Young At Heart
"Young At Heart" is the eleventh issue of the Gargoyles comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released on January 3rd, 2024. [1] The digital version of the comic was briefly available on Kindle on December 20th, 2023 (before being removed for all but customers who already had it on December 21st).
- Writer/Creator: Greg Weisman
- Pencil Artist: George Kambadais
- Color Artists: Giulia Giacomino & Giovanna La Pietra
- Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
- Editor: Nate Cosby
- Main Cover Artist: David Nakayama
Contents
Solicitation
With the Manhattan Clan back together again, Brooklyn and Katana ask Broadway, Lexington, and Angela to stand as their Seconds during the all-important Commitment Ceremony. The Clan has never felt stronger - which is a good thing, because a desperate Dino Dracon is about to make one last play to take over all of New York City!
The Story
Gnash glides through Manhattan, past the Metlife Building, thinking about how, all his life, his dad would talk about the amazing bond he shared with his rookery brothers, Lexington and Broadway. But he's hasn't seen anything spectacular about their brotherhood since he arrived in modern day New York. But, while keeping up with the Trio, Gnash also keeps his hopes up – perhaps he'll see them in action tonight.
Of course, no one was expecting the night to be any more eventful than it already was. But earlier that evening, Izaak Slaughter convenes with the heads of the other crime families. He explains to them his hunch that Dino orchestrated their mutual violence on one another, but Choi Yingpei remains unconvinced. This is not the Dino she remembers. Grisha Volkov agrees with Choi; Dino isn't a plotter or a schemer. Jack Dane finishes Volkov's thought: He's a "howitzer with a hair trigger". But Slaughter will not be dissuaded – if Dino is indeed a 'howitzer', then what has he's been up to since he's been released? Slaughter can't believe that Dino, now that he's out, would just remain quiet while the other families tear each other apart.
At the same time, Dino is on the phone with Glasses, telling him that cracks are beginning to show in his plan to take out the other Families. Glasses tries to reassure him that Dino's reputation as a 'loose cannon' is working in his favor and keeping suspicion at bay. But Dino is unconvinced; it's time to escalate. While Antoinette overhears their conversation on another phone, she hears her uncle tell Glasses that's he's heading to where Glasses is at to "tie a couple ribbons on these packages". She then calls Broadway, who puts on speaker so Lexington can listen in. Antoinette, shares with the gargoyles that she also took a call from her brother, Tony, who finally shares with his sister, that their uncle gave his consent for Tony to be "taken out". Antoinette knows the Manhattan Clan doesn't care much for Tony, but Dino's plan almost risked Goliath's life while the clan leader was at Rikers. Plus, with his plans to pit the gangs against one another falling short, Dino now plans to hurt two innocents, Rosaria Sanchez and Peter Choy. She pleads with the gargoyles to protect them (which Brooklyn and Gnash also overhear).
At the 23rd Precinct, Captain Chavez is livid. As she paces her office, she berates a sitting Elisa, demanding to know the reason why the detective kept her in the dark about working with the gargoyles. For three years, at that. If it was to protect her, then that was never going to work. Her ignorance on the matter will certainly not go down well with the public, press, and the powers-that-be. Despite the dozens of opportunities to disclose this information, Chavez calls Elisa out on her negligence and asks the detective what she has to say for herself. Looking down, Elisa is silent.
As Gnash listens in, Brooklyn confirms that the tip Broadway just received came from a Dracon. Broadway begins to share his own reasons for trusting Antoinette, but Lexington finishes his thought, telling Brooklyn, "her intel was good before." Broadway points out that whoever the informant is, there's still lives at stake. "Innocent lives," Lexington reminds everyone. Brooklyn argues that it could just as easily be a trap. Although Goliath's return from his Hearing could be any second, Brooklyn realizes that if lives are on the line, every second the do have counts. The four of them go.
At Halcyon Renard's bedside aboard Fortress-2, Preston Vogel informs Goliath that Renard's final moments could be at any time. Renard has grown weaker and is now wearing a breathing mask. Anastasia and Fox are next to Goliath, with Fox carrying young Alex.
Lexington is still surprised they didn't have to talk Brooklyn out of waiting for Goliath. Brooklyn points out that, "Trap or no trap, Gargoyles protect." But he reminds them that they need a plan before they charge in, and they'll need to do some reconnaissance first at that. Broadway and Lexington are on board, and Gnash grows more excited.
Elisa finally begins to open up, admitting that the Captain was right. She had every chance to tell Chavez, but she didn't. Sitting behind her desk now, Chavez presses further. "But why not?" Elisa begins to tell her she has no excuse, but an explanation, but she's cut off by Matt Bluestone, who's been in the office throughout Chavez's reprimanding his partner, leaning against the wall. He spares Elisa a bit by telling the Captain that he's heard her explanation. "It's a tad selfish," he discloses, "but it makes sense." This hardly calms Chavez down. She begins to chew him out too. If he knew all this time, then he's in trouble too. But, rubbing his neck, Matt asks the Captain to hold that thought. He might just have a solution for the Chavez's press, public, and powers-that-be. One that hopefully won't demote Elisa and Matt down to meter maids in the department.
