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{{More citations needed|date=December 2025}}{{Short description|American animated television series (1991–1992)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Darkwing Duck logo.svg
| caption              = The show's logo featuring the title character
| genre                = {{plainlist|
* [[Superhero fiction]]
* [[Crime comedy]]
* [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]
* [[Slapstick comedy]]
}}
| creator              = [[Tad Stones]]
| director             = {{Plainlist|
* Tad Stones
* [[Alan Zaslove]]
}}
| voices               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jim Cummings]]
* [[Terry McGovern (actor)|Terry McGovern]]
* [[Christine Cavanaugh]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
* Steve Nelson
* Thom Sharp
}}
| open_theme           = "Darkwing Duck Theme" by [[Jeff Pescetto]]<br>Steve Tyrell<br>[[Kasey Cisyk]]
| end_theme            = "Darkwing Duck Theme" (Instrumental)
| composer             = Philip Giffin
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 3
| num_episodes         = 91
| list_episodes        = List of Darkwing Duck episodes
| runtime              = 22 minutes
| company              = [[Walt Disney Television Animation]]{{efn|Animation outsourced to Atelier BWCA, [[Hanho Heung-Up]], Jade Animation, Kennedy Cartoons, Studio Jack, [[Sunwoo Entertainment|Sunwoo Animation]], Tama Productions, [[Walt Disney Animation Australia]], [[Walt Disney Animation France]], [[Walt Disney Animation Japan]] and [[Wang Film Productions]].}}<br />[[Walt Disney Television]]
| network              = [[Broadcast syndication|Syndication]] ([[The Disney Afternoon]])
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1991|9|6}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1992|5|20}}
| network2             = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1991|9|14}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|1992|12|12}}
}}
'''''Darkwing Duck''''' is an American animated [[Superhero fiction|superhero]] comedy television series produced by [[Disney Television Animation]] (formerly Walt Disney Television Animation) that first ran from 1991 to 1992 on both the syndicated programming block ''[[The Disney Afternoon]]'' and Saturday mornings on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. A total of ninety-one episodes were aired.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=147 }}</ref> It features the adventures of Darkwing Duck, who is the superheroic alter-ego of ordinary suburban duck Drake Mallard.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=233–234}}</ref>

A [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the series is in development for [[Disney+]].<ref name=displus>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2020-11-13|title='Darkwing Duck' Reboot In Works At Disney+|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/darkwing-duck-reboot-in-works-at-disney-1234615555/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Premise==
''Darkwing Duck'' tells the adventures of the titular superhero, aided by his sidekick and pilot Launchpad McQuack (from ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]''). In his secret identity of Drake Mallard (a parody of Kent Allard, the alter ego of [[The Shadow]]), he lives in an unassuming suburban house with his adopted daughter Gosalyn, next door to the dim-witted Muddlefoot family. Darkwing struggles to balance his egotistical craving for fame and attention against his desire to be a good father to Gosalyn and help do good in St. Canard. Most episodes place these two sides of Darkwing's character in direct conflict, though his better nature usually wins out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney's 'Darkwing Duck' Can't Fly Very High|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 6, 1991|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-06-ca-1474-story.html|access-date=2010-10-19|first=Charles|last=Solomon|url-status=live|archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20101020153455/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-04-06/entertainment/ca-1474_1_darkwing-duck-disney |archive-date= October 20, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The show was the first Disney Afternoon series to emphasize action rather than adventure, with Darkwing routinely engaging in slapstick battles with both supervillains and street criminals. While conflict with villains was routine in earlier Disney Afternoon shows, actual fight scenes were relatively rare.

''Darkwing Duck'' was also the first Disney Afternoon property that was produced completely as a genre parody. Prior shows would contain elements of parody in certain episodes, but would otherwise be straight-faced adventure concepts, this in the tradition of Carl Barks' work in the Disney comics. By contrast, every episode of ''Darkwing Duck'' is laden with references to superhero, pulp adventure, or super-spy fiction. Darkwing Duck himself is a satirical character. His costume, gas gun and flashy introductions are all reminiscent of [[Pulp magazine|pulp heroes]] and [[Golden Age (comics)|Golden Age]] superheroes such as [[The Shadow]], [[Sandman (Wesley Dodds)|The Sandman]], [[Doc Savage]], [[Batman]], [[The Green Hornet]] and [[Barry Allen|the Julius Schwartz ''Flash'']], as well as The [[Lone Ranger]] and [[Zorro]]. The fictional city of St. Canard is a direct parody of [[Gotham City]] ("Canard" is the [[French language|French]] word for "duck").

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Darkwing Duck episodes|label1=List of ''Darkwing Duck'' episodes}}
{{:List of Darkwing Duck episodes}}

==Characters==
{{Main|List of Darkwing Duck characters|label1 = List of ''Darkwing Duck'' characters}}

==Production==
''Darkwing Duck'' was developed as a last-minute replacement with concept artwork by [[Michael Peraza]] for a proposed reboot of ''[[The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show]]'', when the management team realized that Disney did not own the rights to the characters (Disney merely held [[home video]] rights to the series).<ref name="peraza">{{cite web|last1=Peraza|first1=Michael|title=Bullwinkled|url=http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2010/08/bullwinkled.html|publisher=Blogspot|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821215708/http://michaelperaza.blogspot.com/2010/08/bullwinkled.html|archive-date=August 21, 2011|date=August 14, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Darkwing Duck'' entered production roughly one year after ''DuckTales'' ended. ''Darkwing Duck'' was inspired by two specific episodes of ''DuckTales'': "[[Double-O-Duck]]" starring [[Launchpad McQuack]] as a secret agent,<ref name="peraza" /> and "[[The Masked Mallard]]" in which Scrooge McDuck becomes a masked vigilante superhero wearing a purple uniform and cape. The name "The Masked Mallard" became an epithet often used in the new show to refer to Darkwing himself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-12 |title=Let's Get Dangerous: 20 Crazy Things You Didn't Know About Darkwing Duck |url=https://www.thegamer.com/lets-get-dangerous-20-crazy-things-you-didnt-know-about-darkwing-duck/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=TheGamer |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Tad Stones]] was directed to come up with a series for [[The Disney Afternoon]] around the premise of ''Double-O-Duck'', as an executive liked the title ''Double-O Duck'' as a spoof of James Bond and felt Launchpad McQuack would take the starring role. It turned out that the title ''Double-O Duck'' could not be used as the [[Danjaq|Broccoli family]] owned the 'double-o' title.<ref name=jhm>{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Jim|title=Tube Thursday : The "Disney Afternoon" shows that you didn't get to see|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2007/08/16/tube-thursday-the-disney-afternoon-shows-that-you-didn-t-get-to-see.aspx|access-date=April 22, 2015|work=Jim Hill Media|date=August 15, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426115947/http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2007/08/16/tube-thursday-the-disney-afternoon-shows-that-you-didn-t-get-to-see.aspx|archive-date=April 26, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A new name was selected, "Darkwing Duck". Thus, Stones designed a new character for the lead, [[List of Darkwing Duck characters#Main characters|Drake Mallard]], while selecting McQuack as the sidekick.<ref name=jhm/> This name would result in a new look (Double-O Duck was to wear a white tuxedo and black domino mask). Other elements of the show, such as Darkwing's habit of coining new catchphrases every time he announced himself, would be invented during production.<ref>Stone, Tad (November 2010). "The Origin(s) of Darkwing Duck", ''Darkwing Duck: The Duck Knight Returns''. Boom! Comics.</ref> (As an in-joke, the episode "A Duck by Any Other Name" had Drake suggest "Double-O Duck" as his new secret identity, and Launchpad remarked that it "seems kinda silly".<ref name="A Duck by Any Other Name">{{cite episode|title=A Duck by Any Other Name|series=Darkwing Duck|airdate=February 18, 1992|season=1 (Disney Afternoon)|number=48}}</ref>)

