Phoenix (episode)
- You may be looking for Phoenix.
"Phoenix" is the twelfth issue of the Gargoyles comic by SLG, and Chapter Twelve of the Clan-Building story arc.
On August 31, 2008, SLG's license to produce single issues of the Gargoyles comic ended. The material that would have made up single issues nine through twelve is included in the trade paperback collection Gargoyles: Clan-Building, Volume Two.
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Contents
Solicitation
Can a Time Dancing Brooklyn change the course of human history - and should he? Can he find his way back to the present? And if so, who will he bring along to the dance?
Summary
Main Plot
The Battle of Rathveramoen continues, with Brother Valmont's answer to Kenneth's gargoyle allies with the Rain of Death Spell. Brooklyn slices off Valmont's hand that held the Grimorum Arcanorum and Demona manages to end the spell. As the battle ends, the Phoenix appears once more and Mary and Finella ask Brooklyn to accompany him in the TimeDance.
In 1997, moments after Broadway and Angela saw Brooklyn vanish in flames, they witness his return with company. Back at the Eyrie Building, the Manhattan Clan sees the return of Hudson and Lexington as well as Coldstone and Coldfire, while Brooklyn has returned from his TimeDance with Fu-Dog, Katana, Gnash, and "Egwardo". The Manhattan Clan has doubled in size just in time for Elisa Maza to report that Jackal has broken Hyena and Wolf out of Rikers.
Subplots
While Gillecomgain pursues a young Bodhe, Constantine further inspires the future assassin with a mention to the night's Hunter's Moon and a command: “Be a Hunter for your King!”
"Sacrifice" dies from the Rain of Death onslaught, saving the life of her mate, "Second".
On the battlefield, Maíl Brigti fights his half-brother Findlaech, and dies from the magical deluge, resulting in Gillecomgain blaming Findleach for the death.
The Story
1997 AD. The Eyrie Building stands tall under a waning Moon and clear night sky. Atop the highest tower of Castle Wyvern, Goliath ruminates about the past millennium – about how the humans in the 10th Century sought to destroy their clan, their race, and their spirits, reducing the Wyvern Clan to rubble and ashes with only a handful of survivors. Without a doubt, those humans figured they would never rise again . . . .
997 AD. Brooklyn dives into the battlefield of Rathveramoen from the skies above, thinking about Broadway and Angela, who are no doubt wondering if he'll ever return to his own proper home and time. It's a damn good question. One of the soldiers fighting for Constantine is unable to block Brooklyn's airborne swordplay, losing his own blade in the process. Brooklyn continues his aerial attacks, and Constantine's men duck for cover, distracted from the ground assault. The Gargoyle of the Sword thinks back to how the Phoenix Gate melted, releasing a Phoenix that swallowed him in 20th Century Manhattan only to spit him out in 10th Century Scotland. Lifting another soldier into the air and unsure if he'll ever return home, Brooklyn figures that the first step will be helping the Grim defeat Constantine. Protecting the Grimorum Arcanorum will be another challenge to contend with.
As King and pretender combat one another, Brother Valmont has the magic book in his clutches! Mary turns to see Lady Finella watch helpless as Constantine's sorcerer stands on their cart, proclaiming that he now has not only has the first of Three Keys to Power but the gateway to Avalon itself. Truly, the fate of Scotland is now in his literal hands. "Too bad you can't keep your feet!" Mary shouts at Brother Valmont. Taking the reigns, she drives Magus the horse forward, throwing Valmont off the cart. Crashing onto the ground, Brother Valmont vows to make Mary pay for the indignity.
Joining up with perhaps the last gargoyle clan in Scotland to even the Grim's odds, Brooklyn realizes that, as determined as he is to end Constantine's gargoyle genocide, he's very much put them at risk. His ignorance on how history unfolded has left him in the dark about the fate of his 10th Century brethren. Meanwhile, he and another gargoyle pick up two enemy soldiers into the air and drop them in the battlefield below. "Way to go, Bro!" Brooklyn tells the gargoyle, offering a high-four. After the gargoyle expresses his confusion, Brooklyn clarifies that 'Bro' is short for 'rookery brother' and the term is returned as the gargoyles grasp arms. Gargoyle beasts plow down Constantine's men and the clan's second calls out to his love in time for her to dive out of the way from an airborne spear.
