Tyrants
"Tyrants" is the eleventh issue of the Gargoyles comic by SLG, and Chapter Eleven of the Clan-Building story arc.
On August 31, 2008, SLG's license to produce single issues of the Gargoyles comic ended. The material that would have made up single issues nine through twelve is included in the trade paperback collection Gargoyles: Clan-Building, Volume Two.
| Crew |
|---|
|
Contents
Solicitation
"Clan-Building," Chapter 11: Tyrants. A TimeDancing Brooklyn from the present comes face to face with his past self, frozen in stone for a thousand years! Can he team with a pair of faux sorceresses to save himself, his clan, and the Grimorum Arcanorum that will someday set them all free?
Summary
Main Plot
Mary, Finella, and Brooklyn arrive at the abandoned Castle Wyvern. Brooklyn discovers that Goliath's half of the Phoenix Gate is petrified, and won’t provide the solution to his temporal predicament. Meanwhile, Constantine's Irish allies are gathering at Rathveramoen and Angel reports to the surviving members of her clan that the Sruighlea Cell was massacred. Mary, Finella, and Brooklyn arrive at Kenneth's camp just in time, given that the Grim has been unable to locate any gargoyle to help his cause thanks to Constantine’s campaign against them. Brooklyn eventually finds the gargoyle he knows as Demona, and convinces her to have her clan join the Battle of Rathveramoen. During the fight, Brother Valmont steals the Grimorum Arcanorum from Finella, and both he and Angel reveal their own ambitions for the fate of Scotland.
Subplots
Constantine shaves his head and uses Gillecomgain's scars as inspiration for his warpaint.
Angel asks how Brooklyn how he survived the Wyvern Massacre while Brooklyn makes a point to ask the guilt-plagued gargoyle the same.
The Story
Weeks after arriving in 997, Brooklyn, riding in the horse-drawn cart with Mary and Lady Finella, spots Castle Wyvern before them. As they ride closer to Wyvern Hill, they spot a petrified Goliath, and Brooklyn tells the two humans that in his pouch should be his half of the Phoenix Gate . . . his only chance of returning to his own century. Mary's confused by that last comment. "But Brooklyn . . . isn't this your century?" she asks. While Finella clutches the Grimorum Arcanorum, Brooklyn slowly realizes that its not – not anymore. At any rate, Brooklyn is confident that the Phoenix Gate will be the only way he can ensure the safety of Mary, Finella, and the Grimorum.
At Edinburgh Castle, Constantine asks a teenage servant to hold a mirror steady. Holding a dagger in his left hand, he takes a handful of his hair and cuts it above his shoulders. Constantine proceeds to take a bowl of water and pours it over his head, taking the dagger to shave the rest of it off. Now Constantine the Bald, he asks his servant, Gillecomgain, if his new look will provide the "proper canvas". Gillecomgain replies, "As you decree it so, King Constantine," and the tyrant approves the subservient tone. The two are interrupted by Maíl Brigti and Brother Valmont, who kneel before the king. Constantine asks if his armies are assembled. Maíl Brigti confirms that they have, and they are marching toward Rathveramoen to rendezvous with his Irish allies. Delighted with the news, Constantine orders him to ride and meet with their forces. Before he departs, Gillecomgain's father orders his son to join them, but Constantine declares that he'll keep the teenager by his side. "We find him useful," Constantine adds, grabbing Gillecomgain's neck. Maíl Brigti hesitates to leave, but Constantine, still clutching the teenager, gives him permission to depart. Gillecomgain finally rises to leave his son with the king. Constantine then turns to the still kneeling Brother Valmont and, confident their armies will crush the Grim and the male line of Three Brothers, wonders about his remaining adversaries. Valmont tells Constantine of how he's read the "entrails of half the goats in Scotland" and believes that both Princess Katharine and the Magus have "left this world and pose no threat". Not wanting any loose ends, Constantine asks about Tom, who witnessed Kenneth II's murder. Brother Valmont assures the king that he's either with them or dead, but explains that the Grimorum remains in Scotland. He warns Constantine, that if they cannot recover it, they must be prepared to face its might.
