Description

The Gargoyle                         Comics Lot
Featuring Bernie Wrightson cover art on issue #1.  Awesome!!
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Mark Badger
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Editors: Carl Potts & Jim Shooter
Cover #1 by: Bernie Wrightson
Cover #2 by: Jon J. Muth
Cover #3 by: Dan Green
Cover #4 by: Mark Badger

Isaac Christians was an old man whose beloved town was headed into ruin. To save it, Isaac made a deal with a demon named Avarish, who agreed to help him…under certain conditions. Avarish placed Isaac in the body of a stone gargoyle, which he imbued with sorcerous power. Needless to say, Isaac began having second thoughts about the deal, and when the Defenders battled Avarish, Isaac took their side. Avarish was defeated, but Isaac remained trapped in the stone body of the Gargoyle.

This series begins when Isaac decides to make a visit to his old town of Christiansboro. To his horror, he discovers that his old body is very much alive, but is inhabited by the evil spirit of the original Gargoyle. What follows is a supernatural conflict which will change the way you view this star-crossed member of the Defenders.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, “Love and Death!!”, Night, as well as the rain, falls down upon Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The Gargoyle perches atop an outcropping, across the street from Colorito’s Funeral Home. The Gargoyle breaks into Colorito’s Funeral Home. Silently, the Gargoyle approaches an open casket, then begins to weep. In anguish, the Gargoyle screams out the dead woman’s name, “Elaine”, alerting the parlor owner to the Gargoyle’s presence. The Gargoyle flees, only to be stopped by the police. The Gargoyle sweeps the patrolmen aside, and makes good on his escape. In the skies above Manhattan, the Gargoyle reflects on his circumstances. Once, the Gargoyle had been a man, Isaac Christians, a 78 year old dabbler in the occult. To keep his father’s town, Christiansboro, from collapsing into economic ruin, Christians summoned a demon, Avarrish. Christians was transformed into the Gargoyle, and placed in the service of the Six-Fingered Hand. On their behalf, the Gargoyle battled the Defenders. The Gargoyle, however switched sides, becoming a Defender, while also being cursed to be the Gargoyle forever. Now, the Gargoyle has decided to return home, to Christiansboro, little suspecting his homecoming is eagerly anticipated. The Gargoyle finds Christiansboro abandoned. The Gargoyle enters the church to pray for salvation. The Gargoyle reflects on his past. As a boy, the Gargoyle, as Christians, accidentally killed his brother, Jeremiah, estranging him from his family. The lonely Christians was befriended by two older children, Buster Henderson and Elaine Willoughby. Christians idolized Henderson, but grew to love Willoughby. Willoughby, however, was in love with Henderson, and the two planned to marry. Christians was heartbroken. At the onset of World War I, Henderson enlisted. Christians went to profess his love to Willoughby, only to find her making love to Henderson. Shortly after, the two married. Lying about his age, Christians also enlisted in the army. Henderson died during the war. Christians chose not to console Willoughby, instead opting to abandon Christiansboro. By the time Christians returned, Willoughby had departed. Christians, however, kept tabs on Willoughby, from afar, for the rest of her life. The Gargoyle’s reverie is shattered by a bolt of lightning. Eldritch flames coalesce into a ghostly hand, that forcibly hurls the Gargoyle out of the church. The Gargoyle is set upon by creatures embodying the very concept of lust. The Gargoyle struggles mightily, but his own guilt and remorse lead him to defeat. Impossibly, the Gargoyle is confronted by Isaac Christians. The Gargoyle is led to Christians’ ancestral home, where the Gargoyle is reunited with Willoughby, alive and returned to her youth.

