Gargoyle (comics)
Encyclopedia
Gargoyle is a name shared by two fictional character
s appearing in the Marvel Comics
universe
.
#1 (May 1962), and was created by Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby
.
Note that the Gargoyle's appearance in Rampaging Hulk #1 is merely part of one of Bereet
's fictional techno-art films.
The first Gargoyle received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
#17, where his real name was revealed.
. An atomic accident caused by working with radiation mutated him into a grotesque, large-headed dwarf of extremely high intelligence. He was informed of the Hulk, and succeeded in capturing him and Rick Jones using a device that weakened wills. Bruce Banner managed to cure him and he managed to destroy several Soviet generals and 'die like a man', transforming back into a normal human before his death. However, he passed this deformity on to his son, the Gremlin
.
composite and a member of the Defenders
. He was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis
and artist Don Perlin
.
member Hellcat. Christians battled the Defenders, but rebelled against the Hand. He was trapped in the gargoyle's body, but joined the Defenders. The Defenders then helped him defeat the Six-Fingered Hand.
As a member of the Defenders, Gargoyle helped the Squadron Supreme
defeat the Overmind
and Null the Living Darkness
. The Gargoyle briefly fell under the control of an Afghan wizard, and he was forced to battle the Defenders.
Christians later returned to Christianboro, and was later released from the Gargoyle body and the original demon spirit re-inhabited it. Christians, to prevent the chaos being wreaked by the gargoyle, re-assumed the body with the help of a druid and killed his original human body to prevent the demon from returning.
Moondragon
, under the influence of the Dragon of the Moon
, later separated Christians' life force from the gargoyle body. The body was to be used as a vessel for the Dragon of the Moon, and it became larger and more grotesque. The gargoyle body was carbonized and transformed into a statue of ash, when the Defenders defeated Moondragon and the Dragon of the Moon.
Christians' life force came to reside in a crystal talisman. He reconciled with the spirit of Moondragon, and journeyed with Pamela Douglas
to Titan
, where he witnessed the rebirth of Moondragon. Eventually, the former Defender known as Cloud
created a new body for Christians, with the ability to change back and forth between his gargoyle and human form.
Alongside the Presence
, Starlight
, Jack of Hearts
, and others, he eventually returned to Earth from the Stranger
's laboratory world.
When the final confrontation between Gabriel, Devil Hunter, and Hellstrom
left Gabriel irretrievably insane, only capable of babbling incoherently, Hellstrom left him in the care of the Gargoyle.
#1. He was shown flying in an attack against HYDRA
; this helped save the President from an assassination attempt. He is shown along others in the battle against KIA. Gargoyle also was seen aiding Hellcat. He ignored Nighthawk's offer to join the Last Defenders and remained at Camp Hammond serving as an instructor to train the Initiative cadets before retiring.
Over-expenditure of bio-mystical energy over a short time could weaken or kill the Gargoyle; also, he could be commanded to act against his will by a wizard who spoke a particular obscure spell.
Isaac Christians was a student of the occult with minor mystical ability. Prior to his transformation, Christians had some ability to manipulate mystical forces, including rudimentary spell-casting and summoning demons.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s appearing in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Gargoyle (Yuri Topolov)
Publication history
The Gargoyle appeared in The Incredible HulkHulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
#1 (May 1962), and was created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
Note that the Gargoyle's appearance in Rampaging Hulk #1 is merely part of one of Bereet
Bereet
Bereet is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Bereet first appeared in Rampaging Hulk #1-2 , and was created by Doug Moench and Walt Simonson. She also appeared in Rampaging Hulk #9 ....
's fictional techno-art films.
The first Gargoyle received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#17, where his real name was revealed.
Fictional character biography
Yuri Topolov, was a Soviet scientist and the first foe of the HulkHulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
. An atomic accident caused by working with radiation mutated him into a grotesque, large-headed dwarf of extremely high intelligence. He was informed of the Hulk, and succeeded in capturing him and Rick Jones using a device that weakened wills. Bruce Banner managed to cure him and he managed to destroy several Soviet generals and 'die like a man', transforming back into a normal human before his death. However, he passed this deformity on to his son, the Gremlin
Gremlin (comics)
Gremlin is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.Although initially an adversary of the Hulk — his father having been the first villain the Hulk ever encountered — Gremlin was killed in battle with Iron Man during the Armor Wars.-Fictional character biography:Kondrati...
