Writer: Greg Weisman
Art: Drew Moss and Martina Pignedoli (colorist)
Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2024
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Gargoyles: Dark Ages #5 Review.
THE DISPATCH
Gargoyles: Dark Ages #5 picks up where we left off last time. The young gargoyles, who would later become known as Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, along with a young female gargoyle, befriend a young (human) girl. Like any story of children exploring and getting into mischief, they soon stumble upon more than they bargained for and confront the creature that was referenced a couple of issues ago.
The issue shows us the childhood innocence of both the gargoyle children and the little girl, but also their resourcefulness to escape the snare of a vicious beast. We also see the continued tutelage of “Angel” (later to be known as Demona) under the Archmage. Also, the friendship continues between Prince Malcolm and “Mentor”, who will later come to be known as Hudson. The newly awakened dragon fills us in on even more gargoyle lore and how dragons are gargoyles are related. It also showed us how humans and gargoyles were willing to protect each other during this time.
ART
The art in Gargoyles: Dark Ages #5 is what really makes this issue. The fierce dragon is displayed in all his might, even taking up a two-page spread at one point. The cave in which the dragon is found is very detailed and really shows the vastness of it compared to small kids. Although the art style doesn’t exactly match the animation style of the show, the characters are still recognizable, even the young gargoyles as children. The starry night sky is beautifully depicted as well, along with the panel of the young gargoyles carrying the little girl as they glide through the night sky.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Gargoyles: Dark Ages #5 is a good continuation to this series and introduces new characters that expand upon the gargoyles lore. This issue shows us things mostly from a child’s perspective, which makes the dragon all the more terrifying. There isn’t much of Angel/Demona and the Archmage this issue, besides her learning to read, but they may end up using the dragon for nefarious purposes. Aside from the dragon’s awakening, the action in this issue is lacking. Hopefully it will pick up a bit more next issue now that the dragon has been let loose.