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For the comic book series about the Disney show, see Gargoyles (comics)

Gargoyle is a name shared by two fictional characters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.

Contents 1 Gargoyle (Yuri Topolov) 2 Gargoyle (Isaac Christians) 2.1 Fictional character biography 2.2 Civil War/The Initiative 2.3 Powers and abilities 3 In other media 4 External links 5 References

Gargoyle I
Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance The Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962) Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Characteristics Alter ego Yuri Topolov Team affiliations KGB Abilities None

Yuri Topolov, was a Soviet scientist and the first foe of the Hulk. An atomic accident caused by working with radiation mutated him into a grotesque, large-headed dwarf of extremely high intelligence. 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.^[1] However, he passed this deformity on to his son, the Gremlin.

Note that the Gargoyle’s appearance in Rampaging Hulk #1 is merely part of one of Bereet's fictional techno-art films.

Gargoyle II
Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance Defenders #94 (Apr 1981) Created by J. M. DeMatteis & Don Perlin
Characteristics Alter ego Isaac Christians Team affiliations Defenders Abilities Superhuman strength and physical resistance Regeneration Biomystical energy manipulation

Isaac Christians, was a human/demon composite and a member of the Defenders. He was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Don Perlin.

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 town that his ancestors had founded (the fictional town of Christiansboro, Virginia). The demons of the Hand transferred Christians' life force into the body of an ancient gargoyle and sent him on a mission to capture Patsy Walker, at that time operating as Defenders member Hellcat. Christians rebelled against the Hand and allied himself with the Defenders to defeat them.

Christians 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 and killed his original human body to prevent the demon from returning. Moondragon, under the influence of the Dragon of the Moon, separated Christians' life force from the gargoyle body. The body became larger and more grotesque. It was transformed into a statue of ash.

Christians' life force came to reside in a crystal. 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.

Christians has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The Initiative #1 . ^[2] He was shown flying in an attack against HYDRA.^[3] He was then seen aiding Hellcat in Marvel Comics Presents.^{[issue # needed]}

Gargoyle possessed superhuman strength 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. 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 (levitate); his wings were non-functional for flight but could be used for navigation. Gargoyle could regenerate lost or damaged limbs, although they would differ wildly in appearance from the original limb. Prior to his transformation, Christians had some ability to manipulate mystical forces, including rudimentary spell-casting and summoning demons.

• Gargoyle was seen in the intro to the theme song of the X-Men TV series when Magneto and his cadre of mutants charge toward the X-Men near the end.

• Gargoyle appeared in the 1996 Incredible Hulk cartoon series voiced by Mark Hamill. This Gargoyle was more closely related to the original Gargoyle from the Silver Age comics, and was always trying to find a cure for his mutation, even allying himself with The Leader. In one episode he accidentally released a gamma virus, infecting amongst others Betty Ross. 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 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 MODOK in the Iron Man cartoon, he became the bumbling comic relief, with a crush on She-Hulk. Oddly, in the TV series, his name was changed to Gorgon for unknown reasons.

• Gargoyle (Christians) at marvunapp.com
• Gargoyle (Christians) at MarvelDirectory.com