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Gargoyles

The Phoenix Gate

Comment Room Archive

Comments for the week ending July 23, 2007

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It is entirely possible to obtain digital copies of ancient texts. I'm not 100% clear on the process but (if I remember and have time) I'll poke my head in the rare book room on campus and see what they have to say about it down there. I doubt it would have been technically feasible in 1994 and even if it was, once something has been digitized, it's that much harder to keep it out of the hands of others. There's something to be said for the security of having the only copy.
Ethan Gilchrist - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

Battle Beast> I may be interested in that Demona figure.
Warcrafter - [grafixfangamer1 at sbcglobal dot net]
"Human are such easy prey for a gargoyle!"

No, Demona said she stole a page from the Grimorum, and we know she did.

I'm pretty sure magic involves more than just a page with some words on it.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

DIdn't Demona once say she copied a spell from the Grimorum? Then again, that could have been a lie and it was one of the pages she ripped out during "temptation".
Wingless

The Grimorum had a spell on it where it couldn't be copied by science or sorcery. Unfortunately, the page with the counter-spell had been burned.
TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

You don't photocopy or scan old documents... the light and heat from the process could damage the original.
Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"Who holds back the electric car? Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star? We do! We do!"

I had some friends over earlier. We've now gotten through the first Disc of "Gargoyles, Season One." During "Temptation," my friend asked an interesting question, more as a joke, really, but it got me thinking. He asked why Xanatos never had the Grimorum copied into a more easily preserved digital format, like a PDF.

I asked him if PDF was around in 1994, and he told me it was. I'm not sure in what capacity, but someone like Xanatos would definitely have it. But his question got me thinking: would the spells still work if they were copied in such a fashion?

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
Mad Hatter: "Um, may I have that last statement stricken from the record, please?" The Joker: "Record? Is someone supposed to be writing this down?"

Battle Beast -aww, your kicking Demona out? How come? She been plotting against you or something? ^_^
Wingless

I have a Demona Appluase figure that needs a home. If you are interested, let me know.
Battle Beast - [Canada]
That is all I will say.

Todd: ah yes, forgot about Tom and Katharine. Being the surrogate parents of 36 gargoyles on a magical island is anything but normal ;)


*******************SPOILERS********************

SilverBullets review: Err yeah, I don't get why he can't differentiate between the clones and the orignals either. Not only are they totally different colors, but the manhattan clan gargs are wearing costumes-most of them anyway.

and the "rift" between Goliath and Elisa...seriously, how long did it last, a few hours? Oh god forbid a character should have a moment of weakness caus they're always perfect.

And it would be cool if Dr. Sato made friends with the clan. Let's hope he has an open mind anyway...since Elisa just made out with a garogyle in front of him :P

***********************END SPOILERS************************

Purplegoldfish - [skydragonn at aol dot com]
"Whoa, Tiny, you mean there's more than one of you?" "My name is not Tiny! I am Goliath!" - Elisa and Tiny

HoE, just a joke. Instead of saying "for the love of God".
Siren
Don't knock on Death's door. Ring his doorbell and run, he hates that.

Siren: Indeed. But who's Mike?
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"You have the right to free speech. As long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it." -The only band that really matters

I recently posted a new video. Not Gargoyles per say, but I mentioned it twice, you guys may be amused.

The 12 Lessons of You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6EyEEeiskY

Siren
Don't knock on Death's door. Ring his doorbell and run, he hates that.

Does anyone know if "Future Tense" is online anywhere?
Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

One thing I think we have to keep in mind with the reviews is the fact that, as the core fanbase, our opinions are hopelessly biased. A review of the comic someone like Mr. Tate versus one of us is the difference between getting a restaurant review from a new patron and the guy who was the head chef at the establishment for several years.

One thing I've found consistent in the SBC reviews is that, while Mr. Tate made it clear in his review of the first issue that the comic series was picking up where the show left off, he isn't tying events back to episodes from the series' television run for (what I assume to be) the simple reason that he can't, and shouldn't, assume that all of his readers have familiarity with the television series. Instead, he ties the issues together, and that is very different from how we're taking the comics, which is extensions not only of the series but also of arcs from episodes of the show. My guess is that with time as we are introduced to and absorb new material at the same pace as Mr. Tate, then I think we'll be able to really compare our opinions with his.

Frankly, I think a 3/5 rating after a 2/5 is welcome. It's not great, sure, but my personal fear was that the review would come out along the lines of, "After the comic got off to a great start with a retelling of old material, it has crashed and burned at the end of its first new story. Leave Gargoyles alone."

Yes, I think we could all pick on Mr. Tate for not giving the G/E story the credit we think it may be due and for being generally dismissive of the Clones, but he still generally has good things to say about Greg and, I think most importantly, he seems to be a fan of Karine's work, which I think means good things for BAD GUYS (assuming Mr. Tate reviews them) and thus the broader franchise.

Yes, I would have liked to have seen a stronger review, but as a fan I'm glad that at the least it wasn't a bad review.

Alex Garg - [<-- Gathering 2008!]
New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common. -- John Locke

KingCobra> I think I already let the cat out of the bag on that score.
Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

Blaise> That reviewer you posted... I don't like his attitude. He makes it clear that the first two issues were better than #5 when I personally think that #5 is the best of the lot thus far.

"The Quarrymen arc"? it wasn't even an arc! It was retelling the Journey to start us off!

Granted, I wouldn't have given #5 a 5/5, but definatly not a 3/5.

Battle Beast - [Canada]
That is all I will say.

GargWiki> When's the right time to post tidbits for issue #5? I want to mention a couple of things, but at the same time, I'm afraid it might be too soon and I don't want to ruin the comic for anyone who may not have read it yet...
KingCobra_582 - [KingCobra_582 at hotmail dot com]
"Ignore me!" - Venture Bros.

SPOILERS

DPH>> "Btw, does anybody care to speculate why Quincy would work at the White House? My immediate thought is he is working at theoritically one of the safe places in the world and has access to an immediate safe place."

Quincy already made it known why he works at the White House: He has access to presidents of the United States that many people, even some senior staff, can only wish for. Whenever they become stressed or faced with a heavy decision, they retreat into his kitchen and unwind, or maybe even seek "unbiased" advice from someone who isn't a policy wonk -- and there's Quincy.

I don't know if Greg had this in mind, but Quincy's arrival in the White House under Theodore Roosevelt was at the time when the U.S. really emerged as a global power -- it had just defeated Spain and expanded its interests well into the Pacific -- and Roosevelt would secure its place by launching the U.S.' Panama Canal construction project. The Illuminati may well have had a presence in the U.S.' national government prior to 1901 (Greg's "This Day..." at the top of the month hints at Illuminati involvement in the U.S.' creation, if not at the least a nod to the legends of such), but with Quincy the Illuminati has been there since the U.S. stepped onto the world stage.

"666 members seems a such small number for me to attract such big attention."

The Group of Eight summit only features 8 world leaders, who meet and effectively set policies for 65% of the world's economy, and they draw tens if not at times hundreds of thousands of protesters.

5 Supreme Court justices can change the politics of a nation of 300 million, whose laws need only be agreed to and created by 270 people (218 Reps, 51 Senators, 1 President).

6 corporations own 90 percent of U.S. media holdings, which is exported globally, and which are controlled (Boards of Directors, CEOs, and presidents of subsidiaries) collectively by no more than 100 people at any time.

The point here is that you don't need a lot of people to have dominance over national or world affairs, you just need them in key locations. Quincy's in the White House, Hacker's in the FBI, Xanatos owns one of the world's largest multinationals -- and we only know of eight living members of a 666 member, presumably international organization. Given the Illuminati's assets and reach, it's easy to conceive of the Society having enough members in key positions across the globe to affect international economics and politics. The questions are to what extent with what frequency it does so.

Alex Garg - [<-- Gathering 2008!]

"Lowest" vs. "lower" > You're nitpicking something that's not even a nit. If you're on the 1st floor of a building and I'm on the 20th, and I tell someone you're on a lower floor, I haven't misspoken. I've simply been vague about it, because maybe I don't know if you're still in the lobby, or if you've wandered up the stairs to the mezzanine.

341 days left until The Gathering 2008 in Chicago, Illinois!

Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"Who keeps the Martians under wraps? Who keeps Atlantis off the maps? We do! We do!"

*Whew*

Just did some major updating on GargWiki for Brentwood, Hollywood, Malibu and Burbank... Ithink there may be some minor grammatical mistakes and the like, hope some of you feel like going through and working out the kinks. Maybe some more pics would be cool too.

Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

***spoilers****

Yeah, one has to wonder what sort of position this will put Dr. Sato in. And is it a position he wants to be in? It's interesting. Out of all the people that I thought the preview for #5 might refer to, I wasn't expecting it to be him.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Between thought and expression lies a lifetime." -Velvet Underground ("Some Kinda Love")

I think in all these years many ideas that Greg ends up using have been thought of by one of us or another. Not all, mind you, Greg has been able to surprise all of us. But with his revelations over the last 11 years and our own tendency to discuss everything and view people and events from all different viewpoints, I'd say some things Greg has planned have already been guessed or fanfic'd by others.
For instance, way back when I was writing my review of "Deadly Force", I said something about how I liked Dr. Sato and had thought it would be cool if he became the Manhattan Clan's friend. Kinda a good doctor to contrast Dr. Sevarius. Seems Sato may be headed in that direction, which I really love. I wouldn't accuse Greg of ripping that idea from me though. It is quite possible that he had "Bash" in mind long before I wrote that ramble. So maybe I just had a lucky guess.

