Goliath
Goliath was the leader of the Wyvern Clan, and is now the leader of the Manhattan Clan. Frozen in stone by a magic spell for a thousand years, Goliath strives to survive, adapt, and thrive in the modern age as he leads his clan forward making new friends and defending their protectorate from new (and old) foes. An optimist by nature, Goliath works towards a new golden age between humans and gargoyles alike.
"It is the nature of human kind to fear what they do not understand. Their ways are not our ways." - Goliath, ("Awakening: Part One")
Contents
History
Dark Ages
The gargoyle later known as Goliath hatched with his rookery in the year 938. [1] In time, he and the young gargoyle he called his Angel began to notice each other, with (at least) Angel anticipating becoming his mate. By the year 971, he was already one of the more noteworthy young warriors in the clan. In that year, Prince Malcolm made an alliance with the Wyvern Clan's Rhydderch, in an effort to help his brother, Kenneth II, win the crown from King Culen. Before the battle began, the clan leader ordered Goliath's generation to remain at Wyvern Hill, much to the frustration of Goliath's rookery sister, "Hyppolyta". While Goliath did not want to challenge his Rhydderch's decision, the young warrior did want to better understand it. His leader explained that, facing the prospect that there could be casualties – humans and gargoyles alike – he needed capable warriors to protect Wyvern Hill and its rookery. ("The Reach")
The next night, Goliath and his rookery brothers and sisters watched from the cliffside as their elders engaged in the battle below. Trouble soon developed when "Hyppolyta" and Angel suddenly jumped into the skirmish. While the advantage appeared to be with Kenneth's various forces, the two young gargoyles' disobedience would lead to not only the death of one of Goliath's rookery mothers, "Verity", but in Angel's capture as well. Unwilling to remain at his post any longer, Goliath descended upon her captor, King Culen, demanding her release. To ensure her safety, the clan's Rhydderch had to assure both his infuriated rookery son and the humans he had aligned with that he would not abandon his rookery daughter nor let the tyrant king escape. The following evening, the clan's second-in-command reported the whereabouts of Culen's Mountain Stronghold, and – after the Archmage provided the initial distraction – the clan's Rhydderch and Goliath made short work of King Culen and his men. While the gargoyle leader rescued Culen's son Constantine III, Goliath freed his love. In the days that followed, Goliath and the rest of the clan would participate in a Wind Ceremony for the casualties they suffered from the conflict. ("The Draw", "The Oath")
When Malcolm was bestowed the title Prince of Wyvern, he invited the clan's Rhydderch (whom he began to call Mentor) to continue their alliance, believing that mutually protecting each other's people day and night to be strategically advantageous for everyone. A castle was soon commissioned on Wyvern Hill, with humans assisting in the construction during the day, and Goliath and his rookery brothers and sisters continuing in the evening. One human, the Captain of the Guard, would work the nightshift with the gargoyles, becoming acquainted with Goliath and his rookery siblings. ("The Promise", "The Dream")
When the dragon Wyvern attacked the unfinished fortress at Wyvern Hill, Goliath took to the skies with Mentor's other gargoyle warriors to successfully drive back the dragon. ("The Pledge")
As time passed, he was bestowed the name "Goliath" and compared to the strength and battle-prowess of the Philistine giant who fought and was slain by the young David; on a darker note, the name also evoked the fear that most humans held towards gargoyles, given that its original was one of the best-known villains in the Bible. [2] Thus, even by 994, Goliath was the only gargoyle in the clan to bear a name, and it is likely that even he did not view it as anything more than an odd human label. ("Awakening: Part One")
In 975, Angel and Goliath parted the Phoenix Gate between them as a token of their love for each other. They lost their virginity to each other that night. [3] ("Vows")
By 984, Mentor had appointed Goliath to be the clan's second-in-command. One night, following his banishment from Wyvern, the Archmage returned and poisoned Prince Malcolm. Mentor summoned Goliath and Angel and they pursued the Archmage to retrieve the Grimorum Arcanorum so an antidote could be concocted by the Magus. Throughout the mission, Angel expressed concern over Mentor's continued ability to lead, believing it was Goliath's time to take over... but Goliath disagreed, still feeling nothing but confidence in the older gargoyle's leadership. When they arrived at the Archmage's lair, Mentor was blinded in one eye by the sorcerer and it was ultimately Goliath who defeated the Archmage and recovered the book. Mentor soon abdicated from his position of leadership, believing that Angel was right. He appointed Goliath to take his place. Goliath led the gargoyles faithfully for the next ten years, defending the castle from its enemies.
Goliath and Angel conceived an egg in 987. [4][5] This egg would later hatch into Angela. Goliath's love for Angel may well have been deeper than hers for him, however, since even then, she was, to a certain extent, using him for her own goals (in particular, her growing hatred of humans, and her ambition for power), though Goliath never suspected it even if he did later realize that distance between the two of them had grown, though he was slow and reluctant to acknowledge it. ("Vows", "Long Way To Morning", "Unequivocal Success")
Human antipathy towards the gargoyles grew steadily in Castle Wyvern during this time, particularly after the death of Prince Malcolm and the accession of Princess Katharine. Many of the gargoyles, particularly Angel, came to resent the humans for their disdainful attitude towards the gargoyles. But Goliath steadfastly continued to protect the humans, understanding that they treated the clan as they did because they were afraid of it and it seemed strange and alien to them, and hoping that relations between the two races would improve in time to come. ("Long Way To Morning", "Awakening: Part One")
Betrayal
In 994, a band of Vikings under the command of Hakon attacked Castle Wyvern shortly before sunset. Goliath awoke with the Viking leader at his feet and while he managed to catch Hakon's sword in his hand, the fact that he bled provided the Vikings with the confidence to continue their assault. Goliath led his clan in the defense of the castle and proved to be more than a match for the invaders. Goliath chose to spare Hakon's life and ordered him to retreat, which Hakon did while vowing that he would return. The castle's garrison claimed credit for victory in the battle, but Goliath didn't seem bothered by this even if other members of his clan were. The Captain of the Guard invited Goliath and Angel to appear during the celebratory feast in the Great Hall and arrived in time to hear Princess Katharine refer to him as a "monster". She was furious that the "beasts" were even permitted to appear in the dining hall, and the Magus referred to gargoyles as "unnatural creatures." Despite this, Goliath approached her table and delivered a courtly bow that made the Captain proud but didn't impress the princess. Angel, however, was furious and growled at the princess prompting Goliath to excuse the both of them from the Great Hall. The Captain followed after being demoted to report directly to the Magus. While the Captain tried to apologize to Goliath for the treatment he had just received, Goliath didn't feel the need for one. This sparked Angel to even more outrage over the humans' contempt for them. But Goliath reminded her that it was the nature of human kind to fear what they did not understand. His words seemed to calm her. However, Angel and the Captain of the Guard had had enough of the gargoyles' poor treatment, and conspired together to betray Katharine and her people to Hakon and his Vikings behind Goliath's back.
The following night, the Captain and Angel urged Goliath to take all of the gargoyles and make sure the Vikings were routed. However, Goliath unwittingly helped foil their plan; he refused, feeling that it would leave Castle Wyvern open to attack in their absence. Instead, he took just Mentor with him while reminding Angel that the two of them were one "now and forever". Before leaving, he caught a disturbance in the courtyard between the Trio, one of the beasts and several humans. Goliath ordered the Trio and the beast down to the rookery until he returned. While Angel protested that it was the humans at fault, Goliath simply wished to defuse the situation for the moment promising to make things right with them later. Angel continued to urge Goliath to take the entire clan with him before asking why they risked themselves for the humans at all - a sentiment shared by "Othello". However Mentor arrived and reminded them of their credo, that a gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air. Goliath bid his mate and brother a good evening, promising to speak with them again when he returned and they took off into the night, eventually finding tracks left by the Vikings' horses, which Mentor noticed were awfully light for horses carrying armored men. When they caught up with them, they found just a few Vikings and a herd of horses... they had been tricked, the horses were a decoy to lead them away from the castle. They attempted to return and warn them, but it was too late... the sun rose and they turned to stone. After the sun had set, Goliath and Mentor returned to find the castle in flames, sacked, and the clan had been destroyed during the day. Grief-stricken, he picked up the remains of his Angel of the Night - or what he thought was his Angel of the Night (she had fled the castle, herself) - and screamed to the Heavens. ("Awakening Part One", "City of Stone" Part One)
He quickly led the other surviving gargoyles (Mentor, the Trio, and the beast) to the Vikings' camp at the Archmage's Cave, for the purpose of both rescuing the humans and avenging the slaughter of his clan. While the other gargoyles were fighting the Vikings, Goliath cornered Hakon and the Captain of the Guard, with Princess Katharine as their prisoner, at the edge of a cliff nearby, and learned of the Captain's treachery. When he lunged at them in fury, Hakon and the Captain fell off the cliff to their deaths; Katharine fell as well, but Goliath was able to rescue her. However, despite doing the right thing, he roared to the heavens that he had been denied everything - even his revenge. Katharine, however, approached him with remorse before Tom called him to help his friends.
In his absence, however, the Magus, believing the Princess to be dead, had cursed the other gargoyles so that they would sleep, locked in stone, "until the castle rose above the clouds". Because Hakon had burned the page with the counter-spell on it, the Magus was powerless to undo what he had done. Goliath, filled with grief and despair at being completely alone brought the statues back to the castle, he first entrusted the clan's eggs to Princess Katharine, and then asked the Magus to cast his spell upon him as well - believing that they would never awaken and, for all intents and purposes, ending his own life. ("Awakening Part Two")
Awakening
A thousand years later, Goliath and his clan were awakened by David Xanatos, when he purchased Castle Wyvern and moved it to the top of the Eyrie Building in Manhattan, New York City, thus fulfilling the terms of the spell's undoing. Goliath was overjoyed at seeing his remaining clan alive. But the moment of joy turned to one of shock when they realized they were no longer on Wyvern hill and looked out over the vast metropolis before them. Xanatos chose this time to make his appearance and formally introduce himself before bringing them into the Great Hall, explaining what he had done, and answering any questions they had. He also told them they were the last of their kind. When asked why he had done all of this, Xanatos told the gargoyles that he was fascinated by the Magus's story and wanted to see if it was true and, now that he knew it was, he wished to be their friend. Before he could answer any further questions, a helicopter appeared and the castle was invaded once more by "modern day barbarians". The gargoyles, by their very nature, engaged the commandos in battle, determined to protect their home as it was all they had left. While they held their own and fought side-by-side with Xanatos, the commandos retreated having acquired what they came for. Xanatos thanked them for their help and asked Goliath to work with him to keep it safe. Feeling that the castle was still their home, Goliath agreed to stay, much to Xanatos's delight promising the gargoyle that things would change. Goliath was grateful for what Xanatos had done for them, but told the human that they would never trust humans again. ("Awakening: Part Two")
That same night a New York City Police Detective, Elisa Maza, investigated the castle. After being escorted out by Owen Burnett following an interview with Xanatos, Elisa began looking around where she encountered the gargoyle beast out on the parapets. Shocked with what she saw, she drew her gun only for Goliath to take it and crush it in his bare hands. Terrified, Elisa lost her footing and fell from the castle, only for Goliath to dive down after her. Upon setting her down on a nearby ledge, she was shocked that Goliath could speak and began engaging him in conversation. Goliath placed her on his back as he climbed back up the building to the castle. Upon their return, Goliath began to ask her a few questions and she in turn answered his. He soon introduced her to the other gargoyles and they made an appointment to meet again the following night so she could help him get to know the city.
Shortly before sunrise, Owen summoned Goliath to Xanatos's office where the billionaire asked for the gargoyles help to retrieve three data disks that the commandos had stolen from him, explaining them as magical talismans so the gargoyle would understand. After Xanatos elaborated on the mission, Goliath turned him down - it wasn't the same as protecting the castle and would endanger the lives of his clan; this was something he couldn't risk. Xanatos asked Goliath to consider his request. After the gargoyle left, Xanatos assured his co-conspirator, who had been listening behind a secret door, that everything was going according to plan.
The following night, Goliath awoke and kept his appointment, rendezvousing with Elisa on a nearby rooftop. Mentor followed to make sure Goliath wasn't walking into an ambush, and Goliath was present when Elisa helped Mentor take the name Hudson for himself. After Hudson returned to the castle, Goliath requested to see the dangers he and his kind would face. The two then took a tour over skies of the city where Elisa showed him all of the sights. They came to a landing atop the Empire State Building and Goliath marveled at the new world. But he noted that he saw no walls to protect the city, then asked how they protected it from invaders. Elisa replied that the biggest dangers weren't from outside, they were from inside. A notion Goliath had become all too familiar with. The two continued their tour, including rescuing Brendan Quarters and Margot Yale from a gang of Street Thugs, which impressed Elisa who expressed that Goliath might be the best thing to happen to the city in a long time. Their tour continued into Central Park where Goliath grumbled that the new world was just as savage as the one he remembered, but Elisa began to speak of the beauty of the city and the modern world - just in time to be ambushed by the commandos who hit him with a tranquilizer dart and threatened to hunt down the rest of his kind. Unable to keep up his strength, Goliath and Elisa escaped where she discovered a radio transmitter with a strange manufacturer's logo on Goliath's back. The two continued on until sunrise where Goliath turned to stone in front of Elisa for the first time. Elisa then protected Goliath from the commandos throughout the day and remained at his side when he awoke rejuvenated. He expressed surprise and gratitude that she had done this (the old bargain of protecting the humans by night while the humans watched over them during the day) and, for the first time, acknowledged her as a friend and ally and was even eager to meet up with her again later that night. ("Awakening Part Three", "Awakening Part Four")
Goliath returned to the castle to inform his clan they had enemies. Upon learning of Hudson's new name, the Trio chose their own names: Brooklyn, Lexington, and Broadway. They even named the beast Bronx. Before their conversation could continue, Goliath was summoned to the Great Hall where Xanatos re-introduced him to his Angel of the Night, who had survived the massacre. Goliath was overjoyed to see her (and she in turn was overjoyed to see him). She told Goliath that she had left the castle to find him but lost her way, and when she returned she begged the Magus to cast the sleep spell on her - all while crediting David Xanatos with their reunion. Xanatos told Goliath that he saw her statue the previous year and acquired her for his private collection and after waking them up, he felt a trip to the castle might have the same effect on her. She then reminded Goliath that, as he had said, they were one now and forever. He soon reintroduced her to the clan and she took the moment to convince Goliath to help Xanatos retrieve the stolen disks. Goliath was now all too happy to do so. After being given their assignments, Goliath and his angel attacked the Air Fortress and engaged two security guards. But Goliath was shocked at how callous his mate was toward their lives and how eager she was to just drop them to their deaths; and she told him the centuries had made him weak. They both attacked the bridge and she retrieved the data disk and then she did further damage to the main controls and set the bridge on fire, causing the Air Fortress to fall out of the sky. She dragged Goliath out of the Fortress just before it crashed into the East River. They soon returned to the castle where they presented the disk to Xanatos and Goliath (mostly because he was disturbed by his angel's behavior and needed to get away for a little bit) chose to keep his appointment with Elisa - which angered his mate, who attempted to remind him that humans were responsible for the massacre and couldn't be trusted. Goliath reminded her that there were good humans as well as bad and that those responsible for the massacre had been dead for a thousand years; but his angel of the night was determined to have blood for blood. Goliath threw her own words back at her, the centuries had changed her; made her hard and unforgiving. He then left to go meet with Elisa. ([["Awakening Part Four", "Awakening Part Five")
When they met up, Elisa told Goliath that three Cyberbiotics installations reported robberies by "some kind of creatures" and she saw him gliding away from the Fortress. Goliath explained that the disks were stolen from Xanatos and all they did was return them. Elisa then showed Goliath the manufacturers logo that she had traced to the Scarab Corporation, the robotics division owned by Xanatos Enterprises. Goliath was stunned, not sure if he could believe that Xanatos was responsible for the attack in the park. Elisa convinced him that Xanatos planted the bug on Goliath personally and staged the theft to trick Goliath into stealing the disks from his competitor. Xanatos wasn't their friend and ally, he was using them. Elisa acknowledged that Goliath had no good reason to trust humans, but he needed to trust somebody in this world and that he'd be better off with her than Xanatos. Angered at Xanatos, Goliath agreed. Goliath returned to the castle in time to save the rest of the clan from Xanatos's new Steel Clan robots which he and his angel of the night unleashed upon them. They quickly made short work of the robots but before they could bask in their victory, Xanatos and Angel got the drop on them. ("Awakening Part Five")
At gunpoint Angel revealed that she had made a bargain with the Captain, she was supposed to get them all out of the castle so that the Vikings could sack it and once the humans were gone, the gargoyles would have had the castle to themselves. But Goliath ruined her plan by making the clan stay at the castle to protect the humans - and Angel herself stayed alive because she didn't trust the Captain to protect them. Goliath was stunned, why did she do this? Angel was furious at the very question, the humans mistreated them and had to pay. But Goliath reminded her that there was good and evil in all of them, human and gargoyle alike - and pointed his finger to tell her that none of this would have happened if not for her. Angel couldn't bear to hear that and made one last plea for Goliath to join her in ridding the Earth of humanity so they could build a new world. But when he refused, she declared him her enemy and revealed that the humans had long ago named her Demona. Demona attempted to murder him but the intervention of Elisa saved his life, causing her bazooka to go off and fire on a tower. As their section of the castle began to collapse, Demona and Elisa both began to fall. Goliath dove down and saved Elisa. As he placed her on the castle, he turned with every intention of diving for Demona but she had disappeared. Once more, he roared to the heavens grief-stricken. ("Awakening Part Five")
Now beyond anger, Goliath grabbed Xanatos and threatened to drop him from the skyscraper, but Xanatos only mocked the gargoyle. Elisa urged him not to do it, telling him he would be the same as Demona if he did. Hudson agreed with her, asking Goliath to make an informed choice if that was what he wanted. Goliath spared Xanatos and the billionaire was arrested. Before the sun rose, Goliath wondered if it was possible Demona survived, Hudson believed that they'd find out soon enough. Goliath watched the sun rise with Elisa at his side, happy that he had at least one human friend in this new world. ("Awakening Part Five")
Mere Survival