.
Gargoyle (Isaac Christians)
Isaac Christians, was a human/demonDemons (Marvel Comics)
The Marvel Comics universe hosts a number of demons, many of whom are at times at conflict with gods and angels. All possess varying degrees of mystical power, feed upon souls for self-sustenance, and are inclined towards dark or “black” magic - evil....
composite and a member of the Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
. He was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis
J. M. DeMatteis
John Marc DeMatteis is an American writer of comic books.-Early career:Born in Brooklyn, DeMatteis graduated from Midwood High School and Empire State College. He worked as a music critic before getting his start in comic books at DC Comics in the late 1970s...
and artist Don Perlin
Don Perlin
Don Perlin is an American comic book artist and occasional writer best known for Marvel Comics' Werewolf by Night, The Defenders, and Ghost Rider...
.
Fictional character biography
Isaac Christians was an elderly man who sold his soul to an alliance of minor demons styling themselves as "The Six-Fingered Hand" in exchange for prosperity for the dying hometown that his ancestors had founded (the fictional town of Christiansboro, Virginia). Christians made a pact with the demon Avarrish to inhabit the body of an ancient gargoyle and act as an agent of the Six-Fingered Hand. The demons of the Hand transferred Christians' life force into the Gargoyle body and sent him on a mission to capture Patsy Walker, at that time operating as DefendersDefenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
member Hellcat. Christians battled the Defenders, but rebelled against the Hand. He was trapped in the gargoyle's body, but joined the Defenders. The Defenders then helped him defeat the Six-Fingered Hand.
As a member of the Defenders, Gargoyle helped the Squadron Supreme
Squadron Supreme
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...
defeat the Overmind
Overmind (comics)
-Fictional character biography:The Overmind is an alien belonging to the Eternals of Eyung, and was born uncounted millennia ago on the planet Eyung . Grom acted as one of their warlords, leading massacres of entire species. He was also the reigning champion in their gladiatorial arenas...
and Null the Living Darkness
Null, the Living Darkness
Null, called also Null the Living Darkness, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Null is a demon and enemy of the Defenders and Squadron Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...
. The Gargoyle briefly fell under the control of an Afghan wizard, and he was forced to battle the Defenders.
Christians later returned to Christianboro, and was later released from the Gargoyle body and the original demon spirit re-inhabited it. Christians, to prevent the chaos being wreaked by the gargoyle, re-assumed the body with the help of a druid and killed his original human body to prevent the demon from returning.
Moondragon
Moondragon
Moondragon is a fictional character in Marvel Comics Universe. A vastly powerful telepath, master martial artist, minor telekinetic, and highly skilled geneticist, Moondragon's most notable characteristics are her shaved head, superiority complex, and gruelling elite excellence in virtually every...
, under the influence of the Dragon of the Moon
Dragon of the Moon
The Dragon of the Moon is a fictional character, a malevolent entity appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. It has been a foe of both the Defenders and the Eternals.-Publication history:...
, later separated Christians' life force from the gargoyle body. The body was to be used as a vessel for the Dragon of the Moon, and it became larger and more grotesque. The gargoyle body was carbonized and transformed into a statue of ash, when the Defenders defeated Moondragon and the Dragon of the Moon.
Christians' life force came to reside in a crystal talisman. He reconciled with the spirit of Moondragon, and journeyed with Pamela Douglas
Sundragon
Sundragon is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:She is the niece of Arthur Douglas, and the cousin of Heather Douglas. She was once an editor for a business trade journal, The Manhattan Project. Moondragon, under the influence of the Dragon of the Moon,...
to Titan
Titan (Marvel Comics)
In the Marvel Universe, Saturn's moon Titan is the fictional home of the Titanian Eternals. It first appeared in Iron Man #55 and was created by Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich...
