Gargoyles (comics)

Gargoyles is a fictional team of characters appearing in comic book series initially published by Slave Labor Graphics and Creature Comics between 2006 and 2009 and by Dynamite Entertainment since 2022. It was based on the 1994 animated television series Gargoyles, and was written by series co-creator Greg Weisman. The comic continues the storyline of the first two seasons and ignores all but the first episode of the third season, The Goliath Chronicles.

Storyline
The comic acted as a continuation of the animated series after episode 65, picking up after the climactic second season finale, "Hunter's Moon, Part III". The first two issues of the comic translate episode 66 "The Journey", which was the only third season Gargoyles episode Weisman considers to be canonical (as well as the only third season episode Weisman wrote). Issue #3 of the Gargoyles comic then began a completely new storyline, which deliberately ignored the rest of the events of the televised third season.

Weisman has confirmed that the in-universe timeline of the comic starts in 1996, just after the conclusion of the final episode of the series' second season. Issue #10 was the first issue set in 1997.

Slave Labor Graphics/CreatureComics run
In June 2005, it was announced that a series of Disney-licensed, bi-monthly Gargoyles comic books would be created by Slave Labor Graphics in association with CreatureComics. Gargoyles #1 was released on June 21, 2006 and promptly sold out, ensuring a second printing. After an extended delay, Gargoyles #2 was released on December 13, 2006. Issue #6 contains an error: the artwork on page 12 and 16 was switched, even though the text is correct. Slave Labor has acknowledged this error, and the corrected issue was reprinted on November 14.

Greg Guler, character designer for the original TV series, and Stephanie Lostimolo have produced the cover art for each issue. Story art is primarily being produced by David Hedgecock and colored by Dustin Evans, although issues #4, #5, and #6 were drawn by guest artists. Gargoyles #6 used the unpublished script that Weisman wrote for the Marvel series.

In August 2008, Greg Weisman announced that, due to Disney increasing its licensing fees, Slave Labor Graphics would not be renewing its license of Gargoyles after it ran out on August 31, 2008. The final two issues of Bad Guys and four of Gargoyles were released in the comic trades collecting both series in August 2009. Weisman also stated that SLG President Dan Vado has not given up on the Gargoyles franchise, and hopes to pursue the idea of Gargoyles graphic novels in the future.

Dynamite Entertainment run (2022-present)
Dynamite Entertainment will remaster and republish the SLG/CreatureComics run in 2023. A new line of comics, subtitled "Here in Manhattan", serves as Season 4 of the show, again written and overseen by Greg Weisman, with issue 1 releasing on December 7, 2022. Following the conclusion of Here in Manhattan in December 2023, a sequel arc, subtitled "Quest", will debut in January 2024.

Spin-offs
One of Greg Weisman's planned Gargoyles spin-offs, Bad Guys, appeared as a black-and-white six-issue limited series in 2007/08. The first issue was released on November 28, 2007. The series was written by Weisman and drawn by Karine Charlebois, with cover art by Greg Guler and Stephanie Lostimolo.

Had the comics continued, Gargoyles: Pendragon would have been next in line, followed by Gargoyles: Timedancer. Each of these would have also appeared as a six-issue black-and-white limited series.

On April 19, 2023, Dynamite Entertainment announced a prequel miniseries, titled Gargoyles: Dark Ages, which would follow the Wyvern Clan's alliance with Prince Malcolm. The first issue in the miniseries was released in July 2023.

Issues
Note that Gargoyles issues #9–12 and Bad Guys issues #5–6 were only published in the collections.

Reception
The SLG series was met with positive reviews, with many readers saying they wished the series did not end after only 12 issues.