As the weeks passed by, the gargoyles settled into a routine of guarding the castle; seldom venturing out. Eventually, Elisa was invited back to the castle and Goliath was delighted to see her upon awakening and warmly welcomed her to his home, especially with Xanatos defeated. Elisa then attempted to educate Goliath that Xanatos still owned the castle, that he had received a short prison sentence, and that it wouldn't be safe for him and his clan to continue to live in the castle. But despite her attempts, Goliath was still thinking in a medieval sense of ownership and refused to relocate. Later that night, the Trio went to Madison Square Garden to watch a live show put on by the Pack. Lexington chose to approach the Pack, whom were very interested in meeting Goliath. When the young gargoyle told his leader, Goliath was angry. But Lexington convinced Goliath that if they didn't attempt to find kindred spirits, they would always be alone. Goliath reluctantly agreed to go meet the Pack only to find that they were the prey in the Pack's hunt. They were chased throughout lower Manhattan before turning the tables on the Pack, picking them off one-by-one before finally defeating Fox and Wolf and leaving them to be arrested. Lex lamented about how wrong he was, but Goliath assured the younger gargoyle that he was right, that sometimes they needed to take chances to find those kindred spirits or else they would remain forever alone. ("The Thrill of the Hunt")
Not too long after, Demona approached Brooklyn and convinced him that humans would never accept them, she then used Brooklyn to steal the Grimorum Arcanorum by promising him that there was a Spell of Truth in its pages that would open his eyes to the truth about humanity. Brooklyn brought the book to Demona and then lured Goliath to the Cloisters where Demona cast the Enslavement Spell upon him, not a spell of truth. Brooklyn was horrified and attempted to wrestle the book away from her, but Demona ordered Goliath to attack Brooklyn... and then to destroy him. But Brooklyn managed to rip the spell from the book's pages and ordered his leader to attack Demona. The female gargoyle fled into the night and Brooklyn brought Goliath home, apologizing for the part he played in this and unable to find a means of reversing the spell. Elisa, however, used the spell to order Goliath to act for the rest of his life exactly as he would if he weren't under a spell. Goliath came to, the spell cancelling itself out, and was himself again and accepted Brooklyn's apology and reminded him that Demona embraced a half truth about humanity, but that it wasn't the whole truth. ("Temptation")
Elisa again tried to convince Goliath to abandon the castle, when they were attacked by a Steel Clan Robot. Goliath destroyed the robot, but Owen used the opportunity to acquire some of Goliath's genetic material when he arrived with a First Aid kit to tend to the gargoyle's wound. ("Double Jeopardy")
When Elisa was shot by her own gun, Owen informed the gargoyle just before sunrise. After the sun set, Goliath found out that Elisa was at Manhattan General and went there in time to hear Dr. Sato inform Elisa's family about her injuries, and overheard Captain Chavez hypothesize that she was shot by the gangster, Tony Dracon. Goliath vowed to find Dracon and make him pay. He glided to the Park Manor Hotel and overheard Dracon talking to his men about their plans to sell their stolen Particle Beam Weapons to a buyer. Goliath pursued Dracon's limo down to a warehouse where Broadway soon arrived. They both invaded the warehouse and defeated Dracon's men. Goliath, himself, caught up with Dracon intent on killing him before Broadway confessed that he was the one who shot Elisa by accident and apologized. Goliath spared Dracon's life and left him for the police before Owen appeared, revealing that he was the buyer - and that Xanatos would be pleased that Goliath helped recover his property. But Goliath destroyed the weapons instead and took Broadway to visit Elisa, who had just awakened. Goliath then stroked Elisa's hair before the two gargoyles went to sleep on the ledge outside her window. ("Deadly Force")
As the weeks past, and Elisa was on the mend, Xanatos's release from prison drew ever closer, the billionaire was approached in prison by a man calling himself Macbeth who offered to clear the gargoyles out of the castle. Macbeth later showed up before sunset and offered the gargoyles a place to live at his home, but Goliath refused. Macbeth attacked the gargoyles and defeated them, taking Lexington, Brooklyn, and Bronx captive before escaping. Goliath, incensed with Elisa's insistence, still refused to leave the castle and ordered Hudson and Broadway to remain there and guard their home while he went after his captured clanmates. Bronx soon escaped and Goliath discovered him running down a busy street and followed him back to Macbeth's mansion. The Scotsman led Goliath on a chase through the mansion before revealing that he only captured them to lure out Demona, also revealing that he named her. But Goliath laughed and informed Macbeth that Demona was their enemy and that she wouldn't lift a talon to save them. The resulting battle resulted in Macbeth escaping and his mansion burning to the ground. Goliath brought his clanmates home but was called down to a nearby rooftop and was shocked that Broadway and Hudson didn't follow his orders and even more furious when Elisa told him that she had found them a new home. Though enraged, the rest of the clan stood up to him, agreeing that it was time for them to leave. Goliath reluctantly agreed, but flew back to the castle to give Owen a message to pass on to Xanatos, that they would one day return and reclaim the castle. They soon moved into the Clock Tower above the 23rd Precinct and it quickly became home. ("Enter Macbeth")
The gargoyles settled in, with Goliath making regular use of the library next door, Elisa approached him there one night where he seethed about Xanatos and their current situation. His anger grew worse when he spotted Xanatos on television, donating the Eye of Odin to the Museum of Modern Art. Later that night, the Eye was stolen by a gargoyle made of metal, and Goliath quickly deduced it was the Steel Clan. He took the Trio and they soared off to the Eyrie Building to confront the architect of their current situation. Xanatos was waiting and offered Goliath a choice, stay in the city and be hunted like animals or be his guests at a safe haven in a research facility upstate. Goliath roared in Xanatos's face and took off. Xanatos donned his Exo-Frame and pursued them while flanked by two Steel Clan robots, determined to discover their new home. Goliath figured this out and led them to the Statue of Liberty where the two robots were destroyed. While Xanatos succeeded in fighting Goliath to a standstill, he fled when he was outnumbered. But Goliath returned to the Clock Tower proud that they managed to defeat Xanatos, knowing they could do so again. ("The Edge")
Elisa was later attacked in her apartment by Demona who attempted to poison her and lure Goliath out. Although the poison dart missed, Goliath was still not sure of what to do with Demona, knowing they couldn't lock her up in the Clock Tower and unwilling to even discuss killing her. He decided to make an attempt to reach out to her and took Hudson with him. They arrived at the Old York Opera House where Demona appeared and shot Goliath, gravely wounding him. Hudson managed to drag Goliath away, determined to keep his leader alive until sunrise when stone sleep would heal him. While being hunted by Demona, Hudson kept Goliath's spirits up by reminding him of their search for the Archmage. They made their way to a cemetery, Goliath, despite his wounds intervened to save Hudson and would have been killed had the sun not risen. The following evening, they awoke and Demona fled. Goliath reminded Hudson of how much he valued the Old Soldier before they returned home. ("Long Way to Morning")
Goliath soon faced two crises closer to home as the Trio began getting on each other's nerves and lashing out at one another. While Elisa was dealing with family drama of her own as Xanatos hired her brother, Derek, to come work for him. Goliath advised Elisa to tell Derek the truth and even introduce him to them, but Elisa wouldn't. Her stubborness allowed Xanatos to tell Derek about the gargoyles first and control the narrative. Despite saving their lives from Jackal and Hyena, Derek remained under Xanatos's employ and Goliath reminded them that they needed to appreciate each other as all of his rookery siblings were now dead. ("Her Brother's Keeper")
During his first winter in New York, Goliath pondered what their purpose was and what they were even doing in this new world. He began to learn more about Elisa's work as a detective and her vow, as part of the NYPD, to protect and serve the citizens of the city. Goliath was intrigued by a shopkeeper who kept his shop open despite being robbed three times in one month, simply because his community needed him. At the same time, Demona and Xanatos allied once more and cobbled together the shattered remains of three gargoyles into the cybernetic, stone zombie, which Demona had called Coldstone. Possessed by their rookery brother, "Othello", Demona blamed Goliath for the destruction of the Wyvern Clan and sent him out to Times Square to go on a rampage. Goliath confronted Coldstone and soon realized he was fighting his beloved rookery brother. His confusion turned to fury as Demona arrived and revealed her part in all of this, urging Coldstone to destroy Goliath - even though Xanatos wanted the gargoyles alive. When the press began to arrive, Goliath played on Xanatos's pride to move the battle to someplace where they wouldn't be disturbed, and where less damage could be done to the city, and the battle was taken to the George Washington Bridge. Goliath battled Coldstone and the two fell into the Hudson River, but not wanting to let his brother die, Coldstone pulled Goliath from the frozen water to safety. Coldstone asked Demona if there was more to their existence than mere survival; but Demona told him that survival was enough. Goliath disagreed, gargoyles protected by their very nature, to lose that would mean they'd be corrupt, empty, and lifeless. When Coldstone asked Goliath what he protected, Demona took her shot at Goliath - a shot Coldstone took before falling back into the river. Goliath dove in after him but was unable to find him. He emerged to find that Elisa had arrived and their enemies had fled. The younger gargoyles echoed Coldstone's question, what did they protect? Hudson suggested the Clock Tower. But Goliath disagreed, that was merely where they slept. Looking out over the island of Manhattan, Goliath declared it to be their castle and from that day forward they would protect all who lived there - human and gargoyle alike. They began by tracking down Mr. Jaffe's assailaint and scaring him into returning the money he had stolen and turning himself in. Elisa mused that the city was already feeling safer. ("Reawakening")
Expanded Protectorate
Over the next several months, Goliath led the Manhattan Clan to protect the city, taking a far more proactive approach in contrast to simply living and reacting, as they did for the first few months they've spent in this new era. Their first major test came when Coyote broke the Pack out of prison. Goliath led Hudson and Broadway to the castle where they had hoped to confront Xanatos, but were turned away by Owen Burnett who pointed them towards PackMedia Studios. They arrived in time to find the remains of a recent struggle and received a phone call from Owen, extending an invitation to the Otoshiana Maru where Brooklyn, Lexington, and Bronx were already being held captive. Upon arriving, Goliath engaged Coyote in battle and Goliath unmasked him, seemingly revealing the villain to be Xanatos. But as the battle continued, Bronx attacked "Xanatos" and chewed off half of his face revealing that Coyote had been an advanced robot all along. The Pack escaped and the clan was reunited - and unaware that Xanatos staged the entire incident to both test out the robot and to arrange an early parole for Fox. ("Leader of the Pack")
Not too long after, Brooklyn and Broadway returned from patrol having just met a furry, winged women, who was terrified of them (although Brooklyn was in denial about that) and taken away by commandos in lab coats. They managed to recover a tracking device that read Gen-U-Tech. The following evening, Brooklyn wanted to rush down to Gen-U-Tech but Goliath held the younger gargoyle back, as Brooklyn had no plan - Goliath, however, did. They glided to Gen-U-Tech and forced their way in through the roof and soon found the woman, who activated an alarm, that summoned the commandos. Unknown to Goliath, the commandos herded them towards the laboratory where Dr. Sevarius, under Xanatos's supervision, was just about to "cure" Derek Maza, who was in the process of mutating. Goliath was not too surprised to see Xanatos there as they made their escape, with the female. Sevarius attempted to stop Goliath but was kicked into a tank full of eels and electrocuted. Bringing the women back to the Clock Tower, they learned that she was once human, her name was Maggie Reed, and she was terrified of them, and only wanted a cure to be human again. Goliath promised her that when night fell, they'd confront Xanatos and find a cure. But Maggie fled during the day, and Goliath took the trio to the castle where the four Mutates engaged them in battle. Their leader, Talon, personally attacked Goliath - blaming the gargoyle for the fate that befell him. Elisa arrived to talk Talon down and, in the process, they discovered that he was Derek Maza - mutated. He accidently electrocuted Elisa and fled the castle in horror along with the other mutates. In her fury, Elisa declared war on Xanatos. ("Metamorphosis")
When Lexington showed off his enthusiasm for the RECAP device, Goliath took a healthy interest and accompanied Lex and Elisa to the break-in at the Goldencup Bakery Building where the probe would be tested. The probe itself was destroyed as Coldstone emerged from the building. Goliath was surprised to see his rookery brother still alive and pursued him, after an initial tussle, Goliath welcomed Coldstone to rejoin the clan in their new home. Lexington asked Goliath if this was a good idea considering their rather mixed history, but Goliath reminded the younger gargoyle that "without trust, there can be no clan". Upon returning to the Clock Tower, Coldstone began behaving strangely, as if he was becoming a different person - "he" freaked out at the sight of his own reflection and fled the building towards Ellis Island. Hudson and Goliath pursued Coldstone where they were attacked, Coldstone having assumed a persona of gleeful malevolence. But the cybernetic stone zombie grew even more erratic, switching between multiple personas before collapsing. Lexington hypothesized that something was wrong inside Coldstone's head and stole the RECAP visor from the police. Goliath donned the visor and travelled inside Coldstone's head where he was greeted by the Xanatos Computer Program, who revealed that its directive was to enslave Coldstone to Xanatos's will, but the Computer Virus that infected the Coldstone shell when it attempted to hack defense specs from Goldencup was now slowly devouring everything. The three souls within Coldstone: "Othello", "Desdemona", and "Iago" awoke and "Desdemona" greeted her rookery brother. Goliath returned the greeting with a familial hug, unaware of how it would be misinterpreted. "Iago" took advantage of this and played upon "Othello's" jealousy to manipulate him into attacking Goliath - while this took place, "Iago" and the Xanatos Program conspired to seize control of the Coldstone body. "Desdemona" helped Goliath and "Othello" ultimately reconcile where they distracted their enemies. The Xanatos Program was ultimately consumed by the virus while "Iago" was temporarily banished. Goliath returned to his own body and brought the deactivated Coldstone shell back to the Clock Tower where he hoped that someday they would truly return. ("Legion")
After the Scrolls of Merlin were discovered, Goliath hypothesized that they would become a target for Xanatos and led the gargoyles out over the Long Island Sound to protect the H.M.S. Churchill when Elisa and Matt Bluestone were assigned to help escort the scrolls. Goliath's fears were correct as the ship was attacked by a pair of Harrier Jets and two mercenaries, Banquo and Fleance, stole the Scrolls. The villains successfully escaped while Hudson and Broadway went missing. Goliath journeyed to the Eyrie Building, again to confront Xanatos, and found only a half amused and uncooperative Owen Burnett. After spending hours searching, Goliath demanded that Owen tell them where Broadway and Hudson were; Owen sighed, having had his fun, and finally told Goliath that all of Xanatos's VTOL aircraft were in the shop and suggested they try Macbeth instead. The following night, they made their way to Macbeth's mansion and reunited with Hudson. They attacked and found a captive Broadway and Macbeth performing a ritual to unseal the Scrolls. Macbeth succeeded but discovered that the Scrolls were in actuality a diary written by Merlin, there was no spell work within them. Goliath demanded that Macbeth release Broadway, threatening to burn the scrolls if he didn't, but Macbeth was beyond caring at that moment. Broadway, on the other hand, had recently begun to care having come to appreciate the written word and to believe that a written account of Merlin's life in Merlin's own words were magic in their own right. Hudson agreed and ultimately, so did Macbeth who released them all. Goliath offered to read the Scrolls to Hudson and Broadway before giving them to Elisa so they might be returned to the Museum. But Hudson said they'd read the scrolls on their own, once they learned how. ("A Lighthouse In the Sea of Time")
When Titania's Mirror was put on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Goliath and Elisa deduced that it was a potential target for one of their enemies and were waiting when Demona showed up to steal the object. They chased her through the museum and out into Central Park all the way to Cleopatra's Needle, which drew them away as thieves Demona hired stole the mirror in their absence. Goliath wasn't too surprised when he learned of the theft later and he, along with the rest of the clan, explained the existence of the Oberon's Children to the detective and that Titania was their queen. Across town, Demona used the mirror to summon Puck, who offered to make Goliath love her again - but instead, Demona demanded that Puck rid her of the human Elisa Maza. Puck used his magicks to transform Elisa into a gargoyle, much to Goliath's amazement and bewilderment when Elisa believed that she had always been a gargoyle. Goliath took Elisa to the skies to show her how to glide and, while looking at her, for the first time ever he realized how beautiful she was - and quickly changed the subject when Elisa asked if he had always thought she was ugly. Their moments were cut short as they had to deal with Demona and chased her, along with Puck, through the city. Puck had transformed every human in the city to a gargoyle and when Demona demanded the gargoyles be turned to humans, Puck transformed Goliath and his clan into humans - a change they didn't notice until Lexington deduced that they must have had wings otherwise they couldn't glide. They brought the mirror to Rockefeller Center where Demona and Puck appeared and she attempted to murder the human Goliath. Demona would have succeeded if not for the intervention of the gargoyle Elisa, and Demona was defeated. They brought Puck, Demona, and the Mirror back to the roof of the Twin Towers and Puck undid his magic. Goliath and Elisa shared a brief moment as humans before Goliath was returned to his gargoyle form. Keeping his word, Goliath released the trickster who escaped with Demona and the mirror. But this entire ordeal had made Goliath aware of feelings he had already had for Elisa - when he attempted to discuss them with her, Elisa gently refused to have the conversation as the sun rose. ("The Mirror")
When Halloween fell, Goliath was horrified that Elisa was nearly killed by the Werefox which had been rampaging through the city throughout the month, and wished he had been there with her. He retreated to the library to study weres when Elisa told him about an anonymous tip she received on where to find the werefox and sure enough, they found it at Felice's Meats. While Goliath briefly managed to subdue it, Xanatos arrived in damaged armor, and attempted to take the jewel from around its neck, but a jolt of energy from the jewel prevented him. Goliath immediately attempted to make an ally of the werefox, as another enemy of Xanatos. But the creature escaped into the night, as did Xanatos. Elisa hypothesized that the werefox had been human, just like Derek, and that they needed to gather the rest of the gargoyles to make sure they get the jewel before Xanatos did. But Goliath had grown wise to Xanatos's modus operandi and they followed him back to the castle in time to overhear Xanatos brag to Owen that he had enacted Plan C where the gargoyles would do all the work of getting the Eye away from Fox in an attempted to thwart him. But Goliath refused to be a pawn in Xanatos's schemes and informed the billionaire that they would not participate at all. Xanatos finally revealed the truth, the creature was Fox and she had been affected by the Eye of Odin. Xanatos began to plead with Goliath for his help to save Fox's life but Elisa was adamantly against getting involved with whatever he was scheming. When Xanatos attempted to play the Demona card by reminding the gargoyle over his own grief at losing his mate, that was the end of it as the two left to attend the Halloween Street Fair in Greenwich Village. Elisa, dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Goliath shared a dance. After an unfortunate encounter with a man dressed as a werewolf, Goliath made the decision to help Xanatos - which the billionaire was pleased to hear after locating them with another Scarab radio transmitter. They encountered the werefox not too far from there and chased her up to a nearby rooftop where Goliath restrained the werefox long enough for Xanatos to seize the Eye and return Fox to her human form - saving her life. Goliath demanded that Xanatos give him the Eye as he didn't trust the billionaire with it. Xanatos handed it over telling Goliath that the gargoyle now knew his weakness, but Goliath observed that only Xanatos would regard love as a weakness. ("Eye of the Beholder")
