A Prize Beyond Compare...
"A Prize Beyond Compare..." is the Free Comic Book Day release for the Gargoyles comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released on May 3rd, 2025. [1]
The promotional comic also includes "Send Up a Flare!", a bonus story to start off the Fantastic Four/Gargoyles miniseries.
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Contents
Solicitation
VENGEANCE TEN CENTURIES IN THE MAKING!
The tragic tale of Demona, sworn enemy of Disney’s Gargoyles, begins in Dynamite Entertainment’s special Free Comic Book Day issue #0 of Gargoyles: Demona!
For a thousand years, while the heroic Gargoyles slept, their nemesis Demona has been wide awake — scheming and plotting her revenge against humanity for destroying her kind. And although Goliath and his clan of Gargoyles will do everything they can to protect their adopted New York City, they are not prepared for the lengths to which Demona will go in order to enact her twisted plan for justice — or for how large a part they themselves will play in carrying it out!
Written by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN, illustrated by acclaimed artist (and veteran of the original animated series) FRANK PAUR, and featuring a stunning cover by MEGHAN HETRICK, Gargoyles: Demona #0 kicks off an electrifying new chapter in the timeless saga of the Manhattan Clan — culminating in an unbelievable four-page preview that will leave readers old and new clamoring for more!
The Story
On the night of August 8th, 1997, a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vikings in Japan, drew the attention of Demona. Clad in a suit of armor, the immortal gargoyle easily overpowers the security guard before sauntering her way towards the exhibit. She approaches a glass case containing various trinkets such as swords, daggers, masks, a locket, axe-heads, and at the center, a shield depicting Odin astride Sleipnir. Using both fists, she smashes the casing and makes off with her prize.
Strolling through the front doors of the museum, paying no mind to the bystanders watching, Demona grins maliciously as Goliath roars her name from the air. The leader of the Manhattan Clan alongside Brooklyn, Broadway, Lexington, and Angela attack her, refusing to allow her to take the shield. Using the shield itself as a weapon, she rams into Broadway and Lex, knocking them aside before drawing her sword and striking at the clan's second, sparks flying from their blades. "Well, if it isn't the Gargoyle-of-the-Sword," she sneers before asking about Katana's whereabouts and why she declined to participate in this battle.
Atop the battlements of Castle Wyvern, Hudson expresses surprise that Viking artifacts were found in Japan of all places, and even greater surprise that Katana had no interest in seeing it. Hudson also assumes that, should the centerpiece of the exhibit actually be Odin's shield, then it would be a talisman of substantial mystic might which they cannot allow Demona to acquire. But Katana, deep in thought, steps away - confident that Goliath led a force large enough to stop her - leaving to go check on their egg.
Back on Fifth Avenue, Demona coils her tail around Brooklyn's ankle and tosses him aside before facing off against Angela. Demona apologizes to her biological daughter, knowing she disapproves, but her current prize has a value beyond comparison. The immortal smashes into Angela like a battering ram before slashing her across the bicep with her talons, "after all," she says, "I do this out of love." Broadway rushes to attend to Angela, the young female clutching her injury. But Brooklyn scoffs at the notion that Demona even understands the meaning of the word "love". But Demona's eyes burn red as she warns her enemies do not for one moment think they actually know her. But Goliath attacks Demona, grabbing hold of Odin's Shield, reminding his former mate that he knows her too well - enough to not permit her to achieve her goal. Goliath pins Demona to the ground, wrestling the shield away. Demona smirks, telling him that nothing in her millenium of life has meant as much to her as this prize. But Goliath successfully grapples the shield away from her, advising that she learn to live with disappointment. Furious at her defeat, Demona screams!
The flame-haired gargoyle rises to her feet as Broadway shouts that it's over. Demona, enraged, surveys her surroundings. Goliath holds the shield in hand as Brooklyn advances with his sword drawn, Lexington is ready to strike, and Angela nurses her wound. Her eyes burn red and she roars as she sees an opening and leaps on one yellow taxi cab after another. Brooklyn and Lex attempt to stop her, but Demona takes to the air and drops two flash grenades which quickly go off blinding the two warriors. She is gone - escaped again. But Goliath is satisfied, they have Odin's shield. Her will for now has been thwarted.
Demona soars downtown towards her Gramercy Park townhouse and enters the open balcony doors of her bedroom where Antoinette Dracon awaits, asking how things went. But Demona responds with only a knowing grin - "exactly as needed" as she reveals a Gold Locket which, for her entire millenium of life, nothing has meant as much to her as this prize. As a single tear streams down her cheek, she opens the locket revealing two locks of hair, one red and the other blonde, braided together. She mutters only a single word: "Angelika..."
Review
Featured Characters and First Appearances
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Quotes
Tidbits
See Also
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