The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck


The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is a serial of 12 comic book stories written and drawn by Don Rosa, lettered by Todd Klein, first published by the Danish publisher Egmont in the magazine Anders And & Co. from 1992–94 and later in English in Uncle Scrooge #285 through #296. The stories chronicle the in-universe biography of Scrooge McDuck before his introduction in 1947. The stories were later collected and published together in a single volume. Rosa later published additional stories which expanded on Scrooge's biography. These were released as The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion.
The story follows the main events of Scrooge's life between 1877 and 1947, including almost all references found in Carl Barks stories about Scrooge's life until 1947 but leaving some room for Rosa and other creators to add more details later. The comic also provides information on the backgrounds and origins of many characters related to Scrooge.
Don Rosa earned the Will Eisner Award in 1997 for this work. The trade paperback collection was also a top vote-getter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Novel/Album for 1997.
After being out of print for several years with high demand, the book was reprinted under the BOOM! Studios label in two deluxe hardcover volumes.
The Finnish composer Tuomas Holopainen released a concept album based on the book, titled Music Inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge. Don Rosa illustrated the cover artwork for the album.

Chapter list

Note: Chapters Zero, and all "in-between" chapters with B or C added to the numbers are not included in the softcover collection in North America. These chapters were later reprinted in a separate book published by Gemstone, titled The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion.

Scrooge McDuck timeline according to Rosa

Several notable historical figures appear in the series:
Publication dateTitlePublisherFormatNumber of volumesIncluded contentReproductionISBNINDUCKS link
1996The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuckGladstone PublishingDeluxe album
8.75 × 11.25 inches
223 × 286 mm
1Chapter 1 - 12Color?
July 2005 - September 2006The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuckGemstone PublishingSoftcover
6.5 × 10.1 inches
165 × 257 mm
2Vol.1 - Chapter 1 - 12
Vol. 2 - Companion chapters
ColorVol. 1
Vol. 2

March 2010 - December 2010The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuckBOOM! StudiosHardcover
7 × 10.5 inches
178 × 267 mm
3Vol. 1 - Chapter 1 - 6
Vol. 2 - Chapter 7 - 12
Vol. 3 - Companion chapters
ColorVol. 1
Vol. 2
Vol. 3

June 24, 2015The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Artist's EditionIDW PublishingHardcover
14 × 22 inches
356 × 559 mm
2Vol. 1 - Chapter 1 - 6
Vol. 2 - Chapter 7 - 12
Full color scans of original Black-and-white artworkVol. 1
Vol. 2

April 9, 2019 - October 29, 2019The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuckFantagraphics BooksHardcover
8.5 × 11 inches
216 × 279 mm
2Vol. 1 - Chapter 1 - 12
Vol. 2 - Companion chapters
+ Last Sled to Dawson,
The Dream of a Lifetime,
Of Ducks and Dimes and Destinies,
A Letter From Home
ColorVol. 1
Vol. 2
Set