Soon enough, Xanatos invited Goliath to meet him on the roof of the Goldencup Bakery Building and, suspecting foul play, Goliath arrived and battled the armored Xanatos for a moment. But Xanatos unmasked and told Goliath he only invited him to talk, he was getting married to Fox the following night and wished for Goliath to be the best man. Goliath was puzzled by the request and Xanatos sweetened the pot by telling him that Demona would be there and that she had promised to be on her best behavior. Goliath was torn in his heart; he still had his old feelings for Demona, despite her having turned towards hatred and bitterness, and longed to have her back with him. While Elisa was adamant that Goliath not attend, Hudson was more ambivalent as the sun rose and. Throughout that day, Goliath dreamed of when he and Demona attended Prince Malcolm's wedding to Princess Elena and exchanged tokens and vows of their own. He found his half of the Phoenix Gate and took it, attending the wedding as Best Man while Demona attended as Fox's Maid of Honor. After Demona left suddenly, Goliath followed her and presented his half of the Gate, hoping to reach her and maybe rekindle things. Demona revealed her half and they joined the pieces; but Goliath's brief moment of happiness turned to horror as Demona had rejoined the Phoenix Gate and used it to transport them both, as well as Xanatos, Fox, and Petros Xanatos back to 975, Wyvern. Goliath chased Demona who disappeared with the Gate again before he arrived at Castle Wyvern and watched his younger self and Angel together with sadness before he was approached by Mentor and restrained him. Mentor thought this version of Goliath was a creation of sorcery, but Goliath explained what was going on and Mentor agreed to help him. Demona appeared soon enough to kidnap Angel and Goliath followed them to 994 where he was knocked out by Demona who tried to convince Angel to use the Phoenix Gate to destroy humanity rather than share it. But Demona's plan was foiled by an uncooperative Angel, and Goliath attempted to give Angel comfort to avoid this future or, at least, spare her decades of pain. They returned to 975, picked up the Family Xanatos, and Goliath returned them to 1995, where Demona soon awoke. Unfortunately, his hopes of changing Demona for the better in the present failed, since history is immutable; after discovering that the Angel of 975 still had abandoned her love for him in favor of her hatred for humanity, he had to face, at last, the fact that they would never be together again. Goliath, bitterly, gave up on Demona and returned to the Clock Tower wishing to be alone with his grief. ("Vows")
One of Goliath's greatest challenges since waking up in the modern world was still ahead when they rescued Brendan and Margot from a terrorist who was holding them hostage at a bank and, while there, he met three mysterious children who warned him not to forget that every life was precious. While Goliath promised he would never be like the cowardly terrorist he had just captured, the Sisters intoned they were alluding to someone else. Unbeknownst to Goliath, they had alluded to Demona who was about to enact her biggest scheme to date. She had manipulated Xanatos into putting her on television where she had cast a spell turning all of the humans in Manhattan to stone at night. Goliath and his clan awoke to find a "statue of Elisa" in the Clock Tower. While Goliath wasn't sure of what was going on, his intuition told him to make sure that statue was protected as they patrolled the city that night. They soon arrived at the house of Hudson's friend, Jeffrey Robbins, and learned that Demona had cast a spell across all of the city. Goliath quickly gave orders to split up and find Demona, while making sure a furious Brooklyn remained at his side... fearful of what was coming. Goliath's fears proved to be reality when they found the shattered remains of humans; when Brooklyn posited that this fate might even befall Elisa, Goliath furiously made a declaration to end Demona once and for all; but the Weird Sisters, in the form of stone children, reminded Goliath once more that every life was precious and that vengeance begot nothing. Goliath and Brooklyn followed the trail of corpses to PackMedia Studios where they found Xanatos in the process of ending Demona's broadcast. Goliath found even more reason to be furious at his nemesis but Xanatos proposed they work together to stop her, and the two of them shook hands agreeing to a truce. ("City of Stone: Part One", "City of Stone" Part Two")
Goliath and the Manhattan Clan arrived at the castle that night and found Elisa frozen in stone with Owen in the Great Hall as Xanatos was finishing attaching packs of hypergolic gas to the Steel Clan robots. Xanatos explained that the spell was designed to end when the sky burned, that they would all fly over the city carrying the packs, and as soon as the timer on his computer hit zero, the packs would ignite and the sky would appear to be on fire. Xanatos passed packs out to the gargoyles and advised them to be out of the atmosphere before the time ran out. But Bronx's clawing at a 12th century tapestry raised Goliath's suspicions as he was aware of a hidden passage there and brought Xanatos back to the castle early to find Demona, engaged in battle with Macbeth. Xanatos quickly discovered that Demona set the gas packs to detonate ten minutes prematurely and changed the access code on his computer - their only hope now was getting that code from Demona herself. Goliath attempted to talk both Demona and Macbeth down but both were beyond reason. Macbeth finally got the upper hand and was prepared to kill an unconscious Demona when Goliath, with the Weird Sisters help, talked Macbeth out of his fury. The Sisters put Macbeth to sleep and raised Demona in a trance. With Goliath's help, they broke Demona down and she briefly realized that she had been responsible for all of her misery and, listening to Goliath's pleas, gave them the access code: ALONE. Xanatos quickly made use of it, and Demona came out of her trance and shoved her guilt back down, vowing vengeance upon all of humanity once more. Bitter and disappointed that Demona had learned nothing, Goliath let the Weird Sisters put Demona to sleep and take her and Macbeth away - but he was left with the lingering questions of who and what the Weird Sisters were. Goliath and his clan, along with Xanatos watched the packs go off and the sky light up. The plan worked - Demona's spell was broken. They reunited with Elisa and, as they left, Goliath and Xanatos acknowledged that both of them came in handy to each other on occasion. ("City of Stone: Part Three", "City of Stone" Part Four")
With Demona taken away by the Weird Sisters, Goliath turned his attention towards reviving his rookery brother and sister within Coldstone, which Lexington worked diligently towards. But shortly after they went to sleep, Demona (in her human form) and Macbeth returned and stole Coldstone, knocking Elisa out in the process. After the sun set, Goliath and the gargoyles invaded Macbeth's mansion to free Coldstone where they found him reactivated. Unfortunately, the soul of "Iago" had taken control and allied with the two immortals, capturing the gargoyles. While Goliath would awaken to find that he and his clan had been rescued by Elisa, Coldstone had sent himself into exile and it would be some time before he realized that the theft of Coldstone took place to cover the theft of the Three Keys to Power at the Weird Sisters' bidding. ("High Noon")
Shortly afterwards, the Pack resurfaced and attempted to rob a bank. Goliath and the Trio spotted them and engaged them in battle, injuring Jackal and relieving all but Dingo of their ill-gotten loot. But Goliath, himself, was injured in the attack which bought the Pack the distraction they needed to escape. Goliath was taken back to the Clock Tower and bandaged. Hudson advised Goliath that it was time for him to choose a second-in-command to take his place should the worst happen (the position long left open after Demona had turned against the clan), while Goliath seemed almost too eager to give Hudson the position, the old warrior reminded Goliath that he had once been his second before he passed leadership on to him, and also reminded Goliath that he had three younger warriors to choose from. ("Upgrade")
When Cyberbiotics christened the new Fortress-2, Goliath feared that Xanatos would launch an attack upon it after having tricked him into attacking it the previous year. Goliath took to the air to watch over the vessel but was captured by Cybots, imprisoned and brought before Halcyon Renard who accused him of being a creation of Gen-U-Tech sent to destroy the new Air Fortress for Xanatos. Goliath insisted he was no one's creation and didn't belong to Xanatos, protesting that the destruction of Fortress-1 was not his fault; Renard grew livid with Goliath's excuses telling the gargoyle to take responsibility. Unknown to both Goliath and Renard; Renard's aid, Preston Vogel had been bribed by Fox to arrange for the Fortress-2's destruction, bankrupting Renard and allowing Fox to seize Cyberbiots. Goliath and Renard continued to converse and while Renard believed that Xanatos was behind the original attack, and that he even did trick Goliath, he wouldn't let Goliath off the hook for his own part in the incident. Goliath eventually admitted to Renard, and to himself, that he was wrong and accepted full responsibility for his actions. The two even discovered they had much in common as their integrity had cost them loved ones. But the Cybots suddenly went haywire and the Fortress found itself on a collision course with the Cyberbiotics Tower. Renard released Goliath who succeeded in disabling the Cybots while Renard and Vogel managed to change the ship's course. After pressuring a confession out of Vogel, Goliath convinced the old man that Vogel had chosen integrity and honor in the end - and the two of them parted as friends. ("Outfoxed")
Goliath's circle of human allies continued to grow after Elisa finally introduced her partner, Matt Bluestone, to the clan. Matt, however, asked for a favor and the two conspired to dupe Mace Malone into believing Matt was delivering the gargoyle to the Illuminati at the Hotel Cabal. Goliath and Matt journeyed to the Hotel where Matt gave Goliath his hotel key which soon allowed him to deactivate the hotel's many traps. Matt prevented Malone from killing the gargoyle and returned him. But unknown to them, Matt had passed the Illuminati's test and was quickly inducted into the Society. ("Revelations")
Goliath would soon meet one of his most deadly adversaries. Elisa, Lexington, and Broadway were accosted at Black Rock Point by a creature that looked and sounded just like Goliath. When Goliath was questioned about this, he protested his innocence as he was not in the habit of playing childish pranks or laughing maniacally in the dark. He accompanied them back to Black Rock Point where they found a Gen-U-Tech tracking device; he then sent Lexington and Broadway back into the city to investigate Gen-U-Tech directly while he and Elisa continued their search - a search that brought them to an off coast oil rig where Xanatos and Sevarius were at each other's throats. Goliath and Elisa entered the giant oil tank and discovered a new gargoyle who called himself Thailog. Elisa quickly deduced that Thailog was a clone of Goliath, but the gargoyle leader was disgusted and appalled, and his first instinct was to call Thailog an "abomination". But Elisa quickly calmed Goliath down, reminding him that no matter how the clone came into being he was now as much a gargoyle as Goliath - even convincing Goliath that Thailog was his son. Goliath agreed with the detective, if anyone was to blame it was Xanatos, and he agreed to release Thailog, but the clone attacked Goliath and subdued him with an experimental gas before chaining him and Elisa inside of the oil tank, and capturing Xanatos and Sevarius as well. The whole scheme had been staged by Thailog to kill Xanatos and rob the billionaire of $20 million. Thailog lured Goliath out there hoping to meet Goliath and share the money with him, but Goliath's initial reaction put Thailog off and so he decided to hate Goliath as well - despite Goliath's attempts to start over with Thailog. Thailog left them all to die, but Elisa managed to escape and free the rest of them. Goliath confronted Thailog making another attempt to bring the clone around, but Thailog wasn't interested and the two battled as the oil on the rig ignited and the place went up in flames. Goliath survived believing Thailog had been killed - but Thailog escaped with the $20 million. ("Double Jeopardy")
After a month of avoiding the decision of announcing who he had selected as his second-in-command from the unfounded concern that it might drive a wedge between the Trio, the Pack resurfaced. Elisa, Hudson, Bronx and Goliath attempted to capture the villains but found that they had been upgraded by Xanatos. Dingo had been given an advanced exo-frame, Jackal and Hyena had been upgraded with cybernetic implants, and Wolf had been mutated with wolf-DNA. Goliath was ultimately subdued by Coyote 2.0 who used this to claim leadership of the Pack - and the heroes were imprisoned. The Trio came to the rescue and thanks to Brooklyn's strategic thinking and leadership, they ultimately destroyed Coyote and captured the rest of the Pack. Goliath finally announced his choice of Brooklyn as second-in-command - a choice the entire clan agreed with. ("Upgrade")
Elisa took an assignment to go undercover as a corrupt cop after Tony Dracon began tightening his grip on his protection rackets. While Broadway was watching a news report about a restaurant allegedly bombed by the Dracons, Goliath inquired about protection rackets and was disgusted by the very notion of this kind of extortion in the name of a concept that he held sacred. They began following Elisa, who hadn't visited in days, and attempted to rescue her from Glasses and Pal Joey, but Elisa yelled at them to leave her alone while she attempted to do business with them. Goliath was incredulous believing that she must be under a magic spell; but Broadway figured out that Elisa was undercover. When Dracon found out that Elisa had the gargoyles "under her control", he saw an opportunity to have them at his disposal and attempted to wine and dine Elisa into working with him and using the gargoyles to take control of the city. Goliath played into this when he and Broadway visited the Park Manor and agreed to work with Dracon. Dracon sent them to accompany Pal Joey to take out a dry cleaning operation, but Goliath assigned Broadway to foil Pal Joey while he confronted Dracon, declaring that he would never work with the likes of him, and expressed his contempt toward Dracon's corruption of the very concept of protection. While he was tempted to kill the gangster, he delivered him to Elisa for arrest - having now acquired the evidence they needed to keep Dracon locked away. Elisa returned to the Clock Tower where she and Goliath reconfirmed their commitment to protect each other and the city. Broadway also gave Goliath his first jalapeño pepper to try and, with a low tolerance for spice, Goliath cried out Jalapeña! as the sun rose. ("Protection")
Goliath soon spotted that Talon and the other Mutates were back with Xanatos, he had seen them flying to and from the Eyrie Building. At first he kept this information from Elisa hoping to spare her this pain, but when Talon had been spotted outside Elisa's window by her visiting sister, Goliath came clean. He and Elisa went to the castle where they were viciously attacked by Talon, Fang, and Claw who all blamed the gargoyle for their conditions. When Elisa revealed to Talon that Sevarius never died, Goliath feared Talon killing the doctor, and abducted him first; taking the scientist to Cyberbiotics' abandoned underground research facility to force a cure out of him. Elisa discovered Goliath's actions shortly before Xanatos did and confronted him, reminding Goliath that the ends don't justify the means. Before Goliath could release Sevarius, Talon attacked with the intention of killing Goliath and Sevarius to make them pay for what they had done. But Xanatos soon arrived with a cadre of Steel Clan robots to retrieve Sevarius, whom Xanatos still had use of. Realizing that he had been duped, Talon was shocked when Goliath offered them all a place in his clan. For the first time ever, Goliath said that Elisa was now a part of his clan, which made the Mutates by extension family as well. Talon thanked Goliath, but chose to start his own clan down in the facility which he would soon rename the Labyrinth. From that point onward, Talon and Goliath would be allies. Goliath happily watched as Elisa reunited Talon with their sister and parents. ("The Cage")
After a storm covered the city in snow, the Manhattan Clan was attacked by Macbeth on their way back to the Clock Tower. The attack was violent as Macbeth declared he was hunting them for trophies. With the clan's lives at risk, Goliath seemingly killed Macbeth, causing him to crash to the streets below. Goliath took no pleasure in the act, but Hudson assured him he had done right as they turned to stone where they were. The following night, the gargoyle awoke, all except for Hudson. Goliath remembered that the previous evening, Macbeth threw a powder on Hudson and he believed it had to be a magical concoction to keep Hudson asleep. He took Lexington to Macbeth's empty mansion and searched for a cure but found nothing. He grew so desperate that he even asked Elisa to track down Demona so she could use sorcery to free him. But unknown to them all, Hudson was awake and well, having been abducted by Xanatos and replaced with a replica statue to keep them distracted while Xanatos conducted an experiment to achieve immortality. Xanatos sent Macbeth back out to keep the gargoyles distracted. The distractions continued into the following night when Macbeth destroyed the faux-Hudson. Enraged and determined to avenge his mentor, Goliath attacked "Macbeth" with every intent of killing him. He punched threw Macbeth revealing the Scotsman to have been a robotic duplicate. The gargoyles and Elisa stood over the faux remains saying kind words, but Hudson had escaped Xanatos and rejoined them. ("The Price")
Avalon
As 1995 drew to a close, Goliath chose to take the night off to finish reading a book while the Trio and Hudson went out on patrol. Little did he know, things would never be the same, as a man clad in medieval armor calling himself the Guardian arrived in the city and was soon arrested by Officer Morgan claiming to be searching for gargoyles. When Elisa found out the Guardian asked for Goliath by name, she quickly told Goliath who agreed they needed to find out what else he knew. They all agreed to meet at Belvedere Castle in Central Park; and Goliath brought Bronx with him to meet this stranger. Upon arriving, the Guardian introduced himself as an old friend claiming that he knew of Princess Katharine, the Magus, and the gargoyle eggs. Goliath didn't know what to think and demanded to know who he was; and the Guardian revealed himself to be Tom, who was but a boy at Castle Wyvern the night that the Vikings destroyed his clan, before warning Goliath that they needed to urgently depart because the eggs were now in danger - from the Archmage. Goliath wanted to know more, needed to know more and agreed to go with Guardian accompanying him to the nearby lake and boarding the Skiff. Elisa was skeptical but Goliath and Bronx trusted the Guardian. They cast off from the dock and the Guardian recited an ancient incantation as they disappeared into the mists. The Guardian then began to tell the story about how Princess Katharine had dubbed him the Guardian of the Eggs as a boy, their journey to the court of Kenneth II, the king's subsequent assassination by Constantine III and how Katharine kept the eggs safe while she and the Magus brought them to Avalon, and how Tom's mother, Mary, had to depart with Finella and the Grimorum so they might enter Avalon. Goliath felt sorrow for the Guardian's loss and the armored warrior revealed that time passes differently on Avalon, for every hour spent there one day goes by in the real world. The mists began to part as they arrived on the island and were greeted by two fully grown gargoyles and a beast. ("Avalon" Part One)
The younger gargoyles landed on the beach where the Guardian introduced the female as Angela and she in turn introduced her rookery brother: Gabriel. Goliath was initially surprised that they had been given names. As they prepared to head towards Oberon's Palace, the Archmage appeared having possessed the sand on the beach itself for a skirmish. But that's all it was, a skirmish. The Archmage retreated while the gargoyles also retreated back to the palace. On the way, Elisa couldn't help but notice that Angela looked a lot like Demona but with Goliath's coloring, and asked who's daughter she was. Goliath explained to her that daughters and sons belonged to the whole clan, as it was the Gargoyle Way. They soon arrived at the palace and were greeted by more members of the Avalon Clan, and entered the Great Hall where many gargoyles were undergoing medical attention as they weren't prepared for battle. Goliath was soon reunited with an elderly Princess Katharine and Magus. Goliath thanked them for the way they guarded his children and was shocked to see the injured scorched with laser burns, demanding to know what happened. The Magus exposited that they arrived on a deserted Avalon "save for the Sleeping King", and that the Weird Sisters led the charge against them along with two warriors whom Goliath and Elisa quickly identified as Demona and Macbeth who must have been under the control of the Weird Sisters. The Magus explained that the Archmage commanded their attackers, carrying both the Eye of Odin and the Phoenix Gate (and pondered if he had the Grimorum as well). Elisa put the pieces from the last several weeks together, figuring out that Demona and Macbeth stole the talismans from them while under the Weird Sisters' power, who then gave the talismans to the Archmage. But time was short, they needed to defeat the Archmage before sunrise or else it would all be over. Goliath led Angela and Gabriel on a mission to retrieve the Eye of Odin and the Phoenix Gate while advising Elisa to come up with a contingency plan in case they failed. ("Avalon" Part Two)
Their mission did fail, as they were accosted by a mind-controlled Demona and Macbeth. While Goliath succeeded in briefly breaking the Archmage's hold over them, the sorcerer reasserted control and determined to attack them now rather than wait until dawn. Goliath, Angela, Gabriel, Bronx, and Boudicca returned to the palace in time for Elisa and the Magus to return with the awakened Sleeping King, whom Elisa introduced as the greatest warrior who ever lived: King Arthur Pendragon. Goliath deferred leadership to the King, who devised a strategy to defeat Demona and Macbeth while Goliath volunteered to attack the Archmage personally. Goliath did so and proved no match for the sorcerer who proceeded to torture the gargoyle rather than kill him for the sheer fun of it. Goliath's life was saved by the intervention of Angela who gave Goliath the opening he needed. As they battled on a frozen lake, Goliath grabbed hold of the Eye of Odin on the Archmage's brow. Despite attempting to teleport away with the Phoenix Gate, Goliath would not let go until he tore the Eye from the Archmage. Due to his earlier consumption of the Grimorum, the loss of the Eye proved to be a fatal blow; no longer able to control the magicks within him, the Archmage was consumed by them... destroyed along with the book.
