Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1 // Review
He had been the leader of the Wyvern Clan of Gargoyles. That was a long time ago. Now, it’s 1997, and he’s hearing the approaching helicopters, but there’s something about them that reminds him of hoofbeats echoing through the distant reaches of memory. It was over 1,000 years ago, as the tale begins in Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1. Writer Greg Weisman begins a tale of antiquity in the Gargoyles universe that is drawn to the page by Drew Moss and color artist Martina Pignedoli. Beyond being an expansion of the Gargoyles’ history, Weisman’s story opens with the weight and momentum of a well-executed sword-and-sorcery dramatic serial.
There are humans who seek an alliance with the Wyvern Clan. Their leader is reluctant to aid them. They’ve never concerned themselves with the affairs of humans. Choosing a side between warring kingdoms could prove to be dangerous to everyone involved. If the Gargoyles are to choose a side, they WILL be brought into battle. In any battle, there WILL be casualties...and not all of them are going to be human. They WOULD be risking their own lives, but as one of them is quick to point out: human problems have a way of becoming Gargoyle problems.
Weisman cleanly opens a primal and well-defined conflict of simple elements. The three forces that Weisman sets up in the first issue feel remarkably well-rendered. The kingdom that the would-be human allies are up against isn’t granted a substantial dramatic appearance in the first issue, but their treachery is felt when it is mentioned that only the opposing kingdom has violated the sanctity of the Gargoyles’ daytime slumber, so there IS some sense of sympathy for those who have come to ask for the Gargoyles’ aid. Weisman does a good job of establishing the virtue of those appearing in the first issue.
Moss frames some of the visuals beautifully. The overall composition of so many panels feels like it was designed for some kind of poster. Moss seems to have a great love of simple symmetry, which catches the 1990s cel animated visuals in some beautiful moments. Pignedoli’s colors feel like a slightly enhanced version of the look and feel of the animated series. The first issue is largely devoid of physical action, but Moss and Pignedoli render an engrossing visual world that has very little difficulty capturing the imagination of the reader.
Weisman keeps the politics clean and simple as the issue opens...only allowing just as many different moving elements in the story as can comfortably fit between two covers. Given this attention to pacing and overall narrative rhythm, there’s very little doubt that Dark Ages is going to be a well-designed series. It’s not envisioning a whole new reality for the Gargoyles...only building on the back of the rich history of the series to bring something entertaining to the page that appears to be off to a good start.
