Fools Rush In...

Gargoyles: Demona #1 by Frank Paur

"Fools Rush In..." is the first issue of the Gargoyles - Demona comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was anticipated to be released on May 28th, 2025 but wasn't released on that date due to ongoing issues with Diamond Distribution... although, some fans reported receiving mailed copies on June 7th, 2025. The digital version was released on Kindle on June 11th, 2025. [1]

On June 19th, 2025, it was announced that Dynamite severed ties with Diamond and found a new distributor, Lunar Distribution. [2] The physical issue was released on July 16th, 2025.

Crew
Writer/Creator: Greg Weisman Pencil Artist: Frank Paur Color Artist: Robby Bevard Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry Editor: Nate Cosby Main Cover Artist: Meghan Hetrick

Solicitation

A THOUSAND YEARS OF ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!

After kicking off with a special prologue story in Dynamite Entertainment's Free Comic Book Day issue #0, the long-awaited tale of Goliath's former love and sworn enemy of the Manhattan Clan gets underway in earnest with a return to the Dark Ages and the aftermath of the destruction of Castle Wyvern!

The year is 1093, and the now-immortal Demona has become a lonely and hunted creature. Bereft of both clan and home after her betrayal of Scotland's king, she wanders south to Northumberland in search of a safe haven - only to find that her old nemesis, Canmore, is raiding the city.

Canmore's destruction is visited upon human and Gargoyle alike, and when she discovers the depths of his cruelty and the fate of her kind at his hands, Demona's fury sets in motion a cycle of vengeance that will last for centuries - and may yet consume the entire world!

Written by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN and illustrated by acclaimed artist - and veteran of the original animated series - FRANK PAUR, this first chapter of the brand-new, centuries-spanning saga Gargoyles: Demona features cover art for the ages from PAUR, MEGHAN HETRICK, MARK SPEARS, and JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG!

The Story

A daughter and son reflect about their parents, and how their lives were each defined by tragedy and death. The daughter shares how her mother's clan of gargoyles was destroyed by the Vikings, and the son describes how his father, the young Canmore, witnessed as a boy King Duncan, his father, murdered with black magic. As fate would have it, the stories told by the daughter and son are intertwined. The daughter's mother and Duncan's usurper made a pact with the Weird Sisters, exchanging youth for an alliance with the gargoyles (or "the forces of darkness", as the son refers to them). With her mother young once more, she gathered Scotland's surviving gargoyles and together, with King Macbeth, they lived in peace with humanity for seventeen years, a reign that Canmore's son sees as the workings of "demons" doing Macbeth's bidding.

The daughter and son note how betrayal – Demona's betrayal – led to the destruction of Castle Moray, her clan, and the opportunity for Canmore to "send the demon back to hell". With Duncan's usurper no longer on the throne, Canmore was crowned King of Scotland as Malcolm III. But Canmore was unwittingly denied a full triumph, as the pact between "The Demon" and Macbeth cursed the gargoyle to an immortal, lonely existence. While Demona continued to be hunted by the humans, Canmore warned his children to stand guard against the "The Demon" and her gargoyle minions . . . .

Northumbria, 1093. Demona, clad in armor and sword, lands before a gargoyle clan, asking an elderly gargoyle if he is the Rhydderch of the clan. While he hasn't heard that term since he was a rookling, he is their clan's leader, and introduces her to his second-in-command. Standing behind his second is a young rookling listening to the stranger express her joy to see living gargoyles.

King Malcolm III and the royal family.

At Edinburgh Castle to the north, King Malcolm Canmore has summoned the entire family for not only dinner but as an audience. He explains his recent decision for each prince to accompany him to England is final, reasoning that the lessons learned during their journeys will serve them well later in life. But the two eldest princes, the joint Earls of Orkney – Paul and Erlend Thorfinnson – quickly pass on the educational opportunity, explaining how they are needed back home in the north. From the other side of the table, Princes Donnchad and Domnall agree to go as the King commands it. Queen Margaret meanwhile objects to her children, the youngest of the princes, in attending – but Malcolm Canmore doesn't see the harm, having joined his father in battle when he was the age of youngest prince, Dauid. Further, Edward, the Crown Prince, objects to his mother considering them too young. He himself considers himself more than ready to be tested in battle. The King's younger brother, Prince Donalbain, promises Margaret that he will keep an eye on her children.

