Broadway

Broadway

Broadway was originally a member of the Wyvern Clan, but later became a founding member of the Manhattan Clan. In 971 AD, Alesand called him Charlemagne.

History

Dark Ages

The Trio (and a rookery sister) as rooklings in 971 AD

Charlemagne hatched in the year 958, and in his youth became good friends with his fellow rooklings Alexander, Caesar, and Antiope. [1]

When the Wyvern Clan was forming an alliance with Prince Malcolm's people in 971, Charlemagne eavesdropped on the meeting with his fellow rooklings. After the clan helped win Kenneth II the crown, he and the rest of the clan participated in a Wind Ceremony for the gargoyles that died in the conflict. When the traveling performers known as the Light-Bringers visited Wyvern Hill, Charlemagne would listen to Shahrizad's stories about the Three Brothers. ("The Reach", "The Oath", "The Promise")

Days later, Charlemagne and Caesar played about the construction of the castle, resulting in breaking equipment and Brother Valdez's ire. As a result, the two, along with Alexander, took the opportunity help Antiope take Alesand out gliding, landing right outside a cave. Charlemagne couldn't help but point out that Antiope didn't actually carry the human, despite Alesand personally thanking her for the experience. Later, Charlemagne dismissed the others' interest in reading the glyphs they discovered carved into both the cave's threshold and the pillars of the Megalith Dance, figuring there would only ever be "new chicken scratches to confuse" him further. ("The Dream")

As they explored deeper in the caverns, they stumbled upon a larger cave, one filled with gold and the giant dragon, Wyvern. He watched the dragon wake up from his stone sleep, and learned with the others that Wyvern brought the clan's ancestors to protect his interests. Charlemagne wondered aloud who the gargoyles were supposed to protect these interests from, and Wyvern explained that he considered humanity to be vermin. Charlemagne tried to explain to the dragon why their clan had formed an alliance with the local humans, but it was to no avail. When Wyvern had sniffed out Alesand behind some nearby stalagmites, Charlemagne followed Caesar's lead to help distract the dragon, but their efforts to do only let slip to the dragon that a castle was being constructed on Wyvern Hill. ("The Dream")

After Wyvern flew off towards the unfinished castle, the five scurried back as fast as they could to warn the others. As it would turn out, they only managed to arrive after the conflict passed, with both the elder humans and gargoyles grateful that everyone was safe. The day after their encounter with Wyvern, Charlemagne continued to listen to Shahrizad's "Tale of the Three Brothers". ("The Pledge")

Charlemagne survived the Wyvern Massacre in 994 thanks to the three of them and Bronx being in the rookery at the time, having been sent there by Goliath for getting into a fight with some of the humans in the castle (although actually, Charlemagne had not participated in the fight at all; he was merely sitting close by peacefully eating, and Goliath lumped him in with the others). Afterwards, Charlemagne was put under the Magus's curse of stone sleep with the other gargoyles, to awaken in 1994 where he would take the name Broadway. ("Awakening: Part One", "Awakening: Part Two", "Awakening: Part Four")

Modern Times

Broadway as a human.

Broadway is the strongest of the Trio, and a good fighter, but also gentle and sensitive. He is one of the best judges of character in the clan, and has a strong sense of concern about his fellow clan-mates and friends. He particularly shows this for Elisa Maza, helping her out whenever he can. Much of this is thanks to guilt on his part; Broadway once inadvertently shot Elisa with her own gun, and feels very regretful about that still. His protectiveness towards the detective is one result of this incident; another is a very strong dislike of guns. He won't handle them, and even destroys them if he encounters them. ("Deadly Force")

Originally, Broadway was illiterate, and proud of it, considering books a waste of time. His attitude changed, however, during the Scrolls of Merlin adventure, when he saw how Macbeth, by reading about King Arthur's reign, could describe it so eloquently that it had seemed almost as if he had been there. ("A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time") Broadway began taking reading lessons afterwards with Hudson (who also learned the value of reading in that adventure), first reading the newspaper with him. By the time that the gargoyles were living in the castle again, Broadway had moved on to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which he read with Angela. ("The Journey")

Broadway also displays this sensitivity in his relationship with Angela. While Brooklyn pursued her merely because of her good looks and availability, and Lexington because Brooklyn and Broadway were courting her, Broadway actually got a sense of what Angela was like as a person: her likes and dislikes, her aspirations and her fears. For example, early on, he realized that she disliked her nickname "Angie", and so stopped calling her that; Brooklyn and Lexington did not discover that on their own, but had to learn it from her the hard way. This led to them developing a romantic relationship. ("Turf", "The Journey")

