Loose thoughts about Rockerduck and Jeeves's relationship
From the 619 stories they appear in together, I've only read around 300, due to availability, language and the likes. Still, if I know anything about duck comics, just like themes sometimes repeat themselves, the behavior of characters also remains more or less consistent. Except in that one comic we don't talk about…
I'll be using the English names of the characters.
Rockerduck and Jeeves's dynamic, over time, evolved beyond your typical boss and henchman relationship (and I'm not gonna say topolino confirmed they're friends again… wait oh no).
John doesn't appear to have any living family, at least not one he is very close to (the occasional nephew or cousin doesn't really count as those pop up all the time for almost every major character then get immediatelly forgotten), and neither does Jeeves (he was mentioned to have had grandparents from Texas. Southern Jeeves headcanon has me in a chokehold… but that's a story for another time). Looks like it's them against the world... and McDuck!
As for the ship itself, though I like it, I think the friendship is the more important part. Rockerjeeves can come off as kinda shady because of the inherent power dynamic. But when you actually examine their relationship across the comics (especially newer ones) it becomes obvious that it's Jeeves who initiates most friendly interactions, while Rockerduck is usually insistent on maintaining the professional barrier, even as he clearly trusts and cares about Jeeves (in his own awkward, emotionally constipated way).
My interpretation of the ship, and the one most in line with the comic book canon is that, if anything, Jeeves has an unrequited crush on Rockerduck.
More on their relationship below.
It's Jeeves who wants to get closer to John 99.9% of the time.
Jeeves genuinely likes John.
Jeeves is (somewhat) independent from John.
1
In the comics, if anyone wants and initiates a deeper connection, it's Jeeves (shipping aside, it would be going from co-workers to friends).
"The Ballad of John D. Rockerduck" is the longest example that goes for both point 1 and 2, as we got a lot of Jeeves and Rockerduck time in this one. In the first part, when John lists all the titles and responsibilities Jeeves holds in his company, Jeeves interjects to say that he's also John's friend. Rockerduck, ever prickly, tells him "not to take liberties" and demands he move out. Jeeves complies, seemingly unbothered, like he's used to his boss' moods hiding a deeper vulnerability (coincidentally what the comic is also about). By the end of the story, Rockerduck does admit out loud that Jeeves is his friend… but Jeeves isn't there to hear it. GAH!!!
Jeeves even moves in with John to support him through a depressive episode. Yes, he’s paid to clean and cook, but the support goes beyond duty: he suggests ways to spend time together in an attempt to get John out of the spiral (going on walks, playing chess, reading), tries to talk him out of his self-depreciating thoughts several times, and later conspires with Scrooge to reignite John’s confidence. The screenwriter for "The Ballad…", Marco Nucci, summed up John and Jeeves's relationship best in his interview , here gracefully translated by @frc-ambaradan.
In "Paperinik e l'inganno del successo", Jeeves expresses disappointment that, despite having worked alongside Rockerduck for so long, he's still not allowed to call him by his first name (or nickname in some versions. "Rocky"...😭).
★.°•
2
Jeeves isn't just doing his job, he genuinely likes Rockerduck. He's proud of John's accomplishments [1], invested in his background and well-being [2] [3] [4] [5] even if it changes little to nothing in his own life.
They hang out together casually outside of work: dancing, going to Grandma Duck’s farm, shopping, doing movie marathons (they're about to start one by the end of "I denari del giovane Rockerduck" and are interrupted, but you can tell it's a common occurence) and many other times where they're seen enjoying each other's company. This isn’t strictly a transactional connection—it’s affectionate.
★.°•
3
First and foremost, unlike Albert Quackmore, Jeeves isn't being chronically underpaid. He's described as having an "exorbitant salary" (whatever that means, but knowing Rockerduck and his spending habits… he might be a millionaire at this point tbh). John's employees in general are being paid very well. In this one, Jeeves mentions he's going to buy himself a new car and a villa. At least in the translated version. In any case, our boy is doing just fine.
Though technically a secretary, Jeeves isn’t a powerless underling. His actual position in Rockerduck Industries is more complicated than, say, Miss Quackfaster's or Albert's are in McDuck Enterprises. Again, @frc-ambaradan expanded on it wonderfully in this theory that Jeeves might actually be a COO, along with listing the comics that support it. I suggest you give it a read, it's really good. I only wanted to add these stories: Zio Paperone e l'indesiderato gioco di squadra, Battista e Lusky in Singolar Tenzone.