Next in issue #2, “Burning Bright: the Gargoyle’s Tale”, At the Christians family manor, in Christiansboro, Virginia, the Gargoyle comes face-to-face with the impossible. The Gargoyle confronts himself, or rather his human self, Isaac Christians, along with the love of his life, the long dead Elaine Willoughby. The Gargoyle curbs his violent nature, upon seeing how much it frightens Willoughby. Christians taunts the Gargoyle by cavorting with a host of lustful harlots, reminding the Gargoyle of his own wanton past. Christians reveals the nature of the harlots, as well as the unspeakable pleasures he has experienced, since inhabiting the Gargoyle’s human form. Christians reveals his own nature. Christians speaks of a more mythological world, before the rise of Christianity. The old Gods died. The spirits of the Earth and Air became stone. Churches were built on the places that once served as worship for the old Gods. One such church was built over a hot spot for mystic energy, which permeated the entire structure, reawakening the spirits within the church’s multitude of gargoyles. These sprits would have remained aware, but unmoving, as lifeless stone, had it not been for the coming of a powerful sorcerer. In retribution for the loss of the old world, the sorcerer returned motion to the gargoyles, and set them upon the land. Their wanton assault upon the innocent, however, instilled feelings of remorse in the sorcerer, who returned the gargoyles to unmoving stone. Some of the gargoyles, had become too powerful, and thus could not be restrained anew. They wandered the world, becoming the stuff of legends. One gargoyle, in particular, became the slave of an insane magician, spending years in servitude, until finally rising up to slay it’s master. For centuries after, it lived in the shadows, preying upon the innocent. This gargoyle burned with the desires of the flesh, but, as a creature of stone, could never truly experience those pleasures. It became a creature worshipped by man, bringing it to the attention of the demonic cabal, the Six-Fingered Hand. Enslaved again, this gargoyle rebelled, and was punished for its transgressions, just as the demons also punished Christians The Gargoyle realizes that the spirit inhabiting his human body, is the same one that was expunged from the Gargoyle body now inhabited by Christians’ spirit. “Christians” reveals the further horrors he has committed in the old man’s body. Sharing Christians memories, the spirit of the gargoyle is privy to all of the Gargoyle’s secret sins. The Gargoyle reflects on a time, shortly after World War I, when he, as Christians, lived in Paris. Christians sought to fill the emptiness in his heart in the arms of prostitutes. Christians fell madly in love with one such prostitute, Germaine. Christians became more debauched, desperate to hold onto Germaine’s fleeting affections. Ultimately, it was all for naught. Germaine abandoned Christians. The Gargoyle flees the memories of how far he had fallen as a man. The Gargoyle is attacked by the other living gargoyles. The Gargoyle is defeated. Willoughby begs the Gargoyle to protect her. “Christians” offers to switch spirits with the Gargoyle, returning their spirits to their rightful bodies. Willoughby pleads with the Gargoyle to consent to “Christians” proposal, so that they can be together again. Against his better judgment the Gargoyle consents to the transference of souls. The spirit of the gargoyle returns to the Gargoyle’s body, as Christians spirit regains his humanity. Leading the other gargoyles, the Gargoyle takes flight, and vanishes into the night sky. “Willoughby” strikes Christians, berating him for being a fool. Though the body is that of Willoughby, the spirit animating it is Germaine. Germane laughs at Christian’s plight. Unbeknownst to them, the sorcerer, the very one who originally gave life to the gargoyles, draws near.

Next in issue #3, “Lost Souls: The Druid’s Tale”, A host of gargoyles descends upon Blackston, Virginia. The gargoyles lay siege to the town, and desecrate it’s churches. Isaac Christians is tormented by the spirit of Germaine, a Parisian prostitute, inhabiting the form of Christian’s lost love, Elaine Willoughby. Christians spurns Germaine, and tries to bring his eldritch powers to bear against her, forgetting that he has lost them. Germaine viciously claws Christians’ face. Germaine’s tirade against Christians is interrupted by the presence of Derwyddon, an immortal Druid. Derwyddon cows Germaine, then heals Christian’s wounds. Germaine flees, only to be stopped by a floral barrier, conjured up by Derwyddon. Christian’s spirit finds strength in Derwddon’s presence. The gargoyle continue to run rampant in the small Virginia town. Derwyddon reveals his story, the tale of the last Druid. Derwyddon delves into the history, religion, and culture of the Druids. Against the will of his Gods, Hu and Ceridwen, Derwyddon allowed himself to love a woman. For this transgression, Derwyddon was judged, and cast into the depths of the sea. There, sprites took pity on Derwyddon, and breathing their magic into him, his life was spared. Derwyddon slept, adrift in the sea, for centuries. When he finally awoke, he found the world had greatly changed. Gone were the old Golds, the faerie folk, the world of magic. Christianity had risen up and usurped their place. In bitterness and anger, Derwyddon gave life to a host of stone gargoyles, that ringed a church, and set them upon the followers of the new religion. Being near Derwyddon reminds Christians of his relationship with another man, Vishnu Dass. After World War I, Christians had wandered the world, seeking enlightenment. Christians became a diligent follower of Vass. After two years of serving Vass, Christians received a letter calling him home, to Christiansboro. Vass encouraged Christians to return home. For one brief moment, Christians attained the enlightenment that he sought, but as time drew him more distant from Vass, the memory of that enlightenment faded. Christians turned to the occult to reclaim what he had lost, only to, ultimately, lose himself. Derwyddon impresses on Christian that it is their responsibility to destroy the gargoyles. The leader of the gargoyles plays the PIpes Of Pan, transforming the townsfolk into gnomes, undines, salamanders, and sylphs. The music drives them into a Bacchanalian revelry. Derwyddon, Christians, and Germaine, against her will, journey to Blackston, to confront the gargoyles.

