Editing Flintheart Glomgold (section)

==Comic history==

===Under Carl Barks===
Glomgold was originally created in 1956 by Scrooge McDuck artist and creator [[Carl Barks]], the creator of much of the [[Duck universe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/flintheart-glomgold/|title=Flintheart Glomgold - D23}}</ref> Characterized as an unrepentant [[miser]], [[tycoon]], [[plutocrat]], and general [[villain]], he rarely sees any problem with breaking the law, cheating, or using other unfair tactics in order to fulfill his goal of becoming the world's richest duck. That makes him a "broken mirror" of Scrooge McDuck, whose own avarice is tempered with his belief in earning money strictly through honest means.
[[File:FlintheartGlomgold TheSecondRichestDuck.jpg|left|thumb|333x333px|Flintheart Glomgold from Carl Barks' story "The Second-Richest Duck".]]
Glomgold first appeared in "[[The Second-Richest Duck]]", first published in September 1956. In this story, Scrooge, who holds the title of the Richest Duck in the World, learns that a businessman from the valley of the [[Limpopo River|Limpopo]], South Africa has also claimed this title. Scrooge decides to confront this claimant to his title and travels to South Africa along with his nephew [[Donald Duck|Donald]] and [[Huey, Dewey, and Louie|three grandnephews]]. The rest of the story concentrates on comparing and contrasting the two rivals during a race through "The Heart of Africa" (a recurring phrase in the story), by seeing who has the largest ball of string, because they are shown equal in everything else, from cash to gold mines to even who has the most pumpkins. The race is supposed to determine which one of them deserves the title.

The two characters resemble each other both in appearance and behavior though their main common point seems to be that they are extremely competitive, and neither of them can accept the idea of someone else being equal or superior to them. Flintheart, like Scrooge, keeps a percentage of his fortune in his own Money Bin, identical to that of Scrooge (with the exception of the external logo: a [[dollar sign]] on McDuck's and a [[pound sign]] on Glomgold's), while the rest of his fortune is invested in a worldwide financial empire of his own that equals that of Scrooge, although Scrooge's main sources of wealth are his industries, while Flintheart's are his diamond mines.

However, the main difference between them seems to be their way of life. Scrooge's Money Bin is at the center of [[Duckburg]], [[Calisota]], United States, a constantly expanding industrial city, while Flintheart's is in the center of a valley, located somewhere in the lands around Limpopo, surrounded by wildlife and away from human activities. While Scrooge finds himself surrounded by an extended family (see [[The Clan McDuck|Clan McDuck]], [[Duck family (Disney)|Duck family]], and [[Coot Kin]]) and a large number of allies and rivals (see [[Scrooge McDuck Universe]]), Flintheart lives a life of solitude and seems to have no family, friends, or for that matter rivals except Scrooge himself. While Scrooge has his nephews helping him or advising him, Flintheart faces every situation alone. This appears to have hardened him – he is considerably more ruthless than Scrooge – but also leaves him vulnerable to being simply outnumbered by his rivals. Even at the end of the story, when Scrooge has won and Flintheart passes out after finding he is only second best, he has to be carried home by Huey, Dewey, and Louie because he has no one else to help him.

The solitary South African re-appeared to challenge Scrooge to a rematch in ''[[The Money Champ]]'', first published in September 1959. This time the confrontation takes place in Scrooge's grounds in Duckburg with the city's population witnessing the event, and they only count their wealth in cash and not their investments, so they have to liquidate much of their fortunes. Flintheart uses a number of underhand plots against Scrooge, but his plans backfire when their cost in money also costs Flintheart his chance at victory. The story adds little to what was established in the previous one. However, for the first time, some panels concentrate on Flintheart's thoughts, revealing that his insecurities about his own worth are the driving force behind both his efforts to best Scrooge and his dishonest tactics (since he doubts his ability to win in a direct confrontation), and that Flintheart believes said tactics are betrayals of his "dear old mother's fondest hopes".

Barks would use Flintheart for a third and last time in ''[[So Far and no Safari]]'', first published in January 1966. This was one of the last stories Barks created before his retirement. The themes of the story are considerably darker than the two previous ones. Flintheart's intentions towards Scrooge are clearly depicted as murderous. The story starts with Scrooge planning to participate in an auction for an old South African [[gold mine]]. It is considered exhausted, but Scrooge's mechanics believe that the main vein of gold has not even been reached. While Scrooge is piloting his private plane over South Africa, with Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie as passengers, Flintheart appears piloting his own plane. It is equipped with machine guns, with which he shoots down Scrooge. While Scrooge is still trying to reach the auction, Flintheart repeatedly tries to get rid of him.