Where most prior ''Disney Afternoon'' series included at least some preexisting animated characters, ''Darkwing Duck'' featured a completely original cast. Even the ''DuckTales'' characters it reused had no counterpart in early Disney shorts or the comics. The only exception was the episode "In Like Blunt", which featured cameo appearances by the [[Beagle Boys]], [[Flintheart Glomgold]] and [[Magica De Spell]].<ref name="In Like Blunt">{{cite episode|title=In Like Blunt|series=Darkwing Duck|airdate=February 24, 1992|season=1 (Disney Afternoon)|number=50}}</ref>

Though it was originally thought by some fans to be a spin-off of the 1987 ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]'' series, creator Tad Stones stated in a 2016 report that the two shows exist in different universes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nerdist.com/darkwing-duck-is-an-alternate-reality-not-a-ducktales-spinoff/|title=DARKWING DUCK Is an Alternate Reality, Not a DUCKTALES Spinoff |work= Nerdist |date= 2016-09-11 |author= BLAIR MARNELL |access-date=2016-09-12|url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160913170811/http://nerdist.com/darkwing-duck-is-an-alternate-reality-not-a-ducktales-spinoff/ |archive-date= September 13, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Despite this, supporting characters [[Launchpad McQuack]] and [[Gizmoduck]] appear in both series in similar roles, and [[Scrooge McDuck]] is mentioned in the ''Darkwing Duck'' episode "Tiff of the Titans", and thus established a relation to both shows.

==Broadcast history==
''Darkwing Duck'' first aired on [[The Disney Channel]] on March 31, 1991, as a "sneak preview",<ref name="super fowl">{{cite news|title= Disney's 'Darkwing Duck' enlists a super fowl in fight against crime; ABC telecasts Easter Parade|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date= March 31, 1991|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-31-tv-2594-story.html|access-date= 2014-06-08|first= Lauren|last= Lipton|url-status= live|archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20101019232620/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-03-31/news/tv-2594_1_disney-darkwing-duck|archive-date= October 19, 2010|df= mdy-all}}</ref><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 9, no. 2, March/April 1991: pp. 38, 43.</ref> and then from April 6 into July 14 of that year as a regularly scheduled run on weekend mornings,<ref name="super fowl"/><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 9, no. 2, March/April 1991: pp. 2, 43.</ref><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 9, no. 3, May/June 1991: pp. 28, 46.</ref> as it was advertised to be "The newest animated TV series exclusively to The Disney Channel". In reality, this was a preview-run of the series before it aired on ''The Disney Afternoon''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hinckley|first=David|title=Disney's 'Darkwing Duck' takes off|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/468930350/?match=1&terms=%22Darkwing%20Duck%22|date=September 6, 1991|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|location=[[New York City|New York]]|page=624|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dawidziak|first=Mark|title=Cartoon wars continue to explode on more fronts|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/696270426/?match=1&terms=Darkwing%20Duck|date=September 6, 1991|newspaper=[[The Modesto Bee]]|location=[[Modesto, California]]|page=69|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The two-part episode "[[Darkly Dawns the Duck]]" originally aired as an hour-length TV special on September 6, 1991, as part of a larger syndicated TV special, ''The Darkwing Duck Premiere / Back to School with the Mickey Mouse Club''.<ref name="Kokomo Tribune">{{cite news|title=Kokomo Tribune TV Update: Friday Sept. 6 – Evening|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/indiana/kokomo/kokomo-tribune/1991/09-06/page-29|access-date=December 2, 2014|newspaper=Kokomo Tribune|date=September 6, 1991|page=7|via=NewspaperArchive.com|quote=Darkwing Duck Premiere / Back to School with the Mickey Mouse Club previews a new Disney cartoon starring crime-fighting detective Darkwing Duck. Also, a Mickey Mouse Club special featuring comedy sketches and music performances.}}</ref>{{Sfn|Lenburg|1999|pp=247, 397}} The film served as the show's pilot. Seasons 1 and 2 were aired simultaneously in the autumn of 1991. Season 1 aired in syndication as part of ''[[The Disney Afternoon]]'' block of shows. Seasons 2 and 3 aired on Saturday mornings on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. The final episode aired on December 12, 1992. ABC stopped airing reruns of the show in September 1993, and it was replaced by ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. All episodes remained in syndicated reruns on ''The Disney Afternoon'' until 1995 and then returned to the lineup from 1996 to 1997.