Finally in issue #4, “Battlefield!”, Isaac Christians, Derwyddon, and Germaine arrive in Blackston, Virginia, ushered in by the music of Pan’s pipes. There, they find a Bacchanalian revelry being led by gargoyles. The leader of the gargoyles greets Christians, Derwyddon, and Germaine with unexpected cordiality. As the gargoyle speaks, Christians’ memories of World War I are rekindled. Derwyddon protests, and condemns, the horror the gargoyles have wrought in Blackston. The gargoyles merely laugh at Derwyddon. Germaine shows surprising compassion, as Christians continues to wrestle with his memories of the war. The Gargoyles attack Derwyddon. Christians feels powerless to aid Derwyddon. Marshaling all of his eldritch power, Derwyddon cancels the spell animating the gargoyles, returning a host of them to unmoving stone. The gargoyles retreat in the face of Derwyddon’s power, fear finally finding purchase in their leader’s heart. Derwyddon’s power, though, reaches it’s limit. Christians, Derwyddon, and Germaine, flee to the church, in hopes of sanctuary. Derwyddon conjures forth a floral barrier to keep the gargoyles at bay. Derwyddon collapses In exhaustion. Christians is consumed by his memories of World War I. Christians had lied about his age to join the army. Shortly after arriving in France, Christians’ newfound friend, Clarence Johnson, was gunned down in front of him. Christians fled straight into the waiting arms of a German soldier. Said soldier was slain by Christians’ friend from home, Buster Henderson. Christians, and Henderson, took shelter in an abandoned farmhouse. As the German army closed on their position, Christians froze in terror, allowing his friend, Henderson to be gunned down. American soldiers soon arrived to drive the Germans off. Christians, traumatized by his cowardice in the face of war, was never the same man again. He could not return home. He could not face the love of his life, and Henderson’s, Elaine Willoughby. Not until he atoned for his inaction. Derwyddon sees his Gods in the God of Christianity, and draws strength from it. Derwyddon drives the ancient spirits, possessing the populace of Blackston, out. Derwyddon is struck down by the leader of the gargoyles. Christians finds the courage to grapple with the gargoyle. The unleashed bio-mystical energy, released in their struggle, transfers their souls into each other’s bodies. Once more, Christians has become the Gargoyle. Trapped in Christians’ mortal body, the spirit of the gargoyle rails in impotent fury. The Gargoyle slays Christians, forcing the gargoyle’s spirit to return to stone. Derwyddon departs. Willoughby’s spirit usurps Germaine’s, claiming control of her body. The Gargoyle unburdens his heart to Willoughby, as her spirit returns to the ether. The Gargoyle, at long last, has achieved his atonement.

Comics lot contains: The Gargoyle (1985) Issues #1-4.  Marvel Comics

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: 1985
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.65″
UPC: 0714860225908

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics #1,2,3,4 are in Fine + to Very Fine condition.  Very Nice Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Gargoyle and/or Bernie Wrightson collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended. 

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