Trick-Or-Treat

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Gargoyles: Halloween Special #1 by Matteo Lolli

"Trick-Or-Treat" is the Gargoyles Halloween Special for the Gargoyles comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released October 18, 2023. [1]

Solicitation

It's young Gnash's first Halloween in Manhattan, and you're invited to come along as he heads out to find friends on the one night of the year when Gargoyles can roam the city unbothered! Unfortunately, he's about to run afoul of the masked Quarrymen, who are out to hunt down any Gargoyle foolish enough to brave the streets on All Hallow's Eve. That means Brooklyn, Katana, Lexington, Broadway, Angela, and even Goliath are in real danger! Will they survive this cruel trick, or become a treat for the marauding Quarrymen? Find out in October with this all-new 40-page special featuring a 28-page main story written by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN!

The Story

Halloween night. Under the crescent Moon, Gnash and Katana stand atop the highest tower of the Castle. Dressed in a pirate costume, Gnash is in the middle of trying to convince his mother to let him go trick-or-treating. Katana admits to being unfamiliar with the concept of the holiday, wondering why he doesn't want to celebrate it with the rest of the clan. Further, if he's just set on collecting candy, Katana wonders why her son can't just enjoy whatever's stocked in the kitchen. Brooklyn approaches the two and joins the conversation. He points out that Halloween is – for all intents and purposes – a fun experience, and the only night that a gargoyle can roam the streets without attracting any attention. Their cases made, Brooklyn and Gnash wait for Katana's decision.

An excited Gnash soon glides off into the night. Brookln assures Katana she made the right call.

At the Quarryman Brownstone, John Castaway meets with Banquo, Fleance, Lou, and Chaz. Lou asks Castaway why their orders are so different from the previous Halloween. He specifically points out how last year the Quarrymen were told not to bring their hammers. Castaway remembers the old directive, but, after Goliath's Hearing, he now beleives the Quarrymen need to provoke the gargoyles into showing their "true colors". He begins to explain the gambit he's planned . . .

Gnash lands in a Manhattan neighborhood crowded with trick-or-treaters. Costumes of all shapes and sizes, but as Brooklyn pointed out to Katana, there are plenty of humans wearing gargoyle-themed costumes. Hiding behind a corner, Gnash musters up the courage to approach his first house. Elated to see his jack-o-lantern bucket fill with candy, he's suddenly complimented for his costume from three human kids: Billy, Susie, and Terry. They ask why Gnash is wearing a pirate hat, and Gnash explains that he's dressed up as Blackbeard, and shares that the infamous pirate was, in fact, a gargoyle. Susie introduces herself and her companions, and the three also share their 'gargoyle' names: Terry is "Krag", Susie is "Pandora", and Billy is "Trouble". Gnash explains that, traditionally, gargoyles don't have names, but introduces himself as Blackbeard or "Gnash with a silent G".

Back at the Eyrie Building, Goliath and Hudson watch Travis Marshall on Nightwatch. He reports that not only has David Xanatos's probabtion has expired, but that Goliath will be attending the Halloween Street Fair in Greenwich Village. Hudson flicks off the television set with the remote, pointing out Goliath's celebrity status, and how, effectively, the humans now track his every move. Hudson jokes that he'll next be making an appearance on Celebrity Hockey. Goliath explains that the Gargoyle Taskforce's transparancy is an effort to prevent any commotion.