Atop Castle Wyvern, Brooklyn looks at his past self, magically frozen in stone sleep. "Okay, this is just freaky," he says to himself. Standing in the shattered, massacred remains of what was once the Wyvern Clan, Brooklyn becomes overwhelmed, consumed by the thought that his own heart has hardened only to be destroyed once more by Hakon. As he takes an abandoned scabbard and sheaths the sword he took from one of Constantine's men, Mary asks if he's seen her son in the future he's come from. Brooklyn tells with her that Goliath has, and begins to share with her that he's now married, only to take the full brunt of Mary's shock that her boy is married. Brooklyn tells himself that he should probably keep his "big beak shut", noting that it's probably for the best, even if Goliath's explained that time cannot be altered. He jumps off the lower part of castle tower catching a current to take him up to Goliath. Approaching the sleeping gargoyle slowly, Brooklyn is disappointed to discover that the Spell of Humility froze Goliath's pouch, and his half of the Phoenix Gate with it. He sighs, beginning to figure that perhaps the 10th Century is his century once again. He's at least comforted that he won't have to worry about wrangling the other half of the gate from the witch that has it . . .
Up north in Lunfanan, the gargoyle that was once Goliath's "Angel" lands at the mouth of a cave. [1] Walking inside, she reports to the handful of gargoyles that the entire Sruighlea Cell to the south of them is dead. The small clan is horrified to hear how seven gargoyles and a beast was "reduced to rubble by the humans". One rookling suggests that a Wind Ceremony should be performed, but Angel, eyes glowing, dissuades her of the notion, insisting that they should kill the humans – and not just the ones responsible.
At the camp of the Grim's forces, Prince Maol Chalvim tries to convince his cousin that the gargoyles might prove useful in battle, "but Constantine's edicts have driven them all into hiding". Kenneth's son Bodhe listens in as Findlaech interrupts them both, announcing the arrival of Mary, Lady Finella, and a sleeping Brooklyn. As they stop out of the tent, Maol Chalvim is hardly cordial with Finella, remembering her role in his father's assassination. Lady Finella doesn't deny how, thanks to Constantine, she unwittingly participated in the death of Kenneth II. But now she urges Maol Chalvim to set aside what reservations he might have working with her to use what she's brought to defeat the tyrant king. Helping her out of the cart, Prince Kenneth points out Finella's wisdom, reminding his cousin they'll need all the help they can get. Not entirely convinced, Maol asks what she's specifically offering. With Brooklyn still asleep behind her, Finella places a hand on the bag containing the Grimorum Arcanorum.
Nightfall finally arrives, and Brooklyn attends the war meeting the Grim, Maol Chalvim, Findlaech, Finella, and Bodhe. Advising them to meet at Rathveramoen, he assures the royal family members that he'll provide the reinforcements they desperately need. Exiting the tent, Mary asks Brooklyn if he really intends to find the gargoyle he knows as Demona, pointing out that he's described her as a monster. Brooklyn hasn't forgotten that, but figures that nature of hers can be useful to their cause if he is careful (and can keep his own temper in check). Mary's confused at the gargoyle's uncertainty; doesn't he know what will happen? Brooklyn shrugs, blaming himself for spending too much time watching television and not enough reading up on history. But now that he's experienced a "giant flaming magical time-traveling bird" swallowing him whole only to spit him out in the 10th Century, there's no doubt in his mind now how much of a liability that is.
Brooklyn departs and spends the next two nights searching for the gargoyle he hates. But it is Angel that discovers Brooklyn, confusing him as a contemporary member of her fractured clan. Angel scowls at him, calling him a fool for soaring in the night sky out in the open. Brooklyn's own temper flares up, pouncing on her midair for daring to accuse him of risking their clan's safety. As they plummet to the fast approaching ground, Angel is astonished to recognize Brooklyn as a surviving member of the Wyvern Clan. Her reaction briefly quells Brooklyn's temper, and he reminds himself that this a younger Demona – but he recalls, eyes glowing once more, that at this point she's still a gargoyle responsible for the Wyvern Massacre. Angel apologizes for her earlier outburst, admitting she thought the young warrior was a member of her new clan. Angel asks him how he came to survive the massacre and Brooklyn tells the truth, reminding her how he was sent to the rookery. Recalling the night before the massacre, Angel asks if his rookery brothers also survived. Brooklyn shares how they did, but that the Magus ultimately cursed them to an eternal stone sleep along with Goliath and the "old soldier", almost slipping out Hudson's modern name. Angel's eyes glow red at the thought of the humans cursing those gargoyles they haven't already destroyed, and Brooklyn can't help but wonder aloud how the traitor escaped both fates. Angel begins to scrape together an alibi, claiming she was in the forest, but Brooklyn cuts her off, saying it doesn't matter. "It's just . . . 'great' we both survived – because I need your help," Brooklyn tells her.