Goliath and Angela were summoned to the Hollow Hill where the Magus spent all that was left of him to defeat the Weird Sisters. As he lay dying, Goliath thanked the Magus for saving his children... telling the sorcerer that he owed him a great debt. The two made peace with one another as the Magus passed away. Before sunrise, Gabriel invited Goliath to bring his clan to Avalon, but Goliath was determined to keep working towards a world where gargoyles and humans learned to live together again. Angela then requested to leave Avalon and go with Goliath into the world, and Goliath whole-heartedly welcomed her. King Arthur also decided to go out into the world, but on his own, and Goliath invited him to "look up my clan" if he ended up on Manhattan. Goliath then ordered the Weird Sisters to free Demona and Macbeth from their control which they did before he cast them out into the world aboard a skiff before keeping his word and freeing the Sisters in turn. They all said their good-byes as he boarded the Skiff with Elisa, Angela, and Bronx. Goliath carrying the Eye of Odin and the Phoenix Gate within his pouch vowed that they'd never be used again. But he quickly learned that Avalon didn't take them where they wanted to go, it sent them where they needed to be. ("Avalon" Part Three)
Expanded Worldview
The Guardian's words quickly proved themselves true as Avalon did not return them to Manhattan, but Goliath quickly recognized his ancestral home of Wyvern Hill. Feeling nostalgic, he scaled the cliffside, uncharacteristically leaving Angela to carry Elisa up. Upon reaching the top, he had a brief hallucination of Castle Wyvern standing where it had once stood, but the vision faded and there was nothing left but a giant hole in the side of the cliff. He showed his companions around, including where the rookery had once been. But he soon began to hear voices on the wind, voices of Hakon, the Captain of the Guard, Princess Katharine, and Demona. As a storm blew through, they took shelter in Wyvern's Cave - where the Vikings camped the night they shattered his clan, where the Archmage was thought to have made his final stand. Goliath grew bitter and angry as old wounds resurfaced and mysterious forces began exploiting them. He began hallucinating Hakon and the Captain where Angela and Elisa stood and attacked them before retreating back into the cave, deeper and deeper, as old voices called out to him. Elisa, Angela, and Bronx pursued but couldn't prevent him from falling into the chasm. He was able to stop his fall and slowly made his way toward the Megalith Dance where he was confronted with the stone ghosts of his shattered clan crying for revenge. The charade culminated when an animated statue of his former Angel of the Night stepped forward to kill him, and he remembered that she... that Demona was not part of the slaughter, fleeing before the attack and escaping with her life. With their illusion destroyed, the vengeful ghosts of Hakon and the Captain of the Guard revealed themselves. The ghosts themselves weren't sure of why they lingered, but they were sustained by hate for a thousand years, and had planned to use the Megalith Dance to drain Goliath's lifeforce and replenish their own. As Hakon basked in his taste of life, the Captain appeared regretful and came to an epiphany that he hadn't hated Goliath, but himself for betraying Goliath. He atoned by attacking Hakon and foiling the plan, saving Goliath's life. The Megalith Dance collapsed all around them and when Angela and Elisa arrived, Goliath identified the Captain as "a friend", making peace with the man. The Captain appeared once more before ascending into the next plain. ("Shadows of the Past")
Avalon's magic next sent the travelers to Queen Florence Island off the west coast of Canada where they did battle on the open sea with a Sea Monster. During the battle, Elisa was lost and Goliath feared the worst. He, Angela, and Bronx washed up on shore and turned to stone in front of a Totem Pole. They awoke that night to be greeted by a mysterious, raven-headed gargoyle who told them of his clan, how many were killed by humans while they slept, and that there was an evil sorceress on the island named Grandmother who summoned the sea monster. Goliath followed the gargoyle to the volcano and was thrilled to see other gargoyles, they then began a search of the island and Angela asked why humans would continue to mistreat gargoyles if they knew how valiant gargoyles were, but Goliath explained to her that what humans didn't understand, they feared; and what they feared, they often sought to destroy. They soon came upon Elisa and told her about the other gargoyles they met, but Elisa had just been told by Grandmother that there were no gargoyles on this island; however Goliath angrily accused Grandmother of sorcery. Elisa attempted to make introductions when Grandmother transformed into the Thunderbird. Goliath engaged the beast in battle as the raven-headed gargoyle brought his clan; but Angela noticed that the new gargoyles were illusions. When they all confronted Grandmother, she explained that she was hoping Natsilane would see a creature of legend, and that the illusions were created by the trickster, Raven. Raven appeared and revealed himself to not be a gargoyle at all, but a Child of Oberon (as was Grandmother) infuriating Goliath. But Elisa introduced the gargoyles to Natsilane who, while still reluctant to believe in the legends, nevertheless faced Raven and defeated him in battle. The gargoyles and Elisa departed as life returned to the island. ("Heritage")
Avalon next dropped them in a very murky lake that clearly wasn't Manhattan. Something large and metal passed under the Skiff and the travelers made their way to shore to get a better vantage point, but finding nothing they decided to return to Avalon and try again to find Manhattan. However, Elisa spotted a town nearby and ventured in to attempt to contact Matt Bluestone and get a message to her parents, Captain Chavez, and the clan. While there, she discovered they were in Loch Ness. Boarding the skiff again, Elisa hypothesized that what they saw earlier was a show put on for tourists. But the skiff got rammed again and capsized. Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx surfaced, but Angela was taken by the Loch Ness Monster Submarine. Goliath and his companions spent the rest of the night searching for her, and Elisa continued her search throughout the day, stumbling across Xanatos's commandos, and locating their hidden base. She brought Goliath and Bronx there that night, but they were captured by Dr. Sevarius who intended to use Angela as bait to capture both Nessie and Big Daddy. Goliath and his companions escaped, captured Bruno, and took control of the Loch Ness Minisub where they rescued Angela and saved the Loch Ness Monsters. Sevarius escaped, but his submarine was dragged to the bottom of the loch by the two Monsters. But through her ordeal, Angela learned from Sevarius that Goliath was her biological father. ("Monsters")
Their next stop was Prague where the skiff nearly collided with a speedboat. As it zipped by, Goliath caught sight of his friend, Halcyon Renard, on board and resolved to find him in the hopes that Renard could provide them with transportation back to Manhattan. When he caught up with Renard at a nearby warehouse, his friend had no interest in helping him. Goliath rejoined Angela and Bronx as they were watching the Altneuschul and Goliath spotted the hovercraft that had belonged to Renard. They quickly took action as thieves were stealing a clay statue from the temple. Goliath failed to stop them, but upon speaking with Max Loew, he learned that the stone statue was the Golem - a protector of the community. He returned to Renard's warehouse in time to witness Renard use a spell to transfer his soul into the Golem, now fearing death and wishing to live once more. Renard restrained Goliath and knocked him out before going on a rampage. He arrived at the temple to destroy the books and any chance of a spell that could banish him from the Golem. But Goliath arrived and reminded Renard of his integrity and his ethics. The old man came to his senses and left the Golem, returning to his own body. Max Loew also vowed to take responsibility and embrace his destiny as the Golem's guide and, allying with the gargoyles and Elisa, they defeated the gangster, Tomas Brod. Just before sunrise, Renard offered to transport them all back to New York, but Goliath declined realizing he had his own destiny to face. No longer was his quest one of returning home, but of following finding out why Avalon was sending him and his companions where it was and for what purpose, and fulfilling that purpose. They returned to the skiff and truly began their quest. ("Golem")
Goliath next awoke in Paris shortly before Elisa returned to the skiff after spending the better part of her day following Macbeth and Demona in her human form. Angela began to ask questions about the rogue gargoyle, and Elisa brought a newspaper headlining the "monster of Notre Dame", so they steered the Skiff towards Notre Dame Cathedral hoping to find her there. Goliath grows increasingly uncomfortable when Angela addressed him as "father", reminding her to look upon the whole clan as her parents. While out of earshot he confided to Elisa that he'd rather keep Angela away from Demona considering her questions about parentage and then assigned Angela to stay with Elisa at the Skiff to protect her from Demona - much to Elisa's chagrin, but she went along with it. Goliath and Bronx scaled the cathedral and quickly discovered Demona, fighting her to a stand still until her new mate intervened: Thailog! Goliath was shocked to see Thailog there and disgusted to find out that he and Demona had entered into a relationship. Goliath tried to warn Thailog that Demona and Macbeth must be conspiring behind the clone's back, but Thailog was only amused by the accusation. Goliath left in disgust, unaware that Angela arrived moments ago and had been eavesdropping. Back at the skiff after Goliath explained the situation to Elisa, Angela confronted her biological father over never mentioning that he and Demona were once in love. But Goliath refused to discuss it as the sun rose. During the day, Elisa figured out part of the plot and that Macbeth was the target of Demona and Thailog. She alerted the gargoyles when they awoke and led them to Macbeth's château where they found Thailog who gleefully revealed his scheme: marry Macbeth and Demona, manipulate them both into killing each other, and he as Demona's business partner would inherit their combined wealth putting him on equal economic footing with Xanatos. Appalled and finally seeing Thailog for what he was, Goliath engaged him in battle. The two fought to a stand still, but when Elisa intervened in Demona and Macbeth's battle by temporarily killing Demona, Thailog declared victory and took off. Goliath entered the château and found Macbeth and Elisa conversing. Macbeth had fallen into depression over his sad and endless existence he believed he doomed to face alone. But Goliath comforted the man by reminding him that he's capable of love, and he needed to search for that love, even sharing a somewhat dirty joke about making sure to next time get a good look at the next woman at night. Angela inspected Demona as the immortal gargoyle came to. But Thailog soon returned and took Demona into his arms and away from there - reminding them all that love can be blind. Back on the skiff, as they were about to disappear into the mists, Angela asked for confirmation that Demona was her biological mother but Goliath refused to speak of it. Elisa, however, confirmed it. ("Sanctuary")
The Skiff next landed in London where they came upon a memorial erected honoring two gargoyles that had died during the Battle of Britain, one gargoyle unknown to them while the second statue looked just like Goliath. His curiosity piqued, the travelers made their way to Into the Mystic where they defeated a gang of racist street thugs before two gargoyles, Una and Leo, emerged from the shop. While they were unknown to Goliath, Goliath was very known to them and asked about a friend of theirs named Griff. Goliath denied any knowledge of Griff, but they insisted that Griff was a hero that Goliath led to his demise. Once inside the shop, the situation escalated to violence until Una used a spell book to put the travelers to sleep. Goliath regained consciousness not too long after, but his companions were gone and Una and Leo were determined to make sure Goliath lived with the same torment they had for over half a century: the torment of not knowing. But Goliath himself needed to know what happened in 1940, and he broke his vow to never use the Phoenix Gate, removing it from his pouch, chanting the incantation and traveling back in time to 1940 where he was nearly hit by a RAF fighter before his life was saved by a gargoyle that introduced himself as Griff. Griff took Goliath back to Into the Mystic and introduced him to a younger Leo and Una, who welcomed him as a guest. Once inside they spoke of the war, Leo and Una feared getting involved, but Griff believed whole-heartedly that they needed to do their part to defeat the Nazis. Una believed that the Nazis were a human problem, and when Griff asked Goliath his opinion - Goliath reluctantly opined that in his experience, human problems become gargoyle problems - an expression spoken by his rookery mother, "Verity", long ago. Goliath accompanied Griff into battle, promising Una that he would not allow anything to happen to Griff "this time." The two helped the RAF battle the Luftwaffe, with the pilots saving them and the gargoyles, in turn, saving the pilots. But as the carnage commenced, Goliath finally understood that history was impossible to change and Griff never returned home in 1940. He used the Phoenix Gate to transport himself and Griff back to 1996, where Leo and Una had already come to their senses and released Elisa, Angela, and Bronx. Goliath reunited Griff with his clan before they departed for the Skiff. ("M.I.A.")
