Launchpad McQuack is a bisexual character from DuckTales.
Biography[]
Launchpad is Scrooge McDuck's pilot and chauffeur, and is a scoutmaster for the Junior Woodchucks. He lives in Scrooge's garage.
Appearance[]
Launchpad is a tall, bulky anthropomorphic duck. He has ginger hair and a prominent chin. He is usually seen wearing his jacket, khakis and black shoes. Aside from that he alternates often between his chauffeuring uniform, a brown cap and a polo shirt with a tie, and his casual wear, which is a teal cap and a green t-shirt.
Sexuality[]
In 2018, someone asked the series co-creator Frank Angones how many girlfriends Launchpad has had. He responded saying Launchpad "has had many significant others", implying not all of them were female.[1]
Launchpad having had many past relationships is used as a running joke in the series. They are referred to as "old flames". In "The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee" Launchpad gives advice to Fenton, who is going on a date. He lists off things that a "special someone" could be, where it becomes clear he's just listing off all the bizarre relationships he's been in. One of them was a clone of himself, which confirms he is queer.
In 2020, storyboard artist and writer Sam King participated in a DuckTales zine where she confirmed that Launchpad is canonically bisexual, saying "LP just has so much love in him, that of course he's not only romantically attracted to one gender."
Relationships[]
Ziyi[]
After arriving in Macaw, Launchpad calls her "an old girlfriend from these parts" who's "had some trouble with the local crime family." Not much else is known about her or their relationship.
Oceanika[]
Oceanika is a mermaid who calls to Launchpad near the beginning of "The Depths of Cousin Fethry!", to whom Launchpad responds "Oceanika? Is that you, my love?" He later describes her as a "forbidden mermaid."
Old Flames[]
Launchpad's old flames are mostly unnamed, but he has listed them off as: a friend, a confidant, a deadly ninja, a forbidden mermaid, a wereduck, a clone of himself, a viking shield-maiden, and "a talking cloud of energy, that one time." There is also one in the comics named Diane, queen of the underwater kingdom.
Sam King has shared art depicting them with Launchpad, including the clone, the shield-maiden, the cloud of energy, the wereduck, and possibly the ninja. It also includes some he didn't mention or describe: a goth bird playing guitar, a bird wearing a shirt with a trans flag, a wrestler dog, and a dog onryō spirit.[2]
Every relationship was loving and ended amicably.[1]
Penumbra[]
At the end of "Moonvasion!" Launchpad crushes on Penumbra after seeing her take her helmet off. In "They Put a Moonlander On the Earth!" they are shown on a coffee date that goes poorly. Launchpad assumes that she hates him, but Penumbra explains that the date just went badly because she's not into men. He responds with relief and remarks that "that's way easier." The two remain friends from then on.
Tropes[]
- Incompatible Orientation - With Penumbra.
- Word of Gay - while he was confirmed queer in the show, him being bi specifically was confirmed outside of it.
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Frank Angones on Tumblr
- ↑ Sam King on Twitter (archived)
[]
| LESBIAN | Penumbra | |
| GAY | Indy Saberwing • Ty Saberwing | |
| BI | Launchpad McQuack | |