The following morning, the Grim's forces advance toward Rathveramoen. Mary and Finella ride along in the legion, and Finella, flipping the pages of the Grimorum Arcanorum, expresses her disappointment that Prince Kenneth has no sorcerer that can wield the magic book. Mary points out that Finella is amongst that number; she knows no magic either. But Finella is convinced that she might be capable of some feat given that she can read the Latin incantations inside. Finding the page of a spell she once witnessed the Magus cast, Finella wonders if she can repeat the feat. Mary considers the entire idea dangerous, and Finella sarcastically points out, as they ride into battle, how they wouldn't want to be involved in anything dangerous . . . .
At Rathveramoen, Constantine has joined his men at the camp. As he begins to apply war paint on his face, he hears from one of his soldiers that the Grim has sent a messenger telling the king that Kenneth's troops will meet them on the battlefield at sunset. As Gillecomgain holds a mirror up for the tyrant, Constantine applies black paint on his face while ordering the messenger to be killed. The Grim's messenger protests, reminding anyone that would listen that there are rules of war to respect, but Constantine quickly dismisses the etiquette while adding red paint now, arguing that, "the King makes the rules". With that, he asks the smiling Gillecomgain if he agrees and the teenager, seeing the King fashion two faces painted black with three red scars, voices his approval.
Not long after, the two armies face one another. The Grim sternly instructs Lady Finella to stay behind the line and, should the battle turn against them, to burn the Grimorum. As Kenneth, Bodhe, and Findlaech ride forward, Findlaech notes how the Irish's numbers are fewer than anticipated, and the Grim agrees. Constantine orders Gillecomgain to stay close to him, and Gillecomegain agrees to do so. Kenneth and Constantine draw their swords and the two sides finally charge into battle, with cries of "Death to the tyrant!" and "Death to the Grim!" ringing out in the evening sky. As swords clash, reinforcements for Constantine suddenly reveal themselves advancing from a nearby forest. Constantine and Kenneth exchange blows and Constantine proclaims that Kenneth's forces are now outflanked. But Kenneth assures the tyrant that "the Sun has set" on his reign, timing it with reinforcements of his own – the arrival of Brooklyn, Angel, and her clan!
Beneath the full Moon, the Battle of Rathveramoen begins to wax with intensity. As Kenneth and Constantine continue to clash, Gillecomgain knocks the young Bodhe off his horse. Gargoyle beasts sink their teeth into Constantine's soldiers as Angel scoops up a soldier of Constantine's into the air and snaps his neck! Angel's Second commends her wisdom for following the gargoyle of the sword, and Angel admits her decision was wiser than he realizes . . .
As the battle carries on, Finella and Mary are protected by a circle of the Grim's men. Finella tells Mary how she's can finally "see" the spell, when fiery arrows strike the Grim's men, dropping them. In the commotion, Brother Valmont yanks the Grimorum Arcanorum out of Finella's hands!
Finally divulging their true intentions, Angel and Valmont are, separately, now both in a position to take out both Constantine and the Grim, leaving the fate of Scotland to one or the other.
Review
We left Brooklyn stranded in Scotland in the year 997, traveling with Mary and Finella, wondering how he could return to his own time. Reuniting the pieces of the Phoenix Gate seemed the best hope – so the three of them set out for Castle Wyvern to reclaim Goliath's half.
Unfortunately for Brooklyn, Goliath's pouch turned to stone with him, rendering his half of the Gate past Brooklyn's reach. Brooklyn's only consolation is that he won't have to confront Demona for her half now. But he finds the old castle an unsettling place – first from a comedic standpoint, as he looks at himself in stone sleep (an image I had long pictured, before the comics even came out) and then, on a more solemn note, as he sees the remnants of his fellow clan members after the Viking massacre, still strewn about three years later.
