15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Third Season We Never Had, June 29, 2006
This review is from: Gargoyles #1 (Comic)
This superb series is picking up where it let off in its debut comic headed by some of the originators. The show broke ground with it on going story arcs and dramatic, action adventure story lines that were previous unheard of in shows of its kind, save Batman the Animated Series. It encouraged viewers to read classic literature such as Authorian lore, and Shakespaer by incorporating famous caracters. It encouraged viewers to read, period. It is widely considered one of the best animated series ever, and now... IT'S A COMIC BOOK.
This first issue is the episode "The Journey" from the widely hated One Saturday Mornings Goliath Chronicles, or unofficial third season by most fans' opinions. However, the first episode of that season was written by the one of the show's original creators, Greg Weisman. Basically it's one of the decent episodes, and now it's starting a brand new story arc by Slave Labor Graphics. The story stops in the middle with a to be continued. There's a letter from Weisman in the back explaining that the third issue in this comic series will be never before seen and telling the story that should have been told. GO PICK IT UP AT YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE NOW! I got the last copy at mine. I thought it was coming out on the 28th, but there it was a week early.
Anyway, If you've never seen the Disney show it's very friendly to you. Goliath,the gargoyle clan leader, gives a backstory and we meet most of the old characters by name again, including Hudson, Brooklyn, Elisa Maza, Zanatos, Capt. Chavez, and Matt Bluestone. Where the issue begins, New York is freaking out about the the "urban myths [becoming] urban reality." News footage show the gargoyles leaving the clock tower which in the eye of the news and the public the gargoyles seemingly destroyed. And no, the Gargoyles did not destroy it; they lived there until a three parter called "Hunter's Moon" at the second season's end. The issue follows Goliath who is distressed about the hoplessness of ever being accepted and finding some peace in their new world. Elisa provides a comfort until a new hate group called the Quarrymen arrive destroying gargoyle statues systematically. They haven't gotten a real gargoyles... yet.
All the same, If you have the DVD's or have watched Toon Disney lately, you know that. What you don't know is that this issue promises to not hold back. There's blood, not just red bruises like in the show, if even that. Goliath gets shot through his wing and a bullet grazes his face. It seems that the comics aren't held to the same censorship. A Quarryman who arrives on Elisa's balcony nearly gets away with calling her a "dirty monster loving wh-" until she punches him in the face.
The art is interesting, different from the show, but well penciled and inked none the less. There are many dynamic angles and frames such as of John Castaway, the Quarryman leader, swinging a sledgehammer at a statueque in a full page spread. It's not high stylized like Jim Lee or anything, but it is clean and fairly consistent. Some of the characters are slightly off model in a couple of frames, though. This is very noticeable with Elisa, but not often enough to draw attention to it. On a related note, It's nice to see human characters in several different outfits, too. Maybe Elisa has more than black shirts and blue jeans after all!
Overall, I'm exicited and would give the new issue a 7/10. Well worth buying. Support Gargoyles if the series is to continue! While you're at it buy a used copy of the Second Season Vol 1. That's roughly $32 dollars for 26 of argably the best episodes of the series. Disney's not so convinced that the second season is selling well enough to merit bringing the last of it to DVD.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long awaited release., June 23, 2006
This review is from: Gargoyles #1 (Comic)
Issue #1 starts off right where season 2 of the show finished. Greg Weisman had nothing to do with the creation of the season 3 episodes, but his storyline is back with a new jump getting started in #3. 1-2 is finishing off where "Hunter's moon" began. I loved the artwork and can't wait to see where Greg Weisman takes the comic.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Potentially awesome way to continue the Gargoyles saga, January 9, 2007
This review is from: Gargoyles #1 (Comic)
Although no new Gargoyles plot or material is introduced yet, this issue sets up the scene for the true continuation of the series from the end of season 2 (many fans know that the Goliath Chronicles, or seaon 3, was a rushed and forced project that did not follow the intended story arc that creator Greg Weisman had in mind...)
While the dialogue is a little on the simple side and the character art a bit inconsistent, the comic's potential to deliver the next authentic Gargoyles saga leaves me salivating shamelessly for the next issue.
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