The travelers arrived in Egypt and Goliath quickly identified the Sphinx, and Coyote 3.0 flying towards it. They waited a few moments before following the robot inside and arrived just in time to witness the Emir casting a spell. They were quickly spotted by the Pack and subdued after a battle before being chained to a pillar. The Emir banished the Pack from the chamber and spoke to the summoned Anubis, demanding that Emir return his deceased son to life, but the Jackal God would not. The Emir threatened to cast a spell transforming himself into an Avatar of Anubis and command his powers himself. Goliath and his companions attempted to stop the Emir by ripping their very pillar apart, but he summoned the Pack to take them away. The Pack led Elisa and the gargoyles to a burial chamber intent to finish them off, but they managed to escape and return to the main chamber in time to watch as Jackal stole the energies the Emir planned to take and became the Avatar, himself. Drunk with power, Jackal destroyed Coyote, reduced Wolf and Hyena to infancy, and aged Goliath and his companions to a decrepit form. Goliath and Angela managed one last push, buying the Emir time to seize the Scroll of Thoth and remove Anubis from Jackal, becoming the Avatar, himself. Understanding the gravity of the power he now wielded, the Emir destroyed the chamber as Goliath and his companions escaped; Goliath believing that if there was any justice, the Emir was with his son at rest. ("Grief")
Their next stop was Ireland where they were almost immediately detected by the Banshee who attacked them with her song. The unbearable pain caused them to crash into a bog, where the Banshee captured them all (save for Bronx) and brought them to Cairn na Chullain. The following evening, she appeared and accused them of being on a mission from Oberon to bring her back to Avalon for the Gathering. Goliath truthfully denied the accusations but to no avail as the Banshee continued to interrogate and torture them with her siren song until the howling of Bronx drew her away. Bronx teamed up with Rory Dugan (the reincarnation of Cu Chullain) and they defeated the Banshee. Goliath and Rory briefly discussed the difficulties of being a hero before they departed the land. ("The Hound of Ulster")
The skiff next stopped in the Australian Outback where Goliath encountered a mysterious force reshaping the land. Goliath also encountered his old enemy, Dingo, once again and, assuming the worst, engaged him in battle. When the mysterious force, which Dingo would later reveal were nanites, returned; Dingo helped save Angela's life and, feeling grateful, Goliath allowed Dingo the moment to explain himself. They later encountered Dingo's friend, an old shaman, and when the nanites went out of control, they were joined by Fox and her mother, Anastasia Renard. Goliath was surprised to learn that Fox was the daughter of Halcyon Renard, but Anastasia explained the Grey Goo Scenario to them; and that the entire world was at stake unless the Matrix could be stopped. After one failed attempt, the Shaman helped Goliath and Dingo enter the Dreamtime so that they could communicate with the Matrix. Goliath and Dingo both succeeded in talking the Matrix, which had been programmed to create order, towards a different definition of order. Dingo and the Matrix partnered up, with Dingo hoping to become a true hero. Making peace with his former enemy, Goliath wished them both luck. ("Walkabout")
Goliath's refusal to open up to Angela came to a head as they arrived in Nigeria; Elisa recognized the land as she visited it once with her own mother as a child; to which Angela bitterly remarked that her own father never talks about himself with her. Goliath, again, reminded Angela that she was the child of the entire clan. When Elisa encountered her own mother during the Feast of the Panther Queen, Goliath observed that Elisa doesn't like to share her secrets but that she shouldn't keep them from her mother and Angela was quick to call Goliath on his own hypocrisy. When Tea Gora and her poachers arrived, Fara Maku revealed himself as a werepanther and led Tea away into the forest. After capturing the poachers, Goliath finally met Diane Maza. Together they all followed Tea after Fara Maku only to discover the woman was also a werepanther, and soon tracked them down to the ruins of Kara Digi. They split up and Goliath searched with Diane, and she asked Goliath if Angela was his daughter, to which Goliath confirmed that biologically, she was; but he also explained the Gargoyle Way and that Angela was asking for special treatment and Goliath didn't believe he should value one hatchling over another. But Diane, as a parent of three, explained that all children require special treatment at times and right now, Angela is the only one with him. Goliath pondered this as they defeated Anansi and, realizing that giving Angela the attention she wanted wasn't showing favoritism against his other rookery children, and despite his worry about the Demona factor to all of this, finally understood that he wasn't being a father of any kind. He praised Angela for her quick thinking and embraced her as his daughter, to her great joy. ("Mark of the Panther")
The Skiff was next pulled towards Norway where they arrived in the ice and snow-covered environment. A one-eyed old man emerged from the snow, recognizing the gargoyles for what they were, and offered the freezing Elisa a parka in exchange for Goliath giving him the Eye of Odin; but Elisa wouldn't allow the trade and Goliath refused. The old man vanished promising that Goliath would regret this. As the weather got worse, Goliath and Angela got Elisa to shelter when she was taken in by Erik and Gunther Sturlisson. Goliath and Angela sat with the Eye of Odin for a while, agreeing that its power was too great for anyone to wield before they were viciously attacked by a giant one-eyed polar bear that attempted to steal Goliath's pouch. They drove the bear away, but Goliath observed the bear had only one eye and quickly deduced that it and the old man were one and the same. They hurried to the Sturluson Farm to retrieve Elisa but were too late as the old man abducted her and declared himself to be Odin himself, astride Sleipnir. He demanded the Eye be returned to him or Elisa's life would be forfeit. Believing he had no choice at this point, Goliath donned the Eye and grew into an armored gargoyle of incredible stature. Odin attempted to flee, but Goliath flew after him and rescued Elisa, promising to be less merciful if Odin threatened any of them again. As the sun rose, Goliath was no longer subject to stone sleep and basked in the warmth of its light, even as Elisa expressed concern and suggested taking the Eye off - Goliath rationalized keeping it by saying he wouldn't be able to protect all of them if he turned to stone. Determined to keep protecting Elisa, Bronx, Angela, and now the Sturlissons (and to keep the Eye), Goliath began creating storms and advised them to move someplace safer and Erik suggested a nearby cave, which Goliath believed would be ideal before callously suggesting they "pack" Angela and Bronx after Elisa asked about them. They drove north and soon arrived at the cave as the storms began to cease. But when Goliath left to find a suitable door, Angela spotted him in the skies and discovered that Goliath, not Odin, was creating the storms. He soon returned with a gigantic boulder and faced the anger of his charges. Goliath did not deny creating the storms, justifying his actions as a means to motivate them to the cave for their own protection until he engaged Odin in battle and destroyed the god once and for all. With that, Goliath set the boulder before the entrance of the cave, imprisoning those he swore to protect. Arriving at a clearing, he called out to Odin and the storm god arrived prepared to battle, as the Eye absorbed Odin's powers and attacks and the gargoyle grew stronger, Odin cautioned Goliath that he, himself, wasn't the threat. As Odin grew weaker, he used what remained of his power to free the others. Elisa, Angela, and Bronx confronted Goliath to his fury and in his wrath, he withdrew his protection and cast them into a chasm. As the fissure began to close, Elisa and Bronx climbed out - but Angela stayed, gambling with her own life and called for Goliath's help. Realizing that he had become a power mad monster, Goliath pulled Angela from the closing fissure before ripping the Eye from his neck and passing out. He came to later, back in the cave, where he was himself again. Odin arrived and the two of them exchanged apologies for their behavior - having both gained enlightenment about themselves, as was the gift of the Eye. ("Eye of the Storm")
Their next trip was to New Olympus, an island hidden from the world thanks to a technologically advanced cloaking device. There they discovered the New Olympians, a race descended from the Greek gods and monsters of old - who retreated to the island in response to human persecution. Their security chief, Taurus, took Elisa into custody for trespassing on the island as a human and was quickly put on trial in front of the island's leader, Boreas. Goliath vouched for Elisa's character, tried to convince the people of New Olympus that she could be trusted with their secret and permitted to leave, but Boreas couldn't take chances with his people's security and decreed that she remain on the island. Elisa was soon detained once more after a riot broke out due to her presence alone and she was taken to jail. When Goliath again protested her treatment, Boreas tried to be reasonable but agreed with Taurus's actions. Goliath attempted to break Elisa out but was tricked by the shapeshifting murderer, Proteus, who had taken the form of Elisa so Goliath would release him. He locked Goliath up within his own cell and assumed his form to escape with Elisa. Goliath turned stone inside Proteus's cell when the sun rose and awoke to the news that Elisa helped defeat Proteus and saved the entire island. They were all permitted to leave afterwards. ("The New Olympians")
Avalon next dropped them off in Guatemala where Goliath was overjoyed to meet two new gargoyles: Zafiro and Obsidiana. He quickly moved to protect them from construction workers who were firing on them and Jackal and Hyena whom he managed to briefly incapacitate. Zafiro and Obsidiana took them back to their home, the Mayan Pyramid, where they were introduced to Turquesa and Jade, these four gargoyles being the only survivors of a recent massacre. They explained their mission to protect the rainforest around them, which they called "The Green", and revealed their magic pendants which prevented them from turning to stone and that they were connected to a Mayan Sun Amulet which had been stolen. The following evening, Goliath came to agree with their mission to protect the forest and agreed to join them in attacking the construction workers - resulting in a disagreement with Elisa who wouldn't participate without finding out who legally owned the land first because she was still a police officer sworn to uphold the law. They quickly encountered Jackal who was leading them back to the pyramid while buying time for a scheme where Hyena would destroy the Sun Amulet back in New York City (she would be foiled by Lexington and Broadway). The sun rose and Jackal advanced upon Goliath, with every intention to carve Goliath's stone head into a sculpture of himself, but he was soon defeated. After the sun set, Goliath and the travelers brought Turquesa and Jade to Avalon with them to make sure samples of endangered trees would grow and thrive. ("The Green")
Their next mission from Avalon proved to be an emotionally painful one as they arrived on Easter Island. An exhausted Elisa was sleeping in the Skiff and Goliath chose to allow her to sleep and left her to be guarded by Bronx while he and Angela searched the area, pausing to admire the moai statues. They returned to find Elisa missing and Bronx unconscious, and spread out to search for her. Goliath soon found Elisa getting into strangers' jeep on the side of the road and, though puzzled, he followed. Arriving at the Islander Hotel, he overheard them discussing flying Elisa out to Honolulu, refusing to permit that, he entered to rescue Elisa (at least in his mind) and was shocked when she drew her gun on him and threatened to shoot. Knowing her gun wasn't loaded, he took Elisa as the three other humans tried to stop him and she cried out in fear of him, calling him a monster. It soon became clear to him that she had lost her memories and promised to find whoever was responsible. Until then, he tried to remind her of her life, and their history together, but nothing came to the surface, just suspicions about him while she sarcastically referred to him as "Tiny" (which he did not appreciate). Unbeknownst to Goliath, Angela and Bronx had both been captured earlier, and a hologram of Angela was used to lure Goliath into a trap, imprisoning him in a Gravitational Force Bubble by Nokkar. They were taken deep into Nokkar's spacecraft where Goliath came to and Angela explained who Nokkar was, and the alien's accusation that the gargoyles were alien to this world, agents of his enemy: the Space-Spawn. Nokkar and Elisa returned, Elisa having come to agree with Nokkar's suspicions. When Nokkar, who was not permitted to take prisoners, attempted to execute the gargoyles, Elisa released them, her instincts telling her the gargoyles were her friends. Goliath battled with Nokkar one-on-one, and the battle ceased as Elisa vouched for them. Goliath and Nokkar spoke, finding common ground as both were protectors, guardians, sentinels. ("Sentinel")
Avalon sent them to Japan next, where they landed in the village of Ishimura and quickly met the clan that resided there. Kai was ecstatic to meet more living gargoyles and brought them to the temple where he revealed their history of teaching Bushido to the local humans. When sunrise approached and they took their places, Goliath experienced a small culture shock as he posed facing outwards in the direction that trouble would come, but the Ishimuran Clan posed facing inwards as a bond of trust with the humans; which Goliath participated in. When Goliath awoke, he and his companions, along with the Ishimuran Clan woke up in a replica of the temple where the human, Taro, told them all that he feared for their safety as the Ishimurans began to "view them as a burden". Knowing Elisa would never voluntarily allow he, Angela, and Bronx to be taken, Goliath regarded the human's story with suspicion. He then revealed that they were all inside his Gargoyle Theme Park, and had hoped to introduce the gargoyles to humanity under controlled conditions a few at a time. Having experienced human manipulation from Xanatos, Goliath regarded all of this with unease, and having also recently experienced betrayal from within, when Yama revealed that he was a part of this plan, Goliath called him out as a threat to his own clan's safety. After a brief fight, Goliath decided it was time to leave and Taro agreed to escort them out. Only to trap the three visitors and gas them, hoping that three chained up angry gargoyles would make for an exciting attraction. Goliath and his companions were soon rescued by Elisa and Hiroshi and when he went to confront Taro, he was subdued by the human's weapons. Feeling betrayed as well, Yama faced Taro and defeated him. After they all returned to Ishimura, the travelers departed on the skiff. ("Bushido")
Avalon next dropped the Skiff off in the swimming pool of Flagstaff University, where Elisa's younger sister attended school. They made their way to her apartment where they turned to stone on the balcony. After sunset, Elisa formally introduced them to her father, Peter, and her sister, Beth Maza and learned that Xanatos was in the area and had Peter and Beth arrested the previous night after a mysterious act of vandalism at his construction site. Determined to find out what Xanatos was up to, Goliath and Angela soared there and discovered the Coyote Carving in the ground. They were quickly ambushed by Coyote 4.0 who used his vortex beam to knock them out. Xanatos appeared, in armor, and bolted the two gargoyles to the ground with his Staple Gun. Goliath asked Xanatos to release Angela as she had done nothing to him. Xanatos held no grudge towards either of them, but in order to nab his true quarry, his death trap needed to be real and he had to be prepared to follow through. The Mazas and Bronx arrived and in the chaos, freed the two gargoyles. After Coyote gave chase to a mysterious stranger, the gargoyles and Mazas evacuated where Beth theorized that the stranger was Coyote the Trickster. After Coyote 4.0 successfully abducted the trickster, they all attacked the construction site where Goliath engaged the robot in battle, dealing heavy damage to it. But a masked Kachina Dancer appeared to sow confusion and turn the tide, allowing the Trickster to trick the robot into destroying itself. The masked Kachina Dancer revealed himself to be Peter Maza. Goliath, Angela, and Bronx slept through the day at the site of Carlos Maza's headstone as Peter made peace with his father's memory. ("Cloud Fathers")
The Skiff next arrived within a giant cauldron, after Goliath removed the skiff from the boiling water, Elisa opened the doors of the building to discover a frigid landscape. So frigid that even the gargoyles donned furs for warmth. After being discovered by the locals, they all fled to escape the archers and arrived at a cave to take shelter for warmth. Goliath came upon a hulking figure covered in furs, who turned out to be Coldstone. Goliath then guessed that Avalon had sent them to Tibet to bring Coldstone home, and introduced him to his rookery daughter, Angela. When Angela mentioned Avalon and the other rookery children, Coldstone refused to go there out of dread over what "Iago" might do. Coldstone then put on an act, pretending to be the "Evil One" in control and knocked the travelers out. Goliath and his companions later awoke back on the Skiff in Shambahla. ("Reunion")
Upon returning to Avalon once more, they were all beginning to grow frustrated with the length of their quest. They decided to take a breather and spend some time with the Avalon Clan when ominous storm clouds gathered, a dais arose from the soil beneath them and lightning struck with two mysterious, regal figures appearing along with the Weird Sisters. The regal man demanded they leave within the hour, but Princess Katharine pleaded that they had no where else to go. The Guardian and the clan lashed out in defense but Goliath calmed them all done and asked the strangers who they were. Lord Oberon introduced himself as the ruler of Avalon and the woman as Titania, and nearly killed all of the mortals until Titania offered to remarry Oberon if he hunted the mortals fairly with reduced power. Oberon agreed to the bargain and Titania selected Goliath, Angela, and Gabriel to match Oberon before reducing her lord's powers to that of a Child's. Given a head start, Goliath and his companions dug a hole to at least test Oberon's powers. While Oberon fell into the trap, he quickly flew out of it and attacked the gargoyles with the forest itself. They took to the air and he gave pursuit, herding them towards the volcano where he intended to destroy them with a gigantic pair of magma hands. Goliath led the two younger gargoyles through this where they resolved to challenge Oberon physically, three-on-one. Oberon transformed his body to diamond and quickly dispatched them, returning to his palace with them in tow. But the Guardian, Elisa, Katharine, and the clan had prepared an Iron Bell and subdued Oberon before agreeing to spare his life. Goliath helped the fallen lord to his feet and agreed to give them all asylum in his land, and impressed by them all, he invited them to stay with his blessings and told Goliath that he and his clan would be immune to his arts as the Honor Guard of Avalon. Titania assured Goliath that they could trust his word, and Goliath returned to the Skiff with his companions to continue their quest as Oberon himself called the Gathering. ("Ill Met By Moonlight")
Back onboard the Skiff once more, Goliath's weariness with the quest began to get the better of him. He missed the Trio. He missed Hudson. He missed the spires of Manhattan and would give much to see them all again. Upon saying these words, he was struck by a bolt of lightning and opened his eyes to a horrific view of a destroyed Manhattan dominated by the Eyrie Pyramid . A new model of Steel Clan robots destroyed the Skiff and abducted Elisa and Angela. Goliath and Bronx were rescued by an elderly Matt Bluestone and a wingless Claw onboard a skimmer who told the gargoyle that forty years had passed. They were taken back to Manhattan, openly walking the streets and avoiding patrols of Steel Clan robots and Talon Commandos. The face of Xanatos appeared over the city promising their suffering would soon end and the entire planet would enjoy the fruits of his leadership. Goliath demanded to be taken to the Clock Tower, but Bluestone showed him the remains of the Manhattan Clan's home and took them down to the Labyrinth where he was greeted with a punch in the face by a resentful Brooklyn who accused Goliath of abandoning them. A blinded Broadway appeared and calmed them all down, and Goliath was horrified at his condition and wishing he could change this, at which point Brooklyn asked for the Phoenix Gate. Goliath refused, that wasn't the solution. Demona then appeared to Goliath's shock, even more so when she and Brooklyn revealed that they had fallen in love. Lexington soon appeared, upgraded with cybernetic enhancements and took them to a view screen where a grown up Alexander Fox Xanatos engaged his father in battle, only to be killed by him. Goliath was shocked that Xanatos would take things this far, and they all headed to the castle to finally confront Xanatos. On the way there, Demona advised that Goliath give the Phoenix Gate to Angela and escape into the past with her, but again, Goliath said that wasn't a solution. During the battle, Claw, Matt, and Bronx were slain by Thailog Shock Troops as was Broadway. Goliath mourned for them all before they burst into the Great Hall and were beamed into cyberspace where Xanatos was revealed to not be Xanatos, but the Xanatos Program. The Program killed Angela, Brooklyn, and even Demona before Goliath took control and defeated it. He and Elisa escaped cyberspace with little time to mourn as Lexington revealed himself to be the mastermind behind the Xanatos Program. Goliath declared him a traitor and even killed him as the castle exploded. Injured and on his last legs, the Xanatos Program still ready to conquer the Earth, Elisa asked for the Phoenix Gate. Goliath released it from his pouch and told Elisa to take it, but she insisted he put the Gate in her hands. His suspicions raised and his strength returning, the illusion broke down and Puck revealed himself as the architect of this nightmarish illusion, hoping to take the Phoenix Gate to Avalon so that he could bribe Oberon into allowing him to remain in the mortal world. He even taunted Goliath that all of this may have been a prophesy before disappearing. Goliath woke up on the Skiff surrounded by Angela, Elisa, and Bronx who told him that seconds ago he had passed out and fell off the Skiff. Fearful that Puck may try again, he chanted the Gate's incantation and threw it into a time warp, hoping that with no mind to direct it, it would be forever lost and beyond the reach of all who desired it. Goliath was now more determined than ever to get back to Manhattan and to make sure that his nightmare did not come true. ("Future Tense")
Returning Home
After six months had passed, Avalon sent Goliath and his companions to Manhattan. They quickly returned to the Clock Tower where their reunion with the rest of the Manhattan Clan was joyous. Goliath introduced Hudson and the Trio to Angela - the four of them delighted to meet her. Goliath then announced that it wasn't just the clan's eggs on Avalon that they met, but gargoyles in Japan, Guatemala, and London; news that gave Hudson hope to know for sure that they weren't the last gargoyles. Goliath then returned Elisa to her apartment, where he expressed his gratitude to her for everything she had done and promised that he and the clan would always be there for her. For a moment, he was ready to declare his love for her, but she sensed that and cut him off before he could and advised him to get back home before he got caught in the storm that was about to come through.