Starting on October 2, 1995, ''Darkwing Duck'' was rerun on [[The Disney Channel]] as part of a two-hour programming block called "Block Party" which aired on weekdays in the late-afternoon/early-evening and which also included ''[[TaleSpin]]'', ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]'', and ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (TV series)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]''.<ref>"Block Party: Four Disney Animated Series." ''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 13, no. 5, October/November 1995: p. 36.</ref> On September 3, 1996, ''Darkwing Duck'' was dropped from the beginning of the block when ''[[Goof Troop]]'' was added to the end.<ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 3, June/July 1996: p. 26.</ref><ref>''The Disney Channel Magazine'', Vol. 14, no. 4, August/September 1996: pp. 25, 28, 34.</ref>

The series was last seen in the U.S. on [[Toon Disney]] on January 19, 2007, as part of the Toon Disney Wild Card Stack. Certain episodes from the show's original run rarely re-aired while the show was on Toon Disney. These episodes appear to have been removed for content reasons. The most prominent of the rarely seen episodes is "[[Hot Spells]]", which was never re-aired after its initial broadcast on ABC because of its religiously sensitive subject matter. ''Darkwing Duck'' was one of the first American animated TV series to be officially broadcast in syndication in the former [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Darkwing Duck|url=http://www.darkwing-duck.ru/|publisher=darkwing-duck.ru|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123054155/http://www.darkwing-duck.ru/|archive-date=January 23, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>The show formerly aired on [[Disney XD]] in international territories such as the Netherlands and Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/ratgeber/digital-tv/disney-xd-554869/ |title=Disney XD: Sendeschluss bei Pay-TV-Spartensender |last=Trank |first=Kim |date=2020-04-04 |access-date=2020-06-25 |work=digitalfernsehen.de}}</ref>

==Home media==
Four VHS cassettes, each containing one or two episodes (a total of 6 episodes) of ''Darkwing Duck'', were released under the title ''Darkwing Duck: His Favorite Adventures'' in the United States on March 23, 1993, individually titled "Darkly Dawns the Duck", "Justice Ducks Unite!", "Comic Book Capers" and "Birth of Negaduck!". However, most countries around the world only received releases of "Darkly Dawns the Duck" and "Justice Ducks Unite!" Each video came with two "glow-in-the-Darkwing" [[trading card]]s. Featured on the cards were Darkwing Duck, Launchpad, Gosalyn, Honker, Negaduck, Bushroot, Megavolt, and Taurus Bulba. The videotapes also included a ''Darkwing Duck'' music video which played at the end of each tape.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Movie beats Hollywood its own game|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/408462425/?match=1&terms=Darkwing%20Duck|date=March 23, 1993|newspaper=[[Dayton Daily News]]|location=[[Dayton, Ohio]]|page=77|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Kids Collection|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/264904963/?match=1&terms=Darkwing%20Duck|date=May 2, 1993|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=[[Tacoma, Washington]]|page=576|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Additionally, on September 28, 1993, the ''Darkwing Duck'' episode "It's a Wonderful Leaf" was released together with the ''[[Goof Troop]]'' episode "Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas" on one VHS cassette as a special release called ''Happy Holidays with Darkwing Duck and Goofy!''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Library has Holiday videos, CDs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/633507987/?match=1&terms=Happy%20Holidays%20with%20Darkwing%20Duck%20and%20Goofy%21|date=December 12, 1993|newspaper=[[New York Daily News|The Sunday News]]|location=[[Ridgewood, New Jersey]]|page=11|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Home Movies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/461926853/?match=1&terms=Happy%20Holidays%20with%20Darkwing%20Duck%20and%20Goofy%21|date=October 28, 1993|newspaper=[[San Francisco Examiner]]|location=[[San Francisco, California]]|page=40|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On September 3, 1996, the ''Darkwing Duck'' episode "Ghoul of My Dreams" was released together with the ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (TV series)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]'' episode "Good Times, Bat Times" on one VHS cassette as a special release called ''Witcheroo!''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Video|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/438751578/?match=1&terms=Witcheroo%21|date=October 12, 1996|newspaper=[[The Citizens' Voice]]|location=[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]]|page=86|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.muohio.edu/multifacet/record/mu3ugb4018981 |title=Witcheroo! / Walt Disney Company &#124; Miami University Libraries |publisher=Lib.muohio.edu |access-date=2013-11-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109001627/http://www.lib.muohio.edu/multifacet/record/mu3ugb4018981 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

[[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] released a three-disc DVD box set entitled "''Darkwing Duck'' - Volume 1" on August 29, 2006. It included 25 episodes, plus the two-part pilot "Darkly Dawns the Duck", as opposed to the uncut version's release on VHS. The second volume, containing the next 27 episodes, was released on August 7, 2007. The sets do not contain any special features. It is currently unknown if Disney has any intentions of releasing the remaining 37 episodes on DVD. No official releases have been made outside of the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lacey|first=Gord|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7259|title=Darkwing Duck DVD news: Volume 2 release information and artwork for 'Darkwing Duck'|date=August 7, 2006|website=TVShowsOnDVD.com|access-date=November 26, 2025|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510032312/http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7259|archive-date=May 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Douglass Jr.|first=Todd|title=Darkwing Duck, Volume 1|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/23629|date=September 4, 2006|website=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=November 26, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Evan|title=Darkwing Duck, Vol. 2 DVD Review|url=http://movieweb.com/darkwing-duck-vol-2-dvd-review/|date=August 16, 2007|website=Movie Web|access-date=November 26, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title='Disturbia' delivers, 'Flash' flies, 'Wife' uneven on DVD|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/875886516/?match=1&terms=Darkwing%20Duck|date=August 10, 2007|newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]]|location=[[Oakland, California]]|page=60|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

As of September 2019, the majority of the series is available for purchase on the [[iTunes Store]] and [[Google TV (service)|Google TV]],<ref>[https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Darkwing_Duck?id=LaTGNPVUq7z9xtAdJfxmxw&hl=en Darkwing Duck] -[[Google Play]] Store</ref> with the lone exception of the banned episode "[[Hot Spells]]". They are listed in 6 separate volumes (with Seasons 2 and 3 individually representing the last two volumes<ref>[https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/darkwing-duck-vol-5/id1479127464 Darkwing Duck, Vol. 5] -iTunes Store</ref><ref>[https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/darkwing-duck-vol-6/id1479128591 Darkwing Duck, Vol. 6] -iTunes Store</ref>), which on the iTunes Store can also be bought in a pack other than individual purchases or a complete series pack at the price of $40 for all 90 available episodes.<ref>[https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/darkwing-duck-the-complete-series/id1479218869 Darkwing Duck, The Complete Series] - iTunes Store</ref> In addition, the series (with the exception of the episode "Hot Spells"<ref>[https://screenrant.com/darkwing-duck-hot-spells-controversy-explained/ Darkwing Duck's Hot Spells Controversy Explained] - Screen Rant</ref>) can also be viewed on the [[Disney+]] streaming service, which has been on the streaming service since its launch on November 12, 2019.<ref>{{Disney+ series}}</ref><ref>[https://www.cbr.com/disney-shares-its-ideal-disney-afternoon-lineup/ Disney+ Shares Its Ideal Disney Afternoon Lineup] - [[Comic Book Resources]]</ref> The show is available on the [[Disney+]] streaming service, with the exception of the episode "Hot Spells".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=November 11, 2019 |title=Disney+ launch lineup: every movie and TV show available to stream in the US on day one |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/14/20913417/disney-plus-launch-lineup-marvel-star-wars-pixar-tv-shows-movies-simpsons-national-geographic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112181432/https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/14/20913417/disney-plus-launch-lineup-marvel-star-wars-pixar-tv-shows-movies-simpsons-national-geographic |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2025 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

