Finally… a Marvel/Disney crossover I can get behind!
I’ve often voiced my disdain for the previous Disney/Marvel “crossovers”—you know, Goofy turning into Iron Man or Donald Duck becoming Thor. Bleh.
Well, now there is a crossover between a Disney product and a Marvel product that I’m actually excited about… that is this October’s meeting of The Gargoyles with the Fantastic Four in Dynamite! In fact, this marks the first time that Dynamite’s Disney license has opened up Marvel properties to them.
There was a preview this weekend on Free Comic Book Day in the Demona preview book. Here’s what we know about that:
“Gargoyles: Demona #0. The Free Comic Book Day release, out May 3, the first Saturday of the month, primarily kicks off the next exciting chapter of the core Gargoyles saga. Franchise creator and longtime chronicler Greg Weisman is joined by original series co-producer Frank Paur for a centuries-spanning look at the hero-turned-villainess’ life, including never-before-revealed family members and pivotal moments. The full series will follow the FCBD release. Tucked in the back of this release that is completely free to readers is a shocking sneak peek for one of the next Gargoyles tales, an unexpected crossover for the ages! The original Dynamite era Gargoyles creative team of writer Greg Weisman, artist George Kambadais, and letterer Jeff Eckleberry reunite for this epic tale.
“Key members of the Manhattan Clan, including Goliath, Elisa Maza, Brooklyn, Katana, and Nashville have been invited on a tour of one of the most impressive and technologically advanced buildings in their adopted home of New York City — the Baxter Building. Everything goes awry when a fearsome cast of foes from both mythos cross paths, including Coldsteel, the Gargoyle aka Yuri Topolov, and the deadly Annihilus. Fans will get to enjoy Franklin and Valeria bonding with Gnash, at least until everything gets out of control. Then both families — including Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing, the Human Torch, Broadway and Angela — will have to team up, split into teams, and save the day across Manhattan, the Negative Zone, and beyond.”
“This is a tale of clan and family,” said writer Greg Weisman in a recent interview. “And it’s a thrill to get this opportunity to bring the first family of the Marvel Universe together with the Manhattan Clan. It feels right!” The book will feature covers by Lucio Parrillo, Mark Bagley, Amanda Conner, and more.
I have often said that The Gargoyles are my favorite Disney franchise. I was a big fan of their animated series, I have loved their comics, and I want their cartoon to come back! Maybe, just maybe, if this does well, Disney will consider making this happen!
While I’m ecstatic for the Gargoyles, I also think this is a good deal for the Fantastic Four as well!
I remember when Mark Waid was writing the FF not that long ago. He was interviewed about what makes the FF so popular. He pointed out that they are not crime fighters, but adventurers. If memory serves, I remember him saying that the FF don’t have their version of the Batsignal to call them when a crime has been committed. Instead, they go out looking to explore, going to new and different locations and meeting unusual groups.
This may be before the times of some newer readers, but the FF spent about the first 100 issues going “where no man has gone before,” to borrow from Star Trek. We went to outer space (including the aforementioned Negative Zone), various parts of unexplored Earth (like Wakanda, for instance) and other dimensions and locations, too numerous to mention here. They also met the Silver Surfer and Galactus, just two of the strange and wonderful beings the FF ran into.
I hate to say it, but many of the FF’s more recent tales seemed to deal with them losing a member (always temporarily) and getting a replacement or two (or even four!), always for a brief time, apparently to shake things up a bit. Either that or they have gone back “where they had gone before,” but never anyplace new that was as interesting as the Lee/Kirby days. Those were such fun tales, full of action and adventure, and we never knew what was coming around the bend next to challenge the FF.
Even though the Gargoyles are also located in New York City, they are certainly different from what we’ve seen them deal with before, even the Grey Gargoyle himself!
It would be fun to see Goliath work with Reed Richards, maybe even Demona or Elisa having to help Sue Richards, and Johnny meeting Lexington, or even The Thing having to guide Broadway into Yancy Street. Could the post-“One World Under Doom” Doctor Doom team up with Annihilus? Maybe!
Could be fun!
Of course, the first FF motion picture will have already hit the theatres, and it may be available on Disney+ by the time this comic arrives in local comics shops.
Will fans still be clamoring for more FF? Marvel, Disney, and Dynamite sure hope so! Based on what little we’ve seen of this team-up so far, my biggest question is: Will Reed more closely resemble the character as he appears in the comics or as he is depicted in the live-action film?
It’s easier to make him resemble the comics version, but if the movie takes off, they just might have to change that!
I’m sure we’ll learn more about all this as October (right around Halloween, the perfect time for more Gargoyles!) approaches, so we’ll have to stay tuned for more details as they are released! I’m already anxious to read it, though!
What do you think? Do you prefer to see team-ups like this instead of inserting a Disney character into a Marvel costume/powers? Or is it more popular to see what Mickey Mouse is like as a Marvel hero? Is there another way to bring these universes together that would be even better? Whatever your opinions or thoughts, be sure to share them in the space below!
Dear Spoilerite,
At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.
Wayne Hall creates the Wayne's Comics Podcast. He’s interviewed Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Phil Hester, Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, David Petersen, Christos Gage, Mike Grell, and Matt Kindt. On this site each week, he writes his "Comics Portal" column (general comics comments and previews) and reviews comics.