Final answer:
The old miser in comic books who wears a red coat and a black silk top hat is Scrooge McDuck, the wealthy uncle of Donald Duck. His first appearance was in 1947, and he is known for his iconic attire and thrifty nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question “A creation of the comic books, this rich old miser wears a red coat and a black silk top hat. Who is he?” is a) Scrooge McDuck. Scrooge McDuck is a classic character created by Carl Barks for Disney comic books. He is the elderly Scottish uncle to Donald Duck and is known for his incredible wealth, often depicted diving into a massive vault filled with gold coins. Scrooge is characterized by his iconic red coat and black silk top hat, as well as his frugal and financially savvy personality. He first appeared in the Christmas-themed story “Christmas on Bear Mountain” in December 1947.
While the other options, b) Ludwig Von Drake, c) Gyro Gearloose, and d) Launchpad McQuack, are also characters within the Disney universe, they do not match the description provided in the question. Ludwig Von Drake is an intellectual professor, Gyro Gearloose is an inventor, and Launchpad McQuack is a pilot, and none of them are known for wearing a red coat and a black top hat.