==Reception==

=== Critical reception ===
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season holds an approval of 83% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 7.00/10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DARKWING DUCK: SEASON 1 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/darkwing_duck/s01 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>

Nigel Mitchell of ''[[CBR.com]]'' stated, "He was the terror that flapped in the night. He was the fingernail that scraped the blackboard of your soul. He was Darkwing Duck, and he made a generation laugh and thrill with his crazy adventures. Following the success of "Ducktales," the 1992 TV show "Darkwing Duck" was one of the first action-oriented shows on Disney's block, and wasn't like any other show on TV."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Nigel |date=2017-03-12 |title=The 15 Best Episodes of Darkwing Duck |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-15-best-episodes-of-darkwing-duck/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> Amanda Dyer of ''[[Common Sense Media]]'' rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "''Darkwing Duck'' is a 1990s Disney animated comedy that has slapstick cartoon violence (including weapon use) and mild name calling. It follows the heroic yet self-serving antics of cartoon duck superhero Darkwing Duck as he battles various wacky supervillains with his sidekick, Launchpad McQuack."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darkwing Duck TV Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/darkwing-duck |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}}</ref>

''Darkwing Duck'' was named the 93rd Best Animated Series by ''[[IGN]]'', calling it "one of the many reasons why after-school cartoons rule."<ref name="ign100">{{cite web |title=IGN – 93. Darkwing Duck |url=http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/93.html |website=IGN |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=December 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018095001/http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/93.html |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> "Torgo's Pizzeria Podcast" gave a favorable retrospective review to ''Darkwing Duck'' in April 2012; the podcast did however note some weaknesses with the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/torgos-pizzeria-podcast/id425836729?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 |title=iTunes – Podcasts – Torgo's Pizzeria Podcast by Torgo! |publisher=[[iTunes]] |access-date=2013-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015192005/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/torgos-pizzeria-podcast/id425836729?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>  Nick Caruso of ''[[TVLine]]'' lists the theme song from the series, performed by longtime ''Disney Afternoon'' veteran [[Jeff Pescetto]], among the best animated series themes of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Caruso|first=Nick|date=2020-10-24|title=The Top TV Theme Songs of All Time: Animated Series|url=https://tvline.com/lists/top-tv-theme-songs-all-time-animated-series/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=TVLine|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! {{Ref heading}}
|-
| rowspan="7" |1992
| rowspan="2" |[[Annie Awards]]
|[[Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production|Best Animated Television Program]]
|[[Disney Television Animation]]
|{{Nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web|title=20th Annual Annie Awards|url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/20th-annie-awards|access-date=2020-10-21|website=annieawards.org|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Voice Acting in the Field of Animation
|[[Jim Cummings]] 
* For the voice of Darkwing Duck
|{{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-13|title=You May Not Know the Name, But You Definitely Know Jim Cummings' Voice|url=https://allears.net/2020/09/13/you-may-not-know-the-name-but-you-definitely-know-jim-cummings-voice/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=AllEars.Net|language=en-US|quote="Jim even won an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting for Television for his performance as Darkwing Duck."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-07|title=Classic Hollywood: For 30 years, Jim Cummings has brought Winnie the Pooh to life|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-classic-hollywood-jim-cummings-20180807-story.html|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|quote="The Annie Award-winning actor has come a long way since his dolphin days. For the past three decades, Cummings has voiced some 400 roles including the title character from “Darkwing Duck,"}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8" |[[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
|[[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Program]]
|<small>Tad Stones</small><br><small>Alan Zaslove</small><br><small>Bob Hathcock</small><br><small>Ken Kessel</small><br><small>Russ Mooney</small><br><small>Toby Shelton</small><br><small>Hank Tucker</small><br><small>James T. Walker</small><br><small>Carole Beers</small><br><small>Marsh Lamore</small><br><small>Rick Leon</small><br><small>John Kimball</small>
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{Cite news |date=June 21, 1992 |title=DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/06/21/daytime-emmy-awards/e36e902e-a258-407d-8191-bf9b75a8ab49/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program
|Steve Roberts<br>Duane Capizzi
* For the episode of ''"Negaduck"''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Carter Crocker<br>Tad Stones
* For the episode of ''"Dead Duck"''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Film Sound Mixing
|Allen L. Stone<br>Robert L. Harman<br>James L. Aicholtz 
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Film Sound Editing
|Rick Hinson<br>Rich Harrison<br>David Lynch<br>Cecil Broughton<br>Jennifer Harrison<br>Charlie King<br>Andrew Rose<br>Jerry Winicki
|{{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[20th Daytime Emmy Awards|1993]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program|Outstanding Animated Children's Program]]
|Tad Stones<br>Alan Zaslove<br>Toby Shelton<br>Dale Case<br>John Kimball<br>Rick Leon
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lowry |first1=Brian |date=1993-04-01 |title=CBS tops Daytime Emmy noms |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/cbs-tops-daytime-emmy-noms-105571/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|Outstanding Film Sound Editing
|Jerry Winicki<br>Cecil Broughton<br>Rick Hinson<br>Charlie King<br>Rich Harrison<br>Jennifer Harrison<br>Andrew Rose<br>David Lynch
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Film Sound Mixing
|Robert L. Harman<br>Patrick Cyccone Jr.<br>William Freesh
|{{Nom}}
|}