Her encounter with the Northumbria Clan over, Demona looks at the gargoyles gliding about Brada Hill, dismissing them as "sheep". From behind, the young green gargoyle who witnessed Demona's arrival, approaches from behind, asking the adult why a gargoyle would ever carry a sword. Taken by surpise, Demona lashes out at the youth, growling, "Reckless hatchling! If you value your head, never sneak up on my again!" But the rookling still asks Demona would use a sword when she has claws that are just as effective. Calming down, Demona explains that she learned of the weapon's worth from the Gargoyle of the Sword, the only other survivor of her clan. ". . . but he vanished in flame long ago." Demona cryptically adds, leaving the rookling with only more questions.

Some time later, King Malcolm and Prince Domnall visit Bamburgh Castle in Northumbria. The Scottish King tells their hosts, Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, and Arkil Morel, Steward of Bamburgh Castle, how he takes no pleasure in reporting that William Rufus believes the Northumbrians have failed to show sufficient loyalty to the English King in the south. The Earl of Northumbria fails to see how a visit from King Malcolm is supposed to change the King's mind. King Malcolm shares that he is there to teach them "a lesson", one that is intended to demonstrate just how much Northumbria requires the English's "protection". King Malcolm assures Lord Mowbray and Morel that he plans to only set Scotland's thanes on the local peasants, not the nobles themselves. "Lesson learned, and no real harm done. Looking over the western parapets, King Malcolm is stunned to see a living clan of gargoyles and asks Lord Mowbray about them. Lord Mowbray insists that the Northumbria Clan aren't a concern, noting how they keep to themselves. With that, King Malcolm and Prince Domnall depart. Now alone, Morel asks if they should warn the villagers of Alnwick about the impending attack, but Lord Mowbray is less inclined to do so. Explaining how he doesn't care for such "lessons of Kings", he tells Morel that they'll use Malcolm Canmore's atrocities as a pretext for their own response.

Just before dawn on the morning of November 13th, 1093, Demona once again convenes with the Northumbria Clan leader, urging him to scatter the clan to different sleeping sites before sunrise, arguing that staying together in one place makes them too easy a target for the humans. The second-in-command explains that the humans in the area have never attacked their clan before. The clan's leader's decision is final; the clan will remain together. "As we always have." With nothing left to debate, Demona shuffles off, declaring them both of them to be fools. As she glides off into what remains of the night, the young rookling steps out of the hiding place where she heard the elders talk.

Hours later, King Malcolm and the various princes take in the sight of their handiwork: downhill and engulfed in flames is the entire village of Alnwick. Prince Edward considers their efforts a triumph, drawing criticism from his uncle Donalbain and his brothers, Princes Edmund and Edelred. Prince Edmund hardly thinks it was a fair fight, when the peasants were no match for "well-armed thanes" and Prince Edelred considers the sight an "offense against heaven" itself. Their elder half-brother Donnchad reminds them that it was "a necessary evil". The other princes, including Domnall, keep their thoughts to themselves. King Malcolm then directs his family to Brada Hill, reminding them they have one last task to complete before dusk.

Donalbain attempts to restrain the Hunter.

As the Scottish royal family approach the sleeping gargoyles on Brada Hill, resting on both the high rocky terrain and on the lintels of the standing stones, King Malcolm pulls out the mask of the Hunter, and putting it on, he admits how much he's going to enjoy destroying another gargoyle clan. He draws a mace and prepares to swing when his arm is suddenly restrained by Prince Donalbain. He tells his brother the King that killing the sleeping clan is "wanton and unnecessary", explaining how, during his time in exile in Ireland, he learned to appreciate the clans there. But King Malcolm stares furiously at his younger brother, unconvinced. "Release out arm. Now," he coldly commands to his kin. Prince Donalbain stands down and walks off, with Prince Edward looking at him quizzically. King Malcolm directs his sons to the slaughter, but Prince Domnall just continues to look at his uncle as the sleeping clan is pulverized. Below ground, the young rookling sleeps out of sight while Demona sleeps hidden in the woods.