Also, Jeeves isn't afraid of Rockerduck. He has no qualms about arguing with him, teasing / being snarky [6] [7] [8] [9] or speaking his mind when John's ego gets in the way [10] [11]. He's not a sycophant. I mean… he IS sometimes, but it seems that's only because he wants to... although I do find it hilarious that the Polish translators named him Lizoos. "Lizus" literally means bootlicker but it's spelled with two o's because AMERICA, RRRAH! 🦅🦅🇺🇸 idk it's fun
Besides, he walked away when he’s had enough and got by just fine, only coming back because he missed John (and Albert did because he missed Scrooge 🥺🥺). Major mistakes rarely have any real consequences for Jeeves, even if Rockerduck threatens to fire him. Jeeves certainly doesn't look like he's taking those threats very seriously. Yes, he is exasperated sometimes, or fed up with John's behavior. That usually happens when you know someone long enough, especially if they're as annoying as John D. Rockerduck (and let's face it he can be insufferable, though Jeeves is a very close second. A perfect duo of mischievous idiots). Anyway, their banter is mostly friendly.
★.°•
One more thing: unfortunately, Duckverse is full of dysfunctional dynamics. They're baked into almost every major relationship (romantic, platonic, familial) due to the nature of these comics. There's slapstick violence, characters insult or yell at each other and can be absolutely horrible to one another. This is also true for the entire family dynamic between Scrooge and his nephews (who are often being exploited and put in danger, insulted and so on), one might argue Scrooge and Goldie as well as Donald and Daisy. This mean-spiritedness is softened a little in at least some of the newer stories, and the characters mentioned above, Johnny and Jeeves included, are portrayed more tenderly.
Whether you ship them or not, Rockerduck and Jeeves are delightful little guys, and I'm so glad to be on Tumblr with all you people who appreciate them as much as I do! 🥰
Duck Newton would give really good hugs... but only people he's close to. If anyone he kinda knew (cause he wouldn't give a hug to someone he didn't know) asked, it'd probably be REALLY fucking awkward. But when it comes to people he loves, his hugs are warm, friendly, and calming.
I think Ludinus fucked up. I think he rushed it. He very much was in that now or never mindset after a thousand years of waiting. Working towards his selfish goal. He was the closest he's ever been.
But so many power sources got messed up / broken in the lead up to turning the thing on. That, well, things got fucked up.
That's not to say that it's not currently working, but instead of an instant sort of release... There's a battle for whether it works or not.
And I do think it's significant that the Ruidus born / touched ones of the group for yeeted to the other side of the planet. (And it makes me wonder if the same thing happened to the other Ruidus born batteries. And if the batteries for the key got yeeted, what's that mean for the device itself?)
I'm probably over thinking it, but I do believe it got fucked up.
Didn't we spend a lot of time in campaign two learning about how delicate time is and any changing of it can have consequences? But this dude's just like rushing hours forward to start his device...and it just seems like that's how you mess up a perfectly good plan. You know?
What movies would Duck (and rest of the pine guard if you want) show Billy?
Guys
Guys come on
The answer is simple
It's Paul Blart Mall Cop.
Duck Newton is literally just Justin McElroy. They are two sides of the same coin.
They both love Paul Blart Mall Cop.
Does Billy like it? Well, it's up to interpretation. No one really knows Billy's true opinion on this film, but Duck likes to say that Billy totally loved it.
So I had this idea that Duck really loves animals, and when out in the forest he's just a sucker for spotting deer, especially the babies, as well as raccoons, squirrels, and the like. I also think he's got an eye for birds, having the ability to point them out with ease.
If he could, I think he would own a whole ass zoo, taking care and loving animals, right up his alley. If there was a zoo in Kepler, I think he would have worked there.
I do think that there is a shelter there though, and he's volunteered before, if not in general then in his teenage years. He really cares about nature, he cares about the creatures that live in the forest, and he would do anything to take care of them all. Though, while he can't have a whole zoo of animals, I can imagine he has a cat and a dog, and Duck has the energy to have a Saint Bernard (totally not projecting or anything), or really just any big fluffy one, but probably that one since those dogs are very gentle and good with other animals. When it comes to the cat, he has no idea what breed it is, he picked it up outside the pizza hut or something.
What do y'all think he would name them?
Also I think I've talked about Duck having cats before, and now he has a dog, so. Yk.
Anyway, another thought I had a while back was that I think Duck would totally be a part of the search and rescue programs. I was watching the Blair Witch and I just could imagine Duck with a radio and flashlight hunting with a bunch of people for a lost kid in the woods. He does his damn best to be a really good citizen in Kepler, and I think a lot of people recognize the part he tries to play.