Meanwhile, Dino has arrived where he and his men have been keeping Rosie and Pete, Masked in a Brooklyn-mask, the gangster shares the "good news" to his star-crossed teenagers: he's sending them home. Pete is quick to express his thanks while Rosie wants to be sure. But Dino insists that their families will want to see how well they were treated. He then tells Glasses and Pal Joey (in Broadway and Lexington-masks) to spread out the tarps. Dino has no intention of making a mess or leaving evidence.
From the rafters, the Trio and Gnash listen from above. Lex asks Brooklyn if he has a plan yet, and Brooklyn indeed does.
Aboard Fortress-2 and now awake, Renard insists that his own passing need not be messy either. He explains to those at his bedside that he's laid out all he details in his will. His breathing difficult now, he makes a point to tell Xanatos that it's beyond his son-in-law's machinations now. Xanatos insists that he wouldn't dream of trying to. Renard goes on to explain that everything he owns is now part of Cyberbiotics. Calling his daughter Janine, Renard leaves forty-nine percent of the corporation, naming her CEO. Fox thanks her dad, but shares that this was not how she ever wanted to acquire it. Renard manages to laugh in response, before suffering his worst coughing fit yet. Fox asks if he needs anything, but he cuts her off; he needs to finish this. To his grandson Alex, Renard leaves him an equal forty-nine percent of Cyberbiotics, explaining that his shares will be held in a trust and his proxy will be Vogel, making him COO. With that, Xanatos is quick to ask about the remaining – the tie-breaking – two percent. His breaths deep and trying in vain to control his cough, Renard shares that he leaves the remaining two percent to Goliath. The gargoyle is in disbelief, while Xanatos puts a hand on Goliath's shoulder to offers his congratulations. Admittingly, "it's not exactly Thailog money," Xanatos explains, but Manhattan's newest citizen will now also be one of the island's wealthiest.
Back at the warehouse, Rosie asks her captors why they are really laying the tarps out, and Dino stops to ask if the teens really want to know. But Brooklyn interrupts as the Trio swoop down, telling Dino the tarps will only be useful if the gargoyles wind up rolling the gangsters up in them. Grabbing Dino by the neck and slamming him against the wall, Brook takes a moment to tell Dino his mask is out of date. Gnash meanwhile rips the cage door open, excited to tell the confused Rosie and Pete that they're being rescued. Still held against the wall, Dino's unfazed. Of course he prepared a contingency if the "freaks" interfered . . .
Alone with Goliath now, Halcyon apologizes to the gargoyle for his arrest and hearing. He explains that he needed Goliath to be recognized in the legal sense so that the gargoyle could be in the position to accept what Renard intended to bequeath him. But Goliath is still confused as to Renard's intentions, and worse, he admits he's unequal to the responsibilities that have just been given him. Between breaths, Renard tells his friend that there is no one he trusts more to not only protect his grandson's inheritance, but to insure he grows up to use it with integrity. With that, Goliath promises to the dying Renard to honor that trust.
Behind Dino's shoulder, Brooklyn hears the whirring of machinery and sees four Golden Cup Bakery exo-frames, each controlled by a gangster in a gargoyle mask. Recognizing the exo-frames as they slowly get surrounded, Brooklyn shares that they are tough to fight, since the armor can electrify. The Trio suddenly scatters as the gangsters open fire, and Lexington tells his rookery brothers that their weakness is cutting off their hydraulics. Broadway reminds them all that job one is getting away unscathed by the gangsters' fire.
Renard now speaks to Preston Vogel and his former employee, Owen Burnett. After taking a moment to point out their similarities (which Vogel doesn't see at all, and what makes Owen so amused), Renard thanks Vogel for his loyal service. Vogel tells his boss that it's been an honor to serve him.
As Gnash tries to get Rosie and Pete to safety, Pete has to be reminded by Rosie that their kidnappers (the humans, in this case) are the bad guys and their liberators (the gargoyles) are the good guys. But before they can go any further, Dino comes at them from behind, swearing to drop them before they escape.
Renard is now with his family, asking Xanatos to take care of his daughter and grandson, and Xanatos complies. His breath growing more difficult with every word, Renard then tells his grandson that, "your Papa loves you." Alex responds with perhaps his second word ever: "Papa".
Lexington meanwhile continues to avoid the armored gangsters, but admits they're no where closer to defeating them. As Brooklyn fires Dino's weapon out of his hand, he tells Lexington to nevertheless keep the goons occupied.
With Xanatos holding Alex now, Renard address his daughter, Janine. Fox corrects him, but stops there. Renard then calls her by her preferred name, admitting that he wasn't an easy father to her, but he nevertheless always loved her. Fox admits she wasn't an easy daughter either. "But I love you, too," she tells him. "I do, Daddy. Really."