==In other media==

===Video games===
* ''[[Darkwing Duck (Capcom)|Darkwing Duck]]'' video game was released by [[Capcom]] on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and the [[Game Boy]] as a [[Platform game|platform]] [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scroller]]. The game was developed for the NES in 1992<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587215-darkwing-duck/data |title=Darkwing Duck Release Information for NES |website=GameFAQs |access-date=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624043419/http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587215-darkwing-duck/data |archive-date=June 24, 2010 }}</ref> and was ported to the Game Boy in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/gameboy/197058-darkwing-duck/data |title=Darkwing Duck Release Information for Game Boy |website=GameFAQs |access-date=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026001753/http://www.gamefaqs.com/gameboy/197058-darkwing-duck/data |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }}</ref> The Game Boy version is essentially a slightly stripped-down version of the game.
* ''[[Darkwing Duck (TurboGrafx-16)|Darkwing Duck]]'' (a different game with the same title) was also released for the [[TurboGrafx-16]] in 1992 as an [[Action (genre)|action]] side-scroller.
* A ''Disney's Darkwing Duck'' hand-held LCD game from Tiger Electronics was also released in 1992.
* ''Darkwing Duck'' (yet another game with the same title) was released for various touchscreen mobile phones as a platform side-scroller in 2010.
* ''[[Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition)]]'' has two power discs that were released for the game, "Darkwing Duck's Grappling Gun" and "Darkwing Duck's Ratcatcher". Darkwing Duck himself is a townsperson in the 2.0 Toy Box. Darkwing Duck was close to being a playable character in 2.0 but was eventually scrapped.<ref>{{cite web |author=Liebl, Lance |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/darkwing-duck-this-close-to-being-in-disney-infinity-2-0 |title=Darkwing Duck "this close" to being in Disney Infinity 2.0 |publisher=GameZone |date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=2015-12-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226202253/http://www.gamezone.com/news/darkwing-duck-this-close-to-being-in-disney-infinity-2-0 |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 
* ''[[Disney Infinity 3.0]]'' had Darkwing Duck close to being a playable character but lost to [[Olaf (Frozen)|Olaf]] in the fan polls for the initial wave of Disney characters for 3.0.<ref>{{cite web |author=Crecente, Brian |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/30/8872335/disney-infinity-howard-the-duck-indiana-jones-monkey-island |title=Howard the Duck, Indiana Jones, Secret of Monkey Island? Nothing's off the table for Disney Infinity |website=Polygon |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=2016-06-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225122438/http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/30/8872335/disney-infinity-howard-the-duck-indiana-jones-monkey-island |archive-date=December 25, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, Darkwing was one of the characters listed on the official fan poll for Disney Infinity that was conducted during the 3.0 life cycle to determine new characters for future installments.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sarkar, Samit |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/24/9036827/disney-infinity-character-fan-vote |title=Disney Infinity poll asks fans who they want added to the game (update) |website=Polygon |date=July 24, 2015 |access-date=2016-06-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213154234/http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/24/9036827/disney-infinity-character-fan-vote |archive-date=December 13, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Despite being one of the most desired characters,<ref>{{cite web |author=Crecente, Brian |url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/1/11140100/vignocchi-disney-still-proud-of-disney-infinity-100-percent-behind-it |title=Disney Still Proud of Disney Infinity, 100 Percent Behind It |website=Polygon |date=March 1, 2016 |access-date=2016-06-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629140353/http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/1/11140100/vignocchi-disney-still-proud-of-disney-infinity-100-percent-behind-it |archive-date=June 29, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> the character will not make it in the game due to the game's cancellation.
* Darkwing Duck was added to ''Disney Emoji Blitz'' in 2017 with Scrooge and Launchpad.
* Darkwing Duck was added to ''Disney Heroes: Battle Mode'' in January 2019 as a 2-star hero and the first character from Disney Television Animation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Update 1.7 Patch Notes |url=https://discourse.disneyheroesgame.com/t/update-1-7-patch-notes/124490 |website=Disney Heroes: Battle Mode |date=January 18, 2019 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Megavolt was added to the game in November 2019 as a 2-star hero.<ref>{{cite web |title=Update 1.14.2 Patch Notes |url=https://discourse.disneyheroesgame.com/t/update-1-14-2-patch-notes/720679|website=Disney Heroes: Battle Mode |date=November 20, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Quackerjack was added to the game in June 2021 as a 1-star hero.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://discourse.disneyheroesgame.com/t/update-3-1-10-patch-notes/1616426 | title=Update: 3.1.10 Patch Notes | date=June 18, 2021 }}</ref> Negaduck was added to the game in June 2023 as a 1-star hero.<ref>{{cite web |title=Update 5.1 Patch Notes |url=https://discourse.disneyheroesgame.com/t/update-5-1-patch-notes/2089251|website=Disney Heroes: Battle Mode |date=June 16, 2023|access-date=February 14, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
* Darkwing Duck has been a playable character in ''Disney Sorcerer's Arena'' since the game's soft launch.

===Comic books===
[[Disney Comics (publishing)|Disney Comics]] published a four-issue ''Darkwing Duck'' comic book mini-series in late 1991, right around the time of the show's syndicated premiere. This mini-series was an adaptation of a draft of the script for "Darkly Dawns the Duck". Like the ''[[TaleSpin]]'' comic before it, it was meant to spin off a regular comic series, but the Disney Comics implosion happening at the time prevented that plan. However, ''Darkwing Duck'' stories were regularly printed in ''[[Disney Adventures]]'' magazine between the November 1991 and January 1996 issues. Additionally, ''Darkwing Duck'' stories were also regularly featured in [[Marvel Comics]]' short-lived ''Disney Afternoon'' comic book.

====BOOM! Studios====
On March 13, 2010, [[BOOM! Studios]] announced that they would be releasing a four-issue ''Darkwing Duck'' miniseries, titled "The Duck Knight Returns", starting in June of that year. The series was written by Aaron Sparrow (uncredited), Ian Brill and drawn by James Silvani, and was set one year after the end of the show.<ref>[http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25219 "ECCC: Whack, Smack! “Darkwing Duck” is Back"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316054540/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25219 |date=March 16, 2010 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> BOOM! later announced that due to positive fan reaction, the comic series would be extended indefinitely as an ongoing title.<ref>Pepose, David (May 18, 2010). [http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/05/18/darkwing-duck-returns-full-time/ "Darkwing Duck returns full-time"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503210053/http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/05/18/darkwing-duck-returns-full-time/ |date=May 3, 2012 }}. NewsArama.com</ref> This first trade paperback collection of the initial four issues of the comic was released in the fall of 2010<ref>[http://www.boom-studios.net/darkwing-duck-the-duck-knight-returns-tpb.html "Darkwing Duck Vol. 1 The Duck Knight Returns"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005092332/http://www.boom-studios.net/darkwing-duck-the-duck-knight-returns-tpb.html |date=October 5, 2011 }}. BOOM! Studios.</ref>

Unlike the original show, the comic strengthened ''Darkwing Duck'''s ties to the parent show ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]'' and began to use a number of Carl Barks characters like [[Magica De Spell]] (allied to Negaduck in the second story) and cameoing [[Scrooge McDuck]] and Gyro Gearloose. A 4-part crossover story with Disney's ''[[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]'', titled "Dangerous Currency", was released with parts 1 and 3 for ''DuckTales'' #5 and #6, and parts 2 and 4 for ''Darkwing Duck'' #17 and #18. The comic also made a lot of homages to other Disney shows: Magica's powered up form in #7 has emblems that reference film villains like Hades and Jafar, someone holds a sign saying "Bring Back [[Bonkers (American TV series)|Bonkers]]" in the background of #6, and #3 shows Launchpad tried to get a job with [[Gadget Hackwrench]] of the Rescue Rangers from ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (TV series)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]''.

