Difference between pages "Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns" and "Recruits"

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[[Image:SpiderGargs.jpg|thumb|400px|A depiction of the Radio Play's climatic scene as illustrated by [[Karine Charlebois]]. Keep in mind that this was commissioned fanart, and Elisa does not appear in this scene – although her depiction here is exactly what Demona intended to do to her in the script.]]
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{{Apocrypha banner|''Gargoyles Meets the Spectacular Spider-Man Meets Young Justice''}}
'''"Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns"''' was a Radio Play produced for the thirteenth and final [[Gathering of the Gargoyles]] in Los Angeles, California.  It was performed on August 22nd, 2009.   
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[[Image:RecruitsColor2.png|thumb|400px|A depiction of the Radio Play's villains as illustrated by [[Christopher Jones]].]]
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'''"Recruits"''' was a Radio Play produced for CONvergence 2014 in Bloomington, Minnesota.  It was performed on July 5th, 2014.   
  
This story took place after [[Phoenix|"Phoenix"]] and "Final Curtain". It is a non-canonical crossover between ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]'' and ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]].'' Three sequels, [[Recruits|"Recruits"]] (2014), [[The Cosmos|"The Cosmos"]] (2016), and [[Musicology 101: Songs of the Theme|"Musicology 101: Songs of the Theme"]] (2018) were performed at CONvergence.
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This story took place after [[Phoenix|"Phoenix"]], "Final Curtain", and "Endgame". It is a non-canonical crossover between ''[[Gargoyles (TV series)|Gargoyles]]'', ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', and ''[[Young Justice]]''. It is also a sequel to [[Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns|"Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns"]] and is followed by [[The Cosmos|"The Cosmos"]].
  
[[Greg Weisman]] serialized the script at [[Ask Greg]], from September 9 to September 14, 2009.
 
 
In 2024, the ''[[Gargoyles (Dynamite)|Gargoyles]]'' miniseries ''[[Gargoyles: Quest|Quest]]'' drew on this Radio Play story with some changes. Most significant was the omission of ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' elements, while the Christian relics wielded by [[Demona]] ultimately became the latest iteration of the [[Three Keys to Power]].
 
 
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__TOC__
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
  
 
==Summary==
 
==Summary==
Demona, in her Dominique Destine guise, approaches [http://marvel.wikia.com/Ashley_Kafka_(Earth-26496) Dr. Ashley Kafka], Director of the Ravencroft Institute, for permission to excavate below the Institute's foundations.  She chooses for the excavation team [[Dominic Dracon]] (an inmate there since the events of [[The Silver Falcon|"The Silver Falcon"]], still broken over the shock of discovering how futile his long quest for [[Mace Malone|Mace Malone's]] stolen gems had been), alongside four former adversaries of [http://marvel.wikia.com/Peter_Parker_(Earth-26496) Spider-Man] (Otto Octavius aka [http://marvel.wikia.com/Otto_Octavius_(Earth-26496) Doctor Octopus], Maxwell Dillon aka [http://marvel.wikia.com/Maxwell_Dillon_(Earth-26496) Electro], [http://marvel.wikia.com/Edward_Brock_(Earth-26496) Eddie Brock] - once [http://marvel.wikia.com/Venom_(Symbiote)_(Earth-26496) Venom], and [http://marvel.wikia.com/John_Jameson_(Earth-26496) John Jameson] – once Colonel Jupiter) and [http://marvel.wikia.com/Cletus_Kasady_(Earth-26496) Cletus Kasady].
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Shortly before sunrise, [[Lexington]] chats with a friend online using the alias "Tin Man." The friend, "Oracle," is eventually revealed to be [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Batgirl Barbara Gordon].
  
Demona has learned that Vertros Ravencroft, founder of the Institute, had collected many strange objects and buried them beneath the Institute's foundations; among these is the head of the Spear of Destiny.  After her diggers uncover it, Electro blasts his way out of the Institute to freedom, taking Octavius with them and escaping with the aid of the [http://marvel.wikia.com/Adrian_Toomes_(Earth-26496) Vulture]. At sunset, Demona shifts back into her [[gargoyle]] form, and forces her own way out with the remaining inmates, promising them the power that they desire in return for their services.
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The next evening, [[Goliath]] and [[Elisa Maza|Elisa]] discuss the new additions to the [[Manhattan Clan]] – including [[Katana]], [[Nashville]], [[Fu-Dog]], [[Egwardo]], and the returning [[Coldstone]] and [[Coldfire]]. Meanwhile, [[Brooklyn]] and Katana settle their unhatched child in Brooklyn's old rookery, leaving the [[Gargoyle Egg|egg]] in the care of [[Bronx]] and Fu-Dog.
  
