Thanks to the success of Dynamite Entertainment's Gargoyles comic book, the adventure continues in a brand-new series that explores the past of the Wyvern Clan and the humans in ancient Scotland. Written by Greg Weisman, drawn by Drew Moss, colored by Martina Pignedoli, and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry, Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1 takes the story back to the year 971. It promises to fill in the blanks of the unlikely alliance that took place between these two forces.

The issue wastes no time in setting up the meeting between the Wyvern Clan and the humans Malcolm and Robert. They ask the Clan for assistance and propose an alliance to take down the tyrannical King Culen. As the leader of the gargoyles, Hudson -- who isn't named in the series since this is the period before the gargoyles utilized names -- ponders the humans' request. He decides it's best the Clan help them as he recognizes human problems end up becoming gargoyle problems eventually.

RELATED: REVIEW: Dark Horse Comics' Barnstormers #1

Weisman doesn't race away with the story in Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1. Instead, the writer takes his time in establishing this piece of history in the Gargoyles timeline. There's a lot of breathing space in the issue, signifying a less stressful time for everyone in this era. Weisman uses this opportunity to slowly introduce the younger versions of these popular characters and lay subtle hints of why they might have changed in the future. In addition, the prose section of the comic also fills in the backstory of the humans.

For those expecting a swashbuckling battle in the past, it isn't found here. The action intensifies toward the end of the issue, but it's clear Weisman is utilizing this first installment to set the tone and atmosphere of this period, introducing why the humans and Wyvern Clan would even consider an alliance in the first place. Whether it proves to be successful or not will be determined as the story progresses, but it does help to differentiate this series from the main book.

As a result of the slow-paced story, the onus falls on Moss to keep the reader invested through the art. Fortunately, the artist delivers an atmospheric visual delight. From the towering mountains to the sweeping land, Moss captures the spirit of Scotland's splendor and history in the story.

Pignedoli's colors bring Moss's world to life, as the colorist plays with the kaleidoscopic nature of the night sky and how the contrasts and tones tell their own stories. Even in the daylight, Pignedoli uses gradients and shades to complement the panel's intended mood. For the majority of the issue, Eckleberry keeps the lettering simple as it's mostly dialogue across the pages; however, the letterer steps out of the comfort zone and incorporates a more fun and eye-catching style toward the end of the book when the battle kicks off.

Gargoyles: Dark Ages #1 starts off in a calm, calculated manner. While it might not be what fans expected of the first issue, it is an atmosphere-setting introduction rather than a full-throttle explosion out of the blocks. Time will tell if it proves to be the right storytelling choice or not, but the signs point to the next issue being different and more in line with the expectations of fans of the original Disney series.