*Imagines a story involving Dr. Sato and Dr. Arnada vs. Dr. Sevarius*

Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

Todd Jensen> Which is of course why it's best that Greg hasn't read fanfics. Not that Christine would sue him, mind you.
Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo dot com]

DPH - Maybe Greg Weisman simply didn't have you standing by him when he wrote Xanatos and Quincy's conversation. :)

PURPLEGOLDFISH - Princess Katharine, the Magus, and Tom could probably be considered members of the Avalon clan.

* SPOILERS *

The talk about Brendan alerting Dr. Sato to the gargoyles' plight and what that might mean for his marriage with Margot suddenly reminded me of what Christine Morgan did with him in her fanfics. Come to think of it, Christine also had Finella and Mary transported to the modern world (though via a different device than Brooklyn and the Phoenix Gate).

* SPOILERS END *

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

**Spoilers**
I guess I gotta rework my view of the Illuminati
Society in the gargoyles universe and not just a little. 666 members seems a such small number for me to attract such big attention. I did overlook that 2nd line from Quincy about Xanatos being at the bottom rung. I still find that hard to believe. I knew it was a pyramid scheme, but still.

The number of people at each level being constant presents some problems. Matt got in because a new position became available because of Mace Malone's death. It seems to me that ultimately either death or retirement from the Society are the only ones for somebody new to join so the question remains which happenned so that an opening would occur for Thailog to occupy.

Btw, does anybody care to speculate why Quincy would work at the White House? My immediate thought is he is working at theoritically one of the safe places in the world and has access to an immediate safe place.

Todd - Is it too delete my set of questions following my review of the comic? If so, I request a deletion.
**End Spoilers**

gxb - Half the time I feel like blocking you from im'ing me and half the time I don't. Don't make me change my settings so that for you to im me I have to choose to receive it.

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

****Blaise stomps into the Room, muttering imprecations and dire threats under his breath.****

********POSSIBLE SPOILERS/DEFINITE RANT!***************

SILVER BULLET REVIEW OF ISSUE #5> Well, the "Silver Bullet Comics" website has just posted its review of issue #5 of the comic:

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/1185074468197.htm
(or click my name)

And it's the same guy who reviewed all the previous issues, handing out 5/5 for the first two, 4/5 for #3, 2/5 for #4 and now 3/5 for #5.
3/5 may not be a bad score, but the comments he makes...AAARGH! The Goliath/Elisa relationship development is "artificial?" Why, because Elisa had a moment of weakness and looked at things realistically? Did he just want them to be lovey-dovey, never have problems, and then have 2.5 (or whatever) kids (because hey, viable offspring from the union of two completely different species ALWAYS happens in fantasy/sci-fi stories)? And he would have preferred Thailog to come with robots/soldiers instead of the clones, apparently just so he wouldn't have to burn precious brain cells noting who was who, plot and character development be damned. Actually, that prompts a question--did ANYONE here have ANY trouble figuring out who was who among the Clan and Clones? I know I sure didn't.
Looking at his comments, I see a guy who apparantly wanted the comic to be all about the Quarrymen and the racial hatred angle (in other words another TGC).
Now, maybe I'm overreacting. He did give props for Goliath's near-fatal injury, and the Hudson/Robbins scene, and he obviously likes the Illuminati stuff, but his negative comments just make no sense to me. Now, I know he can like or dislike anything he wants--that's the point of having opinions. Even knowing that, however, I'd still like to call him lazy and an idiot who has no sense of dramatic growth, and say that he really has no clue what he's actually talking about (and in a way I just did), but...frankly, that puts me in the wrong. Maybe it's late at night, but this review just REALLY annoyed me.
Then too, if we didn't already know (from ASK GREG) more or less how things were going to turn out, how would we have reacted?
Okay, I've ranted and raged against this long enough (which just shows how silly I am).
*********END POSSIBLE SPOILERS/DEFINITE RANT!**********

Good night, all! Until next time, farewell. ****Blaise tosses the review into the trashbin with the rest of the worthless garbage and Apparates out of the Comment Room.****

Blaise
"Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life."--Terry Pratchett's "Jingo"

*************************SPOILERS***********************

"I have problem believing 36 is the bottom rung of the IS. One big reason: During "Revelations", Mace said David Xanatos was a "lower echelon member". Notice the word 'lower', implying there are members even lower ranked than David Xanatos."

That's sort of a linguistic nitpick, and I guess it's true, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it. Technically, if someone is in the absolute lowest rank, you should say "lowest" rather than "lower." I don't know for sure if it would be incorrect to say lower, but lowest is preferred. However, people say it often enough in real life that I wouldn't expect that much literalism. Also, it's possible that Mace just didn't know off the top of his head whether Xanatos was 36, or something close to that like 35 or 34. So, there's no conclusive way, from Mace's quote, to say whether Xanatos is at the bottom or near the bottom. And I'm sure Greg W. didn't have the Illuminati worked out in as much detail as he does now, so don't read too much into it. On the other hand, Quincy's quote from issue 5 does explicitly say that 36 is the lowest rank. So I'm sticking with that.

What kind of interests me, though, is how the Illuminati manipulates its own members. Xanatos, Matt, and especially Castaway are all being used for some greater purpose, and I doubt Thailog's in on the whole scheme, either. I wonder how high one has to be before being a full member and trusted with the larger view of things. Probably no one below Duval knows everything.

Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]
"Thailog smart!" -Thom Adcox, as Brentwood

Wheee! Got my copy and #5-and well, what can I say that nobody else has said? It's AWESOME!!

****************SPOILERS!!!!!****************

The art is beautiful...Karine and Stephanie did a wonderful job. All the characters on model, colors are great. Did spot a few small anatomy problems but they are nothing compared to the mistakes Hedgecock makes. Finally the male gargoyles don't have 200 pound boulder muscles.

-I love that first panel of the eyrie building! That must have been fun to construct...
-Mary and Finella-hm, don't know what to think about them. Why didn't they meet the gargoyles? I guess they're in costumes of...themselves from 1000 years ago? Cuz I really hope Mary hasn't been wearing that rag on her head for 20 years.

-Dr. Sato is on the scene...we know where this is going. Good thing he's there--coincidence?

-I love those altered glass slipper foot coverings on Angela. I don't think we've ever seen gargoyle foot wear. I also like Broadway's full lion body suit, even though he didn't have it on last issue. It's so cute, especially when we see a shot of his back with the tail hehe.

- Oh man, is Thailog mean or what? He slams Goliath headfirst into a wall AFTER he stabs him. Talk about low.

-So Duval's not number one. Hm interesting. There's been some pretty cool theories going around S8. I don't really know enough about Arthurian legend to speculate though.

-hilarious moment when Brooklyn makes his grand entrance as "Super-Goyle." I like how he shows up right after Margot is berating Brendan for his "stupid get-up". It's funny, when people in here were discussing what they thought Brooklyn would show up as and it wasn't the Scarecrow, I predicted he would be a superhero of some sort, but I didn't post my thoughts about it, ah well. I'm phsychic! Not really, cause I was totally wrong about Brentwood, which I'll get to later.

-Angela: "YOU BASTARD!" Mwahahah. Note to self...Angela is not a sweet little angel, don't get on her bad side-well, unless of course you're Thailog, who was able to slash the whole Manhattan clan singlehandedly. I have no doubt he could have killed them all if he had aimed for their necks.

-I knew Robbins knew Hudson was a gargoyle. Though I'm not sure how he equates the smell of "old leather and concrete" to gargoyles if he only heard about them on the news. And does stone skin actually smell like stone? Does Robbins know the gargoyles turn to stone?
Anyway, some nice elements from the TGC ep, "The Dying of the light" which was one of the better ones of that series. I always kind of liked in that episode how Robbins was annoyed at Hudson for assuming he would want nothing to do with Hudson once he found out he was a gargoyle. Robbins seems to be taking it all in stride here though.

-The fight scenes look great. Very dynamic, and I can tell what's going on, which I had trouble with in earlier issues. I especially love that bird's eye shot of the whole clan and the clones.

-Elisa: "I'm a part of this clan." I think here she realizes that she can never have a normal life as she expected to. How many humans are members of gargoyle clans? I'm willing to bet she's the only one.
Thailog comes on to Elisa as he slashes her. He seems to have a creepy attraction to her...eww.

-Xanatos gets his first assignment from the illuminati. I'm betting it has something to do with the gargoyles. This could cause a lot of problems. I love Xanatos'smirk at Quincy when he's a smart aleck with him.

-Owen finds Delilah...in Xanatos' lab...Okay. Delilah struts into the fight and effectively stops it. I had thought she would be this meek defenseless creature, boy was I wrong. She rocks! She really sticks out as one of the most attractive female gargoyles of the series, if not the most attractive. Goliath must have it really bad for Elisa since he hardly looked Delilah's way. She sticks it to Goliath--who deserves it since he was kind of a jerk to her--but she should wait until he's not spilling his guts on the floor.