Word of the break-out quickly spreads, reaching both the police and the Daily Bugle.  [http://marvel.wikia.com/Joseph_Robertson_(Earth-26496) Joe Robertson] phones up Peter Parker to alert him, while he's web-slinging around New York as Spider-Man; almost immediately after receiving the phone call, Spidey sees [[Zafiro]] and [[Obsidiana]] fighting two men in a van, jumps to the conclusion that they're monsters, and goes to the aid of the men in the van (unaware that they're smugglers working for Demona). His interference allows the smugglers to get away, delivering their goods – the spear-shaft of the Spear of Destiny – to Demona.  Demona joins the spear-head and spear-shaft together, re-activating the Spear's powers, and using them to transform John Jameson back into Colonel Jupiter and Eddie Brock back into Venom, as well as turning Cletus into Carnage.  But she wants more power than just the Spear; she also wants "the Kingdom and the Glory".
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Elsewhere, [[Jackal]] and [[Hyena]] manage to chase down [[Demona]] and deliver her to their new employer: [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Vandal_Savage Vandal Savage]. Vandal greets Demona as an old friend, though Demona makes it clear that the feeling is not mutual. Still, she decides to hear out his proposal.
  
Elsewhere in New York, the [http://marvel.wikia.com/Norman_Osborn_(Earth-26496) Green Goblin], newly returned, attacks [http://marvel.wikia.com/Lonnie_Lincoln_(Earth-26496) Tombstone], but [[Goliath]] intervenes.  Spider-Man, close by, hears the sound of the battle, goes to investigate, and mistakenly believes that Goliath is one of the Green Goblin's creatures. The fight between them comes to a premature end when the Sun rises and Goliath turns to stone. When Spider-Man turns his attention to the Goblin, the Goblin throws one of his pumpkin bombs at the stone Goliath, escaping while Spidey webs the bomb away.
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Near the [[Flatiron Building]], three members of the [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League Justice League's] covert ops [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/The_Team Team] – Batgirl, [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Tigress Tigress], and [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Static Static] – are in heavy pursuit as well. Their target turns out to be [http://marvel.wikia.com/Peter_Parker_(Earth-26496) Spider-Man], whom they wish to recruit for the Team. Spidey is initially resistant to the idea, especially when the other young heroes reveal that they know his secret identity, and will need approval from his legal guardian ([http://marvel.wikia.com/May_Reilly_(Earth-26496) May Parker]) before he can join. Instead, Peter suggests that a few friends of his might make for better recruits.
  
Demona approaches Tombstone in her Dominique Destine alias, offering him the services of her new henchmen, and Dominic Dracon as a front man for his operations, in return for the [http://marvel.wikia.com/Phineas_Mason_(Earth-26496) Tinkerer's] services; she wants him to provide her with [http://marvel.wikia.com/Quentin_Beck_(Earth-26496) Mysterio's] [http://marvel.wikia.com/Humonculi Homunculi].
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Meanwhile, at the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Queen_Bee Queen Bee] uses her pheromone powers to enthrall orderly Greg Bishansky. She orders him to lock up [http://marvel.wikia.com/Ashley_Kafka_(Earth-26496) Dr. Ashley Kafka] and release [http://marvel.wikia.com/Maxwell_Dillon_(Earth-26496) Electro] and [http://marvel.wikia.com/Otto_Octavius_(Earth-26496) Doctor Octopus] from their confinement. Octavius correctly surmises the reason for her visit: to recruit him as a replacement for the imprisoned [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Brain Brain] in Savage's secret organization, [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/The_Light The Light].
  
That night, Goliath's clan learn from Zafiro and Obsidiana about Demona's smuggling activities, and from [[Elisa Maza|Elisa]] about Demona's break-out at Ravencroft.  Matt alerts Elisa that the OsCorp vault is about to be attacked – not only are Demona and her followers preparing to assault it, but so are many of Spidey's other old adversaries (the Green Goblin, [http://marvel.wikia.com/Sergei_Kravinoff_(Earth-26496) Kraven the Hunter], Dr. Octopus, Electro, and the Vulture among them).  The gargoyles glide off to help the police in the coming battle. Spider-Man also learns of the fight and goes off to help deal with the super-villains.
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Back at the [[Apex Tower]], Vandal extends the same invitation to Demona, wishing for her to replace the incapacitated [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Ra's_al_Ghul Ra's al Ghul]. Demona is dismissive of forming an alliance with the largely human organization, though Savage claims that her attempts to exterminate the human race only help to weed out its unfittest members. He also offers her a "signing bonus" to ensure her cooperation.
  
