Do you ever pick up a comic on new comic day and say to yourself “who asked for this to be made?” Well it’s not yet new comic day, but I had this thought when I saw the solicitation for Disney Villains: Gaston. However, after getting a chance to read this first issue my tuned changed. While I might not have been clamoring for this series, I am damn sure glad it was made and likely because writers Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente are at the helm.
The unfairly maligned antagonist of Beauty and the Beast will be the first to tell you that he’s the greatest tracker in the land, a fact that has been confirmed by his totally unbiased sidekick, LeFou — and who would know better than these two fine, upstanding citizens?
So when a nobleman offers a sizable reward for the return of his runaway horse, Gaston pursues the escaping steed with a single-minded focus — directly into the king’s private hunting grounds!
Arrested for trespassing, Gaston faces a long stay in the royal lock-up — except that his obviously superior abilities impress the king’s wily advisor, the Comte du Soufflé, who has a dangerous mission that only someone as unthinkingly brave as the great Gaston would ever contemplate taking on. If he succeeds, he’ll be free to go — but when he finds out what he’s up against, prison might seem like the safer bet!
When you think of the 1991 classic Disney film, Beauty and The Beast, you tend to focus on Belle, the Beast, and the castle’s servants, including candelabra Lumière, mantel clock Cogsworth, teapot Mrs. Potts, and her son Chip, a teacup. While Gaston is an important part of the film, he is one of those villains that became more forgettable to me. However, lets be honest its been a few years since I sat down and purposefully watch the film.
All this being said, I am so happy that Pak and Van Lente took the task of crafting an original story based around Gaston. What we learn from the feature film is that Gaston is full of himself and is not the brightest bulb on the tree. The writing team takes this to the next level in the premiere issue of the series while also adding to the story.
Pak and Van Lente develop the character in a way that makes me want to know more and follow along with his story. Something I don’t think I would’ve ever expected to say. Gaston’s arrogance and cockiness gets him in all sorts of trouble that he seems to get out of to only get into more of a bind. Not to mention the twist ending that has me eagerly awaiting the next issue.
It seems like Milena Ciccarello understood the task and crafted artwork that feels like the original Disney animation style while also adding a bit of their own flare. You feel comfortable in the story, especially those who are big fans of 1990s Disney animation while also allowing the story to breathe in the world of sequential comics.
Let’s be honest, I never thought I would be this excited for a story based around Gaston, but with what Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente did with this Disney villain is something special. Building on his role in Beauty and the Beast, Pak and Van Lente craft a story full of arrogance, cockiness, and twists that has me eagerly looking forward to future issues of Disney Villains: Gaston.
Disney Villains: Gaston #1 hits local comic shops on March 4, 2026 from Dynamite Entertainment.
Disney Villains: Gaston #1 Covers