Figuring she's bound to inevitably betray them all, Brooklyn decides to land next to Angel in the middle of the battlefield, where she is bashing human heads in with a mace. She compliments the Gargoyle of the Sword on how well he fights. Brooklyn explains that he had a good teacher – Goliath – and the gargoyle is reminded of the love she betrayed. But, becoming alert once more, she takes the opportunity to reject one lesson from her mate, telling Brooklyn, "Trust not in the humans as Goliath did . . . for when they are done killing each other, they will turn their attentions to the slaughter of our kind! It is their very nature!"
Elsewhere, Constantine tells Prince Kenneth how, even with the gargoyle reinforcements, his armies' superior numbers can hold them out until sunrise. "And when your saviors fall from the sky like stones . . . we will shatter them all – leaving you to our mercies!" Kenneth counters, telling the tyrant he has no mercy. "Exactly," Constantine agrees. Not far from them, Gillecomgain chases down Bodhe on his horse, mocking the Grim's son and would-be prince. Bodhe insists he doesn't want to be a prince, and Gillecomgain raises his sword to strike, agreeing to help the boy in the matter. Bodhe dodges the hit as Gillecomgain leaps off his horse and, as Kenneth calls out to his son, Constantine commands the teenager "to skewer the brat"! Beneath the Hunter's Moon, Constantine goads Gillecomgain on, commanding him to be a hunter for his king. While Gillecomgain is all to happy to fulfill his king's wishes, Findlaech asks Gillecomgain's father, Maíl Brigti, if his son is now Constantine's? Taking a battle axe to Findlaech's shield, Maíl Brigti is no mood for discussing fathers and sons, when their own father, Ruaidri, disowned his eldest son for a legitimate heir, bequeathing him all of Moray. Findlaech strikes his half-brother's shield with a sword, recalling that he once offered to share his inheritance, but now he accuses Maíl Brigti of supporting the murderer of Kenneth II in his efforts to take all of Moray. Maíl Brigti's ready to end their fraternal quarrels once and for all, fully intending for one brother to kill the other.
Holding the Grimorum in his right hand, Brother Valmont stretches out his left and casts a spell: "Pluvia telum ex polus!" Finella tries to interpret the Latin, but Prince Maol Chalvim beats them to it, telling the women to hide under the cart immediately. Sword in hand, he tells Brother Valmont to call off his spell before he's impaled, but Valmont tells him its too late. Finally piecing the words behind the incantation, Finella explains to Mary that sky is about to rain down with arrows. The two duck for cover underneath the cart just as the first arrows fall. The gargoyles on the battlefield are not so fortunate, taking the full brunt of Valmont's handiwork. In the sky, the love of the clan's second shields her mate and is pierced with a half-dozen arrows. Falling limp from the sacrifice she made, her mate holds her by the arm before cradling her, calling out to his love with tears in his eyes. She can barely utter her final words to him as Angel and Brooklyn are horrified by the tragic sight.
Mary and Finella notice that the horse Magus is another casualty from the magical deluge while Valmont directs his attention to Maol Chalvim, who's protecting himself with his shield. He doesn't see Brooklyn or his sword in time, which manages to slice Valmont's hand clean off, gauntlet and all! The Grimorum falls to the ground, with Valmont's hand still clinging to it. Brooklyn takes cover under Maol Chalvim's shield, commenting how the arrows are still falling. From under the cart, Finella attempts to retrieve the magic book, but Angel, also under Maol Chalvim's shield, takes it instead. Brooklyn asks her if she can reverse the spell. Somewhat confident that she can do so, Angel explains more confidently that she could never reverse the damage it has already caused. Angel stands upright now, and holding the Grimorum cries out to the night sky:
- subsisto rorate coeli de super
- et calamos pluant!
The arrows dissolve, but casualties remain, including Maíl Brigti, with Findlaech attempting to keep his half-brother conscious. Gillecomgain sees the sight and determines that "Brother kills brother". Findleach tells the teenager that the rains did his father in but, with the spell reversed, Gillecomgain sees no arrows. Findlaech warns Gillecomgain not to upset him, unwilling to see his brother's line end that night. Bodhe takes the opportunity to run off from his assailant, and before uncle and nephew can reconcile their differences, Constantine and the Grim charge between the two on horseback, separating the two. Constantine still anticipates the night will be his, now that the rain of death has minimized the gargoyles' impact. Kenneth grimly vows that his cousin, Maol Chalvim, will still be a foe to oppose the despot. Constantine has already figured that, recognizing the prince's ambitions. The tyrant king taunts Kenneth promising that, "we will deal with him . . . after we gut your mewling brat!" Enraged now, Kenneth swings his shield and swings his sword. Leaping off his horse, he knocks Constantine to the ground. Gillecomgain looks on as Kenneth raises his blade to deliver the final blow.