As a complicated battle rages at OsCorp, Demona sends the Homunculi to retrieve the treasure she seeks: the Crown of Thorns. When she dons it, combining it with the Spear of Destiny and reciting a dark parody of the Lord's Prayer, she unleashes the two artifacts' combined power: control of all [[human]]s within the area of their effect, which is gradually expanding. The humans within range – including Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, and Electro – kneel to her, as do even Zafiro and Obsidiana, because their pendants were made by a human wizard.
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Later on, the Clan gathers at the [[Eyrie Building]] to discuss a mystical artifact known as the [[Hand of Valmont]]. Brooklyn explains that cutting off [[Brother Valmont|Brother Valmont's]] hand during the [[Battle of Rathveramoen]] caused it to absorb [[magic]]al energies from the ''[[Grimorum Arcanorum]]'' he was holding, after which it was passed down and preserved by his followers. The police believe that it may be in danger of being stolen from the [[American Museum of Natural History|Museum of Natural History]], so Goliath, Brooklyn, Katana, Coldstone, Coldfire, and [[Hudson]] depart to watch over the museum.
  
But Goliath is unaffected, and struggles to seize the artifacts from her, especially after Demona gloats over how she will use this power to make Elisa commit suicide, once the [[magic]] reaches and overcomes her.  The battle between them weakens Demona's hold on the Crown and the Spear (aided by her having a touch of humanity in her, thanks to [[Puck|Puck's]s spell), enough for Spider-Man to recover and web the Crown away.  Both the Crown and the Spear disappear in a flash of light; Goliath and Spidey believe that they have been destroyed. The humans nearby recover from Demona's spell, and both the gargoyles and Spidey leave, after Spidey webs up Demona, Doctor Octopus, and Electro.
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Lexington, [[Broadway]], and [[Angela]], however, instead go to meet Spider-Man, who has recommended them all for the Team. The gargoyles are skeptical, especially given that Spidey isn't intending to join up himself; all apart from Nashville, who enthusiastically volunteers to join, but is ignored.
  
The Spear and the Crown were not destroyed, however; [[Shahrizad|Shari]] and [[Thailog]], on the [[Illuminati|Illuminati's]] behalf, had [[Brentwood]] gain control enough of one of the Homunculi to have it steal both artifacts in the magical explosion, which will be delivered to [[Duval]]. Goliath and Spider-Man have become allies, while Dominique Destine is now a patient at Ravencroft – at least until the Sun sets....
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At the museum, Jackal and Hyena move in to steal the Hand of Valmont, clandestinely aided by [http://marvel.wikia.com/Felicia_Hardy_(Earth-26496) Black Cat]. Goliath, Hudson, Brooklyn, and Katana head in to intercept them, while Coldstone and Coldfire are attacked by Electro on the roof.
  
==Tidbits==
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Back at [[Castle Wyvern]], Doc Ock launches a surprise attack on Spider-Man and the younger gargoyles, joined soon afterward by Vandal Savage. Spidey is beat up enough that he resorts to using a signal device Tigress provided him, in order to call for backup. At the same time, the confusion allows Demona to infiltrate the castle, tranquilize Bronx and Fu-Dog, and locate the subject of Savage's "signing bonus": Egwardo, who she intends to kidnap and raise as her own.
"A Handful of Thorns" is filled with in-joke references to both ''Gargoyles'' and ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'', as well as several examples of meta-humor. Among these:
 
  
*Spidey's line to Obsidiana when she talks about the "powers that are gathering", "And you're the one doing the [[Gathering of the Gargoyles|Gathering]], I take it!"
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Meanwhile, the Clan members at the museum manage to take down Jackal, Hyena, and Electro.
  
* The smugglers' delivery of the Spear of Destiny's shaft to Demona's home echoes the delivery of [[Titania's Mirror]] to the same address in [[The Mirror|"The Mirror"]].
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Tigress, Batgirl, and Static arrive at the castle to help Spidey, along with [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Beetle Blue Beetle]. After learning (to their shock) that the potential recruits Peter told them about are gargoyles, all of the young heroes team up against Ock and Savage. Things take a turn for the worse, however, as Queen Bee arrives and enthralls Spider-Man, Static, and Blue Beetle, forcing them to attack the others.
  
* At the end of the first act, Demona says, "This is only the first act....  The main event is still to come...."
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Back within the rookery, Demona is being held off by Nashville. He manages to buy enough time for Angela and Tigress to arrive, both having realized that the other supervillains are merely serving as a distraction. Tigress manages to disarm Demona, leaving mother and daughter to hold a verbal and emotional standoff.
  
