Gyro's First Invention is a 2002 Disney comic written and drawn by Don Rosa, in celebration of Gyro's anniversary.
Donald Duck and his nephews are in the park when they see Gyro Gearloose selling inventions from a cart as part of an anniversary deal. While talking about how far Gyro’s come, Donald remarks on the role he played in Gyro’s first invention, and the flashback begins.
It’s been several months since “The Great McDuck Calamity”, with Scrooge’s money still trapped underground in “A Christmas for Shacktown”. Scrooge had previously spent his petty cash on the construction of the statue of Cornelius Coot in “Statuesque Spendthrifts”, and the toy train solution can only bring out a small amount at a time, which are quickly absorbed by business expenses. Scrooge has been forced to stay in Donald’s house since then, and while having a melodramatic fit, knocks over one of his nephew’s lamps.
Donald takes it to Fulton Gearloose’s repair shop. There, Donald finds that Fulton has retired and left the shop to his son Gyro. Entering, Donald finds the place a mess of disorganized clutter. Tripping, Donald accidentally drops his lamp onto Gyro while the inventor is working on a device called a Think Box, causing a mild shock. Instead of the lamp repair, Donald offers Gyro use his brains to help with Scrooge’s money problem.
After bringing Gyro up to speed about the problem- the money is trapped underground, and there’s only a thin crust between it and a deeper pit of quicksand. Trying to reclaim the money by hoisting equipment or mining could risk the thin crust breaking, and the toy train through the badger hole is the only solution so far. Luckily, Gyro has an idea- He recently invented a Super Helium to help salvage ships; The outside of the helium hardens into a membrane so none can leak out, thus causing whatever its pumped into rise up! The only problem is getting the helium into the cavern to begin with; At his shop, Gyro asks someone to turn on a light so he can sketch out a plan, and Donald’s broken light obliges…on its own…unplugged. As the Lamp begins to move about, Gyro realizes that it must have been energized by the Think Box’s short circuit. He also realizes how the Lamp can help raise the money.
The next day, Gyro sends the Lamp up through the badger hole with the toy train and a camera. They find that the tunnel to the money has collapsed. Finding a new route requires the Lamp to go off the train tracks, and to that end it is fitted with arms, legs and shoes so its clanging footsteps won’t disrupt the crust. The Lamp succeeds and navigating the maze of tunnels to the money, and manages to bring back some to pay for the costs of producing enough Super Helium to lift the cash.
Once preparations are set, Gyro begins pumping the tunnel with his Super Helium. The Ducks go back into Scrooge’s Money Bin to watch it work, which it does quite well…too well, in fact! The Super Helium causes the entire Bin to float high up into the sky! A hole needs to be popped in the membrane, but if they do it in the office, the gas will smother the ducks. Luckily, there’s a hatch in the Bin’s roof, but with the floating cube turning over, reaching it is no easy task. Luckily, the Lamp has jury rigged a bunch of extension cords into a makeshift rope, and Gyro is sent up. Although he reaches the hatch, Gyro drops his tools, leaving the popping to the Lamp. With most of the Helium released, the Bin goes down, landing right onto the statue of Cornelius Coot! Luckily, there’s enough Super Helium to keep the Bin up until the underground cavern is filled, and Gyro managed to save the Lamp from falling off the edge. As they get settled down, Gyro declines being paid for the Super Helium, but does feel proud of the Lamp, which he dubs his Lil’ Helper, believing that it will help him with all the inventions to come.
And so, after the cavern underneath Kilmotor Hill was filled, the Money Bin was moved back its original spot. Gyro opened up his own lab for his inventions, and Donald declined getting his lamp back, instead taking a replacement.
After Donald finishes his reminiscence, Huey, Dewey and Louie consider that more than his big break, the creation of Lil’ Helper gave Gyro something even better- a friend.
Gyro's First Invention provides examples of:
- Arc Welding: This story serves as a sequel for Carl Barks' A Christmas for Shacktown and details how Scrooge got his money back after it fell into that hole. It's also revealed that Gyro's prototype Think Box from The Think Box Bollix is what gave Little Helper its sentience.
- Big Damn Heroes: Just after Gyro loses his tools and is unable to pop the Super Helium bubble, Little Helper quickly pops it themself.
- Chekhov's Gun: Early in the story, Scrooge complains that the construction for the giant statue of Cornelius Coot he built in "Statuesque Spendthrifts" ate up his petty cash, while the rest sank underground in "A Christmas For Shacktown". Thanks to Gyro's Super Helium, the Money Bin ends up lodged on top of the statue!
- Call-Forward: While brainstorming ideas to save Scrooge's money, Gyro mentions a Universal Solvent which would become the center for one of Don Rosa's earlier stories.
- Gone Horribly Right: Gyro's Super Helium does bring the money up, but it's so potent that it makes the entire bin float up with it.
- Hypocritical Humor: When Scrooge sees Gyro getting sentimental with Little Helper, he chastises the inventor for basing his life on one small achievement. Donald, for his part, just smirks at his uncle and points out the pedestal for Scrooge's #1 Dime.Scrooge: Shut up!Donald: I never said a word!
- Origins Episode: For Gyro and Lil' Helper.
- Pet the Dog: Lil’ Helper was made from Donald’s old lamp, and as Gyro was preparing to dismantle it to give back to Donald, he lets Gyro keep it knowing how much he grew fond of the little guy.
- Post-Stress Overeating: Scrooge indulges this while sad about his money being trapped underground.
- Whole Episode Flashback: Much of the chapter is taken from Donald telling the story of Gyro's first job, along with the origin for Lil Helper.
- Worse with Context: Donald and Scrooge explain the events of "Christmas for Shacktown" to Gyro and how it will take 272 years, 11 months, three weeks, and four days to get all of Scrooge's money out of the hole it's trapped in (all umpteen fantasticatillion, three multiplujillion, nine obsquatumatillion, six hundred and twenty-three dollars and sixteen cents of it), culminating with this exchange:Gyro: (smiling) No, Mr. McDuck! You miscalculated! It'll take six months...Scrooge: (cheering up) Really! Not 272 years? Oh, joy! Oh, rapture!Gyro: No, no! You had the years correct! Just a tad off on the months!