Gnash marvels at the haul of sweets he and his new friends have managed to collect. Billy points out that the three make a point of visiting this particular neighborhood every year. Terry suddenly blurts out that his older cousin, Tri is on the Gargoyle Taskforce and "has met Goliath himself". Gnash keeps his cover, but nonetheless enjoys Terry's enthusiasim. They are suddenly interrupted by two teenagers accusing the trick-or-treaters of glorifying monsters. They push Billy and Susie to the ground, but Terry and Gnash are quick to defend their friends. The bullies are completely oblivious to the growls emitted from the two sets of glowing eyes behind them. Growing bored at their own juvenile antagonism, they head off to a Quarrymen rally where one of them has heard that there's "supposed to be real gargoyles for us to bash." They shove Gnash to the ground before the young gargoyle can properly retaliate. As Terry helps Gnash back up to his feet, Billy and Susie catch up, sharing their displeasure for the hate group and how they still can't beleive their mom almost joined them. Worried about the clan's safety, Gnash mentions he's worried about the rally the Wanna-Be Quarrymen talked about, sharing that his "friends and family" will be at the street fair. Unsure how to get there, Gnash takes up Susie's suggestion they take the subway. He tells the others to go on ahead, claiming he needs to adjust his beard.

Once the coast is clear, Gnash meets with Bronx and Fu-Dog, realizing that Katana must have ordered the gargoyle beasts to keep an eye on him tonight. Gnash doesn't lose focus to the situation at hand, however, and orders the beasts to stay close to him (but out of sight).

Not long after, the four friends are riding the subway. Gnash is enjoying his first time on the train, pointing out that he's been on "a pirate ship and flying saucer, but never a subway car". Billy is unconvinced. Noticing the fresh depressions in the metal roof, Gnash wonders if the experience is also new for Bronx and Fu-Dog, who are clining to the speeding train.

At the Greenwich Street Fair, Officer Morgan accuses his partner of jinxing an otherwise-uneventful Halloween night. Fellow GTF officer, Tri Chung, keeps Travis Marshall and his camerawoman at bay from approaching the gazebo, telling the reporters that while they can film the gargoyles at the block party, the Manhattan Clan will not be giving any interviews tonight. Dressed as Antiope and Charlemagne, Angela is worried that the clan is pushing their luck attending the human festivities, but Broadway reasons they can't hide away forever. Dressed as Alexander the Great, Lexington chides Brooklyn for not wearing a costume, but his rookery brother insists his costume is that of a TimeDancing gargoyle, prompting a sarcastic groan from Lex.

Walking into the crowd, Goliath meets Careless Jones. Wearing the same witch costume from two Halloweens ago, Careless shares that he remembered Goliath but thought the gargoyle just had a "great, great costume". And now, after seeing Goliath on television for his hearing, Careless explains how he also wanted to offer his thanks to Goliath for protecting everyone from the werewolf two years ago. Goliath corrects him that it was, in fact, a werefox. Careless also recalls Goliath dancing with a "lovely lady" just as Elisa arrives, dressed as Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She and Goliath dance once more, with Careless and the Manhattan Clan looking on. But not for long: Careless asks Lexington to dance and, while hesistant at first (the gargoyle tries to explain that he's seeing someone), he and Careless join Angela, Broadway, Katana, Brooklyn on the dance floor.

Just beyond the festivities, Castaway meets with his supporters. Quarrymen Hammers and helmets have been distributed to everyone that showed up. Fleance asked what happened to the hoods, and Castaway points out that the helmets will not only hide their identities, but provide more protection than the hoods could have. As Gnash and his friends look on from behind the growing mob, Castaway gives his instructions: Go after any gargoyle, or any human "foolish enough" to dress up as a gargoyle, and any known or obvious "Gargoyle-sympathizers", singling out Elisa Maza herself. Castaway is bent on publicity, wanting to recruit "like-minded, right-thinking humans" to their cause. Terry wants to notify the Gargoyle Taskforce, and Gnash intructs him to do just that. But the young gargoyle has heard enough and, brandishing his very-real sword with wings outstretched and eyes glowing (not to mention Bronx and Fu-Dog suddenly at his side), Gnash tells his friends he's going to take the Quarrymen on directly. Billy, Susie, and Terry look on, shocked.

Gnash, Bronx, and Fu-Dog crash on the would-be party crashers, with several of the fear-mongers running away, terrified at the revelation that the gargoyles would fight back. Castaway and his inner circle, however, charge forward at the young gargoyle and gargoyle beasts, seemlingly cornering each of them. Castaway's hammer hits Gnash's sword to no effect, and the gargoyle explains the hilt's insulated. Quickly regaining the upperhand, Gnash is confident enough to share with Castaway that he's been to the future, and history does not look kindly on the Quarrymen.