Upon returning to the Clock Tower, Goliath was shocked to find Anastasia Renard there, and even more surprised when she revealed herself as Titania. The queen of Avalon filled Goliath and his clan in on the heritage of Xanatos and Fox's son, that the child belonged on Avalon, and asked for Goliath's help to protect Fox and Alexander during the imminent battle, but Goliath refused to comply as he believed that nothing should come between a parent and child, even if Xanatos is the parent. Titania reminded him of her previous help before warning Goliath not to interfere lest he be crushed by Oberon. Goliath finally realized that Avalon had not released them from the quest, but rather sent them to Manhattan because of the danger. Goliath took his clan and they glided towards the Eyrie Building and, on the way, Oberon had put the entire city to sleep (save for the gargoyles who had recently been appointed his Honor Guard) and grew to the size of the skyscraper. Goliath attempted to talk Oberon into abandoning his mission to abduct Alexander, but Oberon fought back against the gargoyles and Xanatos's iron defenses. While Oberon kept to his decree not to use his magical arts directly against Goliath and his clan, he battled through other means, picking them off one-by-one. When all lay defeated, Goliath was surprised when Owen Burnett stepped out and revealed himself to be Puck. But all efforts to resist the Lord of Avalon had failed until Fox blasted Oberon with her own innate powers. Seeing an opportunity to end this, Goliath humbled himself before Oberon and convinced him that if Fox could tap into her undeveloped talents than Alexander could be taught to realize his potential here, and even suggested Puck stay behind and serve as a teacher; Puck was more than eager to do so (despite being punished by Oberon in the process). Before departing for Avalon, Oberon and Titania assured Goliath that all the humans of the city would awaken in the morning. Goliath proudly greeted his clan as they prepared to depart the castle before they were stopped by Xanatos who had come to express his gratitude and promised to pay the debt he now felt he owed to them. Goliath was initially skeptical but decided that the future was not written yet and would give Xanatos the benefit of the doubt. The clan returned to the Clock Tower and Goliath returned to his mission: to protect Manhattan and all within it, human and gargoyle alike. ("The Gathering" Part One", "The Gathering" Part Two")
Mere days after his return from Avalon, a series of high technology thefts began and the clan began to stake out research facilities. Their efforts yielded results at the Goldencup Bakery Building when Demona broke in and stole an exo-frame and several crates full of weapons. Goliath and Brooklyn engaged her in an aerial battle and Angela attempted to stop the conflict. Demona's interest in Angela disturbed Goliath and he destroyed her exo-frame, the ensuing explosion knocking the immortal gargoyle out. The three of them debated what to do with Demona, they couldn't release her, during the day Demona was human so they couldn't safely guard her. But Brooklyn suggested locking Demona up in the Labyrinth - Talon agreed to this, and they made a deal to take turns guarding the prisoners day and night. Angela volunteered to take the first watch, which Goliath attempted to talk her out of until Hudson intervened trusting Angela, encouraging Goliath to trust her in turn, and warning Angela that Demona was capable of anything. ("The Reckoning")
As the summer continued, Goliath and Hudson were engaged in battle by Wolf, who was wielding a battle axe. While Goliath and Hudson defeated Wolf, the mutate quickly reawakened wielding supernatural powers and drove the two gargoyles off. Goliath recognized this level of power and deduced that Wolf had allied with the ghost of Hakon. Taking the battle to a junkyard, Hudson destroyed the axe and forever banished Hakon's spirit from the Earth plain. While Goliath used Wolf's own anger against him and tricked the mutate into defeating himself. All of this soon appeared to be over, until a human emerged, wielding a gigantic bazooka and covered in garbage, gloating about how he would finally get his revenge. He aimed his weapon at Goliath and pulled the trigger, where Goliath was hit in the face by what Hudson identified as a Banana Cream Pie. The human tossed his weapon aside, told Goliath they were now even, and departed. When Hudson asked Goliath who that was, the gargoyle admitted he hadn't the slightest idea. They soon returned to the Clock Tower and were reunited with the Trio and Angela who had just recently finished their own mission helping Elisa deal with a turf war between Tony Dracon and Tomas Brod. ("Vendettas", "Turf")
As the months passed and summer gave way to autumn, Goliath returned to the Labyrinth for his turn to watch the prisoners, ignoring taunts from Fang but not from Demona who sarcastically referred to him as her "judge and jury". Goliath rebuked that Demona chose this by turning against her clan, but Demona smirked as the room began to shake and rumble before the ceiling exploded and Thailog appeared wielding particle beam weapons. He freed Demona, providing her with a weapon, and then she freed Fang believing the mutate might be of use. They quickly made their escape and Goliath and Talon took off after them - pursuing the escaped villains to Coney Island and watched as they entered the funhouse. Talon was suspicious of a trap and Goliath agreed, he returned to the Clock Tower to fetch the rest of the clan and they all split up - Goliath ordering Angela to be at his side. Both father and daughter made their way into the dungeon of the funhouse where Demona and Thailog got the drop on them before revealing the new clones they created which had already captured Talon and the rest of the Manhattan Clan. Now restrained and chained to the walls, Demona gloated her victory over Goliath, formally introducing them to the clones as her new clan. Goliath was disgusted at just how low Demona had sunk. But when Thailog decided to execute the Manhattan Clan one-by-one, starting with Angela, Demona intervened. Even after Angela told Demona that she hated her, Demona still couldn't bring herself to allow Thailog to kill the girl. Thailog cast off his alliance with Demona, revealing one more clone: Delilah. In her fury, Demona released the Manhattan Clan from their bonds and went after Thailog personally. Goliath pursued the two villains to a burning rollercoaster, hoping to assist Demona with defeating Thailog - but she was not interested in his help, wanting Goliath to get Angela to safety instead. The Manhattan Clan defeated their clones and Talon recaptured Fang. After Angela emerged following her defeat of Delilah, the burning coaster collapsed seemingly taking Demona and Thailog with it. Heartbroken over her final words to her biological mother, Angela asked Goliath if she was gone. Goliath was unsure, but optimistically believed that Demona's love for Angela might have been a new beginning. ("The Reckoning")
Goliath and Hudson returned from patrol and found Coldstone waiting for them in the Clock Tower. Goliath was overjoyed to see his brother had returned, but Hudson was skeptical until Bronx demonstrated his trust. Coldstone warned Goliath that Xanatos had just created "new monsters" to unleash against them. Goliath was disappointed, hoping that Xanatos was sincere when he called a truce. They soon arrived at the laboratory and discovered the new robots: Coldsteel and Coldfire. But Goliath was puzzled, these robots were clearly modeled after "Iago" and "Desdemona". But Coldstone activated the robots and they both defeated Goliath and Hudson. Coldstone took them to the atrium and restrained the two gargoyles upside-down. When Broadway and Angela arrived, Goliath attempted to warn them of the danger and was confused when Brooklyn was willing to leave Broadway to die and abduct Angela before the two robots emerged. Goliath demanded to know what was going on and "Coldstone" explained that Xanatos wanted to reward Goliath by helping Goliath's rookery brother, that Coldsteel and Coldfire were manufactured to house Coldstone's separate personalities but they were currently within Broadway, Angela, and Brooklyn. When the spirit of "Iago" said he'd trade possession of Brooklyn for Xanatos's robot, that was just what Coldstone was waiting to hear and then Lexington cast a spell transferring the soul of "Iago" into Coldsteel - who quickly fled promising to return. Puck then emerged from Coldstone revealing that he had been the one possessing the cyborg before encouraging Lexington to cast the soul transference spell again and placing "Othello" back into Coldstone and "Desdemona" into Coldfire. Goliath invited them back to rejoin the clan, but they departed in pursuit of Coldsteel. Alexander Fox Xanatos emerged from Lexington revealing that this had all been a magic lesson from Puck to his charge. Puck promised Goliath he'd tell Xanatos that Goliath loved his present. Out of sheer exhaustion more than anything, Goliath ordered the clan to just go home. ("Possession")
Hunter's Moon
Life proceeded for Goliath and the rest of the Manhattan Clan as things fell into a routine. Elisa went undercover to capture three thugs that had been robbing subway passengers and Goliath, Angela, and the Trio arrived to help capture them. Goliath saved the passengers and Elisa, in turn, saved Goliath from being shot in the back by the last thug stranding. Despite the passengers being more afraid of the gargoyles than they were of their assailants, Elisa embraced Goliath and he moved his hand to stroke her hair but stopped as she referred to him as her "best friend". The gargoyles returned to the Clock Tower basking at how well things were going, like a well-oiled machine, they celebrated their good life just before the sun rose. That night, Elisa approached them to tell them about the excitement she and her new partner experienced that day. Elisa talked up Jason Conover and Goliath quickly picked up on Elisa's attraction for the human being deeper than just being impressed with his skills. Elisa changed the subject to the attempted theft of Xanatos's D/I-7. The clan agreed to help Elisa keep an eye on the warehouses considering her fear that whoever was behind the robberies would make another attempt. The clan split up to keep an eye on both locations while Elisa went home to get some sleep.
Goliath, Angela, and Hudson took watch on the roof of Xanatos's East River Warehouse when a massive airship appeared and three masked humans, calling themselves the Hunters emerged, and it soon became clear that they weren't thieves - they were there to kill the gargoyles. With their advanced weapons they were able to hold Goliath and Hudson at bay and, during the fight, Angela was grievously wounded and fell from the rooftop crashing onto the roof of a car below. Goliath and Hudson took Angela and fled back to the Clock Tower. Once back home, the rest of the clan were fearful for Angela's life. Her wounds were great and dawn was hours away. With a cold fury Goliath vowed to hunt down these masked Hunters and kill them. As dawn approached, Goliath held his daughter trying to keep her awake and fighting her pain until dawn, but Angela stopped breathing and was at death's door. Elisa arrived and rushed to Angela's side, performing CPR and saving the young female's life. Goliath was grateful and reported to Elisa that they were attacked at the warehouse by three masked humans; Brooklyn then added that Demona had also hit the place on the westside. As the sun rose, Goliath vowed that the Hunters would soon become his prey.
That night, they all awakened and Angela was tired but healed. This did nothing to alleviate Goliath's anger, vowing that the Hunters would suffer. Taking a sharper tack than usual, Goliath ordered the clan to report back to him if they found the Hunters. He then went to Elisa's apartment to invite her on the mission, and arrived in time to witness Elisa and Jason Conover share a deep passionate kiss. While she did push Jason away, she then confessed that there was someone else in her life that she cared for deeply but that it would be impossible to get involved with him. Crestfallen, Goliath turned away and left soon coming upon the Hunters' Airship. Depression and anger got the better of him and he began to pursue it alone before being joined by Brooklyn and Lexington who asked if they should return to the Clock Tower for the rest of the clan, but Goliath was too impatient for that, he wanted to kill the Hunters now. They broke into the airship and when Brooklyn questioned Goliath's strategy, he briefly turned his wrath upon his second-in-command until they complied.
Moments later, they encountered Demona and Goliath attacked his former mate, disarming her and demanding to know if she was in league with the Hunters. Demona protested, she was their prey and all gargoyles were. But Goliath was in no mood to listen to anything she said, which allowed the Hunters to get the drop on the gargoyles and capture them. The female Hunter shoved Goliath into a holding cell, planting a tracer on him. The gargoyles were bought a momentary reprieve as the two Hunters decided to wait for their leader to return before killing the gargoyles. Once away, Demona revealed that the Hunters had hunted her for a thousand years, that their vendetta passed from generation-to-generation and she would not let them slay another gargoyle. When Goliath told Demona that the Hunters nearly killed Angela, Demona offered to help them escape. While Brooklyn didn't trust her, Goliath agreed to this momentary alliance. The two Hunters tried to prevent them from escaping but Goliath and Demona overpowered them and threw them into a wall, seemingly electrocuting them - Lexington and Brooklyn were stunned by their leader's actions and even more stunned when Goliath accepted Demona's compliments as they left and his decision to not pursue her. But unbeknownst to them, the two Hunters survived and when their leader, Jason Canmore returned, they pursued the gargoyles back to the Clock Tower where Robyn Canmore fired two missiles into it, leveling it.
Lexington discovered the tracer on Goliath's shoulder just in time for them to take cover. Carrying an injured Lexington and Hudson, the gargoyles emerged from their devastated home. Painfully and with fury, Goliath declared this time of their lives was over and for that the Hunters would pay. The gargoyles retreated to the only place they could go, Elisa's apartment. But the Hunters recorded their escape and Jon Canmore in his guise as a reporter for WVRN revealed the footage and the existence of the gargoyles to the world and now the entire city was hunting them. That night, Elisa and the rest of the clan tried to convince Goliath to let the law deal with the Hunters, but Goliath demanded justice - Elisa told him that what he was after was vengeance. But this fell on deaf ears, he knew she was right, but Goliath went after the Hunters anyway, using the tracer Lexington found in reverse. He ordered the clan to remain behind while he was guided to a dam. The Hunters were soon upon him as Broadway and Elisa arrived to intervene. Despite ordering the clan to stay behind, Goliath was happy to see Broadway. Goliath and an unmasked Jason soon engaged in battle, and Elisa threw herself in between them pleading for them to end this. But neither would hear of it, Jason assaulted Goliath with a blade but the gargoyle knocked Jason backwards where he collided with Elisa and both fell off the dam. Goliath dove to rescue Elisa, while Broadway dove for Jason. Despite being mere millimeters away from taking Elisa's hand, she and Jason both fell into the spill well and out of reach. Goliath cried in anguish, diving for the water below, but there was no sign of Elisa. In horror, Goliath cried her name upon resurfacing. But he soon gave up hope, she was gone. Goliath and Broadway returned to Elisa's apartment where the of the clan who had heard everything were in mourning. Goliath had nothing left except for vengeance, and the Hunter's Moon was upon them, the last moon the Hunters would ever see - the sun rose as he vowed Elisa would be avenged and a tear trickled down his stone cheek.
That night, they followed the tracer's signal once more, despite being hunted by the entire city. Goliath again told the clan they didn't have to come with him, but Hudson reminded his leader that the clan stood or fell together and that Elisa had been one of the clan. They soon found the Hunters' Airship where it had crashed itself into Saint Damien's Cathedral. The gargoyles entered and engaged the remaining two Hunters, now wearing exo-armor. So consumed by vengeance, Goliath didn't notice that Demona was present in the cathedral or that the cathedral was now surrounded by the police and growing crowds of people. Goliath defeated Jon Canmore and tore his armor open, enraged, he was prepared to disembowel the Hunter when a still alive Elisa arrived with Jason Canmore. Goliath ran to her asking how she was still alive, and she told him that Jason saved her life. Jon rushed to his brother's side, determined to destroy the gargoyles. But Jason told his siblings to give up the hunt, that they were all victims of his own stubbornness but he had come to his senses - the Manhattan Clan were not their enemies. But Jon quickly panicked and remembered Demona's scheme. Brooklyn, who had spotted and followed Demona, screamed in anguish as she shot him. Fearing an attack, Jon fired on Goliath but Jason dove in front of it taking the blast. Elisa and Robyn Canmore rushed to Jason's side to aid him and Elisa told Goliath to stop Demona. As the gargoyles went to do just that, Jon blamed them for Jason's injury and fled vowing vengeance. Goliath entered the chamber where Demona stood before an altar, spotting his injured second who revealed that Demona had already cast a spell and Demona basked in triumph, revealing that once she shattered the vial in her hands all of humanity would be destroyed and the power of the Praying Gargoyle would protect their kind. Goliath then leaped into the air, and Demona ducked fearing Goliath was lunging for her. But he grabbed the statuette and crushed it between his hands. With the Praying Gargoyle destroyed, Goliath dared Demona to spread her evil so that they could all die together; Angela as well. Demona screamed in rage and tossed the vial into the air to cover her escape. Goliath dove and caught it before it shattered on the floor releasing her plague. He took off in pursuit of Demona but she managed to escape over the city. As the NYPD spotted Demona making her getaway, Matt Bluestone reluctantly ordered the helicopters to go in for the rest of them. The gargoyles were now surrounded on all sides, but a second helicopter descended revealing Xanatos who offered them a ride. Seeing no other choice, Goliath ordered his clan to board the helicopter and Xanatos flew them back to the Eyrie Building.