-Thailog takes Delilah's refusal in stride. I wasn't expecting that. Obviously she isn't the real reason he came to the castle. He's such a nonchalant jerk-I love him!

-Brentwood stays with Thailog. I had thought he would be the one to go back to the labyrinth. Very tricky of Greg! I love Lex's reaction to it-seeing his clone's desicion as a bad reflection on him.

-That's such a beautiful image of Thailog and Brentwood leaving the castle-it just sticks out.

-I've heard that Brendan is the one who alerted DR. Sato. So he does have compassion after all. I hope he leaves that witch of a wife.
So DR. Sato saved Elisa's life and now he's saving Goliath's. Nice, they owe that man a lot.

-and then comes my favorite panels of the book, probably of the whole comic series. Goliath and Elisa exchange "I love you"'s and they kiss! SQUEEEEEEE!!! I've been waiting for this for so long, and seeing it in the morning before work literally made my day. I honestly didn't expect them to say IT so soon, so I was pleasantly surprised. And Goliath's smiling even though he's probably in a heapload of pain--Awwww.
(Though I am somewhat surprised that Goliath is still conscious at this point. Though it's harder to tell passage of time in the comic than in the series, so maybe the fight wasn't as long as it seemed.)

-Brooklyn: "Oh, you gotta be kiddin' me..." hehehe. Even his clone gets more tail than him.

-It took my third reading before I realized Thailog was in Nightstone Unlimited. Hmm, interesting. It seems Sevarius still works there. And we find out Thailog's primary objective for picking up the clones and Delilah was really to get DNA from the clan, one of them being Elisa's, hmm. Thailog+Sevarious+Gargoyle DNA= Very Scary!

-And then we have the shocking ending-Thailog is in the Illuminati, and he's working with Shari the "Labyrinth Girl" who's really high up there on the food chain. Hard times are coming for the clan...I wonder if the Illuminati are in on Thailog's clone plans.

Anyway this has been the most awesome issue so far and I can't wait to read where this is heading. Great job everyone!

Purplegoldfish - [skydragonn at aol dot com]
"Whoa, Tiny, you mean there's more than one of you?" "My name is not Tiny! I am Goliath!" - Elisa and Tiny

Gah! Danged interface dropping my avatar again. Blargh!
Ethan Gilchrist - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

Spoilers!

Nah not really. Just that everyone else was saying it and I didn't wanna be left out. =P

Ethan Gilchrist - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

Incisivis: I know DTaina has a collection of images. If she has one of Little Anton, I'll let her say.
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"NO! That's a bad Constantine! We do NOT make Christianity the state religion! We do NOT ruin Rome!"

Spoilers.

TTT> Yes, there are 666 spots. So that in itself is reason NOT to add another rung to the ladder.

An in saysing the matt is a "lower escelon" memeber, he could have been talking about the bottom couple of rungs. I doubt if there are more.

I can't wait to see what Sevarious cooks up from the DNA. A bronx clone would be cool...

Battle Beast - [Canada]
That is all I will say.

The number 666 is associated with the Antichrist, not Satan.

Leo > I've been asking that same question since Issue #4. :P

342 days left until The Gathering 2008 in Chicago, Illinois!

Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down? We do! We do!"

Well, I got a pleasant surprise: my local comic shop got issue #5 in the closest it could get to on time: Friday, when its general shipment of special orders arrived.

I've been hammering out a long review over yesterday and today, which I'm going to post soon. In short, I loved the story and the art. But a tiny thing:

SPOILER

I was gobsmacked to hear that a scene in this comic paralleled one in The Goliath Chronicles. And that most of the TCG episode concepts were severely warped excerpts from the Master Plan: yeowch. I know I should have figured that out sooner, I'm just lazy like that.

Also, does anyone have a screencap of what this "Little Anton" looked like? I'm curious now; the concept reminds me of how the Mighty Max cartoon series interpreted "Mutasaurus".

END SPOILER-ish

More comments on the real issue soon, I promise.

Incisivis - [incisivis at hotmail dot com]
"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream" -- Shirley Jackson

Grimalkin>> I don't know if hoax is the proper term for it -- piracy certainly is.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Antiyonder & Revel>> 666 is the number associated with "The Beast," specifically the second of two beasts mentioned in chapter 13 the Book of Revelation. Satan is identified as an entirely different figure. To quote from the KJV:

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev. 13:11-18)"

The connection to a New World Order of the kind that some would imagine the Illuminati to be creating come from verses 16 and 17, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

But as for to whom John was referring when he dropped 666, the verse itself provides clues: "Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." Using a process called gematria, assigning numerical instead of phonetic values to each letter of an alphabet, for the Latin alphabet one arrives at 666 for Emperor Nero; and interestingly enough, some early translations of the Revelation of John had the number of "the beast" as 616, which would be the sum of Nero's name if the Hebrew alphabet were used.

Or you can just look to Ronald Wilson Reagan as an explanation of 6-6-6. Maybe he's not really dead, just leading the Illuminati.

What, too soon?

Alex Garg - [<-- Gathering 2008!]
Remember that there are, in fact, two towers. 2-1 is 1; 1 1, 11. 2-1 is 1, 1 1. And there are 9 members on Silverstien's board of directors: that's 9, 1, 1 -- 9/11. And take 2-1+9/11, and you get 12, which leads us all to the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks: Kyle. . . . 12 contains the numbers 1 and 2 . . . add 1 and 2 with 9/11 and you get 914. Drop the 4 and it's 91, exactly the score Kyle got on his spelling test 12 days after 9/11!

As much as I usually try to avoid stiring the pot too much there is no DIRECT QUOTE that says 666 is associated with Satan.

Revelations 13:18 "This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666."

Honestly, if I were to say I would connect that the "Mark of the Beast" refers to Man or that the Beast is the Society itself. That's the thing about ancient text who the hell knows what they were thinking when they actually wrote it.

*stated two cents*

Revel - [samrx5 at msn dot com]

<Hah-hah! Quincy said "bottom"!>

And he's the OTHER "number two". :P

Leo
"WHO...DOES...NUMBER...TWO...WORK...FOR...?"

Hah-hah! Quincy said "bottom"! ( ;
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

SPOILERS

DPH> <<I have problem believing 36 is the bottom rung of the IS. One big reason: During "Revelations", Mace said David Xanatos was a "lower echelon member". Notice the word 'lower', implying there are members even lower ranked than David Xanatos.>>

I don't mean to be rude, but that does not mean that. 36 is the bottom. We have been told this. It does not contradict anything that came before.

Quincy said the word "bottom".

END SPOILERS

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

DPH - I think that you're overanalyzing the "lower-echelon" part; Greg may simply not have worked out the internal structure of the Illuminati at the time that they did "Revelations".
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

***** SPOILER *****
Not sure if you believe the Illuminati to consist of 666 members for the same reason I do, but I do agree with you on the number of members.

I believe it because of the theory of the supposed Satanical dictatorship for the Real World illuminati as mentioned in Garg Wiki. And of course, 666 is the number associated with Satan.

Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo dot com]

**Spoilers**
I have problem believing 36 is the bottom rung of the IS. One big reason: During "Revelations", Mace said David Xanatos was a "lower echelon member". Notice the word 'lower', implying there are members even lower ranked than David Xanatos.

On the other hand, Matt is the same rank as David Xanatos. Unless Matt got a recent promotion, it makes sense that 36 is the bottom rung or very close to the bottom rung.

Like I posted in Ask Greg, I did the math and it would take another 15 rungs below David Xanatos for as many people to be below David Xanatos as above him.

I am willing to bet Thailog is probably one of the 'youngest' to ever join the society. He isn't even chronologically *5* years old yet. I wonder what resources that Thailog brings to the Society.
**End Spoilers**

Guess who's back at Ask Greg: Jonny Modlin

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

Jonny boy is at it again, with the unanswered question.
Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo dot com]

Sorry changing the subject a little bit just read that Jeff Bennett will be using his voice talent in the new spiderman cartoon playing Adrian Toomes/Vulture.
Vicky82 - [Vickyfanofwwe at aol dot com]

I can dig not wanting to know who wins but I'd watch it anyway since for me it's also about how it happens as opposed to just what happened.
Ethan Gilchristd - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

That's some good F1 humor right there. It made me chuckle.

On a similar note, I have friends that record sporting events to watch them later and they avoid watching ESPN or any news channel for that matter, or reading a newspaper until they watch the event that they recorded.

TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

Turns out Dale Earnhardt did it. In the study. With the candlestick. Then the feds got wise to him, so he kamikazed himself.

Oops. Did I give something away? How naughty of me.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

If I had to tape F1 or have to wait for the highlights to come on I have to keep away from the news so I don't know who wins or who had to retire if I knew then I wouldn't watch it.
Vicky82 - [Vickyfanofwwe at aol dot com]

How the heck do ya spoil formula 1 racing? It's like "They're making a left turn!... They're making another left turn!... They're making another left turn!... I wonder what's gonna happen next!" lol
Ethan Gilchristd - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

I'm not worried about spoilers either, I don't mind reading spoilers from Comic books and Tv shows but I don't want to read spoilers from Movies, WWE and Formula 1 racing.
Vicky82 - [Vickyfanofwwe at aol dot com]

Personally I'm not too worried about spoilers in general. Never really bothered be since I still read or watch whatever it is that's been "spoiled". I'm talking about spoilers with regards to not just the comic but movies, books, tv, etc as well.