When Scrooge manages to reach the [[Kalahari Desert]], Flintheart's plane is revealed to be a bomber as well. Flintheart bombards Scrooge and his nephews, but misses. When he returns for a second bombing run, the Ducks have dressed some rocks with their clothing and have taken cover elsewhere. Flintheart mistakes the rocks for his targets and destroys them, noting that his rivals are now dinner for the jackals. His victory is short-lived, however. Because he was flying low, the bomb explosions damaged his plane's fuel tank. He crash-lands the plane and finds himself in no better condition than Scrooge. The rest of the story presents Scrooge's and Flintheart's rival efforts to cross the Kalahari and reach the auction. The end of the story finds them at the auction, tired from their difficult treks, but still rivaling each other, while an exhausted Donald has fallen asleep. (Who finally obtained the gold mine is not revealed.) It is considered Flintheart's darkest appearance and among his strongest and most memorable ones.{{By whom|date=March 2019}}

===After Barks===
During the ten years that followed his creator's retirement the character made infrequent appearances, appearing only in four comic book stories. He was not nearly as recognizable as other rivals of Scrooge, like Italian sorceress [[Magica De Spell]], who appeared far more often. Flintheart returned to prominence in 1979, when [[Egmont Group|Egmont]] editors Lars Bergström and [[Stefan Printz-Påhlson]] decided to revive the character. Since then, Flintheart Glomgold has appeared in more than 100 Egmont stories, some of which depict him as an influential member of Duckburg's [[Donald Duck universe#Millionaires' club|Billionaires Club]] (which also includes Scrooge and [[John D. Rockerduck]]).
[[File:Slackjaw Snorehead.jpg|thumb|Flintheart Glomgold and his nephew Slackjaw Snorehead.]]
In Werner Wejp-Olsen and [[Daniel Branca]]'s 1981 comic book story "The Top Treasure in Town", Flintheart's grandfather, Stoneheart Glomgold, who in 1870 worked as a [[hansom cab]] driver in London, is introduced. In [[John Lustig]] and [[Vicar (comics)|Vicar's]] comic book story "Family of Fore" (2001) it is stated that Flintheart and Scrooge are both distantly related to the then-deceased Scottish golf enthusiast Bogey McDivot. McDivot has only been mentioned in that story. In Lars Jensen and Vicar's 2002 comic book story "Happy Birthday, Flintheart Glomgold", Glomgold's nephew, Slackjaw Snorehead, is introduced. Slackjaw is a genial [[slacker]]; very friendly and cheerful as well as a genius with a talent for business. He prefers to hang around with his friends and do nothing all day rather than use his intellect productively, which is infuriating to Glomgold. In the English translation, Slackjaw at times uses South African slang (e.g. howzit or brasse).

In Lars Jensen and [[Marco Rota]]'s 2005 story "The Glomgold Heritage", Flintheart's father, Brickheart Glomgold, and mother appeared briefly. It is also revealed in this story that Flintheart's grandfather, Stoneheart, was a Scotsman who moved to London and later on, together with his son Brickheart, traveled to South Africa after being wrongly accused for theft. From this experience, the Glomgolds learned that the world was unfair and cruel, and that they had to look out for themselves even if that meant acting outside the law.

In the 1988 ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]'' comic book story "The Smart Nephew" by [[Bob Gregory (comics)|Bob Gregory]], Cosme Quartieri, and Jorge Sanchez, another nephew of Glomgold appears: the smart and brave Junior.

===Under Don Rosa===
In 1987 [[Keno Don Rosa]] created his first Scrooge McDuck story, "[[The Son of the Sun]]", first published in July 1987. Rosa's detailed style of drawing, references to Barks stories (by then considered classic) like "[[Lost in the Andes!]]", detailed references to often obscure historical figures and events and strong characterization would later make Rosa fans consider him one of Barks' most popular "successors". Those themes are all evident in his first story. It begins with Flintheart questioning Scrooge's many successes as a treasure-hunter. He claims that discovering riches that are already concentrated by others is not that hard and that he could do it better than Scrooge if he decided to try. Soon, he is following Scrooge and his nephews in their latest treasure hunt, locating a hidden temple of [[Manco Cápac]], who was the legendary founder of the [[Inca]] dynasty. The temple is hidden somewhere in the tops of the Andes and, according to inscriptions earlier found by Scrooge, supposed to contain a great treasure. In the course of the story Flintheart is shown to be one of Scrooge's most charismatic, resourceful, and ruthless rivals.

