkwing tiptoeing up the Audobon Bay Bridge.

"Darkly Dawns The Duck" was adapted into a 4 issue miniseries by Disney Comics. The same adaptation was reprinted in the 4th volume of Disney's Colossal Comics Magazine.

Darkly Dawns The Duck Parts 1&2 appear on the DVD-set Disney's Darkwing Duck: Volume one Episodes 1-27 in it's syndicated form. This episode has never been reaired in its original form since 1991.

First appearance of Tarus Bullba, Hammerhead, Hoof, Mouth, Clovis and Tantalus.

This episode was released on Walt Disney home video titled: Darkly Dawns the Duck.

Launchpad crosses over from Ducktales to star in this show Edit Share This is the first two-parter of the series.

The name of the orphanage worker where Gosalyn is from, Mrs. Cavanaugh, is an inside joke (Christine Cavanaugh is Gosalyn's voice actress).

The original hour long movie began with a different opening animation, where Darkwing captures the crooks he delivers during the first scene. This has been replaced with the standard DW theme in re-run.

This two-part episode originally aired as an hour-length TV special on the Disney Channel on April 6, 1991. This two-parter was also available on home video.

Darkwing was the title Allen Brunett used to win the contest were he got to name the hero. It was changed to Darkwing Duck because the creator (Tad Stones) didn't want a lawsuit, since the original name "Double O' Ducks" would've used the James Bond logo and is copyrighted to Albert R. Broccoli's production house, EON Productions.

Quotes

Gosalyn: I don't know anything about a pig and I was nowhere near the boy's bathroom at the time!
Mrs. Cavanaugh: What pig?
Gosalyn: Oh, I meant big! As in big of you to take such an interest in me! How may I help you?

Darkwing: I never want to see you again, EVER!
Launchpad: Okay. So, do you want my phone number?

Gosalyn: Just like in the comics! I bet you guys are eternal enemies right?
Darkwing Duck: Actually, he doesn't even know I exist, but... he soon will. Mark my words.

Darkwing Duck: Its okay miss. You're safe now in the hands of Darkwing Du-- (Gosalyn puches Darkwing in the stomach) Uhh! Hey what was that for?

Hoof: Hey, Hammerhead! Ain't we cute in our soldier suits! Hammerhead: Yeah, couple of five star generals. Just watch out for trouble.

Darkwing Duck: I am the terror that flaps in the night, I am the chill that runs up your spine, I am Darkwing Duck!

Darkwing Duck: I am the surprise in your cereal box.

Darkwing: I am the switch that derails your train.

Darkwing: Another order of dastardly delinquents deposited on your doorstep, courtesy of Darkwing Duck. That's two words, not three, both D's capitalized. Here's my photo. If the papers need more glossies, my number's on the card.

Darkwing: So where's the press? I thought this was the age of media glut? Where's the Action News van when you need them? And I spent all afternoon ironing this cape.

Darkwing: As twilight shadows creep across the sky, the lone figure of Darkwing Duck scans the city for any evidence of wrongdoing, his eagle eyes catching sight of an-- an eagle? Or more precisely a condor. I know birds travel south, but this is the first one I've seen with luggage. This bit of feathery intrigue is best investigated by... Darkwing Duck!

Bullba: That is why I am the brain, and you are the stooge. Hammerhead: That's it, boss! I'm a stooge. Uh, just call me Curly.

Bullba: That costumed clown is too concerned about his image to kill a little girl. He has her, hidden somewhere. We draw them out, and we'll have her. Clovis, if the Ramrod is secured, I think it's time we said goodbye to the warden.

Darkwing: Yes! A new world's record! everything a champion needs for breakfast... except the milk!

Darkwing: I always forget the milk.

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