Fallen From the Ranks...
"Fallen From the Ranks..." is the fourth issue of the Gargoyles - Demona comic by Dynamite Entertainment. It was released on November 5th, 2025. [1]
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Contents
Solicitation
The year is 1195, and Demona and her adopted daughter Angelika have returned to the ancient streets of Constantinople, where Angelika has rekindled her romance with the Gargoyle Magni. More important than old boyfriends, however - at least to Demona is the presence in the city of the fabled relic known as the Eye of Odin, which she believes will be able to grant her aging daughter the same immortality that has kept her young for more than a century.
But when the keeper of the Eye is found dead, Demona quickly becomes the prime suspect and it's up to Angelika to find the real culprit before the heavy hand of medieval justice comes down upon them all!
Discover the shocking truth behind this Byzantine mystery in Gargoyles: Demona #4, carefully crafted by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN and animated series collaborator FRANK PAUR and featuring iconic covers by PAUR, MEGHAN HETRICK, JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, and DAVID COUSENS!
The Story
Constantinople, 1195. Demona and Angelika stroll atop the battlements of the Great Palace. Now visibly older than her immortal mother, Angelika shares her suspicions about Demona's motivations for returning to the city, given that when they leave some place, the two rarely ever return. Reminding Demona that she always finds out whatever scheme she's planning, Angelika insists she just tell her now. But Demona merely smiles, stroking Angelika's ear.
Inside the throne room, it is none other than Shahrizad, who begins to entertain Emperor Isaac Angelos and his court with her tale of Youhanna Al Diyab. Magni and Modi, still part of the Varangian Guard, stand guard at the Emperor's side. Angelika watches from above, while a young man listens in the court's crowd.
Elsewhere in the palace, Demona meets with Abu Jafar Ahmad Ibn Yusuf Ibn Al-Kammad. Believing him to be the Emperor's treasurer, Al-Kammad corrects the gargoyle explaining he's Isaac Angelos's archivist. This doesn't faze Demona in the slightest, who merely continues her flattery by sharing her knowledge of the Eye of Odin. She explains to the human how she witnessed Sigurd Magnusson gift the jewel to then Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos eighty-four years earlier. Al-Kammad is astonished that the gargoyle is so long-lived, and Demona, already knowing that Al-Kammad is an astronomer, tells him that a gargoyle's lifespan "depends upon the position of the stars" when they hatch. Fascinated by the subject, Al-Kammad wistfully takes a moment to look at the night sky – his one true love – from the window of the palace's archives. Still beaming, Demona is confident that there is much she and Al-Kammad can learn from one another. Continued to be enchanted from their exchange, Al-Kammad probes for a name to call her, and Demona introduces herself as "Angel".
Back in the throne room, Shahrizad leaves Emperor Angelos at the edge of his seat with Al Diyab trapped in a cave by an evil Sorcerer. He insists the storyteller end her tale, but she is adamant that the story's resolution will have to wait another night. This prompts a stern reaction from Prince Alexios Angelos, the Emperor's brother. He demands to know why this performer is bold enough to contradict the Emperor, but Isaac Angelos shrugs it off, telling his brother that the storyteller knows her craft. Convinced that the Emperor doesn't mind the disrespect, Prince Alexios withdraws his objection and from the throne room as Angelika swoops down from the balcony above. Emperor Angelos sees Angelika approaching and gives Magni and Modi the rest of the evening off to enjoy each other's company.
While Magni is quick to make up for lost time, Angelika asks for just a moment more apart, seeking out the storyteller. The mature gargoyle shares her interest in the young lady's craft, believing that storytelling to be as vital for a soul as breathing is for a body. Clasping the gargoyle's hands, Shahrizad heartily agrees, telling Angelika – by name – that she must have her own interesting stories to tell that shouldn't be lost.
Modi meanwhile is approached by the young man, evidently the young Scotsman, Tom. He asks Modi, a member of the Varangian Guard (and therefore having some position of authority), if gargoyles "in these times" are safe in Constantinople. Modi points out that he sleeps in an iron Box: "No gargoyle is safe in this world," he argues.
