Editing Flintheart Glomgold (section)

===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}}