The eighteenth issue, which shipped in October 2011, was the end of the series due to BOOM! Studios prematurely losing the Disney Comics license.<ref>[http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/08/05/booms-disney-era-officially-ends-in-october/ "BOOM's Disney Era Officially Ends in October"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020061440/http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/08/05/booms-disney-era-officially-ends-in-october/ |date=October 20, 2011 }}. blog.NewsArama.com. August 5, 2011.</ref> ''Darkwing Duck'' Vol. 5 "Dangerous Currency" crossover, released in November 2011, was the final printing.

====Joe Books====
On January 20, 2016, it was reported that the series would be returning to the comic book format.<ref name="Nerdist">{{cite web|url=http://nerdist.com/darkwing-duck-returns-to-comics/|title=Darkwing Duck returns to Comics|last=Marnell|first=Blair|publisher=Nerdist.com|date=January 20, 2016|access-date=January 21, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122174716/http://nerdist.com/darkwing-duck-returns-to-comics/|archive-date=January 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Writers Aaron Sparrow and artist James Silvani, both of whom worked on the previous Darkwing Duck comic book that was published by Boom! returned to this comic. Additionally Andrew Dalhouse, Deron Bennett and Jesse Post assumed their roles on the creative team, with R. Janice Orlando, who worked on ''The Definitively Dangerous Edition,'' returning as Assistant Editor. Darkwing Duck is now wearing a purple necktie instead of his usual turtleneck.

The first issue debuted on April 27, 2016. Titled "Orange is the New Purple". The comic was cancelled after eight issues due to poor sales.

====IDW Publishing====
On July 25, 2018, it was announced that the Boom! Studios would be reprinted in ''Disney's Afternoon Giant''. The first issue will be released in October 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/07/25/idw-october-solicitations-2018-disney-afternoon-giant-darth-vader-castle-star-wars/ |title=From Disney's Afternoon Giant to Darth Vader's Castle - IDW October Solicits 2018 |date=July 25, 2018 |website=Bleeding Cool News and Rumors }}</ref>

====Comic creatorship====
Throughout the run of [[BOOM! Studios]]' ''Darkwing Duck'' comic series, there was controversy as to who was responsible for the series. Editor Aaron Sparrow is largely credited with the idea to relaunch the property and has claimed to have plotted the first arc and come up with many of the concepts for following story arcs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://negaverse.net/TheOldhaunt/showthread.php?tid=1735 |title="Comic Q&A: Ask The Professionals", The Old Haunt: A Darkwing Duck forum |access-date=2011-07-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120202/http://negaverse.net/TheOldhaunt/showthread.php?tid=1735 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> This has been publicly disputed by Boom and credited series writer Ian Brill. However, artist James Silvani has publicly credited Sparrow not only with the idea of bringing the series back, but assisting him in ghost-writing much of the series and changing a lot of the concepts Brill brought to the series following Sparrow's departure from BOOM! Studios. This seems to be further corroborated by the fact that Sparrow and Silvani have both stated they did not write any of the final arc of the series, "Dangerous Currency", which was largely panned by fans for having many glaring character inconsistencies, particularly in the case of the character [[Gizmoduck]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://negaverse.net/TheOldhaunt/showthread.php?tid=1890 |title="Dangerous Currency: Crossover Talkback", The Old Haunt: A Darkwing Duck forum |access-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120045/http://negaverse.net/TheOldhaunt/showthread.php?tid=1890 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

''Darkwing Duck'' creator Tad Stones has also publicly credited Sparrow as bringing the character back in a 2010 [[BOOM! Kids]] "Get A Sketch" panel at [[San Diego Comic-Con]]. Sparrow continues to make public appearances with Silvani and Stones, and Brill does not. In a 2011 livestream interview Tad Stones admitted he was unhappy with later issues of the series, and particularly criticized the election arc, which he "tried to talk them out of". When questioned on whether he had read the entire comic series he stated: "Not the later stuff. I applaud what James tried to do. I hear he saved them but I thought the central premises were wrong."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://negaverse.net/ChatlogLivestreamwithTadandAaron.html#criticism |title="Chatlog:Livestream with Tad Stones and Aaron Sparrow", Negaverse.net |access-date=2011-11-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106210522/http://negaverse.net/ChatlogLivestreamwithTadandAaron.html#criticism |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Sparrow served as moderator at the 2013 Comic-Con panel "25 Years of the Disney Afternoon: The Continuing Legacy", which featured Tad Stones, voice actors Jim Cummings and Rob Paulsen, ''TaleSpin'' creator Jymn Magon, and ''Darkwing Duck'' comic artist James Silvani, associations which would seem to further corroborate his version of events.

In 2013, Disney European publisher [[Egmont Group]] released a compendium of several of the BOOM! Studios ''Darkwing Duck'' stories, including "The Duck Knight Returns", "Crisis On Infinite Darkwings", and "F.O.W.L. Disposition". Aaron Sparrow's story credits were not only restored, but he and Silvani created an all-new 3-page introduction, and Brill's dialogue was replaced with original dialogue by Sparrow.

On October 22, 2014, comic news website ''[[Bleeding Cool]]'' announced that the first 16 issues of ''Darkwing Duck'' would be packaged together and published in an omnibus by Joe Books. On his Tumblr account, Silvani stated that the omnibus would be a remastered edition, featuring revised art, a new epilogue, and that the script had been "painstakingly rewritten" by Sparrow. It was also announced that the omnibus would lead into a new monthly series written by Sparrow and drawn by Silvani, with no involvement by Brill. The omnibus only collects the first 16 issues and the annual, omitting the final "Dangerous Currency" crossover with ''DuckTales'', seeming to further call into question Brill's claims of sole authorship.

On January 18, 2016, Joe Books Twitter feed reported that ''Darkwing Duck'' would be returning to monthly comics beginning in April 2016 with Sparrow and Silvani at the helm.