Oh and as a total aside that has nothing to do with Gargoyles... My cat, stoned on catnip is the most hilarious thing I've witnessed in years.

Ethan Gilchrist - [ethan at randominformation dot com]
"I wouldn't wanna live in a world without grudges." --Jack Terricloth of the World Inferno Friendship Society

Vaevictis - I hope you don't leave, but I'll make sure that Greg gets the links for the YouTube fun as soon as they are posted.
Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<----- SPOILER FILLED Review]

Vaevictis> Don't leave.

Everyone, be careful with those spoiler tags!

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

OK....I'm gonna leave now. Is there any possibility at all that Greg will post the URL for the YouTube (when it comes out) on Ask Greg? Because I can't stay here any longer. People are being WAY too careless and it is RUINING everything for me.
Vaevictis Asmadi

Alex: I know it is not of official release, I own both of those. I'm just curious as to whether this would be a hoax, or if someone is making a profit off of release rights that aren't theirs. >.>

Oh, and I typo'd my name last time, it's Grimalkin, not Grinalkin :P

Grimalkin

Grinalkin>> That is most definitely NOT authentic. The official release only goes through the episode "Kingdom," much less into season 3.
Alex Garg - [<-- Gathering 2008!]

You're a spoiler tag. ( ;

But seriously, my bad. I must not be completely awake yet.

*goes off to brew a third cup of coffee*

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

Guys... spoiler tags.
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

Jennifer: Interesting you brought up the possibility of Thailog getting owned somewhere down the road. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Shari's youthful appearance is a facade. We don't exactly know how one advances, but she is only seven rungs below Duval and Quincy.

It's always fun watching smart people get owned (the end of "Double Jeopardy" still makes me smile every time I watch it).

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

Just happened to spot this earlier, and was wondering if it's authentic

http://www.tvaddicts.tv/movie/cartoon/Gargoyles.html

Grinalkin

TTT> Thanks. :D It was a nice surprise that, honestly, I hadn't seen coming.

Jennifer> I left some feedback. Nice review.

KingCobra_582 - [KingCobra_582 at hotmail dot com]
"Ignore me!" - Venture Bros.

Issue 5 Spoilers:

*************************

First off, TTT: I doubt the Illuminati would add a rank 37. 36 is the lowest rank. If someone dies, a new person can move into their slot, but it's not necessarily just "everyone moves up the ladder." I think Greg said that any new members have to start at rank 36, but I won't swear to it (he got a lot of questions about it). But why am I so confident that there'll never be a rank 37? Because with 36 ranks, there are exactly 666 slots for members. That number can't be a coincidence. It's there for a reason. Actually, I was surprised that the Illuminati was as small as it is. I imagine they've got ways of influencing others to work for them without really knowing what they're doing.

I have a question about the comic, though. How and why did Hudson suddenly show up at the castle to help save the day? We saw him at Robbins's place, having a nice heart-to-heart, and then suddenly he and Bronx are back at the castle. He couldn't have known his help was needed, so why did he come back? Well, maybe they were done talking and he just left, but then how'd he get back to the castle so quickly? My best guess is that he didn't. The scene with Hudson and Robbins shaking hands probably took place while Thailog was still at the Labyrinth, and it was staggered to save the climax of Hudson's subplot for issue 5. I guess that makes sense, but I found it jarring that Hudson was calmly talking to Robbins and then suddenly was charging in like the cavalry at Castle Wyvern.

Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]
"Thailog smart!" -Thom Adcox, as Brentwood

Greg B> Thank you. It wasn't needed, but I appreciate it. By the way, congrats on getting published in "Etched in Stone".
KingCobra> Congrats to you also.

*****************************SPOILERS*****************************
Gargoyles #5> So the Mary and Finella cameo is such because they are part of the present time stream from the '70s, even though Brooklyn hasn't presently "timedanced" yet, I presume. It's nice for Xanatos to invite them AND pay for the surgery to make them look 20 years younger. I guess he could have sprung for new clothes too!

Once I read #5 twice, I read #3-#5 in one sitting for the complete story/episode experience. In my opinion the art in #3 is good, #4 is better, and #5 is best. As a side note, isn't it funny that the Disney plug is only on the covers of #1, #2 & #5?

I like the Illuminati numbering scheme. I wonder if there are 36 number 36s currently or if there is still room for new members on the 36 mark. And once that fills up, I'm assuming they will move to 37 37's?! We DO know the two 2s, one 9, one 32, and four 36s. We don't know what number Mace was, do we? If he was number 12 for example, does he retain that number in death, or does one of the number 11's get bumped up and so on and so forth, and they just add on another lower member? If so, I wonder if Shari inherited her status from a deceased family member.

Great ending to the story in #5. I hope Goliath pulls through. I wonder why they wanted more DNA.

I love the GargWiki so I could look up Dr. Sato. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him. I think he could have been a little more creative with his costume! Speaking of costumes, Brooklyn's was funny and Broadway's costume inconsistency was minor but noticeable. Oh well. Can't blame the Korean animators on that mistake!
*****************************SPOILERS*****************************

TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

***** SPOILER *****

Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson> I chuckled the instant you mentioned a possible reason for Brentwood siding with Thailog.

Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo,com]

I finally got my hands on Gargoyles #5 (thanks Greg!) Wow... just... WOW. I am blown away by how beautiful this book is. The artwork and the story... it was so gorgeous I cried.

I only wish it would last beyond one issue.

I posted my review in my LiveJournal. It's spoiler filled, so read at your own risk.

Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<----- SPOILER FILLED Review]
Dizzy: No guts, no glory! // Rico: No Brains // Carl: No kidding.

ANTIYONDER >> I was only talking about the Comment Room. I could just leave for two months (or longer), but then I'd never be able to find out when the Radio Play is on YouTube or how to find its url.
Vaevictis Asmadi

Kanthara> Yes, I loved the cameos. Weee!
Asatira

*** SPOILERS ***

MATT> Well, Macbeth does have that book about "Gargoyles", maybe Robbins read it. It'd probably mention something about stone sleep.

*** END SPOILERS ***

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

***** SPOILERS *****

Couple questions about Robbins and Hudson:
1. Does Hudson really smell like concrete, or was Jeffrey making a joke?
2. How on Earth does Jeffrey know that gargoyles turn to stone during the day? That hasn't been revealed to the press yet, has it?

Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

My apologizes on the spoilers, does that extend to posting them to Greg on the question submitting?

Anyway, thought I should bring to attention, that someone is uploading Gargoyles again on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/nayrusavatar

Until it's taken down, I've left comments to those browsing on how to obatin the available DVDs. Thought I should mention it as I don't quite know how to report copyright violations.

Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo dot com]

Bill Clinton liked everything he ate to be super-sized...
Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"There's nothing like a Cuban!" - Colin Mochrie, "Whose Line is it Anyway"

*** SPOILERS ***

Not really a spoiler, but you know how the spoiler police are.

Anyway, this made me think of Quincy Hemings:

"In a recent interview, the White House chef says that President Bush's favorite meal is cheeseburger pizza. Next on the president's list -- nacho spaghetti and corn dog pudding." --Conan O'Brien

Just thought it was cute and that I'd share. Quincy probably had less to do when Clinton was in power... he ate at McDonalds.

*** END SPOILERS ***

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

...so i suspect we'll get a positive review on issue #5 from Cardboard Gargoyle comic reviewer guy *sly grin* ^_^
Wingless

* * * SPOILER ALERT * * *

The cameo appearance of Mary and Finella does make me wonder... how do two tenth-century women from totally opposite social classes survive after being time-warped forward into the 1970s? Heck, it almost sounds like a set-up for a sitcom. Tune in as the dark ages meet the disco ages!

Besides cardboard gargoyle guy, I know who a couple of the other cameos are. ;)

* * * END SPOILERS * * *

343 days left until The Gathering 2008 in Chicago, Illinois!

Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"I want to walk in their footsteps, and their footsteps were like this: Aaaah! Aaaah! I'm covered in bees!" - Eddie Izzard

****Blaise runs at full speed into the Room. He quickly slams the door before four ominous figures on horseback can follow him. He promptly locks the door, bolts it, nails wooden boards over it, welds a steel plate over everything, and bricks it all up. He then leans against the newly made wall and wipes sweat off his head.**** Outrunning the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is NOT fun.

GREG B.> You just had to go and fulfill the final sign of the Apocalypse and doom the world, didn't you?! ;-)
Seriously, though, your apology was a very good, very big thing you did, and I am proud to know you for that (as well as all the time you've devoted to the fandom, too). It's amazing how few people actually manage to stand up and do that, so kudos to you.

