Wes's Guide to Gargoyles: Gargoyles #2

Welcome back to our look at the new Dynamite Entertainment Gargoyles comic. Last time, Elisa brought all of us, hardcore fans and new fans alike, up to speed on what the Gargoyles have been up to since we last saw them. Some of the more important developments include a gang war tearing the city apart, two members of the Dracon crime family soon to be released from prison and Maggie about to give birth to Talon’s baby, not knowing that said baby has become the target of Goliath’s evil clone, Thailog,

Our comic opens as the sun sets over New York City. Like last time, we have narration, only this time it’s Angela doing the honors. Angela’s narration is on the subject of dreams. Some nights she has wonderful dreams, like being in the warm embrace of her lover Broadway. Other times, they are nightmares, like the unending rage of her evil mother, Demona. In any case, the sun sets and our heroes awaken from their stone sleep wondering what they missed during the day. As Gnash and Hudson head off to watch celebrity hockey and Lexington goes off on his own claiming to have better things to do, everyone else heads down to the rookery where the egg that contains Brooklyn and Katana’s second child awaits. Oh, and there’s also a new Gargoyle beast in the castle named Fu-Dog, who, along with Bronx, is tasked with guarding the egg. Apparently, until it officially hatches, Brooklyn has taken to calling the egg “Egwardo,” Katana not being pleased upon learning that this is some sort of joke name. Cold Fire arrives with a message to tell Goliath that there may still be time to witness the birth of Maggie’s child. Goliath, Angela, Broaday and Cold Fire head out to the Labyrinth only find everyone unconscious, and Maggie and the mid-wife missing.

Elsewhere, we are introduced to Antoinette Dracon, sister to known skunk-haired shithead, Tony Dracon. Apparently, Antoinette hates being referred to as Toni because even she can’t stand the idea of being associated with her fuck-weasel of a brother. Anywho, Antoinette is here to pick up her grandfather, Dominic Dracon, who is being released from prison today. Old DD has been faking dementia in order to secure an early release, something he’s not pleased with, but his crooked lawyers feel is the way to go. When Antoinette asked what they’re going to do about the impending release of Uncle Dino, DD nervously says he doesn’t know.

We cut to earlier that day down in the Labyrinth where Maggie is about to get birth. Something that raised an eyebrow for me is the mid-wife is a woman named Mary and bares a suspicious resemblance to the mother of Tom, who was also named Mary, from way back in 10th century Scotland. Mary mentions that she knows Brooklyn so I suppose it’s not outside the realm of possibility that this is the same character plucked out of time by Brooklyn during his time travel excursion, but I couldn’t find any information that confirmed this. Someone who knows more than I do, please help me out here, and while you’re at it, explain the turtle and the giant cockroach, I still have no idea what that’s all about. Elisa tells Cold Fire to pass on the message to Goliath when he wakes up, but after she hangs up the phone the room is flooded with gas and everyone passes out.

Back in the present, Talon, realizing that Maggie and Mary have both been taken, is on a Warpath, ready to tear the head off of the first person he can blame for this. Goliath agrees to do everything he can to help, but has no idea who else besides the clan even knew about the baby. Cold Fire says that Owen Burnett was present when Elisa made the call.

Over at Riker’s Island, Antoinette is visiting her shithead brother and telling him that grandpa is worried about Uncle Dino getting out of the joint. Tony says that the whole city should be worried because if Antoinette and Gramps can’t keep Uncle D in check, then Manhattan will burn.

Back with our heroes, the fact that Owen overheard Cold Fire and Elisa’s conversation has lead Talon to the conclusion that Xanatos must be behind Maggie’s abduction. Talon, still pissed off, breaks down Xanatos’s door like he’s Randy Savage in a Slim Jim commercial and is ready to choke Xanatos out with his own ponytail. Xanatos, who I will remind you, is staring down the barrel of a pissed off winged mutant jungle cat with electrical powers who has more than enough reason to want him dead regardless of any kidnapped baby mamas, doesn’t even flinch. I hope that one day, I can be half as cool as David Xanatos. Talon, not amused by Xanatos smugly congratulating him on his impending fatherhood, wraps his claw around Xanatos’s throat and threatens to end his if he doesn’t reveal what he did with Maggie, ending the comic.

While the first outing was mostly setup, this one started putting some of the wheels in motion. Obviously Thailog has made his move which has had the unintended consequence of putting Talon and the others on a collision course with Xanatos, but there’s also the intriguing plot thread of Dino Dracon’s impending arrival. Just who the hell is this guy that has all of the top players in New York’s underworld, and also Tony Dracon, quaking in their boots and why is he such a serious threat? While at first, I wasn’t sure about the narration, the fact that narration duties will apparently be handled by a different character in each issue keeps the gimmick from becoming stale. Finally, seeing Xanatos again, even if only briefly, was just wonderful. All these years later and he’s still the smartest, richest and coolest man in the room. So far, speaking as diehard Gargoyles fan, I would say this series is off to a truly excellent start.