* The Green Goblin comments, as he watches the fight between Spidey and Goliath, "I'm so enjoying the show. Really, someone should make more ''Gargoyles''. I know: I'll call [[Walt Disney]]!"
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At the same time, Batgirl, Lexington, and Broadway work together to take out Queen Bee, freeing the enthralled heroes from her mind control. Goliath's group arrives soon afterward as well, having deduced that the battle at the museum was another distraction. As a result, Savage and Octavius choose to grab the unconscious Bee and depart. The Clan rushes to the rookery, where Demona has fled as well, unable to bring herself to kill Angela to get to Egwardo.
  
* [[Lexington]] mentions an adult website, [http://bluemugproductions.com/ Blue Mug Productions]. Blue Mug is written by Greg Weisman's  nemesis, Edmund Tsabard.
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In the aftermath of the battle, Tigress once again extends an offer of membership to Spider-Man, Lexington, Broadway, and Angela. The gargoyles all decide to accept, while Peter promises to think about it. Young rebel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Rebels#Cast_and_characters Sabine Wren] arrives to request a spot on the Team, but is rebuffed due to legal issues. Tigress leaves to return to [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Lian_Harper Lian Nguyen-Harper] and "J.W.", while Nashville continues to argue - unsuccessfully – that he is old enough to join the Team as well.
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[[Image:The_New_Light.png|thumb|400px|The new Light.]]
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[[Image:RichBoysBigToys.png|thumb|400px|"Rich Boys with Big Toys".]]
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Elsewhere, Vandal Savage and Queen Bee welcome both Demona and Doctor Octopus into the Light. Savage then meets with Black Cat, who managed to steal the Hand of Valmont while the police were busy taking Jackal, Hyena, and Electro into custody. Finally, Savage calls upon [[Thailog]], revealing himself to be a Three in the [[Illuminati]], as well as the person who inducted the clone into their ranks in the first place. Vandal offers Thailog the last open seat in the Light, vacated by the disgraced [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Manta Black Manta].
  
* [[Brooklyn]], upon meeting Zafiro, comments on his family resemblance to the [[Zafiro (2198)|Zafiro]] of [[Gargoyles 2198|2198]], saying "Long story. [[TimeDancer|Time travel]].  The future.  A whole other [[:Category:Spin-Offs|spin-off]].  Two, actually...."
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Later that night, Goliath and Elisa are approached by [http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/Batman Batman], who wishes to recruit Goliath into the Justice League. Before they can consider the offer, however, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man Iron Man] arrives to try to convince him to instead join [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avengers_%28comics%29 the Avengers]. Both are immediately interrupted by [[David Xanatos]], who has returned from his retreat in [[Xanadu]] to offer Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark positions in his new club, "Rich Boys with Big Toys." Goliath and Elisa decide to leave the billionaires to sort this out amongst themselves.
  
* When the Tinkerer suggests that Demona send for Mysterio, she refuses, saying "Our stage is crowded enough."
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And finally, at the very end of a very long night, "Tin Man" and "Oracle" are again chatting with each other online. Having deduced each other's identities, they offer their farewells by name, and head off for some well-deserved rest.
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{{clear}}
  
* Elisa shouts at [http://marvel.wikia.com/John_Jonah_Jameson_(Earth-26496) J. Jonah Jameson] when he tries getting too close to the battle, "You want to wind up street pizza?", a reference to one of her lines at the start of [[Awakening Part One|"Awakening: Part One"]].
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==Tidbits==
 
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*Katana speaks for the first time. She would finally, officially speak canonically for the first time in the 2022 issue, [[A Little Crazy|"A Little Crazy"]].
* The narrator briefly argues with Vulture and [http://marvel.wikia.com/Daniel_Brito_(Earth-26496) Fancy Dan] during the battle.
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*When asked if the Hand of Valmont would ever become canonical, [[Greg Weisman]] said 'yes'. It finally happened in the 2024 issue, [[Questions|"Questions"]].
 
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*This is the first time Demona has encountered Jackal and Hyena.
* Lexington comments on the annoying voice of Homunculus #5; both Lex and Homunculus #5 were voiced by Thom Adcox.
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*[[Marina Sirtis]] really, really hates doing impact grunts.
 
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{{clear}}
* At the conclusion of Act Two, Demona cries "This is humanity's Armageddon.  Their entire race's final act."
 
 
 
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/George_Stacy_(Earth-26496) Captain Stacy], [[Matt Bluestone|Matt]], and Elisa all say to [[Margot Yale]] in unison, "Oh, give it a rest, Margot", a line that the hen-picked [[Brendan Quarters|Brendan]] has used a few times in the series.
 
 
 
* Tombstone and [http://marvel.wikia.com/Dmitri_Smerdyakov_(Earth-26496) Chameleon] are revealed to be members of the Illuminati (Tombstone's in Rank Thirty-six and Chameleon's in Rank Thirty-five).
 