KANTHARA> ******SPOILERS FOLLOW!!*********************

Ah, I see. So "Mary" and "Finella" are supposed to look 20 years older, eh?
...Okay! I'm sold! Those two are the REAL Mary and Finella. Ultimately, I don't think the "missing 20 years" are too much of a problem. At least, not for Finella (I mean, she'd only be, what, late 20's, early 30's by 1996? There's enough anti-aging cosmetics to take care of the difference). And as for Mary...well, maybe she's just one of those incredibly well-preserved people (besides we didn't see her hair which is probably all white).
Now, let's look at page six...**Goes and does so.** Oh, boy...I just spotted the Powet.tv "cardboard gargoyle guy" (he should love this ;-D). Outside of that though, I'm blanking. The woman far left is fairly striking, and next to "cardboard gargoyle" I see what appears to be a bald guy in a suit, but if these or any others are cameos, I can't recognize them.

*************END SPOILERS!!****************************

Okay, I've got to get back to work (which largely consists of LOOKING for work). Until next time, farewell. ****Blaise gets up from the wall...which promptly collapses on him--bricks, steel, boards, the whole thing. The door swings open to reveal the four frightening figures. One of them says, "Wait...this isn't the way to Disneyland!" and the four of them turn their horses around and ride away. Blaise drags his broken body from the wreckage and crawls out of the Room.****

Blaise
"Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life."--Terry Pratchett's "Jingo"

Karine - Our favorite Cardboard Gargoyle comic reviewer already wrote me ... with his new avatar (a clip from the page). He asked who I had to thank for that. I told him we are conspiring garg girls and we plot evil in packs. ;) HA!
Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<--- pre-register for Gathering 2008 in CHICAGO!]
6fbfaf

Just thought of something I needed to point out about a few details in the art... One is a mea culpa.

*****SPOILERS*****

On page one, Judge Roebling is speaking to "Mary" and "Finella". I noticed once the art was in the can that Greg had pointed out their apparent ages in the character descriptions in the script annex, and they should look about, oh, twenty years older or so. My mistake, unfortunately.

In the not mea culpa, did anyone take a look at the crowd in page 6's top panel? I stuck a couple of cameos in that panel.

Doodeedoo... Back to Bad Guys.

*****END SPOILERS*****

Kanthara - [kanthara at gmail dot com]
"Gargoyles #5? What is it with that issue? Everybody wants it!" - Ray, comic book guy at Astro in Montreal

ANTIYONDER and BATTLE-BEAST >> Guys, please remember spoiler tags. The comic has only been out for two days.


GREG >> Thank you. It isn't easy to say that, but it does mean something.

Vaevictis Asmadi

dph-no worries. I got to order my comics, so I'm happy now. Just hope they deliver quickly. ^_^

*Pats Greg B. on the back*

Wingless

*** SPOILERS ***

Mary and Finella obviously provided Xanatos with the Grimorum. Either they sold it to him, or just gave it to him. We know that, along with Owen, they arranged for Xanatos and Demona to ally. Maybe Xanatos still keeps them in his Rolodex (he might think of them as acquaintances) and decided to invite them. They may not be making contact with the gargoyles until after Brooklyn's Timedances.

But, yeah, I do believe it is them.

*** END SPOILERS ***

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

Greg: thats nice of you. I dont think the problem is what you say, but how you say it. I have the same problem when discussing with someone face to face, its just when i sat down and i think before i writte that i become more or less civilized.
TGC is a sin, i cant find another word to describe it. I only saw the episodes once, and it was long ago, so i really dont remember many details. I do remember that i coudnt finished watching the episode where Alex is kidnapped after Fox breaks down and start crying, its so OUT OF CHARACTER that i coudnt take it. But most of its stupidness was lost in time as i never watched any of them anymore...
That is now that i read HoE review of Generations that i remembered how pathetic they were A window in Demona´s secret chamber XD A WINDOW LOL

Demon@

Sorry for the double post, but I also wanted to add a thank you to Greg B. Not everyone is able to do what you just did and I for one really appreciate it.
Phil - [p1anderson at go dot com]

I was going to post a review of #5, but I haven't had the time. I'm going to be traveling next week and there's so much to do. However, I would like to share my thoughts on...

*****SPOILER*****
...Mary and Finella on page 1. I have no explanation of how or why they are there, but I am convinced that somehow it is really them. There's an obvious resemblance, and we all know that there are no coincidences in the Gargoyles universe, so it's either them or someone intentionally dressed like them. The only people alive (as far as we know) who have any familiarity with Mary and Finella (Finella especially) are Tom and Katharine, but they're sequestered on Avalon and have no connection to the Xanatoses. That rules out someone being dressed as them, which leads me to believe it is somehow actually Finella and Mary at the Xanatos Halloween Masque. That being the case, Timedancing is obviously involved, and my only guess as to why is that perhaps the ladies needed some assurance that things would work out before turning the Grimorum over to David Xanatos. (Just a shot in the dark, but it's the best I can do. Feel free to have your own opinion, mine's probably wrong.)
*****End SPOILER*****

Phil - [p1anderson at go dot com]

DPH - It took me a little while to figure out what you meant by "J, H, W, and P". Next time, could you please use the full names and not the abbreviations? It'll make things easier for us.

MATT - I'd been wondering myself whether Greg's Double Date story was the origin of "Genesis Undone". (It helped that, in #3, Talon said "Send in the Clones!" - which was Sevarius's line in "Genesis Undone". I'll confess, though, that I think it fits Sevarius better.) I hadn't considered the possibility, however, that Sevarius might be planning to use all that new DNA to create a single extremely tough giant gargoyle like "Little Anton", though that does seem feasible. It's obviously not going to be just a repeat of the Clones from "The Reckoning".

Looking over the other "Goliath Chronicles" episodes:

1. We know that "Ransom" and "Runaways" were based on Greg's ideas for "Alex gets kidnapped" and "Timedancer".

2. "The Dying of the Light" has an equivalent in the scenes with Hudson and Jeffrey Robbins in #4 and #5.

3. We know that the original story Greg wanted to do for Goliath's trial (which became "And Justice For All" in the Goliath Chronicles) focused on the difficulty of just giving Goliath a trial since most of the New Yorkers (including Margot Yale) believe that he's a savage beast rather than a thinking being.

4. As for the rest: it's tempting to wonder if "Broadway Goes to Hollywood" might have been an echo of the story idea that will be revealed in #7 - #9, since that one will apparently involve the gargoyles going on a road trip (though more gargoyles than just Broadway - and from the evidence, probably not to the West Coast), though that's all that I can say. Greg indicated that he had a story idea for Bronx for the third season, though likewise, I doubt that it involved his befriending an Amish boy. As for the rest - I'll get into them another time.

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but when Greg left the series at the beginning of TGC, he had a bunch of story ideas that were morphed into what we know today as TGC. For instance, Greg had the idea that Alex would be kidnapped by the Tricksters and Lex and Owen/Puck would be involved in his rescue and that evolved (or de-evolved) into the episode where Alex is kidnapped by some mayoral candidate.

Now, in the one episode of TGC featuring the Clones it also has Thailog and Sevarius. And in it, Sevarius acquires a lot of new genetic material from the Manhattan Clan and uses it to create one big clone made from all the gargoyles ("Little Anton" as I recall). So, could this be a morphed idea of Greg's as well? How much of that (if any) is based on Greg's thoughts and how much did TGC come up with?

*shrugs* Just a thought...

Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

Anybody read TIGUH?

**Spoilers**
Battle Beast - I hope we don't get true clones, but more diversity. One would think that Thailog has worked on a better way to ensure loyalty out of the next generation of clones. It depends on how valuable Thailog views each clone as to what his options are for loyalty. One option is giving the next batch a deliberate deficiency so that they have to keep taking 'medicine' or they will die. Another option is a remote bomb planted in each new clone. I am willing to bet Elisa isn't cloned; if she is, we got a whole new can of worms.

Of course, I got a deeper question: what's to keep Thailog and/or Sevarius from producing an army of 30 or more gargoyles. I think I can understand why Thailog would want Goliath's dna: surival. If Thailog is managed to be killed, another Thailog can be born. This leads to a simple question about the future which I can't ask because it is an original idea.

Were there any bets made on when J, H, or W would appear in the comic? This 'season' of gargoyles is scheduled for a run of 12 comics so I'm starting to wonder when the P would reappear.

Last time we heard, issue #7 was entitled "The Rock". Isn't that the last one that we know the title of?
**End Spoilers**

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

This is from a discussion few days ago...
I've been thinking...
Perhaps people are using "literacy" in a way that is alien to me, a way that involves *litera*ture, rather than the ability to derive information from the written word efficiently. That would explain some of what I've been reading.

That wasn't supposed to sound snarky, but it is the best I can do at the present time. :-(

Anyway I need to leave for a while. I'm going to have a hard time avoiding spoilers.

JJ Gregarius

Greg B.: I'm glad to see you're man enough to admit your mistakes, and I hope this new commitment helps you deal with people better in the future. Now, there's certainly nothing wrong with saying "I disagree with you," and at times it is appropriate to say "Dude, you're really annoying people," but it can be hard to tell when one crosses the line into blatant insults/flaming. If you're not sure, then, yeah, just ignoring it is probably best.