As the Sun sets behind Brada Hill, King Malcolm and the princes are suddenly ambushed by Robert de Mowbray, Arkil Morel, and an army of Northumbrians. The Earl of Northumbria welcomes the Scottish King to the Battle of Alnwick; "brief thought it may be", he adds. As night falls, Lord Mowbray orders his men to attack and arrows rain down on the Scots, and Prince Edward pushes his father out of harm's way. Meanwhile, Demona roars awake and glides off to check on the Northumbria Clan. Before she lands she can see that the worst has indeed happened. From the rubble she finds the clan's leader when she suddenly hears whimpering behind her.

Demona finds the main entrance to the Northumbria Clan's rookery and in the middle of the smashed clutch of eggs, Demona finds the rookling she spoke to nights ago, crying. At the same time, King Malcolm abandons his son's body, dead from the volley of arrows, and runs into the woods, ordering his men to save their king. Morel informs Lord Mowbray of Malcolm's escape, but the Earl of Northumbria commands Morel to chase him down, knowing that if Malcolm manages to survive the night, he'll only return with reinforcements. "But if King and heir are both dispatched, Scotland will drown in chaos!" Lord Mowbray explains. Prince Domnall finally sees a way to get past the sea of Northumbrian soldiers, and Prince Donnchad commands his brother to find and protect their father.

Demona approaches the young mourning gargoyle, when suddenly the rookling turns around, eyes glowing, and begins to attack Demona, scolding her. Demona is taken aback, assuring the youth that the massacre was not her doing. But the rookling explains that she is responsible for her own survival, having heard her warnings the night before and decided to hide as a result. Otherwise, she explains, "I would have perished with my clan and never known such sights." Demona pulls the young gargoyle off her, commending her prudence to hide. "It is too late for your clan, but it is not to late for vengeance!" Demona concludes, leaving the young gargoyle behind and gliding into the night sky.

King Malcolm, still fleeing, breathes heavily as tires from his escape. Sword in hand, Demona corners him from above, unsurprised that she recognized both him and his handiwork. King Malcolm admits he thought she was long-since dead. "Never by your hand," Demona shares before she lands, and Malcolm pulls out the Hunter's mask, figuring that its visage must haunt her. Demona dismisses the mask and taunts, and Prince Domnall and the young rookling, son and daughter, find their respective parents goad one another. Disillusioning Malcolm Canmore, clan slaughterer, of any notion of an "epic battle" between the two of them, Demona cradles the King's head with one set of claws and impales the monarch with her sword with the other set. The Hunter's mask falls to the ground.

Prince Domnall recalls how he was too late to save his father, and that "The Demon" was dragged away by a young gargoyle. By using a human weapon, there was nothing to implicate Demona in the King's death, and Arkil Morel took credit for the assassination. Lord Mowbray's overall plan was a success, and Scotland did descend into chaos for the next four years: Queen Margaret died from grief days later, when she learned of her husband and son's death. Further, with no clear heir, Princes Donalbain and Donnchad both laid claim to the crown, with Prince Edmund siding with his uncle, and Prince Edgar (considering himself the true king), fleeing to England with his younger brothers, Princes Alexandair and Dauid. Prince Edelred meanwhile took holy orders, and Princesses Edith and Mary were sent to a convent until they were both of marriageable age.

As for himself, Prince Domnall disappeared after that fateful night in Northumbria. Uninterested in a "hollow crown", he realized that, after failing his father and ignoring his warnings regarding the gargoyles, he had a higher calling to answer to. Taking the Hunter's mask, he anglicized his name to Donald Canmore and swore vengeance on "The Demon", pledging himself and his descendants "to the destruction of all her gargoyle familiars until the end of time . . ."

Angelika joins Demona.

Back at Brada Hill, Demona is frustrated that she didn't kill each of King Malcolm's children. "I would have – if you hadn't pulled me away," she tells the young gargoyle. The rookling explains she was trying to save Demona's life, noting the number of soldiers nearby. Demona dismisses her concerns, explaining that she can't die. The rookling wonders how that can be, and Demona explains that it's a long and complicated story, but, in short, she doesn't age and only one man can kill her. With an answer that no doubt raises more questions for the young gargoyle, the rookling changes the subject and asks if the two of them should hold a Wind Ceremony. Demona argues the gesture won't bring the rookling's clan back, but she's free to do as she likes. "Your life is yours now," Demona tells her, preparing to depart from "this cursed land". The rookling asks what's to become of herself, and Demona wishes the young gargoyle luck, but explains that she can't be burdened with someone to care for. And with that, she glides off into the night.

