Comics Review: Disney's "GARGOYLES Volume 1 #2"

DISNEY'S GARGOYLES #2

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Greg Weisman

ARTIST: George Kambadais

COLORS: George Kambadais

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Nate Cosby

COVER: David Nakayama

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2023)

Rated “Teen”

“Here in Manhattan” – Chapter Two: “Idyll or Nightmare”

“Gargoyles” was an animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation that ran for a total of 78 episodes over three seasons, from October 24, 1994, to February 15, 1997.  The series focused on “gargoyles,” a species of nocturnal creatures that had spent a thousand years in an enchanted petrified state.  Reawakened in modern New York City, they are stone by day, but when day falls, they are warriors, the city's night-time protectors.

“Gargoyles” has been adapted into comic books by both Marvel Comics (1995) and Slave Labor Graphics (2006-09).  Dynamite Entertainment is the new license holder and begins its publication with Gargoyles Volume 1.  The series is written by “Gargoyles” creator Greg Weisman; drawn and colored by George Kambadais; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The series will act as a “Season 4” of the original television series, following Weisman's preferred story line.

Gargoyles Volume 1 #2 (“Idyll or Nightmare”) opens at sunset in Manhattan.  Night arrives, and the Gargoyles have awakened from their stone sleep!  The child of Maggie Reed a.k.a. “Maggie the Cat” and her husband, Derek/Talon, is due.  Will Goliath and the clan be in time to save Maggie and her unborn mutate child from Sevarius and David Xanatos?

Meanwhile, Dominic Dracon leaves Bellevue Hospital, pretending to suffer from dementia.  However, a gang war is brewing, and he must find a way to deal with Dino Dracon and Tomas Brod, the gangster trying to cut in on Dracon turf.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Gargoyles #2, only the second Gargoyles comic book that I have read.

Although I was aware of the “Gargoyles” animated series, I never got around to watching it, but I do remember that it had a substantial fandom.  So far, I find the series a little difficult to follow because I am still figuring out this universe, but I am intrigued by the story.  I think longtime fans will enjoy the work of series writer Greg Weisman, as he is following up the story lines he developed for the animated series and is moving them forward as he wishes (I assume).

I also immensely enjoyed artist George Kambadais' art on Dynamite's recent John Carter of Mars miniseries.  The dynamic illustrations and shimmering colors he brought to John Carter, Kambadais brings to Gargoyles.  He deftly captures the intense emotions of Weisman's story and makes this story crackle and hop.

I think that this story arc, “Here in Manhanttan,” will read better as a trade paperback, but fans of the franchise will want to read it now.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the Gargoyles franchise will want to try Dynamite's new Gargoyles comic book series.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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