On the other hand, if you feel the need from time to time to mock people, you could always join Something Awful and get it out of your system there. They encourage it.

Anyway, thanks for the apology.

Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]

Jurgan> Maybe they're just costumes, but they look exactly like the real two, and Mary and Finella would probably still be alive. But why would they be at X's party?

Obviously, Celebrity Hockey wasn't on that night.

Antiyonder - [antiyonder at yahoo dot com]

Ugh. That's not Brooklyn... It's me... Battle Beast. *SIGH*

Sorry for the double psot.

Battle Beast - [Canada]
That is all I will say.

Greg B.> Thanks. :)

COMIC #5> Well... I finally have a chance to post... had a trojan... fixed this bucket of bolts and got her past that blockade. Can post now. But I'll make it breif... have more time tomorrow...

0) HAVE YOU ADDED UP ALL THE NUMBERS FROM 1-36? IT EQUALS... ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? "666." O.o *Twilight Zone plays in his mind*

1) HATED Goliath's look after being stabbed.

2) LOVED Angela's "Bastard" line.

3) Thailog and that girl? IN the Iluminati? and she's Number six???

4) Thailog is work with sevarious to make more clones? Maybe he will mix and mathc this time, and have "unique" clones like Delilah?

5) so if Mace Malone is pushing 100, then Quincey must be... say he was 30 in 1907 when Rooevelt was in office, then he ws born in 1877, making him... 130 this year. Amazingly well preserved indeed!

6) The shot Thailog gave bronx was awesome! loved that! and he's gonna clone Bronx now, too?

More tomorrow.

something to ponder.

Goodnight.

Battle Beast - [Canada]
That is all I will say.

Hey all, after a lot of thinking, a bit of soul searching, and a whack upside the head from a good friend who I respect, I am posting a more formal apology to the CR today than I did yesterday.

I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable in here. I really don't. I've said before I'm going to try to keep better control over my temper in the past, and I know I haven't done a very good job at it. For that I apologize.

So, this is my apology to the room, and my promise. If there is anyone in here I don't like, I'll just ignore them. If anyone says anything that gets on my nerves, I'll ignore it.

I really have no excuse.

Right now, the conventions are going strong, we have new comics, this is the best time to be a fan. I realize now that I have been hampering that a little in here, and I don't want to do that.

I hesitated to make this post, but I figured I owed you all this apology. Each and every one of you. So, to all who have been on the receiving end, I'm sorry. To those who haven't, I'm sorry anyway.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]

The Radio Play video was recorded on an old-fashioned VHS tape and I'm waiting for a piece of hardware to arrive so that I can import it into my PC. I'm hoping to get it onto YouTube by the weekend after this coming one. So please be patient, folks. Re-read your comic books. And if you get tired of doing that, I think there's some wizard book going on sale this Saturday that you can check out. :P

344 days left until The Gathering 2008 in Chicago, Illinois!

Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"I want to walk in their footsteps, and their footsteps were like this: Aaaah! Aaaah! I'm covered in bees!" - Eddie Izzard

Wingless - I'm sorry about my comment. I should not have rushed to judgement.

I'm not speaking on behalf of the admin of the gfw, but I am curious if anybody is working on a synopsis for the remaining episodes of season 2 that don't have one or if anybody is working on a synopsis for each issue of the comic so that those gaps can be filled in at the gfw.

*decides to duplicate Blaise's latest method of leaving this cr, encountering a small glitch: dph left behind a thumbprint on the floor where he exited.*

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

*Is happy again* Just managed to get a comic order to go through with Midtown Comics!

Thanks Greg B for the suggestion. Hope they's fast ^_^

Wingless

Demon@: Thanks. Feel free to email if you want to go into more depth. Or if you have AIM, it's my email address minus the "at gmail dot com."
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

Greg- The temptation to sing "It's a small world after all" is so strong right now. I'm up here working in one of the Bard Summerscape operas at the moment, but I have high hopes for finding other Garg fans once the year starts up again (the demographic is just perfect).
Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Music Video Database]

HoE: i found your fics on the station8 page, very nice job :)
Demon@

Thanks for your comments, Kanthara.
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

I know exactly where Bard is, a friend of mine went to school there.
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Greg B.- About an hour and a half away at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson (near Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Rhinecliff) plus no transportation save my footsies.
Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Music Video Database]

Spoonvonstup> Where in the Hudson Valley are you? I'm in north Westchester.
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

What a time to be working, living, and going to school in the mid-Hudson valley AKA "nowhere"- where's the love for the internet dependent?

*shakes money at SLG and pretends not to look at spoilers*

I also can't wait for the Radio Play and G2008 plug to be up on YouTube. You know I'm going to be pimping that stuff everywhere I can.

Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Music Video Database]

Vicky: Good call on the Malibu/Delilah thing. Didn't pick up on that.
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

Kanthara: "By the way, I think I made Steph go blind with that first page shot of the Eyrie building..."

Poor Steph! Well, it was a beautiful shot . . . not to mention the rest of "Bash." You two did a wonderful job!

Phoenician - [<---My Kinda Useless Blog]
"The Suspense is Terrible . . . I Hope it Lasts" -- Willy Wonka

Do you guys realize how LONG I had to sit on my fingers to not answer any suspicions and theories about issue 5?

*****SPOILERS*****

I squeaked it out after the Radio Play at the Gathering. "I got to draw Goliath and Elisa KISSING!!!"

About Broadway's costume, arg, sorry. I didn't realize that Nir had drawn him that way when he did issue 4, and would not have noticed because I'd drawn it all before seeing Dustin's colours. I went from the original "Wizard of Oz" costume for the most part.

About the colours on the clones, well, you can thank Stephanie (and Greg B, our unofficial researcher) for actually looking up REFERENCES of the characters before colouring them.

It's funny, upon reading the script, Thailog being part of the Illuminati didn't surprise me. Shari did, however. From what I'm reading below, a good lot of you found that really surprising. Hm.

Brendan now knows more actual facts about Gargoyles than his wife does: he knows they can TALK. I think that he's getting to the last straw too... he'll eventually dump Margot, and she won't know what hit her.

I had so much fun drawing this. At the beginning, I'd posted a cryptic LJ post about drawing <i>undiscloseable gargoyles stuff</i>, which was about page 3, with Goliath trying to hold his guts in with Thailog gloating next to him. I loved drawing Delilah. And now, I love that you guys have caught the subtleties (and not so subtle things) that I drew in there, like the look Malibu gives Delilah when she helps him up, the slap of her hand on Thailog's, the mace konking Malibu... I'm really very happy you guys like the art.

By the way, I think I made Steph go blind with that first page shot of the Eyrie building...

Again, so very happy you guys like the art, and it's encouraging me to keep it up with Bad Guys.

*******END SPOILERS*********


On another, related note: Stephanie's workload is too full for her to take on toning duties for Bad Guys, so I'm doing it myself. Art on Bad Guys will be all me, with covers drawn by Greg Guler and coloured by Steph.

Speaking of Bad Guys... I better get back to it, right after I settle down Samuel, who's starting to get bored in his playpen...

Kanthara - [kanthara at gmail dot com]
"Gargoyles #5? What is it with that issue? Everybody wants it!" - Ray, comic book guy at Astro in Montreal

Comic> I picked up mine yesterday after work and am debating whether I should post my review (it's already up at Ask Greg) here as well.

Harvester> "Thailog f**king rocks"

I agree.

Gorebash> I dunno. I think Thailog would be scarier then Shari, which is why I love his character so much.

KingCobra_582 - [KingCobra_582 at hotmail dot com]
'Ignore Me!' - Venture Bros.

I really enjoyed picking up issue #5. It has the strongest writing I've seen in the comic book to date, both in terms of dialog and narrative pace.

In terms of the art:

Pros: Consistently on-model drawings, strong anatomy, better treatment of female characters, solid color-work

Cons: Crowded pages with boxy formats, no major use of creative paneling or perspective

Overall a very strong offering. I kind of wish the page-count could've been higher, though. A whole lot was packed into a very small package this time.

Marty Lund - [kaioto at yahoo dot com]

Forgive the double post, but I just wanted to add something Greg said at the Gathering.

****SPOILER******

People keep commenting on Angela calling Thailog a bastard. When asked about why he chose Angela to sort of break the language/swearing barrier, Greg replied that Angela was calling Thailog what he was, not so much cursing. I thought that was neat and very in character summary for why she used that term.

*****END SPOILERS*******

Asatira

For those who want to know, Greg has put up the cast list for the radio play. I'm looking forward to it coming out on YouTube. There are some lines whose delivery just cracked me up.
Asatira

I can't wait till I get Gargoyles 5, I'm hoping I be getting it Monday but I just couldn't wait and just had to read the spoilers.

*********************SPOILERS*******************************


Wow I can't believe Angela called Thailog a Bastard wow I'm totally shocked I never thought she will say anything like that. I had a feeling Thailog was gonna get Angela's DNA sooner or later, a Angela clone will be interesting to see.

Reading that its Brentwood sticks with Thailog and going by Future tence episode that its Brentwood turning bad not Lex then it hit me maybe it's Malibu and Demona falling in love and not Brooklyn and Demona and Hollywood loses his eyesight and not Broadway but then maybe not as it looks like it's Malibu and Delilah getting together.