 
 
* Zehra Fazal performed as Shari in the Radio Play. Greg Weisman has stated that Zehra is his actor of choice for Shari, and was even used as a real life model for the character's design.
 
 
 
* Demona mistakenly refers to Elisa's [[Elisa's Guns|gun]] as a service "revolver." Elisa's service pistol has always been an automatic, not a revolver.
 
 
 
* Goliath unintentionally quotes the last line of ''[[Casablanca]]'', leading Spider-Man to respond with "Hey, I was just gonna say that. You saw that movie too?"
 
 
 
==The Spear of Destiny==
 
The story of the Spear of Longinus begins with an account in the Gospel of John of how one of the Roman soldiers on duty at the Crucifixion pierced [[Jesus|Jesus's]] body with a spear after his death "and forthwith came there out blood and water" (John 19: 34).  The Bible says nothing more about the spear, but later legend fleshed out this story.  It named the Roman soldier "Longinus", and many stories spread of the fate of his spear, which became a holy relic.  One claims that it was discovered at Antioch during the First Crusade in 1098. thanks to the visions of a young man named Peter Bartholomew (though later on the Crusaders suspected Peter to be a fraud; he died shortly after attempting to prove his honesty through an ordeal by fire), but other purported Holy Lances have appeared elsewhere.  Chief among these is a spear-head kept in the Hofburg Museum in Vienna, once an heirloom of the Hapsburgs.  Adolf Hitler is said to have believed it to be a valuable talisman, and claimed it for his own after his rise to power; he lost it, however, in the final days of World War II, shortly before his suicide in 1945, when the U. S. Army under General Patton seized it.  Trevor Ravencroft's book ''The Spear of Destiny'' popularized the Hapsburg spear-head's claim to fame, though with questionable accuracy.  (The Radio Play's script accepts the Spear's links to Hitler – and the Ravencroft family.)
 
 
 
In the medieval romances about the [[Holy Grail]], the Spear of Longinus is kept at [[Castle Carbonek]] alongside the Grail, and borne with it in the Grail processions.  The spear is also generally portrayed as delivering a terrible wound to the [[Fisher King]] that cannot be cured until the achievement of the Grail Quest, in an act commonly known as the Dolorous Blow.  (The most familiar version of this story, in Sir [[Thomas Malory|Thomas Malory's]] ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'', ascribes this act to Sir Balin, who struck King [[Pelles]] in the leg with the spear, crippling Pelles and laying the lands around Carbonek waste.)  The Spear's association with the Grail makes it appropriate that, at the end of the Radio Play, it should be delivered into the keeping of the Illuminati, with their links to the Holy Grail and Carbonek.
 
 
 
==The Crown of Thorns==
 
The Crown of Thorns is mentioned in the Bible as part of the mockery inflicted upon Jesus, just before the Crucifixion, by Pilate's soldiers; they dressed him up in the mock-regalia of a king, including a crown of thorns (and also a scarlet robe and a reed as a sceptre – though these have received far less publicity).  This crown became one of the most familiar images relating to the Crucifixion thereafter.
 
 
 
Louis IX of France (1226-70), also known as Saint Louis, bought a relic said to be the Crown of Thorns in 1239, and ordered the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris built to house it.  After the downfall of the French monarchy, Napoleon moved the Crown of Thorns to [[Notre Dame Cathedral|Notre Dame]]. It most recently survived the cathedral's fire in 2019, returning to Notre Dame in 2024 after its temporary relocation at the [[Louvre]]. [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewxdx7j00ro]
 
  
 