Now unarmed, Dino is confronted by Gnash, who calls him a big bully with a pathetic Brooklyn cosplay. Across the warehouse, Broadway shares that one of the thugs in the armored exo-frames has an even worse Angela mask. Having helped Lexington shove all the exo-framed gangsters in a row, Broadway tells Brooklyn they are ready. Brooklyn thanks his brothers and fires at the exo-frames from behind, draining the machinery of their hydraulic fluid.
Renard's final moments are with his one-time wife, Titania. He tells her she doesn't have to pretend to be Anastasia for his sake, but, unchanged, she assures him that there was "nothing pretend" about her life as Anastasia Renard. Just as there was nothing pretend about her feelings for him.
With Dino's armored back-up stuck in their mechanic shells, the Trio, Gnash, Rosie, and Pete figure its time they got going. As they walk away, Dino struggles to his feet. Taking off his mask, Dino snaps back at Glasses remark that their captives got away. But no matter, Dino shares that he has one last idea that'll "bring all of Manhattan to it's knees".
The Trio glide into the night once more, Gnash gliding shortly behind them, thrilled to see the Trio back in action. Broadway carrying Pete and Brooklyn carrying Rosie, the teenagers are exhilarated being carried off into the night.
And aboard Fortress-2, the life of Halcyon Renard is also carried off into the night.
Review
The next-to-last issue of "Here in Manhattan" contains both some expected moments and some unexpected ones.
The Trio (accompanied by Gnash, who serves as narrator for this issue) learn from Antoinette Dracon that Dino – who appears to becoming suspicious (with good reason) that the cracks in his scheme to set the rival organized crime families of Manhattan against each other are appearing – has decided to kill Rosaria and Peter. They come to the rescue, defeating the kidnappers and carrying the two teenagers off to safety. while I suspect that the readers of this comic had expected that the Trio would do this – especially since the kidnappers were wearing Trio masks – we get a neat surprise; Dino brings in a few more henchmen, in exo-frames similar to the ones Demona was using at the start of "The Reckoning", and wearing masks of the remaining original clan members (Goliath, Hudson, Bronx, and Angela). (Dino's information on the clan apparently stemmed entirely from the period before Brooklyn's TimeDancing adventures – to be precise, the period between "The Gathering" and "Phoenix"; we see no masks of the Coldstone, Coldfire, Katana, Nashville, or Fu-Dog, and Dino's Brooklyn mask is of Brooklyn's pre-TimeDancer self, something Brooklyn points out.) Fortunately, the Trio defeat these new opponents and emerge victorious, to Gnash's delight. Apparently much of the friction between them has healed.
Elisa is facing new friction from Chavez, however – something that the audience had most likely also anticipated. Now that Chavez knows that Elisa's been friends with the gargoyles for the past three years – and keeping her out of the loop – she's understandably not pleased, and Elisa has a hard time defending herself (after all, her reason – as she mentioned back in "Revelations" – was that she liked the special feeling of being the gargoyles' only human friend, which, as Matt points out, is "a tad selfish"). We only get two pages of this thread in the issue, but it ends with Matt having a solution to the problem – though we will have to wait for the next issue to find out what it is.
And Goliath, Fox, Anastasia, Xanatos, Alex, Owen, and Vogel attend the passing of Halcyon Renard. This was another development that we'd expected from the ending of #10 – had expected even from #9, where it's clear that Renard's health is failing – and for that matter, Greg Weisman had mentioned having plans for such an event in the never-aired Season Three. But we get an even bigger surprise than the Dracon exo-frames; Renard, after leaving 49% of Cyberbiotics to Fox, and another 49% to Alex (with Vogel acting for him until he comes of age), deeds the final 2% to Goliath! Goliath is taken aback, even alarmed (I can imagine him thinking what he'd stated in "Double Jeopardy") – "Money is a necessary evil in Xanatos's world, but not in ours"), but accepts it, as he understands why Renard had done this; he recognizes Goliath as the one most suited to guide Alex down the right path, and tells his dying friend, "Then I will strive to honor your trust". We have some effective scenes between Renard and his family as well, particularly a poignant moment for him and Anastasia, before he passes on in the final panel.
Although Dino's plans have received a setback, he announces that he still has one last plan, which will "bring all of Manhattan to its knees". Which leads to two big questions that we will have to wait until #12 to be answered – what is Dino's plan, and will the last issue have enough room to do it justice? Let us hope that it does.
Featured Characters
Tidbits
- The solicitation for the issue is an error, as Brooklyn and Katana are already mates, the cover depicts Broadway and Angela, and in the fifth issue, Broadway and Angela discussed a Commitment Ceremony.
- Not only does Dino Dracon refer to Rosaria and Peter as "Romeo and Juliet" again, but Renard pays additional tribute to Shakespeare's play when he describes Preston and Owen as "both alike in dignity".
Cover Gallery
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Links
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