GARGOYLES #6, from Dynamite Comics on 5/31/23, brings the gangs of New York closer to war when Dino’s plan of deception stokes the flames of betrayal and revenge.
The Details
- Written by: Greg Weisman
- Art by: George Kambadais
- Colors by: George Kambadais
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: David Nakayama (cover A)
- Comic Rating: All Ages
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: May 31, 2023
Is It Good?
GARGOYLES #6 is not bad. Not bad at all. Wrapped within the outward appearance of a Disney cartoon is a smart, intriguing crime thriller pitting the Gargoyles against a mobster bent on tricking every gang in New York into killing each other. On practically every level, Greg Weisman’s arc is far superior to the previous one.
When last we left the Gargoyles, Goliath opted not to go along with the prison break, instead choosing to let the human justice system take its course. Meanwhile, Dino sets various assassinations in motion to make it look like old gang grudges, long since settling in truces, have returned. Now, the courts begin the process of deciding whether or not Goliath is “worthy” of fair justice while Brooklyn struggles in his new role as a leader during the prelude to an all-out mob war.
Weisman’s script works because multiple plot lines are perfectly balanced to combine into the worst-case scenario. Goliath’s arrest destabilizes public sentiment against the gargoyles, causing the gargoyles to pull back from patrols and minimize public appearances. In and of itself, that throughline would be enough for a solid arc. But when you add in Dino’s plan to start a mob war so his family can be the last ones standing, which is another solid story that stands on its own, the two threads complement each other to create a high-drama plot with plenty of room for surprise developments.
Is there a down point to the script? No, nothing worth mentioning. Again, Weisman’s plotting is impressive given how well to story threads are woven together. The dialog is on-point, the pacing is high and smooth, and the issue ends on an intriguing cliffhanger.
How’s the art? Admittedly, we’ve been hard on George Kambadais in the past for good reasons. However, Kambadias may have found his niche with cartoon adaptations. The character styles look authentic to the Disney source material, the panel compositions are strong, and the action is energetic. Sure, Kambadais’s lines could be tighter, the backgrounds lack detail, and the painterly brush strokes for shadows and shading look out of place, but overall, Kambadais’s adaptation is good.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our GARGOYLES #5 review to find out how Goliath’s prison break turned out.
We begin with Brooklyn “drowning” under the mental pressure of Goliath’s arrest, the contention among his clan over his role as leader, and the mounting pressure coming from an escalating mob war outside their citadel. Brooklyn and his allies depart the prison after Goliath proclaims he’s staying to test whether or not gargoyles can ever have a place alongside humans.
Later, Dino meets with his father to explain how carefully planned assassinations and kidnappings are working exactly as planned. Old grudges are reinvigorated, and mob bosses call for blood against their rivals. If Dino succeeds, the mob families will wipe each other out, leaving Dino’s family the only organization left to rule New York.
Antoinette overhears her uncle’s plans and decides to take action by paying a visit to the Gargoyles. We conclude the issue with helpful intel, killer drones, and overkill.
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Final Thoughts
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GARGOYLES #6 is a surprisingly complex and expertly-crafted chapter about the contentious relationship between humans and gargoyles set against the backdrop of a perfectly orchestrated mob war. Each plot thread could work as a standalone story with plenty of drama and action to keep readers invested, and the art is very good.
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