==Cast==
 
==Cast==
*NARRATOR - [[Greg Weisman]]
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{{GatheringPlayers
*[[Demona|DEMONA/DOMINIQUE DESTINE]] - [[Marina Sirtis]]
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|h1=The 2014 Gathering Players
*SPIDER-MAN/PETER PARKER - Josh Keaton
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|c1=
*[[Goliath|GOLIATH]] - [[Keith David]]
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*NARRATOR: Greg Weisman
*[[Lexington|LEXINGTON]] - [[Thom Adcox]]
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*SPIDER-MAN: Matt Mayfield
*[[Elisa Maza|ELISA MAZA]] - Zehra Fazal
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*LEXINGTON: Kevin Chafe
*[[Brooklyn|BROOKLYN]] - John Clemens
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*TIGRESS: Shelley Johnson
*CURT CONNORS/LIZARD - Dee Bradley Baker
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*STATIC: Clarence Wethern
*[[Broadway|BROADWAY]] - Crispin Freeman
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*GOLIATH: Alex Geoffrey
*[[Zafiro|ZAFIRO]] - Joshua Poole
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*ANGELA: Dawn Krosnowski
*MAY PARKER - Deborah Strang
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*DEMONA: Marina Sirtis
*GREEN GOBLIN - Steve Blum
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*BATGIRL: Rachael Sterling
*[[Obsidiana|OBSIDIANA]] - [[Elisa Gabrielli]]
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*VANDAL SAVAGE: Ahmed Monowar
*KRAVEN THE HUNTER - Eric Vesbit
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*BROADWAY: Thomas Kwan
*HARRY OSBORN - James Arnold Taylor
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*ELISA MAZA]]: Alana Profit
*DOCTOR OCTOPUS/OTTO OCTAVIUS - Michael McAdam
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*NASHVILLE: Abbie Sulik
*J. JONAH JAMESON - Daran Norris
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*BROOKLYN: Jed Emerson
*MARY JANE WATSON - Vanessa Marshall
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*QUEEN BEE: Marina Sirtis
*ELECTRO - Crispin Freeman
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*DOCTOR OCTOPUS: John M. Martin
*VENOM/EDDIE BROCK - Ben Isaac Diskin
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*KATANA: Rachel McAbee
*GEORGE STACY - Lucas McClain
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*JACKAL: Ian McLeish
*BIG MAN - Keith David
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*HYENA: Jennifer L. Anderson
*CALYPSO EZILI - Jennifer L. Anderson
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*COLDFIRE: Ambrosia J Webb
*ASHLEY KAFKA - Elisa Gabrielli
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*FU-DOG: Tron Howard
*ROBBIE ROBERTSON - Phil LaMarr
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*BLUE BEETLE: Zach Nelson-Winters
*LIZ ALLAN - Kaitlyn Robrock
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*BRONX: Lucas McClain
*SALLY AVRIL - Jennifer L. Anderson
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*GREG BISHANSKY: Greg Bishansky
*GWEN STACY - Sarah Williams
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*BATMAN: Robert Atendido
*[[Matt Bluestone|MATT BLUESTONE]] - Eric Tribou
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*BLACK CAT: Misha Jameson
*GREG BISHANSKY - Greg Bishansky
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*ASHLEY KAFKA: Jennifer L. Anderson
*KENNY KONG - Andrew Kishino
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*SABINE WREN: Corey DeDanann
*COLONEL JUPITER/JOHN JAMESON - Daran Norris
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*IRON MAN: Dante Benjegerdes
*NED LEE - Andrew Kishino
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*DAVID XANATOS: Charles Hubbell
*VULTURE - Seth Jackson
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*LUCASFILM LAWYER: B.J. Smith
*FLASH THOMPSON - Ian Bassett
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*THAILOG: Alex Geoffrey}}
*[[Shahrizad|SHARI]] - Zehra Fazal
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{{clear}}
*FANCY DAN - Phil LaMarr
 
*GULYADKIN - Dee Bradley Baker
 
*CARNAGE/CLETUS KASADY - Ian Bassett
 
*HOMUNCULUS #1 - Dee Bradley Baker
 
*HOMUNCULUS #2 - Phil LaMarr
 
*HOMUNCULUS #3 - Steve Blum
 
*HOMUNCULUS #4 - James Arnold Taylor
 
*HOMUNCULUS #5 - Thom Adcox
 
*SMUGGLER #1 - Andrew Kishino
 
*[[Dominic Dracon|DOMINIC DRACON]] - Seth Jackson
 
*BLACKIE GAXTON - Steve Blum
 
*EMILY OSBORN - Kaitlyn Robrock
 
*TINKERER - Thom Adcox
 
*SEYMOUR O'REILLY - Steve Blum
 
*SILVER SPOON MANAGER - Crispin Freeman
 
*[[Angela|ANGELA]] - Sarah Williams
 
*PUMPKIN BOMB - Nicki France
 
*[[Thailog|THAILOG]] - Keith David
 
*[[Maria Chavez|MARIA CHAVEZ]] - Elisa Gabrielli
 
*FREDERICK FOSWELL - James Arnold Taylor
 
*ALAN O'NEIL - James Arnold Taylor
 
*ROSIE THOMPSON - Vanessa Marshall
 
*[[Margot Yale|MARGOT YALE]] - Marina Sirtis
 
*[[Morgan Morgan|MORGAN MORGAN]] - Keith David
 
*JASON IONELLO - Ben Isaac Diskin
 
*RAND ROBERTSON - Phil LaMarr
 
*[[Brentwood|BRENTWOOD]] - Fox Anderson
 
*CHAMELEON - Steve Blum
 
*NORMAN OSBORN - Eric Vesbit
 
*DILBERT TRILBY - Steve Blum
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
*[http://s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=843 Title Page, Cast List, and Teaser] at Ask Greg
+
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggu7lSMXOnM Gargoyles meets Spectacular Spider-Man meets Young Justice Radio Play] on YouTube
*[http://s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=844 Act One] at Ask Greg
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*[http://s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=845 Act Two] at Ask Greg
 