Demona concludes her business with Al-Kammad, with the archivist convinced that the name "Angel" suits her quite well. Still brimming, Demona remarks how kind the human is.
Outside on the palace battlements, Angelika and Magni finally rekindle their relationship under the moonlight. Magni can't help but regret their past decisions – wishing she stayed with him, or that he instead joined Angelika in her travels – but Angelika insists they not dwell on the past. If she's learned anything during her time with Demona, it is that life is short. Magni's surprised such wisdom came from an unaging gargoyle, but Angelika clarifies that she didn't learn the lesson from her immortal mother. Unfortunately, an alarm bell begins to ring out, and their time together is once more cut short.
Inside the palace, Emperor Isaac Angelos demands to know what has happened. Inside, Magni and Angelika join Demona and Modi, alongside the humans, Prince Alexios Angelos and Shahrizad. the The storyteller shares how she went to see her old friend, the archivist Al-Kammad, when she found him on the palace floor, dead. Shocked, Emperor Angelos wonders who would have murdered him when he is cut off by his brother, who suspects it was a thief. Modi wonders allowed who would be reckless to attempt to steal from the Emperor, knowing they could never make it out of the palace. Prince Alexios wonders if anything is missing from the treasury, and before Modi could begin a full inventory, Magni points to the display where the Eye of Odin once rested. "I know it was kept right there!" he yells. With that, Prince Alexios suddenly remembers passing by the treasury and, pointing at Demona, recalls how he heard her talk to the archivist about the jewel in question. Demona is outright startled by the accusation. Turning her head toward the Prince, Demona admits to her convesation with Al-Kammad, but argues that if she did want the Eye of Odin, she could have easily taken it back in the year 1111 and even if she wanted it now, she wouldn't have to kill "a harmless old man" to steal it. Modi strokes his beak, recalling his conversation with the Scotsman stranger he had earlier, determining him to be the more likely suspect. With that, Emperor Angelos orders the arrest of both the Scotsman and Demona until they can determine the party responsible. Her temper finally breaking through, Demona growls and unsheathes her sword, with eyes glowing red. Surrounded by the Varangian Guard, she is quickly quelled by Angelika, who convinces her to submit to the imperial authorities. "For now." Demona adds. Modi begins to apologize as he and Magni escort her to the palace's dungeon, and Prince Alexios insists the gargoyle guard take her weapon. "As if I need the sword . . ." Demona reminds everyone. Modi instructs his brother to take Demona down to her cell while he find the Scotsman. As they leave the treasury, Prince Alexios advises his brother to meet in private, and Emperor Angelos agrees. They depart as well, leaving Angelika and Shahrizad alone with the deceased archivist.
Angelika joins Shahrizad beside the body, as the human explains that mysteries are stories where the ending has yet to be told. Considering herself to be very good with stories, she begins her inquiry. Turning the Al-Kammad's body over, Angelika observes that he was killed with a single sword strike to the back, which the storyteller admits doesn't narrow down their suspects.
Down in the palace dungeon, Tom shouts to Modi how he hasn't done anything wrong. Taking the Scotsman's sword, Modi is hardly convinced. Tom demands the gargoyle be careful with the weapon, pointing out how difficult it was to forge. Modi leaves the prisoner, and Tom wonders aloud how it is he finds himself in such situations when Demona, from the shadows of the neighboring cell, points out how far the Scotsman is from his home. Tom insists she has no idea, when the gargoyle insists she does, considering herself "a very long way from even the memory of home." Tom suddenly recognizes her from their brief interaction at Castle Wyvern, but as Demona demands to know if they've met before, Tom claims to be less confident, saying she at least looks familiar. "I suppose all gargoyles look the same to you – we're the monsters that populate your nightmares," she accuses, as her eyes calmly dim once more. Tom insists that's not how he feels, but before he can explain further, Demona dismisses the Scotsman, considering him the rare exception. Otherwise, why else is she under arrest? If not to have a gargoyle to blame when things go wrong. Tom asks if this is still the case and Demona corrects him that it has always been the case. At any rate, she shares, she'll give them an hour before sunrise to be released. Tom wonders what will happen if they don't, and Demona wrenches the cell bars between them, promising to make the humans responsible for her imprisonment to regret their decision. Tom steps back, terrified.