, where he witnessed the rebirth of Moondragon. Eventually, the former Defender known as Cloud
Cloud (comics)
Cloud is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Cloud first appeared in Defenders #123-124 , and was created by J. M. DeMatteis and Don Perlin. She appeared as a regular member of the Defenders from that point on, in issues #127-152 of the title...
created a new body for Christians, with the ability to change back and forth between his gargoyle and human form.
Alongside the Presence
Presence (Marvel Comics)
Sergei Krylov is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Fictional character biography:As a younger man, Sergei was a Russian nuclear physicist born in Minsk, U.S.S.R...
, Starlight
Starlight (comics)
Starlight is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. Created by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema, she first appeared in Defenders # 35 .-Fictional character biography:Tania Belinsky was born in Leningrad, in the former Soviet Union...
, Jack of Hearts
Jack of Hearts
Jack of Hearts is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:Jack of Hearts first appeared in the black & white magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 , and was created by writer Bill Mantlo and illustrator Keith Giffen...
, and others, he eventually returned to Earth from the Stranger
Stranger (comics)
The Stranger is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.The Stranger first appeared in X-Men #11 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
's laboratory world.
When the final confrontation between Gabriel, Devil Hunter, and Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
left Gabriel irretrievably insane, only capable of babbling incoherently, Hellstrom left him in the care of the Gargoyle.
Civil War/The Initiative
Christians has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The InitiativeAvengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#1. He was shown flying in an attack against HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
; this helped save the President from an assassination attempt. He is shown along others in the battle against KIA. Gargoyle also was seen aiding Hellcat. He ignored Nighthawk's offer to join the Last Defenders and remained at Camp Hammond serving as an instructor to train the Initiative cadets before retiring.
Powers and abilities
The Gargoyle is the result of the magical transfer of Isaac Christians' spirit into the body of the Gargoyle. Gargoyle possessed superhuman strength and durability in his gargoyle form. His leathery hide offered resistance to various forms of physical attack. He could manipulate "bio-mystical" energy to numerous effects, including concussive blasts and projection of the emotion of fear into others. He could siphon bio-mystical energy from others, causing temporary debilitating weakness. Surrounding himself in a field of bio-mystical energy granted Gargoyle limited immunity to certain types of spells. Gargoyle could fly via mystical levitation; his wings were incapable of producing sufficient lift but could be used for navigation. Gargoyle could regenerate lost or damaged limbs, although they would differ wildly in appearance from the original limb.Over-expenditure of bio-mystical energy over a short time could weaken or kill the Gargoyle; also, he could be commanded to act against his will by a wizard who spoke a particular obscure spell.
Isaac Christians was a student of the occult with minor mystical ability. Prior to his transformation, Christians had some ability to manipulate mystical forces, including rudimentary spell-casting and summoning demons.
Television
- Gargoyle (Yuri) appeared in the Hulk segment of The Marvel Superheroes, although he was called the Gorgon and not the Gargoyle in the TV version of the comic.
- Gargoyle makes a cameo appearance in the X-MenX-Men (TV series)X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992, in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup...
episode "Slave Island".
- Gargoyle appeared in the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon series voiced by Mark HamillMark HamillMark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord...
. This Gargoyle is the Yuri Topolov version who was always trying to find a cure for his mutation, even allying himself with The LeaderLeader (comics)The Leader is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #62, and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In 2009, The Leader was ranked as IGN's 63rd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.Actor Tim Blake...
. In "Mortal Bounds," he accidentally released a gamma virus (infecting amongst others Betty Ross) in his search for a cure. When Ross was dying from the virus, Gargoyle gave Bruce Banner the antidote, warning that the next time they met he would not be so favorable. His position with The Leader was one of grudging subservience, although he did become the dominant member when The Leader temporarily lost his powers at the beginning of the second season. From then on, like MODOKMODOKMODOK is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 MODOK (acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
in the Iron Man cartoon, he became the bumbling comic reliefComic reliefComic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
, with a crush on She-HulkShe-HulkShe-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
.
External links
- Gargoyle (Topolov) at Marvel.com
- Gargoyle (Christians) at Marvel.com
- Gargoyle (Christians) at MarvelDirectory.com