*[http://s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?rid=846 Act Three] at Ask Greg
 
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95V2vAFJmKs The Spectacular Spider-Man Meets Gargoyles] on YouTube
 
  
 
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| '''[[Recruits|Next Radio Play: "Recruits" >>]]'''  
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| '''[[Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns|<< Previous Radio Play: "Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns"]]'''
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| '''[[The Cosmos|Next Radio Play: "The Cosmos" >>]]'''  
 
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Latest revision as of 09:10, 18 October 2025

This page is part of a series of articles on Gargoyles Meets the Spectacular Spider-Man Meets Young Justice

Information in this article is apocryphal and should not be considered canon.

A depiction of the Radio Play's villains as illustrated by Christopher Jones.

"Recruits" was a Radio Play produced for CONvergence 2014 in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was performed on July 5th, 2014.

This story took place after "Phoenix", "Final Curtain", and "Endgame". It is a non-canonical crossover between Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Young Justice. It is also a sequel to "Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns" and is followed by "The Cosmos".


Summary

Shortly before sunrise, Lexington chats with a friend online using the alias "Tin Man." The friend, "Oracle," is eventually revealed to be Barbara Gordon.

The next evening, Goliath and Elisa discuss the new additions to the Manhattan Clan – including Katana, Nashville, Fu-Dog, Egwardo, and the returning Coldstone and Coldfire. Meanwhile, Brooklyn and Katana settle their unhatched child in Brooklyn's old rookery, leaving the egg in the care of Bronx and Fu-Dog.

Elsewhere, Jackal and Hyena manage to chase down Demona and deliver her to their new employer: Vandal Savage. Vandal greets Demona as an old friend, though Demona makes it clear that the feeling is not mutual. Still, she decides to hear out his proposal.

Near the Flatiron Building, three members of the Justice League's covert ops Team – Batgirl, Tigress, and Static – are in heavy pursuit as well. Their target turns out to be Spider-Man, whom they wish to recruit for the Team. Spidey is initially resistant to the idea, especially when the other young heroes reveal that they know his secret identity, and will need approval from his legal guardian (May Parker) before he can join. Instead, Peter suggests that a few friends of his might make for better recruits.

Meanwhile, at the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, Queen Bee uses her pheromone powers to enthrall orderly Greg Bishansky. She orders him to lock up Dr. Ashley Kafka and release Electro and Doctor Octopus from their confinement. Octavius correctly surmises the reason for her visit: to recruit him as a replacement for the imprisoned Brain in Savage's secret organization, The Light.

Back at the Apex Tower, Vandal extends the same invitation to Demona, wishing for her to replace the incapacitated Ra's al Ghul. Demona is dismissive of forming an alliance with the largely human organization, though Savage claims that her attempts to exterminate the human race only help to weed out its unfittest members. He also offers her a "signing bonus" to ensure her cooperation.

Later on, the Clan gathers at the Eyrie Building to discuss a mystical artifact known as the Hand of Valmont. Brooklyn explains that cutting off Brother Valmont's hand during the Battle of Rathveramoen caused it to absorb magical energies from the Grimorum Arcanorum he was holding, after which it was passed down and preserved by his followers. The police believe that it may be in danger of being stolen from the Museum of Natural History, so Goliath, Brooklyn, Katana, Coldstone, Coldfire, and Hudson depart to watch over the museum.

Lexington, Broadway, and Angela, however, instead go to meet Spider-Man, who has recommended them all for the Team. The gargoyles are skeptical, especially given that Spidey isn't intending to join up himself; all apart from Nashville, who enthusiastically volunteers to join, but is ignored.

At the museum, Jackal and Hyena move in to steal the Hand of Valmont, clandestinely aided by Black Cat. Goliath, Hudson, Brooklyn, and Katana head in to intercept them, while Coldstone and Coldfire are attacked by Electro on the roof.

Back at Castle Wyvern, Doc Ock launches a surprise attack on Spider-Man and the younger gargoyles, joined soon afterward by Vandal Savage. Spidey is beat up enough that he resorts to using a signal device Tigress provided him, in order to call for backup. At the same time, the confusion allows Demona to infiltrate the castle, tranquilize Bronx and Fu-Dog, and locate the subject of Savage's "signing bonus": Egwardo, who she intends to kidnap and raise as her own.

Meanwhile, the Clan members at the museum manage to take down Jackal, Hyena, and Electro.