Meanwhile, Angelika and Shahrizad find Modi, asking to see Demona's sword. Modi presents the two her sword, and Angelika notes that the blade is clean. The storyteller, however, realizes that doesn't really prove anything, noting Demona could have cleaned it after the crime was committed. "That would've been clever," Modi remarks. Angelika asks to see the Scotsman's sword as well, and the evidence is obvious. "There's blood!" Angelika exclaims, and Modi considers the matter closed. Throwing the blade over his shoulder, Modi tells the two he'll release Demona and take the Scotsman to the Emperor for sentencing. Angelika doesn't seem convinced, and Shahrizad is hardly satisfied with the resolution. "What was his motive? What's his story?" she wonders aloud.
It isn't much later when Modi shoves Tom before the Emperor, with Shahrizad, Prince Alexios, Angelika, and Magni in attendance. Emperor Angelos demands the Scotsman on the whereabouts of the Eye of Odin. Maintaining his innocence, Tom insists he's never laid his eyes on the jewel. Keeping the Scotsman pinned on his knees, Modi tells he Emperor that the Eye is probably hidden somewhere in the palace, given there wasn't much time between the murder and his capture. Tired of the interrogation, Emperor Angelos orders Modi to finish him. The gargoyle brandishes his axe for the execution, his eyes glowing, and Tom mutters his last words, quietly apologizing to Princess Katharine . . . when they are suddenly interrupted by Shahrizad, who tells the Emperor that Scotsman should be executed with none other than the murder weapon itself! Stroking his chin, Emperor Angelos agrees to the notion of poetic justice and orders Modi to change the execution weapon. Once more Modi raises the blade over Tom's head high, but before the killing blow can land, they are interrupted this time by Magni, who realizes the bloodied blade isn't the Scotsman's. It is, in fact, the twin of Magni's own sword. From behind, Angelika asks what sword Modi carries now, and Tom recognizes his own handiwork. It is suddenly all too clear: Modi switched the swords, revealing him to be Al-Kammad's murderer.
Now at his feet, Emperor Angelos demands to know why "the loyal Modi" would harm the archivist and steal the Eye of Odin from him. Cornered, the gargoyle at first doesn't even look at his accusers. Then, defiantly, he declares that Emperor Isaac Angelos is not his emperor, reminding everyone in the throne room how it was only ten years ago that Angelos overthrew the Komnenos dynasty of emperors, a family he faithfully served for seventy-four years. "Those who show no loyalty should expect none," he concludes. But Magni is still baffled; none of that justifies murdering of Al-Kammad, and his own willingness to kill another innocent to cover up his own crimes. Asking how his own brother could justify that behavior only brings glowing anger to Modi's eyes. Having heard enough, the Emperor demands the gargoyle return the Eye of Odin, but the gargoyle refuses, claiming it belongs to the Northmen, and declares his intention to return it to them. Drawing his bloodied twin blade out, he warns those in the court to not follow him and glides off. The emperor orders the Varangian Guard to capture him, but Prince Alexios suddenly suggests otherwise. Recognizing that, despite the gargoyle's recent deception, he still served their family for ten years. Within earshot, Shahrizad listens in as Prince Alexios argues that, since no human will be able to apprehend the fugitive gargoyle, it would be unfair for Magni to hunt down his own brother. With that, Magni and Angelika look on their brother and friend one last time.
As the evening draws to a close, Magni, Angelika, Demona, and Shahrizad stand on the battlements of the Great Palace. Magni's still confused; while he knew Modi never cared for Emperor Angelos, he never once shown an interest in the Eye of Odin. Not even during his sailing with King Sigurd Magnusson. Shahrizad considers the perplexing motive and timing, and suggests that the gargoyle might not have been the only one to resent Isaac Angelos. Suddenly inspired, she considers tomorrow to be a perfect opportunity to tell the Emperor the story of Cain and Abel. Realizing the implication, Magni's comforted that Prince Alexios never succeeded in taking the stolen Eye of Odin. "Never had the chance . . . did he, Demona?" Angelika asks her mother, who quietly, but triumphantly grins.
