Queen of All She Surveys
"Queen of All She Surveys" is the fifth issue of the Quest comic arc and the seventeenth Gargoyles comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released on December 4th, 2024. [1]
- Writer/Creator: Greg Weisman
- Pencil Artist: Pasquale Qualano & Gerardo Gambone
- Color Artist: Giovanna La Pietra
- Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
- Editor: Nate Cosby
- Main Cover Artist: Drew Moss
Contents
Solicitation
JOURNEY'S END!
Despite Goliath's heroic efforts to stop her, Demona has succeeded in assembling the three New Keys to Power - and now, with all of humanity helpless to resist her commands, she faces a final showdown with the Manhattan Clan!
The Story
November 28th. With Xanatos, Owen, Fox, and Elisa Maza bowing before her, Demona triumphantly confronts Goliath. While inside the castle, Broadway is inspecting the Thanksgiving turkey he's frying when Angela interrupts him to alert him of the music emanating from Puck's Flute. On television, Travis Marshall interrupts the scheduled program to announce that all of Manhattan awaits the commands of their Gargoyle Magisters and, especially, their Gargoyle Magistra. Gnash is confused but Turquesa notices the music. Down in the library, Lexington ends his chat with Amp while Hudson advises Jeffrey Robbins to stay in the library for his own safety, Robbins agrees to follow the command given by his Gargoyle Maester. And, across town, Shahrizad and Anton Sevarius kneel before Thailog and Brentwood. Demona grins as Goliath tries to command Elisa to forever behave as if no spell was cast upon her but, while Elisa would like to, Demona's commands forbid it.
Coldstone and Coldfire land on the tower and Coldfire cries out that a spell has been cast on all the humans as the rest of the clan converge on the tower. Angela demands to know what Demona has done; to which Demona happily responds that she's saved the entire gargoyle species. Brooklyn and Katana share a quick side conversation about humans not being gargoyle thralls in 2198, but Brooklyn reminds her that doesn't mean that Demona didn't rule for decades, or that they know how to stop her. Demona basks in her triumph, stating that she considered going apocalyptic and commanding the humans to walk into the sea but having humans eternally obey gargoyles is a lovely compromise. But Goliath will hear none of it, outraged that Demona stole the humans' free will. Demona sighs that there is just no pleasing him and flees to spread her magic further as she orders Xanatos to cover her exit. Xanatos agrees and summons the Steel Clan. Goliath orders the clan to dispatch the robots but with Demona gone, Angela orders Xanatos to call off the robots and the billionaire complies.
As Goliath prepares to give chase, Coldstone pulls Goliath aside and pleads with him to consider the advantages of what Demona is doing... if they can get Demona to restrain from abusing the humans, this would ensure the safety of not only the clan but of gargoyles across the world. Coldfire is struck by Coldstone's words but Goliath will have none of it and vows to stop Demona. Coldfire channels her spiritual connection to magic and is able to track the forces Demona wields. The entire clan, save for Bronx and Fu-Dog, but with Jade and Turquesa pursue Demona to LaGuardia Airport.
Demona arrives at the airport, displaying her disdain for humans believing they can share the skies with gargoyles as every human in the vicinity kneels before her. Demona singles out a crew chief and orders her to commandeer a luxury jet so that Demona may spread her influence across the world that much faster. The other gargoyles quickly arrive, Goliath determined to put an end to this. But Demona stands back as her army of humans attack the clan. Goliath pursues Demona and Brooklyn orders Coldstone, Coldfire, Jade, and Turquesa to accompany him. Broadway urges everyone to refrain from hurting the humans as they are not in control of their own actions. But, as Lex points out, this is easier said than done.
Goliath confronts Demona with Coldstone, Coldfire, Jade, and Turquesa at his side but Demona is not intimidated. As she has targeted all humans with the lance, she is also able to take command of Coldstone and Coldfire's (but let's be honest, probably only Coldfire) human-made shells and the Mayan gargoyles pendants forged by human sorcery, declaring that they have relinquished their gargoyle birthrights. Goliath, on the other hand, has relinquished nothing and Demona takes the time to point out the scent of Elisa on his hair, lips, and everywhere and promises to take her time torturing the detective as the human thanks her with tears of joy in her eyes. Goliath advances on Demona, but she fires lightning at him from Gungnir. But Goliath kees on advancing, promising to turn these forces back on her and takes hold of Puck's flute. Demona retorts that this enchantment cannot touch her as she is the last true gargoyle left in the world. The two of them battle for control of the flute, and reminds Demona that she too "reeks of humanity" addressing her as "Dominique" and causing her control to begin to fluctuate. But before he can wrestle the flute from her hands, Coldstone and Coldfire restain him; Demona has taken precautions and has contingencies in place.
