On the Mississippi

Am Mississippi (OT: En remontant le Mississipi ) is a comic book from the Lucky Luke series. It was drawn by Morris and written by René Goscinny . The comic first appeared in sequels in the Belgian magazine Spirou in 1959 and as an album in Dupuis in 1961 . It was published in German as the 15th volume of the Fix and Foxi album and appeared in 1979 as volume 20 by Ehapa-Verlag or at the beginning: Delta-Verlag, a cooperation between Ehapa and Dargaud .

action

In New Orleans, Lucky Luke gets into a heated discussion between the two paddle steamer captains Lowriver and Barrows, which is mainly conducted with more or less suitable projectiles. When Captain Lowriver reaches for a firearm for argumentative support, Lucky Luke interferes and clears the situation. Lowriver then suggested that Barrows race their two ships from New Orleans up the Mississippi to Minneapolis . The winner should have the sole right to sail the Mississippi. Barrows, who trusts his Daisy Belle to win over Lowriver's Asbestos D. Plower , fears that Lowriver is planning evil and asks Lucky Luke for help. The next day the two ships start their race. And Lowriver does indeed hire shady characters to delay or end the Daisy Belle's journey . Lucky Luke can eliminate the dangers posed by these people more or less elegantly, but the capricious Mississippi itself also turns out to be treacherous. Low water, high water and, in the end, drifting tree trunks hinder the journey. The Daisy Belle is behind St. Louis due to the actions of Lowrivers saboteurs . Lucky Luke rides Jolly Jumper to Dubuque , catches up with Asbestos D. Plower and forces Lowriver to wait for Daisy Belle . On the last leg to Minneapolis, both captains get the most out of their machines. To create more pressure in the boiler, Lowriver blocks a safety valve and his boiler explodes. The Daisy Belle wins the race.

Historical background

Oil painting by Robert E. Lee by August Norieri

In 1870 there was the steamboat race between Robert E. Lee and Natchez on the Mississippi. The distance was about half that of the comic, it only went as far as St. Louis, about 1,100 miles. The race itself was also less exciting. It was a start-to-finish victory for the Robert E. Lee , which, however, in contrast to the Natchez , which was considered the fastest ship, sailed without cargo and passengers. The occasion of the race is also said to have been a dispute between the two captains.

Remarks

The Grand Vizier Isnogud , a cartoon character that Goscinny created together with the draftsman Jean Tabary three years later, is very similar - physically and also in character - to Captain Lowriver.

filming

The fourth episode of the animated series Lucky Luke was filmed on the Mississippi in 1984 .

proof

1. ↑ On the Mississippi in the comicguide
2. ↑ ^{a b} Natchez vs Robert E. Lee Steamboat Race ( Memento from July 10, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
3. ^ John Brunner : Mississippi: The great steamboat race of 1870 p. 540 (afterword), Bastei-Lübbe, 1988, ISBN 3-404-28168-3
4. ↑ En remontant le Mississippi (French) ( Memento of August 31, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
5. ↑ En remontant le Mississipi in the Internet Movie Database (English)