According to Silvani's Twitter account, "Dangerous Currency" has been declared non-canon by Disney, and will not be referenced within the new series.

====Dynamite Entertainment====
A new comic book series based on the show, which is written by [[Amanda Deibert]] and illustrated by Carlo Cid Lauro instead of the team from the previous comic, began publication at [[Dynamite Entertainment]] in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Dynamite® Darkwing Duck #1 |url=https://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513032463401011 |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Dynamite}}</ref> In addition, Dynamite will re-release the original 1991 comic book run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freitag |first=Lee |date=2022-07-22 |title=Disney's Darkwing Duck Gets Dangerous Again in a New Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/disney-darkwing-duck-series-dynamite-entertainment/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>

Dynamite Entertainment revealed a new comic series in June 2023 featuring Negaduck would be released in September written by Jeff Parker and illustrated by Ciro Cangialosi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/preview-dynamite-disney-releases-a-first-look-at-negaduck-1/|title=Syndicated Comics|first=Deanna|last=Destito|date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

Dynamite Entertainment announced another comic series in September 2023 featuring the Justice Ducks would be released in December written by [[Roger Langridge]] and illustrated by  Carlo Lauro.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Rich |title=Cruella De Vil & Justice Ducks in Dynamite December 2023 Solicits |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/cruella-de-vil-justice-ducks-in-dynamite-december-2023-solicits/ |website=Bleeding Cool |date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>

Dynamite Entertainment started a kickstarter in June 2024 with the goal of 25k, easily reaching the goal and surpassing it within minutes. Reaching 100k pledges before the night was over. Selling three omnibuses's featuring the classic Darkwing Duck Comics along with their 'The Justice Ducks' and Negaduck's comics under Heroes and Villains, Cowl and Fowl, and Darkly Dawns the Duck.  By July 3 with the kickstarter concluded,  they had 344k pledged. One reward in the 150k stretch goal for backers was a limited edition cover drawn by Tad Stones for a upcoming Darkwing Duck series scheduled for the fall of 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dynamite-entertainment_darkwingduck-disney-disneypublishing-activity-7214175144313790465-vLqV | title=Dynamite Entertainment on LinkedIn: #darkwingduck #disney #disneypublishing #darkwingduckcomics #dynamite… }}</ref>

Dynamite Entertainment announced November 22, a new run of the Darkwing Duck comic would start February 2025. The first issue would start with a Darkwing Duck cover drawn by [[Tad Stones]], followed by being written by [[Daniel Kibblesmith]] and drawn by Ted Brandt and Ro Stein.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |title=Herculoids and Darkwing Duck in Dynamite's February 2025 Solicits |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/herculoids-and-darkwing-duck-in-dynamites-february-2025-solicits/ |website=Bleeding Cool|date=November 22, 2024 }}</ref>

===Cameos on other television series===
* ''[[Goof Troop]]'' (1992–1993): Quackerjack makes a cameo on Max's watch in the episode "Axed by Addition". In some episodes, Darkwing Duck makes a cameo on the comics and on TV.
* ''[[Raw Toonage]]'' (1992): Gosalyn made a guest appearance.
* ''[[Bonkers (American TV series)|Bonkers]]'' (1993–1994): In a dream sequence, Bonkers accepts an award for best cartoon crime-fighter from Darkwing, who is jealous he did not win it himself. Darkwing later makes three more cameos in three other ''Bonkers'' episodes.
* ''[[Aladdin (animated TV series)|Aladdin]]'' (1994–1995): In the episode "My Fair Aladdin", the Genie transformed into Darkwing Duck.
* ''[[Quack Pack]]'' (1996):
* ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' (2011): In the episode "Kramer vs. Showgirls", a "Where Are They Now" segment revolves around cartoon characters from the 1990s, including Darkwing Duck. Launchpad was killed in a mishap with [[US Airways Flight 1549]] and when Gosalyn needed a kidney transplant, Darkwing donated his body to a Chinese restaurant where he was cooked alive.
* ''[[Funny or Die]]'' had an April Fool's sketch in 2013 where lead voice actor [[Jim Cummings]] tried to crowdfund a ''Darkwing Duck'' animated film created all by himself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/b668767cf6/darkwing-duck-the-movie-kickstarter-project?playlist=featured_videos |title=Darkwing Duck: The Movie Kickstarter Project from KickstartOrDie |publisher=Funnyordie.com |date=April 1, 2013 |access-date=2014-06-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429050703/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/b668767cf6/darkwing-duck-the-movie-kickstarter-project?playlist=featured_videos |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

====''DuckTales''====
In the ''[[DuckTales (2017 TV series)|DuckTales]]'' reboot, ''Darkwing Duck'' plays a major recurring role. At first, it appeared as an old television show which Launchpad McQuack is a fan of. The show itself first appears in the episode "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!", which depicts Darkwing fighting Quackerjack, the Liquidator, and Megavolt. While watching the episode, Launchpad states that the actor portraying Darkwing is "an old school actor who did all his own stunts" named Jim Starling – a spoof of his voice actor, Jim Cummings; who reprises his role as the character alongside Michael Bell as Quackerjack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/21/darkwing-duck-ducktales-revival/|title=Darkwing Duck Confirmed for 'DuckTales' Revival|website=ew.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722093515/http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/21/darkwing-duck-ducktales-revival/|archive-date=July 22, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other references include St. Canard's name being stated in the premiere episode and the name of the evil organization F.O.W.L. appearing as Easter eggs. Additionally, both F.O.W.L. and S.H.U.S.H. appeared in "From the Confidential Case Files of Agent 22!" The end-credits theme of ''Darkwing Duck'' appears in "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" as part of the show-within-a-show. In "Friendship Hates Magic", Launchpad and [[Mrs. Beakley]] watch a ''Darkwing Duck'' episode based on an actual episode, "The Haunting of Mr. Banana Brain", featuring Paddywhack.