It suddenly makes sense why Demona was willing to return to Constantinople, and why she evidently spent so much time with a goldsmith from Antioch. Angelika explains that she must have switched out the true Eye of Odin with a forged duplicate while she eagerly interacted with Abu Jafar Ahmad Ibn Yusuf Ibn Al-Kammad. But the aging Angelika still isn't sure what drove Demona to steal the talisman. Still in a good mood, Demona explains that she's been studying old lessons and realizes that she failed to see the Eye of Odin's significance when Sigurd Magnusson wore it, but now she's confident that if Angelika wore it, she could finally become immortal just like Demona. Magni and Shahrizad are less than amused, but say nothing. Angelika considers the jewel that Demona unselfishly offers in her hands. She takes the Eye and Magni continues to scowl, but Angelika suddenly turns to him and asks if he would be willing to travel with Demona and her and be her mate. Magni's more than willing, recognizing that there's nothing to keep him in Constantinople any longer. With that, Angelika officially rejects the Eye "and its so-called gifts". Demona tries her best to have her daughter see reason, but Angelika beats her to it, sharing that while she knows that Demona fears being alone (which she denies), Angelika's only wish is grow old "with the two gargoyles I love the most." Watching their drama unfold, Shahrizad remarks how much she likes this story. Before Demona can begin to argue that her daughter is crazy to ignore a chance to become immortal, Angelika confirms that she sees Demona's immortality as nothing more than a curse. With that, Angelika throws the talisman into the sea, and not only are Demona's schemes utterly foiled, but her hopes are now crushed as well.
Tom meanwhile returns to a Skiff and recites the incantation he learned from the Magus:
As the mists part ways, Tom, Guardian of the Eggs, sees the island of Avalon before him. As he makes it to shore, he is surprised to be greeted by the hatchling Angela. She asks him if the world is ready for the Avalon Clan yet, but Tom shares that is not quite yet ready for her and the Avalon Clan.
". . . and no one out there knows to miss you," Tom tells the young gargoyle on the mystical island, while Demona, Angelika, and Magni depart Constantinople.
Review
Elements from "Fortune Favors the Brave..." return in this latest adventure of Demona and Angelika.
The two gargoyles return to Constantinople, to Angelika's surprise, in light of the fact that Demona has hitherto shown no desire to visit the same place twice on their travels. Not that Angelika has reason to complain, since she is reunited with her love Magni, still serving in the Varangian Guard with his rookery brother Modi, if under a different emperor (not surprising, since it's been eighty-four years since their previous visit) – and one from a different dynasty, for that matter (a detail that will prove important later on). Though Angelika and Magni are much older, they are delighted to see each other again; their love beats as strong as ever.
But Demona is more interested in a different element of her adventure with Sigurd Magnusson: the Eye of Odin, still in the imperial treasury. She meets with the archivist al-Kammad, speaking with him in (for Demona) a surprisingly good-natured and friendly fashion – and al-Kammad certainly enjoys making her acquaintance (a rarity whenever humans cross paths with Demona). But things go sour when the archivist is found dead soon afterwards, slain, and Demona becomes the leading suspect. (And given her track record with humans, few readers would be surprised.) Angelika sets out to prove her innocence, in a gripping murder mystery.
Two unexpected guest stars become involved in this adventure. The first is Shahrizad, serving (naturally) as a storyteller at the imperial court; she helps Angelika with her investigation, commenting at one point "A mystery is just story with a yet-to-be-told ending". The second is Guardian Tom, visiting Constantinople as part of his investigation of whether the outside world is safe for gargoyles (and finding out that it isn't). While he's not immediately identified, it becomes increasingly clear who he is, first when he speaks with Modi about conditions for gargoyles (Magni and Modi are still holding on to their box from their previous appearance), and more importantly, when he meets Demona – in prison, for he becomes another suspect in al-Kammad's murder. (And remember that 1195 is exactly two centuries after Tom and the others had taken refuge on Avalon.)
