Warning: contains spoilers for Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1!
Marvel’s top underdog just achieved an awesome honor that no Avenger ever could. Membership in the Avengers is one of the highest honors a hero can obtain, but in Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1, an obscure (and underrated) character gains something just as cool, and it makes a case for their comeback.
Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1 was written by Greg Weisman and drawn by Enid Balàm. The Gargoyle (Isaac Christian), a former member of the Defenders, assists The Fantastic Four and Goliath and his clan of gargoyles in battle.
Once the dust settles, Goliath offers Gargoyle a spot on their team, an honor he is happy to accept.
Disney’s Gargoyles Are Crossing Over With the Marvel Universe
Gargoyles Is a Cult Favorite Cartoon, Thanks to Its Dark Themes
Gargoyles aired on weekday afternoons from 1994 to 1997, thrilling a generation with its rich and complex storytelling. A Disney production, Gargoyles, followed the adventures of a clan of creatures who were transported from Scotland to modern-day New York City. Revived, the gargoyle clan, led by Goliath, kept the city safe from evil.
Gargoyles was a success in its day, and remains a cult favorite. Gargoyles inspired a wave of tie-in merchandise, including video games as well as comic books. After the show ended in 1997, various publishers, including Dynamite Entertainment, have produced continuations of Gargoyles, following Goliath and his clan’s continuing adventures.
As noted earlier, Gargoyles was produced, for at least some of its run, by Disney, making a crossover with the heroes of the Marvel Universe a possibility. Fantastic Four x Gargoyles celebrates everything great about both franchises, namely the concept of family. Goliath and his allies also teach valuable lessons on not to judge based solely on appearances.
Marvel Already Had Its Own Heroic Gargoyle
Gargoyle Was a Popluar Character 40 Years Ago, But Is All But Forgotten Today
Fantastic Four x Gargoyles also marks the grand return of perhaps one of pop culture’s original heroic gargoyles: Isaac Christians. Created by JM DeMatteis and Don Perlin during their run on The New Defenders, Gargoyle had once been a human, but his soul was transferred to the body of a stone gargoyle thanks to a pact he made.
Gargoyle first appeared in The Defenders #94.
Gargoyle quickly became a fan-favorite character, thanks in part to how he subverted stereotypes and expectations. Gargoyle has a fearsome appearance, but underneath the monstrous exterior beats a heart of gold. He was an excellent addition to the roster of the Defenders, serving the team well through its final days in the Marvel Universe.
After The New Defenders came to an end, Gargoyle largely slipped into obscurity. He was given a four-issue miniseries in 1985, written by DeMatteis and drawn by Mark Badger, but after that his appearances became few and far between. He was last seen in Iron Man, helping Tony defeat the mad space god Korvac.
The Time Has Come for Gargoyle’s Big Marvel Comeback
Fantastic Four x Gargoyles Makes the Case for How Cool Gargoyle Is
Although Gargoyle may not have broken through to the top echelons of the Marvel Universe, he is still a character with vast potential. The contradiction the character embodies, that of a kind old man trapped in a hideous body, formed the basis for excellent stories under DeMatteis’ guidance, yet Marvel has largely forgotten him for some reason.
Gargoyle’s return in Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1 demonstrates there is still plenty of mileage left in the character, even 40 years past his heyday. He sounds the alarm on Diablo’s plan to steal gargoyle blood, and assists both Goliath and The Fantastic Four in their fight against the sorcerer.
Gargoyle Just Rocketed to the Head of the Marvel Class By Joining Goliath and His Team
No Avenger Could Ever Join the Gargoyles
Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1 ends with Goliath asking Gargoyle to throw his lot in with them. The Gargoyles are renowned for their sense of honor, and the Avengers may be their only rivals in this area. Yet no Avenger would be asked to join Goliath and his team, but Gargoyle, Marvel’s top underdog, scored this honor.
Fantastic Four x Gargoyles #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
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