Xanatos reinstated the gargoyles in their ancestral home to thank Goliath for saving the world and his son. He explained as such to Elisa when she arrived promising no catches, tricks, or strings, and an end to the feud (though in reality, Xanatos got what he wanted since the beginning - the gargoyles protecting his castle, he just now realized he needed to make concessions to them as well). Goliath stood upon the tower looking out over the city - his castle - his protectorate. Elisa arrived and they talked about how things had come full circle. Elisa asked Goliath if he knew how she felt about him, and the gargoyle stroked her hair - he knew how she felt, he knew how they both felt. Elisa threw her arms over Goliath's shoulders and surprised him with a kiss. Momentarily stunned, Goliath turned to stone as the sun rose with a grin on his face as Elisa Maza - the human he loved - the one true love of his life welcomed him home. ("Hunter's Moon" Part One, "Hunter's Moon" Part Two, "Hunter's Moon" Part Three)
Paths Chosen
With the immediate danger having passed, Goliath soon found himself leading his clan in a city that had become a tinderbox due to the revelation of the gargoyles' existence. While Brooklyn wondered if Xanatos could be trusted, Goliath at least believed Xanatos wouldn't destroy them while they slept - besides, they had no where else to go anyway. Despite the danger, Goliath left the castle to go see Elisa. On the way, a human spotted him and panicked, firing at Goliath from the window of his apartment. Goliath disarmed the human while advising him that gargoyles were not his enemy. When Goliath finally arrived at Elisa's loft, she told him he couldn't risk being seen right now but Goliath could only ask when gargoyles would be safe from those who disputed their very right to exist. Goliath had grown wary, hoping to arrive at a safe and stable life, but Elisa promised that the following night they would make things better as they had planned to go on their first actual date. The sun rose and he turned to stone, but before the sun set, he had been spotted by members of the new anti-gargoyles organization called the Quarrymen. Banquo and Fleance both attempted to destroy him, but Elisa bought time until the sun set before he awoke dispatched them. He took Elisa into his arms, being pursued by their helicopter when he got shot in the wing. Crashing onto a rooftop, they recovered and though he couldn't glide, he leapt from roof to roof with Elisa in his arms, and their hunters still in pursuit. They made their way to the wrecked 23rd Precinct where they began picking the Quarrymen off one-by-one until the arrival of their leader, the hooded John Castaway. Castaway nearly succeeded in killing Goliath, and intended to execute Elisa as a traitor to humanity, but Vinnie Grigori couldn't allow it, cast his hood away intervening and putting his life in danger long enough for Goliath to recover and disarm Castaway, expressing his disgust at the hooded man's cowardice. While Castaway fled, Goliath and Elisa briefly spoke with Vinnie who said his good-bye to them before leaving for Japan; Goliath still not sure who he was. Looking out over his city once more, Goliath realized that life was about discoveries made on the journey itself and despite all of the difficulties they've faced, neither he nor Elisa had any regrets. ("Nightwatch", "The Journey")
On Halloween of 1996, Elisa was asked on a date by her coworker Officer Morgan – an offer she initially refused, because of her relationship with Goliath. However, because of this offer, as well as a conversation with Jason Canmore, Elisa piled on to insecurities she was already feeling, she came to believe that the practical difficulties of a relationship between a gargoyle and a human were too great to overcome. Certain things that she wanted from a long-term relationship (including children) were impossible to attain with Goliath. That evening, she ended their relationship, and encouraged him to pursue a relationship with Delilah, which he reluctantly did by inviting her to a masquerade ball to be held at the Eyrie Building. Elisa, who had been invited to the same ball, finally accepted Morgan's offer and brought him. This "double date" only served to make Goliath and Elisa understand how much they meant to each other - a fact that became obvious to both Morgan and Delilah. Goliath approached Elisa on the castle's parapets and she admitted to her mistake, but still didn't feel like she could resolve things with him. After she ran off, the party was crashed by Thailog, who had come to collect Delilah, and stabbed Goliath in the gut. Goliath was then tortured by Thailog, and might have perished if not for the intervention of the rest of the gargoyles. Delilah soon arrived and angrily told Goliath off for using her that evening, which Goliath could not argue against. When Brentwood chose to join Thailog, Goliath reluctantly agreed that choice must extend even to those who chose poorly. Dr. Sato was alerted to the scene and realized what Goliath actually was and performed emergency surgery saving his life. Realizing that it could no longer be denied, Goliath and Elisa finally declared their mutual love. ("Invitation Only", "Masque", "Bash")
Two nights later, the Manhattan Clan awoke to the sight of Macbeth who told them that the Stone of Destiny was to be moved from Westminster Abbey back to Scotland and asked for their help in protecting it from those who would seek to steal it, including Xanatos. Goliath, despite his stone sleep, was still recovering from his recent injuries but assigned Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, and Angela to join Macbeth's quest. Brooklyn (wanting some separation from Broadway, Angela, and their new relationship) asked to remain in Manhattan to watch over the city while Goliath was still recovering. Goliath agreed and assigned Hudson to lead the expedition instead. But Broadway and Angela also elected to stay to help Brooklyn (much to his chagrin). Two nights after that, Goliath and Elisa spoke again and he did not wish to hold her to any words spoken when his life was at risk as he did not wish to rob her life of normalcy. But Elisa smiled and told him that normalcy is overrated before she reached up and stroked his hair; followed by Goliath lifting her into his arms and kissing her. ("Rock")
In January, 1997, as Goliath was pondering the future of his clan, he was overjoyed by the return of Coldstone and Coldfire to the clan, as well as shocked by the arrival of the newly aged Brooklyn along with his mate Katana, their son Nashville, their beast Fu-Dog, and their egg. With his clan now doubled in size since they first awoke, Goliath was filled with renewed hope as they joined Elisa to fly to Times Square and do battle with Wolf, Jackal, and Hyena. ("Phoenix")
The Court of Public Opinion
By May, 1997, though their secret was out and the clan had doubled in size, they had achieved a new status quo. Helping Elisa by patrolling the city and capturing criminals ranging from petty thieves to the ongoing gang war between the Dracon Family and Tomas Brod (with the other syndicates seeing weakness and making grabs themselves - all of this being engineered and manipulated by an, as of yet, unknown party). However, Coldstone was puzzled as to why they they didn't allow the criminal factions to destroy each other and why they protected the humans at all. Goliath again explained that this was their purpose, so that some day the humans truly would know them so that they might live together in harmony. The following evening, Goliath was invited to the birth of Talon and Maggie's child and was accompanied by Broadway, Angela, and Coldfire. When they arrived, they found all the humans and mutates unconscious and the clones confused. When Elisa came to, she explained that they were gassed and knocked out - without ever seeing their attackers. Maggie and the midwife, Mary, had both been taken. They compared notes and determined the culprit must be Xanatos and, with Talon and Dr. Sato in tow, returned to the castle and violently confronted the billionaire. Xanatos denied his involvement and Broadway believed him and so did Goliath, remembering the incident with Oberon. With Xanatos's nudging, they quickly figured out that Thailog was behind the kidnapping and learned about Nightstone Unlimited. Gliding towards Thailog's headquarters, they broke in and engaged Thailog and his forces in battle. Upon the birth of Maggie's son, the child did not appear to be a mutate at all much to Sevarius and Thailog's disappointment. No longer motivated to keep fighting, Thailog invited them all to leave and they returned to the Labyrinth to celebrate the birth of the new child now named Michael Peter Maza. ("A Little Crazy", "Idyll or Nightmare", "Miracle Child")
The trio drifting apart also weighed on Goliath as a concern, one that he had been meaning to address as Broadway had grown busy with his new romance with Angela, Brooklyn with his mate and with Gnash, and Lexington feeling lonely and retreating to the computer lab to chat with Staghart on the internet. While on patrol with Hudson they spoke of the distance that had grown between the trio, and Goliath had found himself wishing for a crisis that would draw them back together. He would soon learn to be careful of what he wished for, because he and Hudson were drawn to Central Park by the sounds of screaming teenagers and found three men wearing gargoyle masks. Goliath engaged their leader in battle but was interrupted by the arrival of the Gargoyle Taskforce, and the masked human escaped. Goliath was captured by the Gargoyle Taskforce and incarcerated at Rikers Island, in chains and with a shock-collar on (controlled by a prison guard named Renqvist who was only too eager to use it) in the same cell block as Tony Dracon and Tomas Brod. An attorney named Tobe Crest filed a lawsuit on the gargoyle's behalf which led to a hearing where his very sentience became the subject of debate. Brooklyn attempted to break Goliath out, but as Dracon and Brod sneered at the hypocrisy of the gargoyles breaking the law when it suited them the clan leader refused to leave, determined to have his night in court. ("Tale Old as Time", "Render Unto Caesar", "Underwater")
Tobe Crest soon met with Goliath in his cell and found they had much in common when it came to their outlook on monsters. Crest worked hard to prepare Goliath for what he'd face if he took the stand at his upcoming hearing and suggested character witness. They both dismissed David Xanatos as a candidate and agreed on Halcyon Renard. When Crest suggested Elisa Maza, Goliath refused as he did not want to tie her fortunes to his. When Goliath warned Crest that he had no means to pay him for the defense, the attorney revealed that his compensation was already covered but was not at liberty to reveal who had hired him. ("Everywhere")
Goliath, Dracon, Brod, and Renqvist were soon put at risk after Dino Dracon gave Wolf the go ahead to break into the prison and kill Brod, not caring that his nephew would likely be killed in the process. Wolf soon arrived with Jackal and Hyena, with every intention of killing Goliath once they were done with Brod. Goliath talked Renqvist into releasing him and Goliath made fast work of the three former members of the Pack. Despite having a chance to escape, Goliath refused to do so determined to face the humans in court. Dracon and Brod were both impressed and puzzled that Goliath would put himself in that position. But Goliath helped Renqvist detain their would-be killers and returned to his cell. ("Mayday")
Despite saving the life of Renqvist, Goliath still faced challenges in the courtroom with Margot Yale arguing against his sentience as witnesses such as Halcyon Renard, John Castaway, and others were brought to the stand. Renard's testimony was turned against Goliath when Yale revealed that Renard had funded the Gargoyle Taskforce. Goliath personally took the stand and plead his case, but Yale mounted a vicious cross examination that amounted to asking why a species that was so different deserved "human rights". Finally, against Goliath's wishes, Crest called Elisa to the stand and, under oath, she revealed her relationship with Goliath – everything about their relationship, including that they were in love. Finally, Judge Roebling ruled that Goliath was both sentient and had the same rights as any other citizen (partially due to a bribe from Xanatos, unbeknownst to Goliath) and set the gargoyle free. Ignoring the press, Goliath received news that Renard was on his death bed and took off to see his friend. ("Your Witness", "New Rules")
Upon arriving at Fortress-2, Preston Vogel escorted Goliath to Renard's private suite, where Xanatos, Fox, Owen, Anastasia, and Alexander were already gathered. As Renard laid out his wishes, he left Goliath with legal ownership and control of two percent of Cyberbiotics - which could only have been possible in the aftermath of Roebling's ruling (instantly making Goliath one of the richest individuals in Manhattan). Goliath was reluctant to accept the inheritance but accepted as Halcyon entrusted him to guard Alexander's inheritance and teach him to use it with integrity. Shortly after, Renard passed away. ("Young At Heart")
Goliath than returned to the castle and reunited with his clan. He was confronted by Coldstone who attempted to air his concerns and reservations of the entire ordeal but was called away by Elisa. Immediately he expressed concerns about the repercussions she would face for her testimony, but as Elisa began to tell him about he NYPD's offer they were interrupted by the arrival of Antoinette Dracon. Antoinette informed them of Dino Dracon's plans to bomb five police precincts and bring the wrath of the NYPD down on his rivals. The gargoyles disposed of the bombs and Goliath led the mission on the summit being held by the crime lords in an attempt to resolve their issues and end their gang war (making it clear that they weren't friends and he'd do everything in his power to protect Manhattan from their criminal activities). Following the summit and the apparent death of Dino Dracon, Goliath accepted the police's offer and formally joined the Gargoyle Taskforce. He was welcomed at a public ceremony and given a badge by Maria Chavez and Elisa was let off lightly with a four month suspension. However, unknown to him, at the same time he was inducted into the Gargoyle Taskforce, Demona (who had been manipulating the recent gang wars) ascended to leadership of the Six Families. ("Cold Comfort")
Hunting the Demon
With his newfound celebrity, Goliath was invited to speak at the Gathering of the Gargoyles Guild at the Park Manor Hotel. He spoke before an excited audience, despite John Castaway attempting to incite violence outside the venue. Elisa accompanied him and they were joined by Antoinette Dracon, who was interested in hearing what Goliath had to say. Castaway was successful at inciting violence and Goliath and Elisa stopped an attempted mass shooter. Afterwards he was approached by Vinnie Grigori who had come with a proposal from his current employer, which Goliath agreed to. He returned to the castle where he greeted a visiting Jade and Turquesa. He defended the castle against an attack by several unmanned Goldencup exo-frames, which were a distraction so that Demona could corner Owen and steal Puck's Flute. Once the dust settled, Owen emerged and told Goliath of the theft, and when Turquesa mentioned spotting Demona in Argentina stealing the lancehead of Gungnir, Owen realized that Demona was after the Three New Keys to Power. Goliath vowed to prevent Demona from acquiring all three Keys. And the clan spent the next several months attempting to find her, including a brief altercation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they prevented Demona from stealing Odin's Shield (although, it was not one of the Three New Keys - nor was it her actual target). He did eagerly welcome Elisa back to the police force when she was reinstated following her suspension. ("Questions", "Quo Vadis Cum Hoc?", "Acquisitions", "A Prize Beyond Compare...")
Goliath did find some respite that Halloween when he and the rest of the clan were guests of honor at the Halloween Street Fair in Greenwich Village, despite an attack by the Quarrymen. After making the acquaintance of Careless Jones, who remembered Goliath from two years ago, he and Elisa danced together in public, with his nature known to the world for the first time. ("Trick-Or-Treat")
When Thanksgiving fell, Goliath and Coldfire had kept up their hunt for Demona while the rest of the clan had grown complacent. Coldfire had come to no longer view herself as a true gargoyle, though Goliath felt otherwise. Goliath reminded his rookery sister that she was defined by her heart, not her shell. When Coldfire confided in Goliath of the distance that had grown between her and Coldstone, Goliath recalled that, in hindsight, it had also happened between him and Angel which he had been slow and reluctant to acknowledge.
But Demona soon made her move - using the Three New Keys to enslave every human in the city (with her goal to enslave every human on Earth). Goliath returned to the castle to find Elisa, Xanatos, Fox, and Owen under Demona's control. As her plan had been to enthrall humans into a life of servitude towards gargoyles, she presented it as a compromise - but Goliath would hear nothing of it, vowing to defeat her and return the humans' free will. Goliath led the Manhattan Clan in pursuit of Demona to LaGuardia Airport where he engaged Demona in a battle of wills. When Demona declared herself to be the last true gargoyle on Earth - Goliath called out the hypocrisy of her daylight human form. As he and Angela grappled with Demona for the Three Keys, Goliath caused her to briefly lose control of the Three Keys when he reminded her of her complicity in the Wyvern Massacre that allowed him to strip Demona of Puck's Flute. With Demona defeated, the Three Keys were destroyed. Although Demona escaped, Goliath later had to face the truth that Coldstone, his beloved rookery brother and friend, had betrayed the clan to Demona and agreed to his banishment. He also soon learned that while Elisa was under Demona's thrall, she stole Egwardo and the clan's only egg was now in Demona's possession. ("Unequivocal Success", "Queen of All She Surveys")
Future
Eventually, Goliath and Elisa would hold some sort of Commitment Ceremony (probably before 1999) and, further down the road, adopt and raise a child together. [6][7] Greg Weisman confirmed at the 2004 Gathering that it is from this adopted child that Nicholas Natsilane Maza will be descended.
At some point between 2004 and 2188, Goliath would sacrifice his life for some unknown purpose. However, it is known that shortly after his death, and in no small part due to his great sacrifice, the United Nations would adopt the Gargoyle Minority Protection Act which granted gargoyles full "sentient rights", established the Gargoyle Nation and made hunting gargoyles a crime. [8][9]
Characteristics
Physically, Goliath is an impressive figure, a tall and powerfully-built gargoyle with lavender skin and dark hair. He is one of the mightiest warriors alive, and even his most formidable opponents cannot easily defeat him. He is also a bold and fierce gargoyle, and his wrath is something that can be terrible to behold. While a level-headed figure in general, and a good leader, he can be very stubborn at times (such as in his refusal to abandon Castle Wyvern), or sometimes even become bitterly vengeful (as in his feud with the Hunters). But he is no mere savage, and his emotions can be held in check by his strong sense of justice and morality. He takes his role as a protector seriously, and will willingly put his life in danger to keep New York or his clan from harm.
In another way, Goliath has shown himself to be something more than a fierce gargoyle warrior. He is literate, having been taught how to read by Demona back in the 10th century, and has a particular fondness for the classics, such as Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky (he also enjoys Faulkner and Joyce). [10][11] Mingled in with his gargoyle instincts is a thoughtful, philosophical nature; he often ponders about the world and how it has changed since the time that he grew up in. He also eagerly learns all that he can about it from Elisa. His wisdom and sense of hope have helped him endure the fear and prejudice displayed by humans towards gargoyles, not yielding to it as Demona has done, as he continues to understand that humans treat gargoyles thus because they are afraid of them, and hopes that they will change for the better in the future, that someday, their races will be at peace.
Goliath has been shown to have a very forgiving nature. He did not get angry at Brooklyn for helping Demona trap him with her slavery spell and he forgave the Captain of the Guard for his role in the Wyvern massacre, in both of these cases Goliath saw that they were well intentioned, never meant him any harm, and were genuinely remorseful. When Talon and the mutates learned the truth about Xanatos, Goliath immediately forgave them for believing he was responsible for their mutations. He accepted Dingo's desire to redeem himself as genuine. Despite many adversarial encounters, he seems to be on friendly terms with Macbeth (Goliath may be particularly able to empathize with Macbeth as he too has felt the sting of Demona's betrayal). He accepted Xanatos's offer of friendship, though cautiously and more out of necessity. He held out hope longer than any of his clanmates that Demona could be redeemed, although in the end even he was forced to accept that she is a lost cause. At the same time Goliath has also been shown to have a vengeful nature which often conflicts with his forgiving nature. When Goliath faced Hakon and the Captain of the Guard he had to choose between revenge and saving Princess Katharine, who had always mistreated him. Goliath chose to save Katharine, this turned out to be a wise decision as Katharine became a devoted "mother" to the clan's eggs, but even after learning this Goliath regretted that he did not have a chance to kill Hakon and the Captain (even though they died anyway). When Goliath mistakenly believed Tony Dracon shot Elisa, he pursued Dracon with violent fury, and only refrained from killing him due to a last minute confession from Broadway. Goliath's vengeful streak was on full display after the Hunters almost killed Angela, having mistaken her for Demona. Goliath's thirst for vengeance led to the Hunters finding and destroying the Clock Tower and Elisa apparently falling to her death. Rather than see how much vengeance had cost him, Goliath doubled down and swore to avenge Elisa as well. As Goliath became increasingly obsessed with revenge, he became more of a mirror for Jason Canmore (just as Jon Canmore ended up becoming a mirror for Demona), in the end both came to their senses in time to stop Demona from killing the entire human race. In a reversal of the usual cartoon trope, Goliath, the hero, is more driven by revenge than Xanatos, the villain, who sees revenge as "a sucker's game".
Upon joining the NYPD's Gargoyle Taskforce, his badge number was 92994.
Timeline
938. March. Hatches at Wyvern Hill. [12]
971. A young warrior, he saves Angel from Culen's Mountain Stronghold. He later helps in the construction of Castle Wyvern. Goliath is named by Prince Malcolm. [13]
975. November 1. Splits the Phoenix Gate with Angel, and vows his love for her. ("Vows")
984. Tracks the Archmage to his cave along with [Mentor and Angel. Catches the Grimorum Arcanorum before it falls into a chasm. After this adventure, Mentor abdicates as leader of the Wyvern Clan and Goliath takes command. ("Long Way to Morning")
994. September 30. Sends the Trio and the gargoyle beast later known as Bronx to the rookery for getting in a fight with some humans. Later takes Mentor along with him to track the Vikings that have previously attacked them, unknowingly foiling Angel and Robbie's plan to rid the castle of the humans. They change the plan so that the Vikings attack Castle Wyvern during the day. ("Awakening: Part One", "City of Stone" Part One)
October 1. Goliath realizes he's been tricked but can't get to the castle in time. Wyvern Massacre occurs. Mourns Angel, thinking she was killed. Goliath and the other survivors attack the Viking camp to save the humans. Saves Princess Katharine from Hakon and the Captain. Comes back to find his friends turned to stone by the Magus, who thought the gargoyles caused the death of the Princess. Goliath asks Katharine to watch over the eggs before asking the Magus to place the sleep spell upon him. ("Awakening: Part One", "Awakening: Part Two")
