Dynamite announced today an exciting new miniseries event that will continue to expand their hit comic, Disney’s Gargoyles. Gargoyles: Dark Ages will feature a journey into the past and the Manhattan Clan’s origin story, thanks to franchise creator Greg Weisman.
Fans have known for years that beloved characters like Goliath, Hudson, Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, and more can trace their history back to Scotland over a thousand years ago. Some moments have been mentioned but never shown in as much depth as will be seen in this upcoming miniseries.
Weisman is joined by artist Drew Moss (Vampirella/Red Sonja, Copperhead) and letterer Jeff Eckleberry. The book also offers a perfect entry point for newcomers to the franchise and comic series.
Read more below:
As Goliath’s narration explained, “One thousand years ago, Superstition and the Sword ruled. It was an Age of Darkness. It was a World of Fear.” For a time, the Gargoyles of that era lived peacefully alongside humans, each species having sworn to protect the other. But that truce didn’t last, and in 994, the Gargoyle Clan was cursed to sleep as stone statues for a millennium – until they eventually awoke in modern Manhattan. Gargoyles: Dark Ages, set in the year 971, depicts the origins of the Gargoyle-Human Alliance – some twenty-plus years before things came to a bad end. In this never-before-explored era, monsters still come in all shapes and sizes, forcing Gargoyles and Humans to work together to repel the forces of evil, which threaten to bring the Alliance down, from both without and within.
“I have ALL these stories that I’ve wanted to tell for decades now, so I pitched a number of ideas to Dynamite and Disney, and this is the one that excited everyone the most,” said Weisman. “This is an exciting era for the Gargoyle Clan (not to mention an exciting time in Scottish History), and I’m thrilled we’ll all have a chance to explore it together.”
Following the present-day return of Demona in Gargoyles #7, readers will get to see her in this earlier era as a young Gargoyle Warrior and loving partner to Goliath, which MAY offer a glimpse at her earliest turns to the darkness. The events and consequences of these stories will reverberate through the years and into the present day, with each era and series playing into each other as part of a bigger Gargoyles saga.
“I really enjoyed the show back in the ’90s and was super excited to be even considered for this project,” said Moss. “I am trying to do interior art traditionally, so this allows me to do some washes and other things that allow me to get my hands dirty. I hope to stay true to the art from the show while infusing my own art style to it.”
In addition to the first issue having an oversized 24-page story, each issue of Dark Ages will also feature four pages of complementary prose storytelling by Weisman with spot illustrations. This extra material will allow him to tap into corners of the mythos in a way that will amplify the impact of the entire series. The series will also feature high-quality cardstock covers on each variant. At 40 total pages, Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1 will be the next ultimate celebration of Disney’s iconic franchise.
Dark Ages will have covers featuring younger visions of iconic characters, with a new mix of artists separate from the main series to offer fans and collectors more unique portrayals of the cast. Legendary artist Clayton Crain (Venom, Spider-Man) leads the way, alongside Alan Quah, Mirka Andolfo, Kenya Danino, and Erica Henderson. Unique and limited edition variants feature an action figure-inspired piece, some pitch artwork from the TV show, and covers by both Jae Lee and interior artist Moss.
Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1 will be available for preorder next month and is slated for release in July 2023. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more.
ALL IMAGES PENDING LICENSOR APPROVAL
