Your Witness

Gargoyles #9 by David Nakayama

"Your Witness" is the ninth issue of the Gargoyles comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released September 13th, 2023. [1]

• 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

Solicitation

THE TRIAL OF GOLIATH BEGINS! With a district attorney intent on proving that Gargoyles should not be considered people, Goliath will rely on influential human friends to speak on his behalf, including the love of his life, NYPD Detective ELISA MAZA…

The Story

Friday, May 16th, 1997. 10:54 AM. At the New York City Criminal Courthouse, Judge Ian Roebling makes it clear to those in the courtroom that he will be entertaining a hearing, not a trial. Goliath hasn't been charged with a particular crime, and therefore there will be no jury, let alone a verdict of guilt or innocence. Judge Roebling intends to only decide two issues for the court: whether Goliath is sentient, and if he does, "whether gargoyles as a whole deserve the same rights and protections under the law as we humans".

Before the proceedings can truly get underway, Roebling mentions some motions that need to be addressed before Goliath's Hearing can begin. The first is Tobe Crest's motion for the Hearing to take place after sundown, so that Goliath can participate in his own defense. Assistent District Attorney Margot Yale objects to this right off the bat, incredulous at the notion "that thing" would be allowed to testify. Crest points out that demonstrating Goliath's sentience is not really that different to a competency hearing, which any plaintiff would be entitled a chance to take the stand. Further, Crest points out that denying this motion would inevitably provide grounds for appeal. With that, Roebling tentatively agrees in principle to the motion, despite Margot's insistence. Roebling points out that if it is apparant that Goliath is incapable to take the stand, it "would only help her case". Judge Roebling, however, points out that he'll hear objective testimony that'll address the lingering concerns of safety for the court.

At 2:16 that afternoon, Matt Bluestone takes the stand and answers Roebling's questions, testifying that as head of the Gargoyle Taskforce, all precautions will be taken to ensure that Goliath won't present any danger to the court. With that, Roebling grants Crest's motion to schedule the Hearing after sundown so that Goliath can take the stand.

3:09 PM. The second motion before the court is from the press, with Travis Marshall representing their collective interests. He tells Judge Roebling that it is in the public's best interest that the Hearing be televised live. Unlike the first motion that day, there are no objections from either party. Roebling grants the second motion and declares that the Hearing is scheduled the following Monday at 9PM.

Three days later at the Eyrie Building, Lexington writes to Amp how tonight is the big night. "The big SCARY night." It might be Goliath's Hearing, but he can't help but feel that all gargoyles are going to be on trial. Win or lose, he writes, the outcome will forever impact their kind.

In the well of the Courtroom, Goliath sits at the plaintiff's table, flanked by Matt Bluestone and Officer Morgan. The gargoyle is shackled and continues to wear his shock-collar. Tobe Crest stands nearby. Rikers prison guard Renqvist sits at the opposing counsel table, still clutching the shock-collar's remote. Owen Burnett and Antoinette Dracon sit in the gallery.

In the Castle's TV Room (Wyvern), nearly every member of the Manhattan Clan has gathered around the set. The broadcast focuses on Goliath, before turning Judge Roebling banging his gavel for the court to come to order. Roebling instructs Crest to call his first witness, and Crest calls Halcyon Renard to the stand.

9:32 PM. Renard remains in his high-tech wheelchair as he explains how Goliath has been a "close friend for nearly two years". Renard points out that the qualities Goliath possesses are "in excess of most humans" he has known. Tobe asks about Goliath's intelligence, and whether Renard considers the gargoyle to be sentient. The Cyberbiotics CEO explains that, as the leading expert on artificial intelligence, he has no doubt about Goliath's sentience. Throughout Crest's questioning, Renard powers through his testimony, but a chronic cough proves to be persistent. Crest turns his witness over to ADA Yale, who proceeds to establish that, despite being a friend of "The Creature", Renard has also been the the Gargoyle Taskforce's primary benefactor, providing the very resources that led to Goliath's capture in Central Park.

In the TV Room, Lexington is floored at the revelation as Coldstone grows incredulous. He is quickly shushed by another. Back in the courtroom, Renard tries to explain as his cough becomes more agitated, but he can only muster a confirmation that he did, in fact, fund the GTF. Yale turns her back to him, finished with her questions. Crest is quick to redirect to allow Renard a chance to provide further context. Worked up and sweating now, Renard answers that, with the current status quo becoming untenable, he hoped to show the world Goliath's true nature before – but his bout of coughing cuts him off. Roebling asks Renard if he would like some water or a recess, but Renard refuses either. Crest finishes his questions and Roebling excuses the witness. As Preston Vogel ushers Renard away, the ailing CEO apologizes to Goliath. Roebling asks Crest to call his next witness.