Since he's stranded in the past, Brooklyn decides to accept it and join forces with Kenneth and his army. Aware that they need more than one gargoyle, however, he realizes that he shall have to seek out Demona after all, despite his dislike for her.
Demona lives up to our expectations – while she has not undergone the full thousand years of solitude and bitterness, she still shows so many of her familiar traits. She is filled with anger towards the humans who slaughter her kind, to such an extent that her first thought is to seek revenge rather than to hold a Wind Ceremony for the dead – yet, when she meets Brooklyn, we glimpse some of her vulnerability as she frantically lies about her whereabouts during the Wyvern Massacre, still gripped with the unacknowledged guilt over her part in it.
Brooklyn is all the more uneasy about gaining an alliance with her, for he does not even know the events in 997 well enough to tell if he's doing the right thing. At one point, he even breaks the fourth wall for a moment, advising the readers to study history just in case they find themselves in a similar plight (whether this moment is funny or awkward depends upon your tastes).
We see more of Constantine as he makes Gillecomgain his squire (not to Maíl Brigti's liking), and applies war paint to his head in a precursor of the Hunter's mask – though, in an unsettling detail, with eyes painted on the back. (Even the Hunters' masks were not this creepy!) He shows his villainy all the more as he puts to death Kenneth's herald, against the rules of medieval warfare (even Maíl Brigti appears unsettled by this act).
Battle is joined in a satisfyingly great moment – especially when Demona's gargoyles arrive. But we learn on the last page that Demona is plotting treachery against the humans on both sides (not surprisingly) – and Brother Valmont makes his own, equally treacherous bid for power...
Featured Characters and First Appearances
| Gargoyles | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|
|
| Places | Magic | Miscellaneous |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Quotes
- "Man, we are such a pain when we are asleep . . . how does Elisa stand it?" - Brooklyn.
- "You don't sound very sure. Don't you know what is going to happen?
- "Too much TV. Too few history books. You never know when a giant flaming magical time-traveling bird is gonna swallow you whole and spit you in the tenth century! So hit those books, kids!" - Mary and Brooklyn
Continuity
Demona's "Second", "Schnozz", "Brooksbro", and "Kermit" makes their first appearance since an unspoken cameo in "Avalon" Part Two. They are joined by "Sacrifice" who will join "Second", "Schnozz", and "Brooksbro" in Gargoyles: Dark Ages, which chronologically occurs twenty-six years earlier from the events of this issue.
When talking to Angel, Brooklyn refers to Hudson as "Old Soldier" as she would later call him in the modern scenes in the episode, "Long Way to Morning".
Gillecomgain's scars from the 994 flashback in "City of Stone" Part One inspire Constantine's war paint in this issue which presumably inspired the Hunter's Mask in "City of Stone" Part One's 1020 flashback.
Tidbits
Constantine's shaving his head is based on his historical nickname, "Constantine the Bald".
Constantine's mention of "the Three Brothers" (whose bloodline he plans to eliminate) is an allusion to Greg Weisman's 1997 Canon-in-Training story "Once Upon A Time There Were Three Brothers...", which he later incorporated in the 2023 spin-off, Gargoyles: Dark Ages.
Brother Valmont's report to Constantine that, according to the entrails of the goats he's read, Princess Katharine, the Magus, and Tom "have left this world" – which indeed they have, being on Avalon – indicates that divination magic works in the Gargoyles Universe.
The Humility Spell and Wind Ceremonies are mentioned in canon for the first time.
In his memo for "Vows", Greg Weisman initially explained Goliath hiding away his half of the Phoenix Gate a thousand years ago inside a hollow brick at Castle Wyvern and retrieving it before moving to the Clock Tower.
"Sruighlea", after which the Sruighlea Cell was named, is the Gaelic name for Stirling, a major historic town in Scotland.
Kenneth III's line "Ask and you shall receive" is a reference to the Biblical quote, "Ask and ye shall receive". (John 16: 24)
The two gargoyle beasts in Demona's clan are Bronx's biological parents. The rookling who suggests holding a Wind Ceremony for the slaughtered cell is "True", the youngest of Hudson's biological children.
This is the earliest account of Demona ironically using a mace against her human combatants.
See Also
| << Previous Episode: "Clan-Building" Chapter Ten: "The Gate" | Next Episode: "Clan-Building" Chapter Twelve: "Phoenix" >> |