The spell reversed, Brooklyn begins to worry at the sight of seeing Angel with the Grimorum Arcanorum in her hands. With Maol Chalvim at their side, Mary and Finella are back on their feet now, and Mary sees a sight that makes her freeze where she stands – the fiery Phoenix! As relieved as Brooklyn is to see the firebird, he's somewhat annoyed that, after doing what needed doing, he won't be able to witness how everything turns – turned – out. Angel is perplexed at the sight of the Phoenix, and Brooklyn (despite his dissatisfaction) uses the moment to ask for her half of the Phoenix Gate. This coaxes the Grimorum out of her grasp as Brooklyn claims it'll help control the fiery fowl. With Angel preoccupied, Brooklyn slides the book to Mary and Finella, pointing out that the two are likely meant to protect it. Finella admits that, after this adventure, perhaps they are unfit to carry out the task given to them. Mary concurs, asking Brooklyn not to abandon them. Brooklyn grows anxious and tells them, "You really don't know what you're asking . . ."
1997 AD. Broadway and Angela leap to reach Brooklyn, but they are too late. With a final wisp of flame, Brooklyn and the Phoenix are gone – perhaps forever. The light of flame falls on Angela and Broadway's faces once more. A voice tells them, "Forever . . . Forty years . . . forty seconds . . . however you keep time, the Dance is finally done." Broadway recognizes his rookery brother and Angela notes that he's not alone!
Goliath thinks atop Castle Wyvern how those humans figured they would never rise again when his thoughts are interrupted by the return of Hudson and Lexington from England, and they are not alone! Goliath's suddenly greeted by Coldstone and Coldfire, who tell their rookery brother that Hudson convinced them it was time they returned to the clan. Before Goliath can react, Broadway lands on the tower, telling Goliath, "Turns out Brooklyn went on a little trip too . . . and . . . uh . . . well . . . you better come see for yourself." Down in the Great Hall, Goliath is shocked at the sight he sees before him and ask Brooklyn what this is all about. A now older Brooklyn – one-eyed and armed to the wings with sword, katana, pistol, and laser-cannon – explains how it is about returning home after four decades of traveling up and down the timestream. He introduces them all to the latest additions of the Manhattan Clan: his mate Katana, their son Nashville (who insists on being called Gnash), and the gargoyle beast, Fu-Dog. Further, Katana is carrying a gargoyle egg, who they already call "Egwardo".
Goliath is still not sure he fully understands, but grasping arms with his second-in-command, he hears Brooklyn explain that its a long story . . . "Some of it even true," he quips. Bronx and Fu-Dog sniff one another as Angela approaches Katana and "Egwardo", sharing that she's never seen a gargoyle egg before. Overjoyed at the sight, Hudson looks forward to hearing Brooklyn's tales but, for now, welcomes his sons and daughters home. The elevator to the Great Hall dings open and Elisa Maza steps out reporting trouble with the Pack when she stunned by double the gargoyles she's used to seeing. Goliath tells her that explanations will come later, reminding her that she mentioned something with the Pack. Regaining her focus, Elisa reports that Jackal broke Hyena and Wolf out of Rikers prison, and are "throwing a little party" in Times Square. Goliath smiles, amused at the thought that the Manhattan Clan – the entire Manhattan Clan – "should throw a little party of its own".
With Coldstone carrying Bronx, Brooklyn carrying Fu-Dog, Katana carrying "Egwardo" on her back, and Elisa in Goliath's arms, the Manhattan Clan glide to Times Square. Goliath can't help but think about how just a few years ago, their clan was shattered to a mere six survivors. But, like the Phoenix reborn from its ashes, that number has more than doubled with fourteen! As they soar, Lexington can't help but boast, "The Pack'll never know what hit 'em!"
Never the end . . .
Review
The last chapter of "Clan-Building", and, for now, of the revived Gargoyles. We open, appropriately, with Goliath seated on the battlements of modern-day Castle Wyvern, in his "Rodin's Thinker" pose, brooding over the misfortunes of his kind. We haven't seen Goliath awake since "The Rock", and his return makes a great way to begin the final chapter.