Darkwing's first major role is in "The Duck Knight Returns", with Drake Mallard ([[Chris Diamantopoulos]]) replacing Jim Starling as Darkwing in a movie produced by [[Scrooge McDuck]]. After an insane Starling's attempt to kill Mallard results in the set's explosion and the former's presumed death, the movie is canceled. However, Launchpad convinces Drake to become a real superhero, while Starling, having secretly survived the explosion, becomes Negaduck. Drake later reappears in "Moonvasion!" to help thwart the Moonlanders, and at the end of the episode, F.O.W.L. plots to eliminate Scrooge and his family following the trouble they essentially caused; with Steelbeak ([[Jason Mantzoukas]]) among their ranks. Darkwing features prominently in the two-part episode "Let's Get Dangerous!", which introduces new incarnations of Gosalyn ([[Stephanie Beatriz]]) and Taurus Bulba ([[James Monroe Iglehart]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/19/ducktales-rescue-rangers-talespin/|title='DuckTales' surprises Comic-Con with 'Rescue Rangers,' Lin-Manuel Miranda|website=EW.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/ducktales-season-3-trailer-darkwing-duck-theme-song/ | title=DuckTales Season 3 Trailer Brings Back Darkwing Duck & His Classic Theme Song|website=[[Screen Rant]]| date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> In the series finale "The Last Adventure!" Drake and Gosalyn attend [[Webby Vanderquack]]'s birthday party before assisting the Duck family in their final battle against F.O.W.L., during which the pair battle Steelbeak.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgepress.com/disneyxd/shows/ducktales/episodes/the-last-adventure/|title=Disney XD - DuckTales: Episode Info|website=Walt Disney Television Press|access-date=February 16, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217131924/https://www.dgepress.com/disneyxd/shows/ducktales/episodes/the-last-adventure/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgepress.com/disneyxd/pressrelease/disneys-acclaimed-ducktales-culminates-in-an-epic-90-minute-series-finale-monday-march-15-on-disney-xd-and-disneynow/|title=Disney's Acclaimed 'Ducktales' Culminates in an Epic 90-Minute Series Finale, Monday, March 15, on Disney XD and DisneyNow|website=Walt Disney Television Press|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r95oELwjFE4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/r95oELwjFE4| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=DuckTales - The Last Adventure! Trailer|website=[[YouTube]]| date=March 8, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6lMXKqhiQQ&t=18s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/J6lMXKqhiQQ| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=DuckTales - The Last Adventure! Trailer #2|website=[[YouTube]]| date=March 8, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Films===
Darkwing makes a cameo at the end of ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (film)|Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers]]'', with Cummings reprising his role. He appears during a mid-credits scene, annoyed at the Rescue Rangers' newly regained fame and trying to attract attention to himself.

==Reboot==
On April 2, 2015, a rumor surfaced that [[Disney]] would be [[Reboot (fiction)|rebooting]] the series for a 2018 premiere on Disney XD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/disney-announces-reboot-of-darkwing-duck-coming-to-disney-xd-us/|title=Disney announces reboot of 'Darkwing Duck' coming to Disney XD US|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|publisher=AnimationXpress.com|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411114531/http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/disney-announces-reboot-of-darkwing-duck-coming-to-disney-xd-us|archive-date=April 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The report was debunked as an [[April Fools']] prank. Instead, Darkwing Duck returned as a comic book published by Joe Books, which was released on April 27, 2016.<ref name="Nerd Reactor">{{cite web|url=http://nerdreactor.com/2015/04/01/disney-announces-new-darkwing-duck-coming-to-disney-xd/|title=Disney announces new Darkwing Duck coming to Disney XD|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|publisher=NerdReactor.com|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=Jan 21, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124080444/http://nerdreactor.com/2015/04/01/disney-announces-new-darkwing-duck-coming-to-disney-xd/|archive-date=January 24, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="NY Daily News">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/darkwing-duck-new-comic-not-returning-tv-article-1.2504751|title='Darkwing Duck' is getting a new comic, not returning to television|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=January 21, 2016|access-date=Jan 21, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124044235/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/darkwing-duck-new-comic-not-returning-tv-article-1.2504751|archive-date=January 24, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A ''Darkwing Duck'' reboot is in development for [[Disney+]]. [[Seth Rogen]] and [[Evan Goldberg]] will executive produce the project via [[Point Grey Pictures]].<ref name=displus /> [[Tad Stones]] revealed that he is involved in the reboot series as a creative consultant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bEsbjyhAGhEr2ORCCJcEa?si=0a6c8397d90e49c7&nd=1|title=Tad Stones: Chip n Dale and Darkwing Duck Creator!|website=Spotify|publisher=What's In My Head Podcast|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref> While Disney TVA employee Ben Siemon claimed in 2022 that it had been cancelled,<ref>[https://x.com/BenjaminJS/status/1528937199365804032?s=20 Ben Siemon on X]</ref> Stones clarified in July 2024 that the reboot is still in development, albeit with the original writer's room having been disbanded a month prior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TadStones |date=2024-06-27 |title=Still in work. I hav… |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/disney/comments/1dp3rlp/i_am_tad_stones_creator_of_darkwing_duck_ask_me/laj904u/?share_id=pf-61Y5EDh5b0IYJ-EkfM&utm_content=2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=r/disney}}</ref> In March 2025, it was revealed that Cummings would reprise his role as Darkwing Duck for the reboot.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sudario|first=Erielle|url=https://collider.com/darkwing-duck-reboot-development-update/|title="Let's Get Dangerous!" Disney's 'Darkwing Duck' Reboot Is Apparently Still Alive|date=March 31, 2025|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=April 2, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Valdez|first=Nick|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/darkwing-duck-reboot-seth-rogen-disney-report/|title=Darkwing Duck Reboot Isn't Dead Yet, Says New Report|date=March 31, 2025|website=[[ComicBook.com]]|access-date=April 2, 2025}}</ref> 

In August 2025, Cummings confirmed that the show would actually be a revival series that would take place sometime after the events of the original show with him comparing it to ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' since it featured an older Darkwing and Gosalyn. The actor also confirmed that it involved Darkwing deciding to resume his vigilantism after retiring for a long period of time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valdez |first=Nick |date=2025-08-31 |title=Classic Disney Afternoon Star Teases Characters Will Be Older in New Reboot |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/disney-shows-darkwing-duck-reboot-characters/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|1990s|Disney|Cartoon|Television|United States}}
* [[Paperinik]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|publisher=Facts on File|year=1999|isbn=0816038317|location=New York|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780816038312}}
* {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/EncyclopediaOfTelevisionShows1925Through2007V.142009P.1855|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2007|last=Terrace|first=Vincent|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7864-3305-6|volume=1|page=[https://archive.org/details/EncyclopediaOfTelevisionShows1925Through2007V.142009P.1855/page/n72 350]|via=the Internet Archive}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/darkwing-duck}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{IMDb title|0101076|Darkwing Duck}}

{{Darkwing Duck}}
{{TV series and movies set in the Mickey Mouse universe}}
{{DuckTales}}
{{Former Disney Channel original series}}
{{DAFT}}
{{Disney Television Animation}}

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