Mister Gargoyle
Context
Mister Gargoyle appeared in 1968, in a single Wonder Woman story. Which is two stories too many. He was part of the last few issues of the Kanigher run, before the quasi-reboot of the karate mod Wonder Woman era.
Robert Kanigher ! Robert Kanigher. He was insane, I think. But he was far better read than any five other comic book writers of that era, and probably could’ve beaten them senseless with one hand tied behind his back.
While some of this WW work is OK, this one reads sort of like the literary equivalent of a Viking funeral. Even after rereading it, we haven’t the foggiest idea how the story holds together. Or rather, doesn’t.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None, though he employs a pack of thugs.
- Base Of Operations: A huge, ghostly manor on a lonely part of the coast.
- Height: 6’ Weight: 195 lbs.
- Eyes: Grey Hair: None
Powers and Abilities
Mister Gargoyle is apparently quite rich. Also, it seems very likely that he has significant scientific and engineering skills. His limousine can discharge thick clouds of knockout gas from the exhaust pipe.
At one point, Mister Gargoyle knocked Wonder Woman out with a blow from his pimp cane to the back of her head. While it may just have been a stupendously lucky blow, I have assumed here that he had super-strength.
I *think* it was the writer’s intent. It’s damn hard to say what Kanigher intends in those books, really. Except for his overall vicious assault against logic and sense.
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History
Mister Gargoyle, a scientist, was disfigured in a lab accident. That — somehow — forced him to wear a gargoyle mask that looked like Nosferatu with a Caucasian skin tone. Obsessed with the notion of having Wonder Woman give him some sweet Amazon lovin’, he hatched… a daring plan !
Yep.
As Steve Trevor and Diana were driving around in one of those WWII Jeeps , Mister Gargoyle and his men passed them in their limousine, discharging knockout gas from the exhaust. Trevor managed to skid the Jeep to a halt before passing out, and the thugs started shooting at Diana, which was of course pointless.
However, as she finished playing bullets and bracers, Mister Gargoyle clobbered her from behind with his heavy, ornate cane. How rude.
Diana woke up in Mister Gargoyle’s manor, with the nefarious villain holding her lasso wrapped around her hips. Using the lasso’s magical power, he forced her to kiss him. But as WW resisted him the kiss proved rather frigid.
Mister Gargoyle then changed tactics, pointing out that he had Steve Trevor chained, Prometheus-like, to a rock in a nearby pool of water filled with very hungry sharks. And the water was rising !! Will our heroine swear undying love to Mister Gargoyle so as to save her true love from the terrible jaws of the sea !!!?!!??
Well, will she !!!?!!?? C’mon, work with me here.
Oh, noes !
Yes ! She kisses the disfigured blackguard, triggering a hateful rant from Trevor, who’s still a creep ! Thankfully, a shark jumps and grabs Trevor, grabbing him to the bottom of the pool to bang his head against the rocks. Sharks are way cooler most people think. Also, they can totally beat bears up in a tank half-full of water.
Wonder Woman reflexively dives into the pool to kick the poor sharks away from Trevor. She yanks the lasso away from Mister Gargoyle’s hand as she does ! But it is far more important for her to save Trevor than to take action against the dastardly Mister Gargoyle.
“Calling Robot-Plane !” she exclaims ; as she flies away to Paradise Island, clutching the wounded Trevor.
Meanwhile, Mister Gargoyle impotently shakes his fist at the invisible aircraft. ”Don’t think you’re escaping me, Wonder Woman ! What the Gargoyle wants — the Gargoyle gets ! I’ll never rest until you’re in my arms again ! Your love for pretty boy is hopeless ! He hates you !”.
While the Gargoyle was right about the pretty boy, he was wrong about his own promised return.
So far.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Meh.
Oh, OK. He’s a watered down Gothic villain. He lives to menace the heroine, destroy her life, and coerce her into taking him to his nephew’s barmitzvah so he doesn’t have to go stag. Heck, although he had to steal the lasso to do it, he even has that overwhelming force of will to push the heroine around !
Granted, he’s bad at his job, but you can be sure that Black Canary or someone would’ve gone to dinner at his folks’ house at least once *and* taken the trip to Barbados for photo-ops.
Quotes
“That hurts me more than it does you, beautiful ! But it’s the only way I can quiet you… after you’ve made human yo-yos of my men !”
“I wanted you for my own, Wonder Woman ! Long before an explosion in my lab ruined my face forever — forcing me to wear this mask ! But I’ll make you fall in love with me ! First — I order you to kiss me !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Mister Gargoyle
| Dex: 05 | Str: 09 | Bod: 07 | Motivation: Wonder booty, baby ! |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Criminal scientist |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 008 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Gadgetry: 05, Scientist: 04, Thief (Stealth): 04
Advantages:
Expansive HQ (Stately manor), Familiarity (Wonder Woman lore).
Connections:
None – though his henchmen are three normal thugs with .45s and Kato-style masks (and bad suits).
Drawbacks:
MIA toward winning Wonder Woman’s heart, Strange Appearance.
Equipment:
- Cane [BODY 12, EV 04 (10 w/STR)].
- LIMOUSINE [STR 05 BODY 07, Fog: 05, Poison touch: 07, Running: 06, R#02, Note : Poison Touch and Fog are Combined, Poison Touch is Active Throughout the Fog].
- Stately manor with the sharks-pit-with-rising-water option.
Source of Character: Wonder Woman v1 #175 (pre-Crisis DC Universe, Earth-1).
Helper(s): Roy Cowan.