****************END SPOILERS******************************

Vicky82 - [Vickyfanofwwe at aol dot com]

dph-no, there's nothing nearby, and since I can't drive(Legally blind), It's not easy to get around-thus I order online

Greg B. Thanks for the suggestion with Midtown, but I keep getting an error message when I try and set up an account with them.

Somebody doesn't want me to see this comic. *sigh*

Wingless

WINGLESS> You can order the comic from Midtown Comics.

http://www.midtowncomics.com

They do have it in stock.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

*** SPOILERS ***

Greg dropped these tidbits during the Blue Mug.

- Brendan is the one who went and fetched Dr. Sato. Looks like his balls have finally dropped, will be interesting to see where this goes. But, I think both he and Margot are heading for Splitsville.

- "Those of you who've seen 'Future Tense' can have some idea where Brentwood is heading."

There were probably more, but I'm forgetting off the top of my head.

*** END SPOILERS ***

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

From Amazon, you can now pre-order the Gargoyles trade paperback! Click the link!
Scott Iskow - [smiskow at gmail dot com]

***ISSUE 5 SPOILERS****

First off, for anyone who was at the Gathering, were you able to read Brentwood's dialogue at the end without laughing out loud? Because I couldn't. ( ;

Overall, I was very impressed with this one. Don't know what I can say that won't be repeating others, but Thailog continues to have the best dialogue. That, and we get a better look at the way his mind works. We've already seen him employing someone that he once tried to kill. So it would stand to reason that he'd probably want Goliath to stick around, as well. That, and the story was much better with the visuals. Lot of things made more sense (such as Thailog's rotating gauntlets).

Of course, Xanatos had some good lines, as well. Even when speaking with an Illuminatus in the second tier, he still manages to throw a smartass remark or two into the mix. So it's good to see he hasn't lost his attitude, either.

Honestly, Angela dropping the language really didn't surprise me. We've seen at a couple points in the cartoon that she is her mother's daughter, perhaps more than she wants to admit.

As far as the ending is concerned, there is some truth to what Brentwood said. Thailog is perhaps one of the smartest characters in the Gargoyles universe. He's already successfully faked his death twice. I'm sure that since he knows the value of contingencies, he probably had something in place just in case the events of "The Reckoning" didn't go as planned. So it figures that he'd keep some sort of back door into the company that he helped found (also showing that he's still managing to keep the wool over Demona's eyes. Thailog f**king rocks).

And then there's Shari. I'm finding myself wondering just how old she is. She looks young, and she's in the ninth tier of the Society. I briefly discussed this with Bishansky at the con, and it probably does have something to do with drugs. Mace Malone was 100 when he died, and he was doing things like grabbing ropes with his bare hands.

And... Thailog is an Illuminatus. I do remember at the end of the radio play, I wound up saying "what the hell?" louder than I intended. Hopefully, it wasn't too loud. So the thirty-sixth tier has picked up at least three members in the past year. This should be proof, as Todd said, that Hacker was blowing smoke when he was speaking to Castaway in "Invitation Only." I wonder if this is the first time the Society has picked up a gargoyle.

I was also reminded of something Greg W. said during Blue Mug. We've already seen that Puck had a few good guesses in his vision. Interesting that in that vision, Lexington was the mastermind, and that at the end of "Bash," Brentwood is the one clone that wound up staying with Thailog. More recently, Bishansky's comments in his review about Thailog having enough DNA for an army reminded me of the shock troops in "Future Tense," and how they were all clones. Curiouser and curiouser...

Overall, an excellent way to wrap up this particular three-parter. Looking forward to seeing more of Karine and Steph's work in "Bad Guys."

***END SPOILERS****

I'll probably say more later, but I need to get to work now.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"Here's a better question... why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions?" -Thailog

More comments here.

* SPOILERS FOLLOW *

I was also curious about the fact that Thailog and Sevarius have their meeting at Nightstone Unlimited, given that, after the events in "The Reckoning", Thailog's definitely a "persona non gratis" with Demona - and we haven't seen any indication that she's lost control of the company to him. Presumably he simply sneaked in when she wasn't looking.

That was a very interesting theory, that the #1 slot in the Illuminati is being kept open for Arthur if/when he returns from Avalon (which, of course, has already happened). I hadn't thought of it before; I *had* considered the possibility that #1 isn't a who but a what, namely, the Holy Grail.

In the medieval romances, Percival's not especially close to Arthur (being too focused on, first becoming a knight, then going in quest of the Grail, to spend much time in his company), so they don't shed any light on whether he'd do such a thing. In any case, they might be as accurate an account of Percival's story in the Gargoyles Universe as Shakespeare's play was of Macbeth's 11th century career in the Gargoyles Universe.

* SPOILERS END *

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

:: hangs head in shame ::

Haven't even gotten issue 4 yet and now here's issue 5 out ... missed the Gathering again ... much more of this and they'll take away my fandom merit badge!

Christine - [christine at sabledrake dot com]

****Blaise sticks his head up through the floor and looks at Gorebash's post.****

Man, that's what happens when you take too long to post--you find out that someone saw some of the same things you saw and mangaged to post them while you were typing.
Oh, well--nice to see we thought of some of the same things, Gore! Although, I'll admit, Mab had never crossed my mind.

Sorry for the double post! ****Blaise's head pops back into the floor.****

Blaise
"Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life."--Terry Pratchett's "Jingo"