Broadway likes to eat, as his tremendous girth confirms. Brooklyn and Lexington often tease him about it, as well, which he takes with great dignity. But Broadway is no mere winged garbage disposal. Alongside his relationship with Angela, he also has a strong interest in mysteries and detective work, particularly enjoying detective movies on television. Indeed, his interest in these helped him in aiding Elisa to solve the Silver Falcon case which led to the arrest of Tony and Dominic Dracon. ("The Silver Falcon") Broadway figured out the real reason for Elisa's behavior during the time that she was pretending to be a "crooked cop" in order to shut down Tony Dracon's protection racket. He and Goliath helped her solve that case as well. ("Protection") When a laboring Maggie the Cat was kidnapped from the Labyrinth, Broadway was also the first to consider Anton Sevarius as the likely suspect. ("Miracle Child") His good observation skills, already noted in the matter of his relationship with Angela, are very useful to him in this area.

Angela and Broadway

During the gang war between Dino Dracon and the Five Families, Broadway was approached by Antoinette Dracon who asked for his help. Broadway was reluctant to trust her based on her family name alone, but ultimately chose to go to the Slaughter Films building and prevent Izaak Slaughter from being killed by Glasses and Pal Joey. Lexington joined him in saving Slaughter's life. Slaughter insisted that he owes the two gargoyles. ("Underwater", "Everywhere")

Broadway and Angela become closer throughout late 1996 and early 1997. Indeed, they had already mated by early 1997. [2] Eventually, in May 1997, they decided to become committed mates and asked Coldfire to perform their Commitment Ceremony. Broadway considered both Lexington and Brooklyn as his second in the ceremony. He asked Lex a short time later, who was honored and accepted. ("Render Unto Caesar", "Underwater")

The Trio reunited fully when they, along with Gnash, rescued Rosaria Sanchez and Peter Choy from Dino Dracon. Shortly afterwards, they called in he favors owed from the heads of most of the Six Families to end the gang war. ("Young At Heart", "Cold Comfort")

Broadway and Angela will ultimately produce three eggs that will hatch in 2018, 2038, and 2058. It is possible that Angela and Broadway will journey to Avalon in the future, at least for a visit. [3]

Future Tense

"Future Tense" Broadway

In the "Future Tense" illusion, Broadway was blind, having lost his eyes in the resistance against David Xanatos. He eventually died after an attack by the Thailog Shock Troops.

Characteristics

Broadway sleeping

Physically, Broadway is big and somewhat overweight, but still very muscular and strong. He has aquamarine skin, a bald head with three horns running over the center, and fin-like ears. While Broadway once referenced his large ears in being able to overhear Elisa's conversation on the phone, he was most likely engaging in self-deprecation. [4]

Broadway took his name after awakening in New York in 1994, naming himself after Broadway Avenue in New York. (We assume that he did not have in mind any word-play involving his own bulk when he chose it, but rather its theatrical connotations).

Broadway is the biological son of Hudson and "Verity". However, neither they, nor anybody else, know this, and it would not matter to them even if they did know. [5]

He and Angela will eventually have three biological children: Artus, Gwenyvere, and Lancelot. [6]

Timeline

958. March. Hatches at Wyvern Hill. Becomes close to two of his rookery brothers soon after forming the Trio.

971. Eavesdrops on the meeting between the clan leaders and Prince Malcolm with Caesar, Alexander, and Antiope. ("The Reach")

994. September 30. Sent down to the rookery by Goliath, who thought he had gotten in a fight with humans along with Caesar, Alexander, and the gargoyle beast later known as Bronx. ("Awakening: Part One")

October 1. Wyvern Massacre occurs. The surviving gargoyles attack the Viking camp to save the humans. Frozen in stone sleep by the Magus along with his two brothers, Hudson, and Bronx. ("Awakening: Part Two")

1994. October 4. David Xanatos builds Castle Wyvern atop his skyscraper above the clouds in Manhattan, breaking the sleep spell. Broadway awakens with the others, just before getting in a fight with Commandos who apparently steal three diskettes and escape. One guard tells Broadway he has a "Nice Mask". ("Awakening: Part Two")

October 5. The Trio meet Elisa Maza for the first time, and explore the city. ("Awakening: Part Three")

October 6. Chooses his name. The clan is tricked by Xanatos and Demona into "retrieving" the three diskettes. The trio raids the Cyberbiotics Tower and successfully steals one of them. ("Awakening: Part Four", "Awakening: Part Five")

November 17. Goes to see the movie Showdown for the first time.