Now armed with hammers, the Wanna-Be Quarrymen watch the conflict from the sidelines, wondering what they should do. Unwilling to joint the fight, they are promptly scared off by a terrifying growl and sillouette of another gargoyle. As the teenagers run away, the sillouette is none other than Susie sitting on her brother's shoulders. Billy remarks his fun in scaring off the bullies as Terry returns with the Gargoyles Taskforce. As they begin to round up the vigilantes, Castaway grows desperate, shoving Gnash to the ground and directing his hammer at him. Before Castaway can strike, a claw grabs his arm and he's forced to the ground by Katana. Castaway's hammer klatters on street.

Shortly after, Elisa cuffs Castaway cuffed and reads him his rights while the rest of the Taskforce apprehends Banquo, Chaz, Fleance, and Lou. Careless Jones and the Manhattan Clan watch on, with Careless and Lexington agreeing that while they can't stop people from hating, they don't have to put up with it.

Gnash tries to apologize to his mom for the commotion, but Katana is proud of her son for helping prevent the ambush on the Clan. Katana expresses how proud she is of him and allows him to continue trick-or-treating. As he runs off, she commends Bronx and Fu-Dog for staying close and commands them to keep following her son.

Gnash and two gargoyle beasts reunite with Susie, Billy, and Terry. The three friends are delighted that their newest friend is a real gargoyle. They meet Fu-Dog and Bronx and Susie pets the latter remarking how adorable they are. Gnash quips that the Quarrymen might disagree, and Terry points out that it doesn't matter what they think. Billy begins to explain that he knew Gnash was a gargoyle the whole time, but Susie calls him out on the blatant lie. Gnash wonders if there's still candy to collect and Terry is confident there is. As they continue their Halloween night, Terry asks if Blackbeard was really a gargoyle. Gnash confirms that he was, "And a nasty one at that . . ."

Review

This is Dynamite's first "stand-alone" Gargoyles story, as well as the third Halloween story in Gargoyles. It's also a delightful read.

The one unfortunate element about it is the timing; it came out before the last three issues of "Here in Manhattan", but is set after it, meaning that there are spoilers (if fortunately, mild ones) for the ending of that series. Goliath is clearly at liberty, and the gargoyles have made some advances in their relations with humans – enough advances for them to be present as guests of honor at a Halloween party in Greenwich Village. Fortunately, the special doesn't go into detail about the events in the final quarter of Here in Manhattan, and nearly all Gargoyles fans were probably expecting these developments in any case.

The focus is on Gnash, who wants to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Katana at first questions it, but at last agrees after Brooklyn supports their son's request. She still sends Bronx and Fu-Dog after him, in case of trouble.

Gnash not only winds up with a jack-o-lantern-bag full of candy, but three new friends around his own age (or the human equivalent): Billy and Susan (whom we first met in "The Thrill of the Hunt" and again in "Masque" in Clan-Building) and Terry Chung (whom we also first met in "Masque", but know as one of the future leads in the proposed "New Olympians" spin-off). They quickly hit it off.

In the meantime, Castaway, alarmed by the progress that the gargoyles have made in their relations with humans a few months before, frantically alters his tactics to engage in more ruthless and brutal measures. He now launches an attack on the Halloween party at Greenwich Village, aware that the gargoyles will be there, and this time, intends to smite any humans who have made friends with them as well – a far cry from the more cautious approach he'd been taking back in "Invitation Only". The Quarrymen almost become more like their Goliath Chronicles counterparts, but it's better-handled; for one thing, Castaway and his followers still seem to believe that the gargoyles are evil monsters (or at least, aren't basing their strategy on the gargoyles being protectors). Also, Castaway's hoping that this assault will encourage those who think the same way he does to support the Quarrymen (and recent news stories about extremist groups suggest that this probably would happen, sad to say).