Rosa, who admits to have a soft spot for the character, has used Flintheart in a growing number of stories and has offered him a sort of origin. In his stories, Flintheart is a [[Boer]] from the province of [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]]. He was born around the same time as Scrooge and first met him during the [[Witwatersrand Gold Rush]] in 1886, a key event leading to the founding of [[Johannesburg]]. Like Scrooge, Flintheart was born in poverty and was working his way up the financial ladder. While unsuccessfully searching for diamonds, he attempted to steal the findings of more successful fellow miners. As a result, he was tied to the horns of a water buffalo and the animal was then sent running. Flintheart was found and saved by Scrooge. Flintheart offered to be the guide of the recently arrived gold miner from [[Scotland]], since he knew the territory. Scrooge accepted him as a needed companion and friend. But at night while Scrooge was sleeping, Flintheart stole his ox-cart along with all his equipment and supplies and left him alone in the wilderness. Having underestimated Scrooge, he was surprised when Scrooge caught up to him, furious and vengeful. When Scrooge finished with him, Flintheart was publicly humiliated, thoroughly embittered, and imprisoned for theft. The two rivals made vows to themselves that helped shape some of their character traits. Scrooge vowed to never trust anybody ever again, in order not to be betrayed again. Apparently this is the source of Scrooge's distrust towards others whether they are allies, rivals, or complete strangers and the reason he is secretive about his thoughts and emotions. On the other hand, a completely defeated Flintheart vowed that he will work to become so rich that nobody can humiliate him again (see [[Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck]] – Part VI: [[The Terror of the Transvaal]]). Because Scrooge officially meets Glomgold for the first time during "The Second Richest Duck" in 1956, Don Rosa makes sure Glomgold's name is never mentioned until after he and Scrooge have parted ways. Since Glomgold gets Scrooge's name, some fans could think he is more interested in defeating and humiliating Scrooge as revenge for getting imprisoned rather than becoming the world's richest duck. According to Rosa's unofficial timelines, it would take him twenty years of hard work as a diamond miner till finally he became rich in 1906 by his profits. He would spend the next fifty years working his way up the financial ladder both by hard efforts and dishonest methods when needed.

Don Rosa also revealed in at least two stories another thing that makes Flintheart a [[wikt:counterpart|counterpart]] to Scrooge: the '''Number One Rand''', the first coin Flintheart Glomgold ever earned (or stole). In ''[[Return to Plain Awful]]'', this [[South African Rand|rand]] makes his first appearance, a cameo, and has nothing to do with the story, alongside a framed [[Banknotes of the pound sterling|pound note]] labelled as Glomgold's "No. 1 Pound" and a diamond under a glass dome labelled as "My First Diamond". In ''[[A Little Something Special]]'', the Rand makes an equally small but more relevant role. [[Magica De Spell]] teamed up with him and the [[The Beagle Boys|Beagle Boys]] to get the [[Number One Dime]]. Scrooge reminds Magica he will no longer be the richest duck in the world after they steal his fortune, and the Dime will be worthless to her. Based on the advice Scrooge gives her in exchange for his dime back, Magica steals Flintheart's first rand. To make things worse for Glomgold, Magica takes the [[Beagle Boys]] with her to the Valley of [[Limpopo]], where they carry all they can of Flintheart's cash. Despite the fact he teamed up with them in that story against Scrooge, he still dares to ask what did he do to deserve that.

Notable is the fact that Flintheart Glomgold's first coin could not be a rand, because the [[South African Rand]] did not come into existence until 1961. Before a [[Union of South Africa|unified South Africa]] in 1910 (whereupon the [[South African pound]] was introduced), many authorities in the region issued coins and banknotes in their own currencies, often equivalent to the Pound Sterling of the [[Cape of Good Hope]] colony that had existed since 1825. Adding it to the fact that Don Rosa's stories usually take place in the 1950s, this meant it would be impossible for anyone to own a rand in such stories.