10:07 PM. Shackled and shock-collared, Goliath sits on the witness stand. He testifies his name and how during the Dark Ages, his kind were nearly driven to extinction. Goliath explains that he and rest of the Manhattan Clan have vowed to protect the New York island and its inhabitants, and are in no way a threat to the humans. They only wish to live peacefully as equals.

Travis Marshall interjects, reporting the moment as proof that gargoyles can speak. Lexington is annoyed by this, and would later write to Amp how, despite Goliath doing well, it "doesn't bode well" that its such a surprise that gargoyles are capable of speech. The camera returns to Crest and Yale as the cross-examination begins.

Yale asks Goliath why he and his kind would want to live amongst humanity if humans were responsible for their near-extinction. Goliath matter-of-factly points out where could they go in this world and not live amongst the humans. Margot takes this as confirmation that Goliath harbors no good will toward humanity; he simply has no choice. Goliath is quick to point out that Margot's insinuations are not accurate of his sentiments. While Goliath insists he has chosen "to glide on currents of peace", Margot slams the table, accusing the gargoyle of waiting for the opportunity to seek vengeance. Seeing what the Assistant District Attorne is trying to do, he admits her efforts have indeed angered him. Nevertheless, in his response, the gargoyle continues to control his anger. Yale points out that many humans would "demand revenge" if they were in his position, but Goliath rejects the notion. "Perhaps," he testifies, "But your ways our not our ways." Seeing an opening, Yale points out that if humans and gargoyles are so different, why would a gargoyle be entitled to human rights? Back at the Castle, Lexington can't help but think that Margot effectively made her point.

10:32 PM. Tobe Crest wants to call his next witness, but Goliath grows more agitated than he did with Yale, eyes-glowing with a to-the-point "No". Overruled, he tells the judge the plaintiff rests. Roebling adjourns for the night and instructs Yale to prepare her case for the following night. Marshall ends the broadcast reminding everyone to tune in for the second night of "The Hearing of the Century". Shutting off the set, Hudson remarks that the Hearing went better than expected, but Coldstone considers the whole ordeal to be a farce. Gnash asks his parents if Goliath's going to be ok, while Angela embraces Broadway for assurance.

Day turns to night and by 9:18 PM, the second night of the Goliath's Hearing is already underway. Yale has called Doctor Rostam Vaughn who testifies his medical examination of Goliath, which he performed while the gargoyle slept in his cell at Rikers. While watching his testimony on WVRN, Angela asks where Coldstone is. Coldfire explains that the first night of testimony proved too upsetting for her mate. In the courtroom, Yale asks about the differences between gargoyle and human anatomy, but Crest objects, pointing out that his client already acknowledges that gargoyles and humans are different species. The objection is sustained and Roebling instruct Yale to move on. With no further questions from the Assistant District Attorney, Crest is quick with his cross-examination, asking if the doctor routinely examines his patients without their consent. Dr. Vaughn barely can utter a denial before he is dismissed.

Yale's next witness is none other than John Castaway, brought in to rebut Goliath's testimony that humans nearly drove gargoyles to extinction. He alleges that, according to Angus Canmore, humans merely defended themselves "against these unholy beasts". During his turn with the witness, Crest asks Castaway if he is related to Angus Canmore, and Castaway confirms that he is. Crest points out that this ancestry may explain why Castaway founded the Quarrymen, a hate group Crest insists is trying to appear reasonable. As Crest speaks, Castaway glares.

10:39 PM. ADA Yale's last witness is the prison guard, Renqvist. He testifies that Goliath can be extremely dangerous, having personally seen Goliath tear his cell bars. During cross-examination, Renqvist does confirm that Goliath had two chances to escape, but chose to stay "to have his day in court". In her redirect, Margot asks if Goliath saved Renqvist's life when he thwarted the Pack at Rikers. Renqvist confirms this detail, but Yale points out how tighly the prison guard still clings to the remote control for Goliath's shock-collar. Despite his life being saved, Renqvist admits to not feeling safe around the gargoyle. With that, Margot Yale tells Judge Roebling that the People rest.

