Return to Plain Awful is a sequel to Carl Barks story Lost in the Andes!, created by Don Rosa, and was first published in Donald Duck Adventures #12, May 1989, on the 40th Anniversery of the original story in 1949.
A few months (or forty years, give or take) have passed since Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie returned from their expedition to Plain Awful and their failed attempt at introducing square eggs to the world. The square roosters they brought back with them aren't adjusting very well, and seem to be wasting away from homesickness. The Ducks ask Uncle Scrooge to fund a second expedition to bring the roosters back, but Scrooge will only agree on the condition that he gets to come along in person and deal with the Awfultonians himself, as Donald had refused to give anyone the location to Plain Awful, concerned that greedy opportunists would take advantage of the simple and peaceful inhabitants. Left with no other choice, the Ducks agree.
However, Flintheart Glomgold is also up to his old tricks, and follow Scrooge and his family to the Andes, with the intent of getting sole rights to the square eggs himself. The journey to Plain Awful turns out to be less arduous than last time, as the square chickens seem to know the way, though they vanish during the night (actually stolen by Glomgold) and the Ducks reach the valley on their own. Much to their surprise, instead of being met with a population of square-obsessed southerners like last time, the population has abandoned the culture of Professor Rhutt Bettlah in turn for a new influence - Donald Duck!
The people of Plain Awful are happy to see their friends again, and the "President" (a title adopted after Donald explained the U.S government system in the first story) declares a national holiday free lunch. Unfortunately, the party turns sour when Scrooge holds a speech extolling the virtues of money and accidentally violates Plain Awfuls one and only law - possessing something round, in this case his #1 Dime.
Glomgold shows up just in time to try and take advantage of the situation, getting Scrooge sentenced to hard labor and bargaining for the rights to the square eggs. The Awfultonians agree, in return for one thing; they want to try an ice cream soda, just like their idol Donald. The Ducks manages to get a pardon for Scrooge thrown in as well, and an uneasy alliance is made, as Glomgold can't find his way out through the mountains on his own. Reaching a trading post on the outside, they manage to scramble up an ice cream soda while Glomgold radios for a helicopter. When they make it back to the valley, Glomgold predictably betrays them, forcing the Ducks to improvise an ice cream soda of their own using the supplies in their packs. Freeing Scrooge from the quarry, the two rivals race to hand over their soda first, only to discover that Plain Awful has undergone some drastic changes during the time they were away.
Having once again revised their culture based on new visitors, the Awfultonians have adopted the mannerisms and culture of both Scrooge and Glomgold, and a copy of Scrooge's money bin now towers over the valley. On top of that, the "President", or the "Chairman Of the Board" as he now calls himself, has lost interest in ice cream sodas, and wants something different - money to put in their new money bin! Which Scrooge just happens to have a great deal of with him, as he had planned to pay the Awfultonians in return for the rights to the eggs. Unfortunately, he quickly discovers that despite superficially copying him, the people of Plain Awful STILL don't care about money in of itself, as the Chairman chops the bills in half to make them look more square, and to increase the amount.
By this point, both Scrooge and Glomgold have lost all interest in the eggs, and the group heads home, with Donald gloating that not only could Scrooge not make the Awfultonians as greedy as himself, they got one up on him by "making their fortune SQUARE!"
Tropes:
- Call-Back: When Scrooge and Glomgold bump into each other, Glomgold spots the string on Scrooge's #1 Dime and tears it off in a fit; He clearly remembers how that string is what helped Scrooge win their first contest in The Second Richest Duck.
- The Cameo: When the Ducks are sneaking through the airport in disguise, several Barks villains appear, including Azure Blue (The Golden Helmet) and the Brutopian Ambassador (A Cold Bargain).
- Comic-Book Time: And how! Only a few months have passed for our heroes, while 40 years have passed in real life.
- Despair Event Horizon: Scrooge hits it after he accidentally loses his dime in a struggle with Glomgold, and one of the square chickens eats it, leaving him so spiritually broken he just accepts his fate of hard labor. Luckily he gets it back just before Donald and the nephews show up and free him (it was inside one of the eggs he got dropped on his head).
- Idiot Ball: Scrooge had been forewarned about Plain Awful's law against anything round. However, he gets so worked up talking about his money and industry that he shows off his #1 Dime.
- Incorruptible Pure Pureness: The Awfultonians are so good-hearted that not even exposure to Scrooge and Glomgold can darken their spirits. Just to be sure, however, the triplets give a Junior Woodchuck Guidebook so the square folk will have something a little better to imitate.
- Fling a Light into the Future: Downplayed; while no serious trouble is expected, Huey, Dewey and Louie give a copy of the Woodchuck Junior Handbook to some Awfultonian kids before they leave, allowing them to start a local chapter of the Woodchucks and giving Plain Awful knowledge beyond what they get from whatever random strangers might stumble into the valley. Luckily, the inhabitants can both speak and read English thanks to Professor Bettlah.
- One Note Chef: The Awfultonians have tried to adopt modern American fast food instead of southern cooking thanks to Donald's influence, but since all they have access to is eggs and chickens, the recipes are a bit limited.
- Way Past the Expiration Date: The soda the Ducks buy at the trading post, which has been there since the War. As in the first World War (the Don Rosa/Barks comics take place in the 1950's), the clerk didn't even know there had been a second one.
- Worthless Yellow Rocks: Much to Scrooge's horror, as this leads to the Chairman destroying $1 Billion in cash just to make it look nicer.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The square roosters Glomgold stole vanish after they accidentally lead him over one of the cliffs leading to Plain Awful, though since he made it out fine, the roosters probably did too and made their way back to their flock.
