Saturday, May 13, 2023

Comics Review: Disney's "GARGOYLES Volume 1 #4" - Careful What You Wish For

DISNEY'S GARGOYLES #4
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Greg Weisman
ART: George Kambadais
COLORS: Arancia Studio
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: David Nakayama
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2023)

Rated “Teen”

“Here in Manhattan” – Chapter Four: “Tale Old as Time”

“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 #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 #4 (“Tale Old as Time”) opens as crime boss, Dino Dracon, is released from prison, and he immediately reestablishes that he is the boss.  Determined to take over the New York underworld, Dino won't let anyone – human or Gargoyle – stand in his way.

Elsewhere, there is sense of change in the clan, and Goliath kind of wishes that there was a crisis to bring everyone closer.  So when he and Hudson go out on their nightly patrol, they're in for a couple of extremely nasty surprises.

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 #4, only the fourth Gargoyles comic book that I have read.

With each issue, I find Dynamite's Gargoyles comic book a little less difficult to follow, although I am still figuring out this universe.  Although I was aware of the “Gargoyles” animated series, I never got around to watching it, but I am intrigued by this comic book. I find myself drawn more into the narrative, and I like that series writer Greg Weisman is pushing the story forward and bringing in more explosive drama and action.

George Kambadais' dynamic illustrations keep Weisman's story hopping, and that really shows in this fourth issue's last act.  His storytelling deftly balances the many subplots and twists and turns of Weisman's narrative, creating a sense of anticipation.  Now, there is more to anticipate.

I think that this story arc, “Here in Manhattan,” will read better as a trade paperback, but fans of the franchise will want to start reading the new Gargoyles, 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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