Before Roebling can proceed, Tobe Crest interupts telling the judge he'd like to call a a rebuttal witness. Goliath objects once more with his lawyer, but Crest insists he must do what is best for his client, and calls Elisa Maza to the stand.

As Elisa takes the stand, Lexington grows optimistic, later telling Amp that things are now getting interesting.

Review

Goliath's Hearing finally takes place.

This is the first "episode" of Gargoyles without any fighting – no fighting in the form of physical combat, that is. A battle takes place in the courtroom, definitely, but the weapons are words – and the opposing lawyers, Margot Yale and Tobe Crest, both use these weapons shrewdly.

When Renard testifies on Goliath's behalf, Margot promptly reveals – to the shock of both Goliath and the Manhattan gargoyles, watching the televised hearing, that he's the mystery benefactor of the Gargoyle Taskforce. Crest salvages some of the situation by asking Renard about his motives; Renard explains that he saw the situation as the best hope of revealing the gargoyles' true nature to the public, but it's still clear that Margot has turned the situation to her advantage.

When Goliath, in turn, speaks, Margot twists his words to suggest that gargoyles only seek to live in peace with humans out of necessity; so much of the Earth is inhabited by humans that they can't live away from them. She even points out that, since gargoyles aren't humans (and the biological difference between the two species is certainly great), it seems to make no sense for them to apply for human rights. And when the security guard Renqvist admits that Goliath passed up two opportunities to escape prison, wishing to earn his freedom legally, Margot calls attention to the fact that he's still clinging to the remote control to Goliath's shock-collar, implying that his views on gargoyles haven't changed that much.

Crest displays his own skill with words, however, including pointing out, when Castaway claims that the supposed massacres of gargoyles by humans were really humanity defending itself from evil monsters, that the book he claims as a source was written by one of his ancestors (indicating that Castaway is biased in his assessment of the record's accuracy), and that the Quarrymen are really a hate group trying to make itself seem in the right.

Still, the situation doesn't look good for Goliath; Coldstone (established as the member of the clan least receptive towards humans) is so indignant that he won't even join the rest of the clan to watch the second night of the hearing (and let out a few outbursts during the first night, especially when Renard's secret was exposed), and Lexington is so uneasy that he's considering having the Manhattan clan abandon the city and move to London to live with the clan there. (A similar option was planned for the original ending of "Angels in the Night" – and turned, in the actual episode, into a proposal that the Trio seriously consider but which Goliath rejects – but appears in Gargoyles canon for the first time.) Gnash, normally acting almost teenagerish in his dislike of history classes and clashes with Brooklyn, now seems more childlike, asking his parents if Goliath will be all right. And in desperation – and despite Goliath's protests, Crest calls Elisa to the stand . . .

As Lexington (serving as the narrator in this issue) points out, this development makes things really interesting – and they do indeed. This reviewer looks forward to seeing the results of Elisa's testimony on Goliath's behalf – especially since it will undoubtedly mean revealing (not just to the courtroom, but to everyone watching the proceedings on television) about her secret friendship – and partnership – with the Manhattan clan. We will have to wait and see how it affects the case, and whether Goliath will be freed or not. But this is clearly another moment where things will not be the same for the gargoyles and Elisa again....

Featured Characters and First Appearances

Gargoyles	Humans
Lexington/Tinman Amp (Mentioned Only) Goliath Hudson Coldstone Coldfire Katana (No Lines) Gnash Brooklyn (No Lines) Broadway (No Lines) Angela	Ian Roebling Court Officer Tobe Crest Margot Yale Matt Bluestone Travis Marshall Morgan Morgan Owen Burnett (No Lines) Antoinette Dracon (No Lines) Renqvist Halcyon Renard Preston Vogel (No Lines) Rostam Vaughn (First Appearance) John Castaway Angus Canmore (Mentioned Only) Wolf (Mentioned Only) Jackal (Mentioned Only) Hyena (Mentioned Only) Elisa Maza

Miscellaneous
Goliath's Hearing

Tidbits

Matt Bluestone and Elisa Maza's middle names are revealed. Matt's middle name is "Menachem"; Elisa's is "Nichelle" (an obvious reference to Nichelle Nichols, who voiced Elisa's mother Diane).

Angus Canmore was originally created for the proposed but never made Team Atlantis episode "The Last", which would have crossed-over with Gargoyles.

Cover Gallery

Links

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