1940. A time traveling Goliath helps Griff fight the Nazis in London during the Battle of Britain. ("M.I.A.")
1994. October 4. Goliath and the others awaken at Castle Wyvern after the breaking of the sleep spell. The Manhattan Clan is born. The gargoyles meet David Xanatos, who broke the spell by placing the castle above the clouds. A group of commandos attack the castle. They "steal" three diskettes and escape. ("Awakening: Part Two")
October 5. Goliath saves Elisa Maza's life after he scares her and she falls off the castle. He arranges to meet her the next night right before being asked by Xanatos to get his disks back. Goliath meets with Elisa again and they take an aerial tour of Manhattan. In Central Park, they are attacked by the Commandos again. They escape but Goliath has been hit with a tranquilizer dart and has no choice but to turn to stone at the coming dawn. ("Awakening: Part Three", "Awakening: Part Four")
October 6. Wakes up to find that Elisa has watched over him during the day. Their friendship is cemented. Goliath returns to the castle and is reunited with Demona. She and Xanatos convince him to get the disks back. Goliath and Demona attack Fortress-1 and Demona destroys it. Goliath is disturbed by her behavior. He meets with Elisa who tells him the disks were the property of Cyberbiotics and that Xanatos had been using the gargoyles. ("Awakening: Part Four", "Awakening: Part Five")
October 7. Returns to the castle to find Steel Clan robots attacking his clan. After the robots are defeated, Demona reveals she has been working against the clan and she tells Goliath of her plan that led to the Massacre. She reveals her name and is about to shoot Goliath but Elisa tackles her. Both Demona and Elisa fall off the castle, and Goliath saves Elisa before mourning the loss of his love once again. Elisa stops him from killing Xanatos, who is arrested for receiving stolen property. ("Awakening: Part Five")
November 5. Lexington convinces Goliath to meet The Pack. The Pack attacks them but are defeated. ("The Thrill of the Hunt")
November 12. Lured to the Cloisters by Brooklyn, where Demona casts a spell on Goliath from the Grimorum Arcanorum, enslaving his mind. ("Temptation")
November 13. Elisa uses the spell to free Goliath's mind. ("Temptation")
November 15. Owen gathers genetic material from Goliath. ("Double Jeopardy")
1995. January 3. Macbeth attacks the gargoyles, and abducts Brooklyn, Lexington, and Bronx. Goliath confronts Macbeth at his mansion, who reveals he is after Demona and that he named her. The gargoyles escape and Macbeth flees. ("Enter Macbeth")
January 4. Elisa, who has been trying to get Goliath to leave the castle, finally convinces him to do so with the help of Hudson and Broadway. The gargoyles move into the Clock Tower above the 23rd Precinct. ("Enter Macbeth")
January 20. Walks into a trap set up by Demona in order to try to reason with her. Demona shoots Goliath with a laser cannon, but he survives the night, thanks to Hudson's assistance. ("Long Way to Morning")
February 3. Accompanies Elisa on her shift, and confronts Coldstone in Times Square. Battle between the gargoyles, Coldstone, and Demona takes place at the George Washington Bridge. Goliath falls into the icy water but is saved by Coldstone, and then saved by him again when Demona shoots at him, supposedly sending Coldstone to his doom. Goliath declares his clan's new purpose; to protect the citizens of Manhattan. ("Reawakening")
September 9. Raids the Gen-U-Tech lab along with Brooklyn and Lexington in order to free Maggie, just as Anton Sevarius seems to be giving Derek Maza a cure. Goliath kicks Sevarius into an eel tank, supposedly killing him, and destroying Derek's chance for a cure. Derek becomes a mutate permanently and blames Goliath for his condition. ("Metamorphosis")
September 20. Confronts Coldstone again and enters his mind via RECAP in order to side with "Othello" and "Desdemona" against "Iago" and a program designed by Xanatos. Goliath is successful and returns to his body, but Coldstone is rendered temporarily dormant thanks to a virus. ("Legion")
September 28. Demona summons Puck using Titania's Mirror. Puck transforms all the humans of Manhattan into gargoyles, and turns the gargoyles themselves into humans. Mayhem ensues, but Puck is captured and then released by Goliath after he changes everyone back to normal. Goliath realizes his feelings for Elisa go deeper than friendship and tries to talk to her about it, but she cuts him off. ("The Mirror")
October 31. Xanatos asks Goliath and Elisa for help in getting the Eye of Odin away from Fox, which they refuse. Goliath attends a Halloween block party with Elisa at Greenwich Village and dances with her. The werefox attacks and Goliath aids Xanatos in removing the Eye from her. Goliath takes possession of the Eye. ("Eye of the Beholder")
November 6. Attends the wedding of Fox and Xanatos, which is really a trap to get him to give his half of the Phoenix Gate to Demona. Travels back to 975 with Demona and tells her younger self to remember to keep her vows of love. He returns back to the present, and seeing that Demona is unchanged, realizes that he has lost her forever. ("Vows")
November 11. Agrees to ally with Xanatos to help him break Demona's "stone by night" spell. ("City of Stone" Part Two)
November 14. Goliath and the clan are saved by Elisa and "Othello" at Belvedere Castle while in stone sleep. They have been captured by the Weird Sisters working through Demona and Macbeth as part of their plan to obtain the Phoenix Gate, Eye of Odin, and Grimorum Arcanorum from the Clock Tower. ("High Noon")
November 15. Injured during a fight with the Pack. Hudson tells him to choose a second in command amongst the trio. ("Upgrade")
November 17. Captured by Halcyon Renard while following Fortress-2. He works with Renard to save the ship after Vogel and Fox try to sabotage it. ("Outfoxed")
November 24-25. The clan is introduced to Matt Bluestone who involves Goliath in his plan to bust Mace Malone and the Illuminati. He's put through his paces at the Hotel Cabal before escaping with Matt. ("Revelations")
November 29. Makes a bad first impression with Thailog until Elisa convinces him that the clone is his son. Thailog chains Goliath up in an oil rig along with Elisa, Xanatos and Sevarius. Working together they escape, and after a failed attempt to reason with Thailog, Goliath fears that he's failed him. ("Double Jeopardy")
December 14-15. Captured by the upgraded Pack along with Elisa, Hudson, and Bronx. They are saved by the Trio, and Goliath chooses Brooklyn as his second-in-command. ("Upgrade")
December 19. Goliath and Broadway help Elisa bust Tony Dracon during his protection racket scheme. Goliath eats a jalapeño pepper before yelling out the infamous catchphrase. ("Protection") Later he informs Elisa that he's seen the mutates back at the Eyrie Building and the two of them confront a resistant Talon. ("The Cage")
December 20. Goliath kidnaps Sevarius in order to try to force a cure for the mutates out of him. Elisa convinces him to release him right before Talon attacks Goliath. He's nearly killed by Talon, but Xanatos arrives and Talon realizes his error. Goliath acknowledges that Elisa is part of his clan. ("The Cage")
December 28. Departs to Avalon with Tom, Elisa, and Bronx. There, he is introduced to his rookery children and meets Angela for the first time. ("Avalon" Part One, "Avalon" Part Two)
December 30. Fights with the enhanced Archmage during the Avalon battle. He manages to remove the Eye of Odin from him, causing the Grimorum Arcanorum to destroy the Archmage. Goliath reclaims the Eye and the Phoenix Gate. ("Avalon" Part Three)
1996. January 1-2. Departs from Avalon aboard the skiff with Elisa, Angela, and Bronx. Start of the Avalon World Tour. ("Avalon" Part Three) Arrives at Wyvern Hill where the spirits of Hakon and the Captain of the Guard slowly drive him mad, attempting to steal his life force. Goliath forgives the Captain after the latter switches sides and saves his life, and the ghost ascends. ("Shadows of the Past")
January 17. At Loch Ness, Angela discovers from Sevarius that Goliath is her biological father. ("Monsters")
January 20. In Prague, Goliath helps convince Renard to abdicate his soul from the Golem. Goliath realizes that fate is responsible for the Avalon World tour, and decides to see it through to the end. ("Golem")
January 21. In Paris, Goliath encounters Demona and Thailog. Angela learns that Demona is her biological mother, something that troubles Goliath greatly, and he refuses to acknowledge her as his daughter. ("Sanctuary")
January 23. Arriving in London, Goliath meets Leo and Una of the London Clan, who blame him for the loss of Griff. Using the Phoenix Gate, Goliath travels back to 1940, and brings Griff forward to the present time. ("M.I.A.")
May 2. Enters the Dreamtime with Dingo in Australia and helps him in convincing the Matrix from destroying the world. ("Walkabout")
May 16-17. In Nigeria, Diane Maza gives Goliath some advice about child-rearing. After deafeating Anansi per a suggestion by Angela, Goliath accepts her as his daughter. ("Mark of the Panther")
May 20-21. Attempting to retrieve his Eye from Goliath, Odin lures the skiff to Norway. He kidnaps Elisa, which motivates Goliath to don the Eye himself and become a quasi-avatar for Odin. [14] A power-hungry fascist, Goliath nearly kills his companions and Odin until Angela brings him to his senses and he removes the Eye. Odin reclaims his eye. ("Eye of the Storm")
May 24-26. Meets the gargoyles of the Mayan Clan in Guatemala, and helps them defend their home from Jackal and Hyena. ("The Green")
June 14-15. Meets the Ishimura Clan in Japan, and is abducted along with the other gargoyles by Taro for his Gargoyle Theme Park. The gargoyles are liberated with the help of Elisa and Hiroshi. ("Bushido")
July 4-6. Back on Avalon, Goliath is forced to battle with Oberon along with Angela and Gabriel. Later, Oberon decrees Goliath's clan part of his honour guard and immune to his magic. ("Ill Met By Moonlight")
July 8. Passes out on the skiff and given a horrible nightmare vision from Puck of a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, as per Puck's plan to obtain the Phoenix Gate. After Goliath awakens, he tosses the gate into the time stream. ("Future Tense")
July 9-July 10. Goliath and the others return home. Not long after he learns of Oberon and Titania's plan to kidnap Alexander, and the clan joins forces with Xanatos and Renard to stop them. Thanks to a magical outburst by Fox, Goliath convinces Oberon to let Alexander stay, with Puck as his tutor. Xanatos tells Goliath that he owes him for saving his son. ("The Gathering" Part One, "The Gathering" Part Two)
August 1-2. Goliath and Hudson are attacked by Wolf and Hakon's ghost. Goliath defeats Wolf just before Vinnie shows up swearing revenge, and hits Goliath in the face with a banana cream pie. ("Vendettas")
October 24. Encounters the Hunters for the first time. Angela is badly wounded during the fight and Goliath swears vengeance. Elisa saves her using CPR. Later, Goliath witnesses Elisa kissing Jason Conover from her balcony. Doubly upset, he enters the Hunters' Airship along with Lexington and Brooklyn and encounters Demona. The gargoyles are captured, and Goliath forms an alliance with Demona before escaping, but not before Robyn Canmore plants a tracer on him. ("Hunter's Moon" Part One, "Hunter's Moon" Part Two)
October 25. Using the tracer, the Hunters find the gargoyles and blow up the Clock Tower. The gargoyles save themselves just in time. Goliath declares fresh vengeance. Jon Canmore reports on the news that the gargoyles destroyed the Clock Tower, exposing them to the public at large. ("Hunter's Moon" Part Three)
October 26. Goliath tracks down the hunters and a fight breaks out on a dam. Elisa tries to break up the fight but is knocked off the dam along with Jason. Goliath attempts to rescue her, but is unsuccessful. Intent on revenge, the whole clan tracks the Hunters to Saint Damien's Cathedral, who are there to stop Demona from carrying out her Operation Clean Slate plan. Goliath is about to kill Jon, but is brought to his senses by the arrival of Elisa and Jason. Jon shoots at Goliath, but Jason takes the blast, causing him to be paralyzed from the waist down. Jon flees, and the gargoyles attempt to stop Demona. Goliath sabotages her plan by destroying the Praying Gargoyle, and then catches the vial containing the virus before it shatters. Leaving the cathedral, the gargoyles are cornered by an angry mob and the Gargoyle Taskforce, but Xanatos arrives and rescues them. ("Hunter's Moon" Part Three)
October 27. The gargoyles reclaim Castle Wyvern. Just before dawn, Elisa and Goliath admit their feelings for each other, and she kisses him for the first time. ("Hunter's Moon" Part Three)
October 29. Goliath goes to visit Elisa, and the two of them are attacked by Jon Canmore posing as the Quarryman John Castaway. They are pursued to the ruined Clock Tower and are nearly killed, but saved by Vinnie's intervention. ("Nightwatch", "The Journey")
October 31. Elisa goes to the castle and breaks up with Goliath. Heartbroken, he agrees at her insistance to bring Delilah to Xanatos's Masque later that evening. At the party, Goliath tries to reason with Elisa, but she flees. Thailog arrives at that moment with the clones, under the pretense of reclaiming Delilah. While waiting for her arrival, Thailog stabs Goliath in the gut with a dagger from his gauntlet. ("Invitation Only", "Masque")
November 1. A fight breaks out between the Manhattan clan and the clones. Thailog flees after he obtains blood samples from each member of the clan. While Goliath is being tended by Dr. Sato, he and Elisa declare their mutual love and kiss. ("Bash")
November 4. Elisa indicates to Goliath that she wants to pursue a relationship with him, and he kisses her after she strokes his hair. ("The Rock")
1997. January 10th. Goliath is reunited not only with Hudson and Lexington from their adventure in the United Kingdom, but also Brooklyn, who was accidentally sent dancing through time by the Phoenix that was inside the Phoenix Gate. While it was mere seconds after he departed for the rest of the clan, for Brooklyn forty years have passed. He does not return alone. Goliath is greeted to his mate Katana, their son Nashville, the gargoyle beast Fu-Dog and an unhatched gargoyle egg, nicknamed Egwardo. ("The Gate", "Phoenix")
May 14th. Goliath aids in the rescue of Mary and Maggie the Cat from Thailog and Sevarius at the Nightstone Unlimited Building. There, Maggie and Talon's son, Michael Peter Maza is born. ("Miracle Child") [15]
May 15th. Peter Choy and Rosaria Sanchez are kidnapped by Dino Dracon and his men in Central Park. Goliath is captured and imprisoned by the Gargoyle Taskforce while confronting the masked perpetrators. Hours after Goliath awakes incarcerated at Rikers Island, lawyer Tobe Crest files a motion regarding the legal rights for the gargoyle. The following evening, Brooklyn, Coldfire, and Coldstone attempt to break Goliath free from Rikers, but he refuses to leave, preferring to have his night at court. ("Tale Old As Time", "Render Unto Caesar", "Underwater")
May 18th. Wolf, Hyena, and Jackal attack Rikers Island. Goliath saves not only Tomas Brod and Tony Dracon, but Riker prison guard Renqvist. ("Mayday")
May 19th. Goliath's Hearing begins. He is given a chance to speak on his own behalf and is cross-examined by Margot Yale. ("Your Witness")
May 20th. The second night of Goliath's Hearing. Elisa takes the witness stand. With some behind-the-scene encouragement from Xanatos, Judge Roebling ultimately rules in Goliath's favor, declaring him both sentient and deserving the same rights as humans. After he is released from custody, Goliath is notified by Owen that he is needed on Fortress-2. Renard is on his death-bed. Before he passes away that night, Renard gives control of his company to his daughter and grandson (with Vogel as his proxy), with Goliath inheriting a tie-breaking share as well. ("Your Witness", "New Rules", "Young At Heart")
May 21st. Goliath and the rest of the clan foil Dino Dracon's plans to detonate bombs throughout Manhattan, as well as prevent him from taking out the heads of the competing Five Families. ("Cold Comfort")
July 19. Goliath makes a bargain. [16]
1997-1999. Sometime during this time, Goliath and Elisa hold a Commitment Ceremony. [17]
2004. August 6. Goliath is briefly forced into hiding. [18]
2004-2188. At some point between these years, Goliath sacrifices his life for an unknown cause, resulting in the United Nations adopting the Gargoyle Minority Protection Act. [19][20]
Appearances
Apocrypha
Gargoyles Meets The Spectacular Spider-Man Meets Young Justice
While Green Goblin attacks L. Thompson Lincoln, the deposed Big Man of Crime, Goliath swoops in to stop a pumpkin bomb from hitting Lincoln. Spider-Man arrives and mistakes Goliath as another of Green Goblin's creatures. The ensuing fight between Goliath and Spider-Man ends when Goliath turns to stone, leaving Spider-Man alone with the Green Goblin. Spider-Man stopped a pumpkin bomb from hitting the stone Goliath, thrown from Goblin while trying to escape.
The following night Goliath learns from Zafiro and Obsidiana about Demona's smuggling activities and from Elisa about Demona's break-out at Ravencroft Institute. They also get a call from from Matt Bluestone asking for back-up at at an OsCorp vault. Once there, Goliath eventually caught up with Demona, who now possessed both the Spear of Destiny and the Crown of Thorns. Unaffected by the relics' magicks, Goliath battles with Demona, reaching for the Crown. Electro blasts electricity toward Goliath, but he continues but he While the two struggled, Spider-Man managed to web the Crown of Thorns off Demona's head, causing an explosion of mystic energy.
In the aftermath, Elisa gets a call from Spider-Man, who, while on speaker phone, now sees that Goliath does "the super-hero thing without the tights". Goliath also understands that Spider-Man's protectorate is his "neighborhood". ("Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns")
The Manhattan Clan learns that a mystical artifact known as the Hand of Valmont is at risk of being stolen from the Museum of Natural History. Most of the clan, including Goliath, departs to keep an eye on the museum, but they soon realize that the museum was largely a distraction for Demona to kidnap Egwardo from Castle Wyvern's rookery.
Following her defeat, Goliath is later approached by Batman and Iron Man, both trying to recruit the gargoyle to the Justice League and the Avengers, respectively. Xanatos interrupts them and asks both billionaires to join his club "Rich Boys with Big Toys" instead. Goliath and Elisa allow the three to sort it out amongst themselves. ("Recruits")
(Other appearances: "The Cosmos", "Musicology 101: Songs of the Theme")
The Goliath Chronicles
After the Hunter's Moon and the Quarrymen's initial attack, Goliath and Elisa's relationship seemed to quiet down for a while. Goliath still had many adventures, several of which involved the Quarrymen. Among other events, Goliath went on trial; his "son" Thailog became permanently petrified by a degenerative virus, something that hit Goliath hard; he was sent into another dream world where he was human and married to Elisa by Titania; he was turned into a mind-controlled slave by the Illuminati scientist Dr. Nexus; and he nearly lost Elisa's trust when he was impersonated by an escaped Proteus. ("And Justice For All", "Genesis Undone", "...For It May Come True", "To Serve Mankind" "Seeing Isn't Believing")
Finally, Goliath and the rest of the clan were lured into a Quarryman trap and thought dead by the entire city (but secretly saved by Xanatos). Only Angela and Bronx "survived," and they were taken to face trial on charges of terrorism committed by the clan. The Quarrymen attacked the train that was transporting them in an attempt to destroy them, and the clan rescued Angela and Bronx as well as the humans on the train, much to the humans' surprise. Goliath faced down John Castaway, and defeated him for the last time. The gargoyles saved the train, and the Quarrymen were sent to jail while the gargoyles were finally accepted. ("Angels In the Night")
Production Background
Voice Actor: Keith David
Goliath was not part of the original comedy development of Gargoyles. He first appeared as the title character of "The Gargoyle", the first attempt at turning the show into an action-drama. In this proposed show, "the gargoyle" was the immortal magical creation of an evil wizard who becomes a hero in the modern world. [21]
Some of the names considered for Goliath included "Gar", "Griffin", "Lear", "Calaban", "Othello", "Atlas", "Stone", "Prometheus", and "Titan". [22][23]
In addition to the figurines from Applause and action figures from Kenner during the show's original run, Goliath was also released as a sculpt by both Bowen Designs in 2009 and Electric Tiki in 2011.
Trivia
A chibi version of Goliath had a cameo in the episode "Mabel's Dream Date" of Disney's Chibiverse series, as one of a series of prospective dates for Mabel Pines from Gravity Falls. (She turned him down as "too shirtless".)
See Also
- Goliath (Gargoyles) at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