In 997, Brooklyn is still caught in the middle of the battle between Constantine III and Kenneth III – which is about to become worse now that Brother Valmont has seized the Grimorum and is ready to betray his former employer. (On an intriguing note, he is aware, like the Archmage, that the Grimorum is one of three magical objects needed to gain ultimate power.)
As the battle rages, we see many of the familiar combatants, some of whom we are only meeting now, others whom we had met in the series. Bodhe (only a young boy at this point) is already as timid as his future self in "City of Stone". Demona is ready to turn on her human allies, for being humans, when she is finished with Constantine. Maíl Brigti confronts his half-brother Findlaech, eaten up with envy of his happier fortune. And Gillecomgain displays his own ruthlessness – especially as Constantine cries out that it is the night of the Hunter's Moon.
But the fighting takes an even darker turn as Brother Valmont uses the Grimorum to summon up a hail of arrows from the heavens to strike the combatants on both sides. The losses from this barrage are effectively presented; we see the grief of Demona's Second as his mate perishes (an amazingly poignant scene, in light of our only having just met her), and the horror of Mary and Finella as their faithful horse is also slain by the arrows. Even Mail Brigti's death from the enchanted arrows is a moving moment. Fortunately for the other characters, Brooklyn seizes the Grimorum from Valmont (by chopping off his hand!) and gets it to Demona, who is able to call off the arrows with a counter-spell – but in true Gargoyles fashion, she admits that while she can banish the arrows, those slain by them will remain dead.
Kenneth slays Constantine (but not before Constantine shrewdly predicts Maol Chalvim's later treachery against him) and the battle is over. But Brooklyn must now recover the Grimorum from Demona. When the Phoenix returns (Brooklyn's frustration at the Phoenix's coming for him before he can learn how things turned out is well-depicted), he tricks her out of the book, and then escapes with Mary and Finella into another time....
Back in the present, Goliath is greeted by the newly-returned Hudson, Lexington, Coldstone, and Coldfire. He is delighted to see his old rookery brother and sister back again – but even more astounded when Brooklyn shows up, with new company – only not the company you'd expect. After spending forty years being bounced about the time-stream by the Phoenix, he's back, with a family: his mate Katana, their son Nashville (or Gnash, as he likes to call himself), a gargoyle beast named Fu-Dog, and an egg named at present Egwardo (and we thought you were above such puns, Brooklyn). He's changed noticeably, including an eyepatch as well as various weaponry from different ages. (How he lost an eye should make a great story for another day.)
Elisa dashes into the middle of the reunion with news that Jackal, Hyena, and Wolf are on the rampage again – and stops, astonished at all the new arrivals. But the gargoyles all head off with her to Times Square to face the Pack. If the comic had continued with an issue #13, we'd no doubt be heading into a fresh story about the Pack – but even without it, it makes a fine open ending, showing that the clan still have a city to protect. And on the last page, as we see them heading into battle, we know that the gargoyles' plight is not as hopeless as it had once seemed, echoing Goliath's thoughts at the start of the chapter.
"Clan-Building" made a delightful continuation to the television series, with new stories and revelations. I am sorry that there are – for now – no more new stories to come involving the clan, but perhaps there will be more. And what we've gained has been a blessing. Long glide the clan.
Featured Characters and First Appearances
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Continuity
Taking a lesson he learned from "Temptation", Brooklyn goes medieval to remove the Grimorum Arcanorum from Brother Valmont's possession but, thanks to the nature of the incantation, the feat of slicing off Valmont's hand would have less impact on the deathly rain of arrows.
The Hand of Valmont will eventually become a talisman of its own might and centuries later will reappear as a MacGuffin for Thailog, Shari, and Brentwood in "Questions".
Tidbits
The cover is an homage of the old movie poster from the first Star Wars film.
Gillecomgain's historical kinship to Macbeth and Findlaech is now reconciled with his depictions in the "City of Stone" multi-parter and "Hunter's Moon" Part One as a peasant.
Constantine is right to foretell trouble for Kenneth from Maol Chalvim. In the actual history of Scotland, Maol Chalvim would betray his cousin eight years later, slaying him at the Battle of Monzievaird, and seizing the Scottish throne as Malcolm II.
Brooklyn returns to the Manhattan Clan after forty years of time traveling. This is the same amount of time that had passed in Goliath's vision of the future in "Future Tense" and Brooklyn's attire partially resembles his "Future Tense" appearance.
See Also
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