Angelika and Shahrizad solve the mystery at last; the culprit was Modi, who claims to be motivated partly by the current emperor being an usurper who had overthrown the dynasty ruling when Magni and Modi had come to Constantinople, partly by a belief that the Eye of Odin (stolen when al-Kammad was murdered) belongs back in Norway. Though, since Modi had shown no interest in the Eye up to this point, the latter motive becomes suspect in Magni, Angelika, and Shahrizad's eyes – and Emperor Isaac's brother Alexios shows signs of rivalry over the throne, leading Shahrizad to consider making her next story the tale of Cain and Abel. (Shahrizad has good reason to suspect Alexios; in actual history, later that year, he overthrew and blinded his brother, seizing the throne and starting a chain of events that would lead to the disastrous sack of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade nine years later.)
Demona, Angelika, and Magni will probably not need to worry over the impending sack of Constantinople, for they depart – with the revelation that, while Demona was indeed innocent of al-Kammad's death, she had indeed stolen the Eye of Odin (more accurately, switched it with a duplicate). The real treat here is why she stole the Eye – not to use its power for herself, but to make Angelika (who's already biologically older than she is) immortal and not lose her to time. Angelika, however, rejects the Eye (all the more understandable, after seeing the effect it had had on Sigurd Magnusson so many years before), and throws it into the sea. (It'll obviously be recovered centuries later, and eventually find its way into Xanatos's possession – but that's a tale for another time.) Demona departs Constantinople, with Angelika and Magni (now planning to spend their remaining years together) in her company.
One of the best features of this story is its symmetry. The second story in this mini-series had featured Magni (and the start of his and Angelika's love for each other), Modi, and the Eye of Odin, and showed how all three came to Constantinople; in the next-to-last story in this mini-series, we see them all return. And, judging from the solicitation of Demona #5, there'll be more parallels between it and the opening of this story.
Featured Characters and First Appearances
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Quotes
- "Life is short. That's what I learned with Demona."
- "Unaging Demona?"
- "I didn't say I learned it from her." - Angelika and Magni
- "A mystery is just a story with a yet-to-be-told ending . . . and I am very good with stories." - Shahrizad
- "Ach, how do I get myself in these messes every single time . . ." - Guardian
- "Those who show no loyalty should expect none." - Modi
- "You mean the world to me, Demona . . . but I will not live under your curse." - Angelika
Continuity
The events of this issue begin fifty-seven years after the events of "For Not Everything With Wings...", when Demona and Angelika left Vyones, France.
This issue marks the second of ten occasions that Tom, Guardian of the Eggs, ventured to see if the world was safe for the Avalon Clan, as mentioned in his tale to Goliath, Elisa, and Bronx in "Avalon" Part One. Further, he can be seen wearing the outfit he wore in the flashback scenes from "Avalon" Part Three.
Tidbits
In her conversation with Abu Jafar Ahmad Ibn Yusuf Ibn Al-Kammad, Demona shares "there is much we can learn from one another", echoing Xanatos's line to Goliath from "Awakening: Part Two".
Another timeless echo is Shahrizad's response of "That's a verity" during her initial conversation with Angelika. First said by Mentor in "The Reach" (in 971) and later by Tobe Crest in "New Rules" (in 1997).
While Greg Weisman has long teased that perhaps it was a pair of gargoyles that forged Tom Guardian's armor (and given the questionable forging attempt in "Ill Met By Moonlight", perhaps the Iron Bell as well), Guardian's sword is revealed in this issue to be his own handiwork. [2]
When Demona surrenders her sword, she reiterates Angelika's thoughts about why a gargoyle would ever utilize a human-made weapon when they first met in "Fools Rush In...".
Cover Gallery
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See Also
| << Previous Episode: "Better Angels" Chapter Three: "For Not Everything With Wings..." | Next Episode: "Better Angels" Chapter Five:>> |