November 18. After seeing the movie again, goes to Elisa's place and accidentally shoots her with her own gun. He brings her to Manhattan General Hospital and doesn't go back to the castle. ("Deadly Force")

November 19-20. Goes on an anti-gun rampage. He and Goliath converge at Tony Dracon's warehouse, where they destroy the guns and have Dracon arrested. Broadway confesses to Goliath that he shot Elisa to prevent Goliath from killing Dracon. They visit Elisa at the hospital and Broadway apologizes. ("Deadly Force")

1995. January 4. Sides with Elisa in helping her convince Goliath to move from the castle. The gargoyles take up residence in the Clock Tower. ("Enter Macbeth")

February 3. Joins the battle on the George Washington Bridge, and gets tangled in some cable wire. Later, Goliath swears an oath that the clan will protect the citizens of Manhattan. ("Reawakening")

September 7. Spots Maggie Reed while on patrol with Brooklyn. Sees that Maggie would rather go with the Gen-U-Tech guards but helps Brooklyn try to save her. They're unsuccessful but Broadway takes her tracking bracelet to the clan. ("Metamorphosis")

September 23-24. Captured by Macbeth while trying to steal back one of the Scrolls of Merlin from him. The Clan arrives to save him, but Macbeth releases him and gives them the Scrolls after realizing that they're Merlin's journals and not magic spells. Broadway realizes the importance of reading, and begins taking lessons with Hudson. ("A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time")

October 27. Visits Elisa's apartment to pick up the trio's Halloween costumes that she helped them order through the mail earlier in the month. [7][8] Offers to help a resistant Elisa in investigating Matt Bluestone's disappearance. Rescues Elisa from Pal Joey at Matt's apartment, then saves them both from a bomb that Joey planted. ("The Silver Falcon")

October 28. Brings Elisa to the old Silver Falcon place and gets trapped in a cave-in at dawn by Dracon's men. He figures out the "Falcon" mystery from a letter written by Mace Malone and helps Elisa outsmart Dracon who is thereafter arrested along with Dominic Dracon. ("The Silver Falcon")

November 13-14. Goes with the clan to Macbeth's mansion and takes down Macbeth with Hudson. Captured and chained at Central Park along with the others by "Iago" working through Coldstone, and the Weird Sisters working through Macbeth and Demona. The clan is saved by Elisa and "Othello". ("High Noon")

December 15. Utilizing a tip from Fox and a plan by Brooklyn, the trio rescue Goliath, Hudson, Elisa, and Bronx from the upgraded Pack. Goliath chooses Brooklyn as his second-in-command, for which Broadway is supportive. ("Upgrade")

December 19. Follows Elisa with Goliath and nearly blows her cover during her assignment posing as a crooked cop. Broadway figures out the ruse, and the two gargoyles aid her in busting Dracon's protection racket scheme. ("Protection")

December 23. Turns to stone in mid-air while fighting the Macbeth Robot. Elisa uses quick thinking to save him. ("The Price")

1996. January 6. Notices the disappearance of Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx. Brings Cagney to the Clock Tower. ("Kingdom")

May 19. Joins forces with his brothers and Hudson to help King Arthur and Griff locate Excalibur, and battles Macbeth and his minions. ("Pendragon")

May 25-26. After spotting Hyena breaking into the American Museum of Natural History, he and Lexington attack her, and prevent her from destroying the Mayan Sun Amulet. Broadway considers destroying the amulet, but hides it in the Clock Tower instead. ("The Green") [9]

July 9. The Avalon World Tour travellers return home. Broadway meets Angela, and offers her a half-eaten box of chocolates. He later aids his clan in the fight with Oberon. ("The Gathering" Part One)

July 19. Bitten by a robotic mosquito that samples his DNA, in order for Thailog to create Hollywood.

August 2-3. Enlisted along with his brothers and Angela by Elisa to help her take down the gang factions of Dracon and Tomas Brod. Broadway engages in constant arguments with his brothers over the attention of Angela. The gargoyles succeed in stopping the gangs' turf war, and the trio apologizes to Angela for their behavior. ("Turf")

October 16-17. Volunteers to be used for Puck's soul transference spell in order to segregate the three souls of Coldstone. His body is possessed by the spirit of "Othello", while "Desdemona" possesses Angela. He and Angela grow closer after this. ("Possession")

October 25. The Hunters blow up the Clock Tower. The gargoyles are revealed to the public at large on national news. ("Hunter's Moon" Part Two)

October 26. Fight at Saint Damien's Cathedral between the clan, Hunters, and Demona. Xanatos saves the gargoyles after they become trapped on the roof of the cathedral, and brings them to Castle Wyvern. ("Hunter's Moon" Part Three)

