GARGOYLES #4, from Dynamite Comics on March 22nd, 2023, begins a new arc and the threat of a mob war when Dino Dracon gets out of prison, eager to re-establish his crime family’s dominance over NYC.
The Details
- Written by: Greg Weisman
- Art by: George Kambadais
- Colors by: Arancia Studio
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: David Nakayama (cover A)
- Comic Rating: All Ages
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 22, 2023
Is It Good?
GARGOYLES #4 starts a fresh arc with a tighter focus, a cleaner plot, and a major threat to the peace of NYC under the watchful eye of Goliath and the Gargoyles. On the whole, this issue is a significant step up in storytelling quality.
When last we left the Gargoyles, they found the kidnapped mutate mother just as she gave birth, and they reclaimed the child from Thailog and Sevarius. Now, the Gargoyles are back to a quiet life of nightly patrols when the recently-paroled Dino Dracon sets a kidnapping plan in motion to restore his family as the head of the NYC crime syndicates.
Greg Weisman’s script is a significant step up because it doesn’t spend too much time introducing all the characters from the cartoon show, starting multiple plot threads, establishing new threats, and scratching that nostalgia itch while giving the property a fresh coat of paint. This plot is simple, clear, easy to follow, and straight to the point. No fuss, no muss.
Regarding the art, it’s very good. Admittedly, we’ve been hard on George Kambadias’s exaggerated anatomy style in this run and in other series, but here, it’s kept to a minimum, which leads to less distracting art. The characters look familiar (as they should), the action choreography flows better compared to the last issue, and the overall look of the book is agreeable.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our GARGOYLES #3 review to find out how the last arc ended.
We begin with Goliath taking stock of his life with his friends, his family, and his love for Elisa Maza. Except for small crimes encountered on nightly patrols, the life of Gargoyles is relatively crisis-free.
Dino, the head of the Dracon crime family, steps out of prison on parole. He wastes no time meeting with the senior members of the family and is angered to learn the Dracon family no longer sits at the top of the city’s crime syndicate. Dino vows to restore his family’s dominance.
Later, a young couple meets in the park for a little kissin’ and huggin’ when they are suddenly accosted by men wearing gargoyle masks. The couple is stuffed in the trunk of a nearby car, but the scuffle is witnessed by Goliath and Hudson flying overhead. We conclude the issue with a threat, a role reversal, and plans from a book.
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Final Thoughts
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GARGOYLES #4 begins a new arc with a simpler, more reader-friendly story, solid action, improved art, and a conflict that could spell trouble for the entire city. This issue is a step up in quality on every level compared to the previous issues.
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