Tigress, Batgirl, and Static arrive at the castle to help Spidey, along with Blue Beetle. After learning (to their shock) that the potential recruits Peter told them about are gargoyles, all of the young heroes team up against Ock and Savage. Things take a turn for the worse, however, as Queen Bee arrives and enthralls Spider-Man, Static, and Blue Beetle, forcing them to attack the others.

Back within the rookery, Demona is being held off by Nashville. He manages to buy enough time for Angela and Tigress to arrive, both having realized that the other supervillains are merely serving as a distraction. Tigress manages to disarm Demona, leaving mother and daughter to hold a verbal and emotional standoff.

At the same time, Batgirl, Lexington, and Broadway work together to take out Queen Bee, freeing the enthralled heroes from her mind control. Goliath's group arrives soon afterward as well, having deduced that the battle at the museum was another distraction. As a result, Savage and Octavius choose to grab the unconscious Bee and depart. The Clan rushes to the rookery, where Demona has fled as well, unable to bring herself to kill Angela to get to Egwardo.

In the aftermath of the battle, Tigress once again extends an offer of membership to Spider-Man, Lexington, Broadway, and Angela. The gargoyles all decide to accept, while Peter promises to think about it. Young rebel Sabine Wren arrives to request a spot on the Team, but is rebuffed due to legal issues. Tigress leaves to return to Lian Nguyen-Harper and "J.W.", while Nashville continues to argue - unsuccessfully – that he is old enough to join the Team as well.

The new Light.
"Rich Boys with Big Toys".

Elsewhere, Vandal Savage and Queen Bee welcome both Demona and Doctor Octopus into the Light. Savage then meets with Black Cat, who managed to steal the Hand of Valmont while the police were busy taking Jackal, Hyena, and Electro into custody. Finally, Savage calls upon Thailog, revealing himself to be a Three in the Illuminati, as well as the person who inducted the clone into their ranks in the first place. Vandal offers Thailog the last open seat in the Light, vacated by the disgraced Black Manta.

Later that night, Goliath and Elisa are approached by Batman, who wishes to recruit Goliath into the Justice League. Before they can consider the offer, however, Iron Man arrives to try to convince him to instead join the Avengers. Both are immediately interrupted by David Xanatos, who has returned from his retreat in Xanadu to offer Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark positions in his new club, "Rich Boys with Big Toys." Goliath and Elisa decide to leave the billionaires to sort this out amongst themselves.

And finally, at the very end of a very long night, "Tin Man" and "Oracle" are again chatting with each other online. Having deduced each other's identities, they offer their farewells by name, and head off for some well-deserved rest.

Tidbits

  • Katana speaks for the first time. She would finally, officially speak canonically for the first time in the 2022 issue, "A Little Crazy".
  • When asked if the Hand of Valmont would ever become canonical, Greg Weisman said 'yes'. It finally happened in the 2024 issue, "Questions".
  • This is the first time Demona has encountered Jackal and Hyena.
  • Marina Sirtis really, really hates doing impact grunts.


Cast

The 2014 Gathering Players
  • NARRATOR: Greg Weisman
  • SPIDER-MAN: Matt Mayfield
  • LEXINGTON: Kevin Chafe
  • TIGRESS: Shelley Johnson
  • STATIC: Clarence Wethern
  • GOLIATH: Alex Geoffrey
  • ANGELA: Dawn Krosnowski
  • DEMONA: Marina Sirtis
  • BATGIRL: Rachael Sterling
  • VANDAL SAVAGE: Ahmed Monowar
  • BROADWAY: Thomas Kwan
  • ELISA MAZA]]: Alana Profit
  • NASHVILLE: Abbie Sulik
  • BROOKLYN: Jed Emerson
  • QUEEN BEE: Marina Sirtis
  • DOCTOR OCTOPUS: John M. Martin
  • KATANA: Rachel McAbee
  • JACKAL: Ian McLeish
  • HYENA: Jennifer L. Anderson
  • COLDFIRE: Ambrosia J Webb
  • FU-DOG: Tron Howard
  • BLUE BEETLE: Zach Nelson-Winters
  • BRONX: Lucas McClain
  • GREG BISHANSKY: Greg Bishansky
  • BATMAN: Robert Atendido
  • BLACK CAT: Misha Jameson
  • ASHLEY KAFKA: Jennifer L. Anderson
  • SABINE WREN: Corey DeDanann
  • IRON MAN: Dante Benjegerdes
  • DAVID XANATOS: Charles Hubbell
  • LUCASFILM LAWYER: B.J. Smith
  • THAILOG: Alex Geoffrey


See Also


<< Previous Radio Play: "Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns" Next Radio Play: "The Cosmos" >>