After some distance, Demona realizes she's not alone in the skies, and begins to remind the young gargoyle that she can't tag along, but the rookling cuts her off, arguing that she's not joining Demona, "just going in the same direction". The two exchange a knowing look and the rookling asks about Demona's name, realizing she'll need one too. Settling on Angelika, Demona figures the choice will have to do.

Review

This is the first full chapter of the Demona mini-series. It makes a promising beginning.

After twenty-nine years, we finally have the answer to how the "Hunt" began again. After Canmore "slew" Demona in 1057, and believed her to be dead, the Hunters' pursuit of Demona was seemingly over. But we had learned in "Hunter's Moon" that somehow it had resumed, by descendants of Canmore's, once again ceaselessly pursuing Demona. Furthermore, the tone of the "Hunt" had changed. While Canmore and his father Duncan disliked gargoyles, their real concern was a rivalry with Macbeth and his branch of the family over the Scottish throne; the main reason why they had gone after Demona and her clan was to prevent them from aiding Macbeth. The new "Hunt" was entirely based on a fanatical hatred of gargoyles for being gargoyles, without any trace of the political motivations that Duncan and Canmore displayed. How did it happen? This chapter tells us how, and does a fine job of it, as well.

Canmore's son Domnall/Donald Canmore is one of the two narrators in this chapter; the other is Demona's adopted daughter Angelika. Both give their accounts of the "Hunt" from the very first page, where they appear side by side – and both are clearly biased towards their parents. They form an effective contrast in displaying their different distortions – the highlight is the panel showing the deal with the Weird Sisters, divided down the middle so that they appear to be gargoyle-hags on one side, human-crones on the other (the first use of the Weird Sisters' talent for disguise since "City of Stone").

In 1093, Demona encounters another gargoyle clan in Northumbria. While these new gargoyles (apart from Angelika) will have only a small role in the story, they are given the usual rich details we come to expect from gargoyle clans. Their character designs show a mixture of the Scottish and London clans, natural for gargoyles living in northern England, close to the Scottish border. We also learn that the old title of "Rhydderch" for "clan leader" has apparently fallen into disuse (how, we are not told), and see that these gargoyles have taken up agriculture, growing either lettuce or cabbages – the first time in the series that gargoyles have been shown farming.

While Demona is making acquaintances with the Northumbrian gargoyles, Canmore assembles his family at Edinburgh Castle for a new expedition into England – and a very substantial family at that: no less than twelve children and step-children at the table with him, alongside his second wife Queen Margaret. (All of these offspring, even Donald Canmore, were actual historical figures, by the way; Canmore really did have a family that large.) And his brother Donalbain finally makes an entrance into Gargoyles; he's also at the family gathering.

Although, as mentioned above, the "Hunt" is about to move away from its political roots, we see that much of Canmore's anti-gargoyle campaigning stems more from the frictions in Britain in the late eleventh century; he wants to raid England, and it's indicated that the English king William Rufus encourages him in the hopes of keeping his northern nobles in line. (In actual history, the same nobles depicted here rebelled against him just two years after the events in this issue.) The peasants will bear the brunt of the fighting (something which happened a lot in medieval warfare), while the northern nobles plan to use Canmore's attack on the peasants as a justification for their retaliatory attack upon him. Neither Scottish nor English nobles seem to have much trouble with the fact that the local gargoyles will also be casualties of Canmore's war; the old rule of "human problems become gargoyle problems" is clearly at work here once again.

As we expect, the Northumbrian gargoyles – except for Angelika, thanks to her curiosity about Demona – wind up perishing at Canmore's hand, shattered in stone sleep, even the eggs (a particularly horrifying detail). In a nice touch, Demona makes an attempt to warn the clan that roosting in one spot makes it too easy for hostile humans to wipe them out in one blow; unfortunately, they disregard her advice. In another nice touch, Donalbain voices his misgivings about his brother's plans to slaughter the gargoyles (citing his own experiences with gargoyles in Ireland – likely to further rouse the interest of those Gargoyles fans particularly interested in gargoyle history), but quickly gives in (Jon Canmore's half-hearted attempts to talk his siblings out of the "Hunt" clearly have a precedent).