Angela separates herself from the brawl the rest of the clan is having with the humans to go and confront Demona. She knocks Coldfire aside and while the metallic gargoyle cannot defy Demona's orders, Angela is able to command her to be in no rush to obey them. Demona tells Angela not to interfere, as Goliath again wrestles her for the flute. Angela grabs Cleopatra's Necklace from behind Demona, telling her that as long as she walks the path of evil she will stand against her but that she would gladly embrace her if she chose a better course. With Goliath and Angela wrestling with two of the Keys, Demona's control weakens allowing Coldfire to blast flames, which Demona blocks with a shield generated from the lance. Jade and Turqusa free themselves as Demona asks Goliath if he would truly save humanity to see them destroy gargoyles. Goliath turns her words back on her, reminding her of Wyvern and her role in the massacre. Demona hesitates, allowing Turquesa the opening she needs to seize the spear.
The magical energy bursts as Goliath takes the flute, Angela the necklace, and Turquesa the spear while Demona falls unconscious. Coldfire gathers them around her and tells them to repeat her command freeing the humans from this geas. All across the city, the humans return to their senses and continue their evening as planned. With the humans freed, Goliath, Angela, and Turquesa destroy the Three New Keys to Power. Their energies disperse into the air. Coldfire warns that those energies will eventually find and create Three New Keys to Power but, for now, it's over. Angela then notices that Demona has vanished.
In the aftermath of this, Jade and Turquesa return to Avalon and finally make it home with the Mayan Sun Amulet where they are greeted by Zafiro and Obsidiana. Broadway's turkey is ruined but Angela reminds him that they have other things to be thankful for and others to mourn. Hudson apologizes to Robbins that the feast didn't work out while Lex wants to call Amp and tell him about what happened.
As Elisa and Goliath thank Coldstone for his help, he is confronted by Coldfire who demands to know how long he has been working with Demona. Before Coldstone can get a word in, Coldfire reminds him that she knows his heart and tells everyone that Coldstone betrayed the clan to Demona. Coldstone doesn't attempt to deny it but does attempt to justify it with his belief that Demona's plan provided the only true path to safety for the clan and their kind. But Goliath is furious that Coldstone conspired behind his back. Coldfire declares that Coldstone be banished and Goliath reluctantly agrees before asking how long. Coldfire pronounces that Coldstone's banishment will last until she judges him worthy of return. Coldstone accepts his punishment as he flies off. Meanwhile, Owen examines the remains of Puck's flute and smiles as Xanatos and Fox check up on their sleeping son.
Elisa can't believe that Coldstone would betray the clan but before that conversation can continue, Katana cries out from the rookery and suddenly Elisa remembers. Demona had earlier entered the 23rd Precinct and entranced her, assigning her a task she was only too happy to carry out. While Demona was distracting the clan, Elisa went down into the rookery and tranquilized Bronx and Fu-Dog before stealing Egwardo. In the rookery, Brooklyn, Katana, and Gnash kneel solemnly before the empty spot that once contained the egg.
Antoinette Dracon arrives at Demona's Townhouse, presenting her with Egwardo. Elisa followed their instructions to the letter. The detective never saw Antoinette, had no idea who recovered the "package" or where it was delivered. Demona holds aloft the egg in triumph, the night not being a total loss. Demona vows that the hatchling will be raised the way "a true gargoyle should be raised" to hate and vie to destroy the humans along with any "false gargoyles" that stand in their way. Coldstone and Antoinette join her as they bask in their victory.
Review
Featured Characters and First Appearances
| Gargoyles | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|
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Tidbits
- Demona quotes Percy Bysshe Shelley's 1818 poem, "Ozymandias", when she realizes that, thanks to the conditions of her enchantment, the humans at LaGuardia Airport can't despair. [2]
- Demona triumphantly holding up Egwardo is reminiscent of the cover from the 1995 apocryphal Gargoyles issue, "The Egg And I".
Cover Gallery
Links
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