Fortunately, Gnash and his new friends discover Castaway's scheme, and (assisted by Bronx and Fu-Dog, who finally get some real action in the Dynamite comics) foil it. The bulk of the Quarrymen flee at the site of Gnash and the gargoyle beasts, and even Castaway is defeated (thanks to Katana stepping in and showing – alongside Princess Katharine in "Avalon" Part Three, Fox in "The Gathering" Part Two, and Demona in "The Reckoning" – why "messing with the mama" is not a wise move) and arrested. It will be worth seeing what happens to the Quarrymen after this; we do learn from Gnash, though, based on his TimeDancing experiences, that history will not be kind to this organization, and this Halloween night's events will certainly help bring about this future.

(Amusingly, Goliath himself does not seem too comfortable with the progress that his people have made; he clearly finds his new "celebrity" status troublesome, as he indicates in a conversation with Hudson, and then at the party as he's stuck behind a D.J. Though his mood later improves when Elisa joins the party for a dance, echoing their almost-date in "Eye of the Beholder". He also gets to chat with one of the party-goers – the man in a witch costume from "Eye of the Beholder", who gets more fleshed-out here, getting a name and even dancing with Lexington.)

The story ends charmingly, with Gnash's human friends now aware that he's a gargoyle and accepting that – and even getting to meet Bronx and Fu-Dog (with a delightful moment where Bronx is clearly enjoying Susan petting him). A very happy Halloween, indeed.

Featured Characters and First Appearances

Gargoyles Humans

Quotes

  • "So, you're famous now . . . with the humans tracking your every move."
"The Police are simply being careful. They do not want any trouble."
"Aye. And I suppose they'll be putting ye on Celebrity Hockey. Now, that I'd like to see - Hudson and Goliath
  • "As Halloween parties go, it's been pretty quiet so far."
"Man, you know you just jinxed it, right?" - officers Travanti and Morgan
  • "I can't beleive you didn't wear a costume."
"What do you mean? I am wearing a costume . . . I'm dressed as a TimeDancing Gargoyle!"
"Oh, Groan" - Lexington and Brooklyn
  • "Would you care to dance?"
"You know I'm a gargoyle, right?"
"You know I'm a man, right?
"Uh, Yeah. But I'm seeing someone . . ."
"It's only a dance."
"True" - Careless Jones and Lexington
  • "So you wanna raid a party?! Attack peaceful gargoyles and their human friends?! Talk about your all-time jerk moves!" - Gnash
  • "I did not sign up for this!"
"Yes, you did! And you made me sign up, too!" - terrified Quarrymen
  • "You just don't get it! I've been to the future . . . and trust me – History isn't kind to the Quarrymen" - Gnash
  • "Now go. Have fun with your treat-or-tricking"
"You know that's not how to say it."
"I do." - Katana and Gnash
  • "Dude. I kinda knew you were a gargoyle the whole time . . ."
"You did not!" - Billy and Susie

Tidbits

  • Susan's and Billy's "gargoyle names", "Pandora" and "Trouble", were also the names of two of the gargoyles in the original comedy development proposal. [2]
  • Gnash's Halloween costume is of Blackbeard; he informs both his new human friends and the reader that the infamous pirate was really a gargoyle (apparently a TimeDancer adventure).
  • As in his past two Halloween adventures, Goliath does not bother with a costume. Elisa dresses up as Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (modeling her look more on the illustrations by John Tenniel in the original book than the Disney adaptation, though). Brooklyn and Katana wear their regular attire (Brooklyn jokes that he's going as a "TimeDancing gargoyle"). Broadway, Lexington, and Angela all wear medieval-ish attire for their costumes; their identities might have been intended as Charlemagne, Alexander the Great, and Antiope (referencing the names that Alesand bestowed on Broadway and Lexington in "Dark Ages: Alliance").

Cover Gallery

Dynamite Gargoyles Halloween 1 Gallery1.jpg Dynamite Gargoyles Halloween 1 Gallery2.jpg


Links

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