October 29. Shares first kiss with Angela in the |library. ("The Journey")

November 1. Fight with the clones after Thailog stabs Goliath. Thailog gets samples of DNA from the whole clan. ("Bash")

November 2. Elects to stay in Manhattan when Macbeth seeks the clan's aid with the Stone of Destiny. ("The Rock")

1997. January 10. Witnesses Brooklyn be consumed by the Phoenix with Angela, only to see him return forty seconds later but now forty years older and joined by Katana, Gnash, Fu-Dog, and Egwardo. ("The Gate", "Phoenix")

May 12-13. During a car chase, helps Elisa and Matt apprehend a trio of ATM bandits. ("A Little Crazy")

May 13. The following evening, in the rookery, he asks Katana if she and Brooklyn really intend to stick with the name "Egwardo". ("Idyll or Nightmare")

May 14. After learning that Maggie the Cat and Mary were kidnapped, Broadway suggests Sevarius and Thailog as the most likely subjects and helps Talon and the others in their rescue. Later that evening, he and Angela ask Coldfire to perform a Commitment Ceremony. ("Idyll or Nightmare", "Miracle Child", "Render Unto Caesar")

May 16. Approached by Antoinette Dracon who asks for his help. Broadway and Lexington go to the Slaughter Films building and prevent Izaak Slaughter from being killed by Glasses and Pal Joey. ("Underwater", "Everywhere")

May 19. Watches the first night of Goliath's Hearing on live television with the rest of the Manhattan Clan.

May 20. On the second night of Goliath's Hearing, watches Elisa Maza testify as a rebuttal witness.

2007. September 23. Broadway's son Artus is conceived. [10]

Appearances

"Awakening: Part One" (First Appearance) "Awakening: Part Two" "Awakening: Part Three" "Awakening: Part Four" "Awakening: Part Five" "The Thrill of the Hunt" "Temptation" "Deadly Force" "Enter Macbeth" "The Edge" "Long Way to Morning" "Her Brother's Keeper" "Reawakening" "Leader of the Pack" "Metamorphosis" "Legion" "A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time" "The Mirror" "The Silver Falcon" "Eye of the Beholder" "Vows" (No Lines) "City of Stone" Part One (No Lines) "City of Stone" Part Two (No Lines) "City of Stone" Part Three (No Lines) "City of Stone" Part Four (No Lines)

"High Noon" "Outfoxed" (No Lines) "Revelations" (No Lines) "Double Jeopardy" "Upgrade" "Protection" "The Cage" "The Price" "Avalon" Part One (No Lines) "Kingdom" "Walkabout" (Illusion, No Lines) "Pendragon" "The Green" "Future Tense" (Illusion) "The Gathering" Part One "The Gathering" Part Two "Vendettas" (No Lines) "Turf" "The Reckoning" "Possession" "Hunter's Moon" Part One "Hunter's Moon" Part Two "Hunter's Moon" Part Three "Nightwatch" (No Lines) "The Journey"

"Invitation Only" "Masque" "Bash" "Reunion" "The Rock" "The Gate" "Tyrants" (No Lines) "Phoenix" "A Little Crazy" "Idyll or Nightmare" "Miracle Child" "Tale Old as Time" "Render Unto Caesar" "Underwater" "Everywhere" "The Reach" (No Lines) "Your Witness" (No Lines) "The Oath" (No Lines) "New Rules" "The Promise" "Young At Heart" "The Dream" "The Pledge" "Cold Comfort" "Questions"

"Quo Vadis Cum Hoc?" "Acquisitions" "Trick-Or-Treat" "Unequivocal Success" "Queen of All She Surveys"

Production Background

Voice Actor: Bill Fagerbakke

Broadway grew out of a female gargoyle character from the comedy development. [11] She was first called "Isa Dora", then "Coco". [12] She shared Broadway's general body type and gentle personality. She loved to sing and dance, but had little talent for either (though her ability to crack glass while singing could have proved useful). [13] When she was being considered as part of the action-drama cast, she was renamed "Belushi" (after Jim Belushi's late brother John). With a change of gender and a couple of other modifications, this gargoyle evolved into Broadway. [14][15] The "Coco" name was later reused as a nickname for the London Clan gargoyle Constance, who shares some traits with the original Coco.

References/Parody

Two stone gargoyles with a striking resemblance to Broadway appear in the pilot episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man: one which Spider-Man web-slings past along with a stone Goliath and Hudson, and later another which is destroyed while Spider-Man battles the Vulture and the Enforcers.