Canmore's doom quickly follows; he is overthrown when the English nobles attack (with Canmore having apparently been better prepared for slaughtering peasants and smashing sleeping gargoyles than facing fellow warriors), and although he manages to survive (though at the cost of the life of his son Edward), a furious Demona finishes him off. (In another nice touch, she points out that Canmore will not get "some epic final battle" with her, and finishes him off with Canmore doing little more than stare at her in terror.) Scotland falls into chaos with Canmore's surviving relatives quarreling over the throne (also an actual historical element), but Donald Canmore survives, to take up the Hunter's mask and dedicate himself now to the destruction of the gargoyle species, now the unholy crusade that we saw in "Hunter's Moon"; Donald tells us outright that he has no interest in "a hollow crown".

Demona departs (she, again, doesn't even bother with a Wind Ceremony for the slaughtered gargoyles, though in a tone more suggestive of weary indifference than vengeful fury), and Angelika accompanies her. In another lovely moment, Demona initially doesn't want the young gargoyle accompanying her and potentially getting in the way, but when Angelika explains that she just happens to be traveling in the same direction as her, Demona is amused enough to accept her company. And thus begin their travels together....

Featured Characters and First Appearances

Gargoyles	Humans	Oberon's Children
Demona "Second" (No Lines) "Brooksbro" (No Lines) "Kermit" (No Lines) "Chomp" "Chaw" "Rook" (First Appearance) "Lioness" (First Appearance) Angelika (First Appearance) The Gargoyle of the Sword (No Lines)	Hakon (No Lines) Canmore Duncan (No Lines) Macbeth (No Lines) Paul Thorfinnson (First Appearance) Erlend Thorfinnson (First Appearance) Ingibjorg (Mentioned Only) Thorfinn (Mentioned Only) Donnchad (First Appearance) Donald Canmore (First Appearance) Margaret (First Appearance) Edward (First Appearance) Edmund (First Appearance) Edelred (First Appearance) Edgar (First Appearance, No Lines) Alexandair (First Appearance, No Lines) Edith (First Appearance, No Lines) Mary (First Appearance, No Lines) Dauid (First Appearance, No Lines) Donalbain (First Appearance) Robert de Mowbray (First Appearance) William Rufus (Mentioned Only) Arkil Morel (First Appearance)	Phoebe (No Lines) Seline (No Lines) Luna (No Lines)

Places	Miscellaneous
Hadrian's Wall Brada Hill Orkney Islands (Mentioned Only) Bamburgh Castle Alnwick	Northumbria Clan Battle of Alnwick

Quotes

• "Reckless hatchling! If you value your head, never sneak up on me again!"

"But why a sword? You have your claws."

"The Gargoyle of the Sword showed me the weapon's worth. He was the only other survivor of my clan . . . but he vanished in flame long ago."

"Wait, what?" - Demona and Angelika

• "I do not care for these "Lessons of Kings". - Robert de Mowbray

• "Isn't it a triumph!"

"A triumph?!"

"Over peasants that never stood a chance against well-armed Thanes?"

"It's an offense against heaven."

"It's a necessary evil." - Princes Edward, Donalbain, Edmund, Edelred, and Donnchad

• "You! This is all your fault!"

"My fault . . . ? These horrors are not my work, rookling."

"Not that! But if you hadn't warned us, then I wouldn't have hidden . . . and I would have perished with my clan and never known such sights." - Angelika and Demona

• "Canmore! Clan-Slaughterer! I might have known it was you."

"Demon. I thought you were dead."

"Never by your hand." - Demona and King Malcolm Canmore

Continuity

After the prelude (which features moments from the "City of Stone" four-parter), the main events of this issue take place thirty-six years after the flashback sequences of "City of Stone" Part Four.

Tidbits

Greg Weisman first teased about the Canmore's family commitment to hunting down Demona thanks to "a little mishap with Canmore and one of his sons" back in 2001. [3]

Alongside his older brother, Malcolm Canmore (first introduced in "City of Stone" Part Two), Donalbain is another character featured in the play Macbeth brought to life in Gargoyles.

Donald Canmore's statement "I was uninterested in a hollow crown" is yet another touch of Shakespeare here; the phrase "hollow crown" appears in Richard II (Act III, Scene ii) where Richard, in a self-pitying speech, says among other things "For within the hollow crown/ That rounds the mortal temples of a king/ Keeps Death his court".

Cover Gallery

See Also

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