****Blaise enters through the door and takes a very, very, VERY deep breath.**** Time to talk about the new comic.

*********************SPOILERS!! SPOILERS!!************



BASH> I went to the Golden Apple at about 2pm and picked up the LAST TWO COPIES (I asked the cashier and apparently they don't stockpile in their backrooms). I pointed out to her the oddity of finding a comic with this particular cover in the "Kids" section (she said it's more of an "all ages" section...), and voiced my hopes that maybe this cover is moving more issues of the comic than usual.
But enough of that...on with the issue itself!
--I noticed "Mary" and "Finella" on page one as well. I doubt it's really them (unless Brooklyn somehow gated them to the 1990's as well as the 1970's), but it's a nice little bit.
--We finally see Dr. Sato again, disguised as...a doctor. Very creative, doc.
--Morgan decides to bow out. He is a real good sport about this whole thing.
--Continuity Nit! Broadway's "Cowardly Lion" costume has changed. In the last issue, he just had the mane and face markings. Now he's wearing a full body costume. It's a bit jarring, unfortunately.
One thing I just noticed on Angela's costume--the modified "ruby slippers". Very fun!
--Thailog is just BRUTAL towards Goliath here. I mean, he uppercuts the guy after gut-stabbing him! He's also switched from "Father" to "Dad" and even refers to his other two parents by first name.
--Speaking of "proud papa David"...the revelation that this White House steward is apparently the same rank as "Mr. Duval" was astonishing! As was the bit that he'd been there since the days of Teddy Roosevelt (which leads to a GREAT comedic bit over which President Johnson he served under--"Now don't get smart, son."). Anybody besides me think Xanatos is REALLY looking forward to those "rejuvenation drugs?" And I am most eager to learn what Xanatos's assignment is.
--As for the reveal that there is a position above the one held by Duval...well, we all have our theories.
--But back to the party. Margot is, as usual, chewing out Brendan--and dragging poor Dr. Sato into it--when Brooklyn makes his grand entrance.
...I'm not sure for how long I was laughing my ass off, but it was a long time. He even has a stylized "G" on his chest, for cryin' out loud! And both his entrance line and his pose..."Super-Garg"! Priceless.
Of course, he immediately asks Elisa where Angela and Delilah are...oh, and as an afterthought, his brothers. That's when they notice Bruno walk by.
--Angela calls Thailog a bastard. Now, just having that word said at all in the comic made my eyes go wide. But the fact that it's ANGELA saying it! It's great! And do we need to dwell on how aptly that word describes Thailog (gotta love those archetypes)?
I also love that Thailog called Angela "sister." Creepy.
--Thailog slashing Angela and Broadway (which, oddly enough left me mourning over the damage to their costumes rather than their bodies) prompted me to wonder why Thailog had bothered retracting his wrist dagger in the first place. Of course, the reason is just a few pages away.
--Thailog has an interesting line here--"Gargoyles, protect you master!" Note, that he does not call them clones (or bother to say their names).
I did notice he seemed to wonder where Brooklyn and "the old fart with the beast" were. Kind of shows his opinion of Hudson, that's for sure. And maybe age and old people as well.
--Now we have the scene where Hudson and Jeffery have their chat. It's a nice scene to finally see in the "official Greg Weisman version," to be sure. At the same time, I will admit that it does seem a little sudden to me (and makes this issue the most crowded, yet). Still, it's probably better happening now than having it drawn out. Jeffrey's acceptance is no doubt helped by the fact that he knew Hudson before he knew about gargoyles, but it does seem that he wondered for a while. I will say, this scene was fairly similar to the one that appeared in the "Dying of the Light" episode of TGC. In fact, that "old leather and concrete" bit WAS in the episode. The "never shaking hands until now" bit, however, was a new touch that I really liked.
--The Clan fights the Clones. "Gar-girl"...okay, that's a new one.
I love Thailog's "...why does everyone insist on pitching free will to my minions." I did notice that Thailog slashed Lex when there was no real need to, which did seem a bit odd to me.
Anyway, here comes "Super-garg" to the rescue. "Forgery" seems to be Brooklyn's favorite insult to clones.
Thailog slashes Elisa (she'll never get her deposit back on that costume), and this is perhaps the most pointless slash of all (it would seem). On my second readthrough, however, I note that Thailog didn't slash Elisa until AFTER she said she was a member of the Clan ("Good to know" he quips).
--I love Brenden's mumbling to himself (it's nice to hear what he really thinks). I wonder what his actions will be in regards to witnessing the fight. Hopefully, he'll keep his mouth shut just to spite Margot.
--I like the long shot of the fighting. Lex is fighting Malibu, Hollywood's after Angela, Broadway is wrestling with Burbank over the mace, and Brooklyn (that ballsy son of a gun) is taking on Thailog.
--Hudson and Bronx join the party and Thailog...switches wrist blades to stab Bronx. When I saw that, I realized that Thailog was slashing all of them (or stabbing, in some cases) to collect blood and tissue. I guess he didn't feel like using mosquitoes this time.
--Owen finds Delilah in the lab (did anyone else notice?). I just found it interesting.
--Somehow it doesn't seem fair to me that Brooklyn gets taken out by a Bronx-projectile.
I love how Hudson (after getting cut) parries Thailog's blade with his sword ("old fart" indeed). For that matter, I love how Broadway inadvertently beans Malibu with Burbank's mace.
--Delilah really makes an impression here. She really seems to come into her own and starts speaking for herself (up until now she has just been responding to other people). Actually, it's a bit surprising how quickly and easily it comes to her.
--I love the smile on Malibu's face as Delilah helps him up.
--Apparently, Delilah eavesdropped on Goliath and Elisa's conversation in the last issue (which makes me wish we had seen a frame of her doing so, but oh, well). It doesn't matter that Goliath's bleeding on the ground, she let's him know she didn't appreciate it.
But she doesn't go with Thailog either (I love how she slaps his hand away...and how Thailog is not upset in the slightest about this).
Delilah was happiest in the Labyrinth, and so, it seems, were her "brothers" (I LOVE that she called them that). Actually, Malibu just wants to be with Delilah, and Hollywood's not interested in fighting (and Burbank gives a response that throws me back to "Bride of Frankenstein"--"Friend, good! Fire, bad!").
--Brentwood, however, is the odd one out. He spent the whole issue standing on the sidelines, not fighting, his only line until now being "free...will" and what does he do? He chooses to stick with Thailog because "Thailog smart!" I mean, it is a great "left turn with the right blinker on," if you know what I mean. And the best part: I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN! Okay, I thought a second clone would also stick with Thailog, so I was only half right, but somehow I KNEW Brentwood would be the one to "know the power of the Dark Side."
And Lexington's reaction is perfect ("Dude, you're really making me look bad."). I'm still laughing at it.
--"And on that death rattle note..." is my pick for Thailog's most heartless line to date.
--And now Dr. Sato is brought out. I would like to know exactly WHO brought him out (Owen would be my guess at the moment). And his introduction into the world of the gargoyles certainly is abrupt (his dialogue for it is good, though). I will be most interested to see how he'll deal with this new wrinkle in his world.
--Owen mentions an infirmary in the castle. You know, it's a funny thing. I've read several fanfiction series over the years, and they ALL have an infirmary in the castle! Well, I guess that only makes sense, knowing Xanatos and his rather...unique lifestyle.
--Goliath finally says those three little words. And Elisa repeats them. And gives him another kiss.
--Brooklyn, sees this display and is smiling. He looks behind him at Broadway and Angela (standing side-by-side, holding hands) and looks a little sad. He looks to his left at Delilah and Malibu (side by side, her arm around his shoulders, his arm around her waist) and, with a sour look on his face says, "Oh, you *gotta* be kiddn me..." Yes, I laughed out loud. Poor Brooklyn might as well go to a bar and get drunk now.
--And now we have the "Thailog Tag." Oddly enough, it takes place at Nightstone Unlimited--last seen being run by Dominque Destine (who has Thailog on her "KILL, KILL, KILL!" list). And Thailog reveals that (surprise, surprise) his first priority was obtaining 8 "DNA samples" from the clan. Goliath's suffering and Brentwood's joining were just icing on the cake. This already shows him as different than Xanatos--Xanatos loved outsmarting his opponents, but Thailog gets pleasure from their pain.
--Nice to see Sevarius so soon (and so easy to hear Tim Curry saying his lines!).
--And now the girl from the Labyrinth finally has a name--Shari--and yes, it does seem that she will be the Executive Assistant telling Thailog about Tibet in the next issue. She's also an Illuminatus (the youngest one we've met so far, as well as the first female). And surprise of surprises, Thailog is a member as well (which makes him the first GARGOYLE member we know of)! And he doesn't look very happy at being outranked by this girl (and such a HIGH rank she has for one so (apparently) young). What really surprises me about Thailog being a member is that he just seems to be so much his own person. The idea of him being subservient to anyone seems so against his character. But therein lies the interest.
--I've got to say, the Illuminati is REALLY moving to the forefront this "season." They seem to be everywhere this time.
--The art's great. Everything looks incredible and exactly like the series with great facial expressions. Still, going back and forth between the three issues, the change in art and coloring styles is very...jarring. I'll look forward to seeing next month's artist, though.
BTW, did anyone else notice that the clones are back to having black teeth?
Anyway, it's nice to see the end of the "episode" (although there's still a bit of a cliffhanger as far as the wounded are concerned).

HELLO, MY NAME IS NUMBER ONE> So, if Duval is one of the number 2s, who is number 1? Well, I can think of three possibilities for this, and the first two have already been pointed out:
1) Greg's changed his mind (pretty mundane).
2) The One position is left open by Duval until his Once and Future King returns (and this one does present the most drama and story possibilities).
3) This one is also a bit mundane, but, maybe Duval IS number one and ALSO one of the number twos. I mean, think about it--if you were the head of an uber-powerful secret society, would you really want to advertise yourself as such? Why not just masquerade as your lieutenant and leave people thinking the "big boss" is a shadowy figure somewhere else.
Personally, I think number 2 is probably the way things will go, and it was the first to occur to me, but for some reason number 3 popped into my head, too.



***********************End Spoilers! End Spoilers!****

And that is it! Until next time, farewell. ****Blaise passes out from lack of oxygen and sinks into the floor.****

Blaise
"Build a man a fire, keep him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, keep him warm for the rest of his life."--Terry Pratchett's "Jingo"

Todd - how far behing are you on approving questions for Ask Greg? I was hoping that if my last post doesn't make it through because of multiple topics, I would like to resubmit them individually.
dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

Did I just miss something else really big? The comic seemed to imply Thailog was working inside Nightstone Unlimited?
dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

I hit up a local comic shop to score issue #5 today. They had two copies on the rack. They also had two copies of #1 sitting amongst a section of recent back issues. I grabbed one copy and left the other out in the open on the rack as it'd been stuffed behind a bunch of other things.

*** COMIC SPOILERS BEGIN ***

An idea passed around at the con was since Duval is #2 and given his relationship with Arthur that Arthur might be #1 or at more the ideas of Arthur and how he ruled rather than the man himself. However I've since fallen in love with two other ideas. Idea 1.) Duval is #2 but his real identity is #1. So he holds both positions, but in order to keep his true identity secret but still interact with the society he takes the #2 position as well in a false role. My other idea, and I think this is my current favorite, is that Mab is in fact #1. If she can't rule over "Oberon's Children" then perhaps she'll turn humans into "Mab's Children". I also like how that could bring her into the Gargoyles storyline, which is something Greg's sort of hinted at for a while.

Did you notice Brentwood didn't fight at all? Yet he still chose to go with Thailog. Hmm.

I've always been a big Hudson fan, more so I think now than ever, and I loved the story first represented in "The Dying of the Light" where Hudson reveals his true nature to Robbins and Robbins doesn't flinch and, in fact, sort of already knew. I really like that friendship. Seeing that put into Greg's canon really made me happy.

Xanatos is one of the lowest ranking Illuminati? This suprised me at first, but after thinking about it I started thinking that perhaps this is intentional on Xanatos' part. I bet he sees the Illuminati as just another tool in his belt. Perhaps at even the lowest rank he receives all that he needs from this particular tool and has no intention of investing more time/money/effort into the Illuminati to gain rank. It'd be perfect Xanatosian thinking to stare the most powerful group in the world right in the eye and, rather than be blinded by the power and influence, simply see it as another tool, another piece in his life's "Plan A".

How did Dr. Sato know that someone needed help and come to Goliath's aid? Brendan.

Just something about the juxtaposition of Margot and Brooklyn that makes me laugh a little inside every time I see that panel.

WTF was Delilah doing in what appeared to be Xanatos' laboratory?

I really, really loved the touch of Thailog wearing that (bandit?) mask. I didn't catch it until he takes it off towards the end of the book.

Has the influence of Sevarius' over-the-top style on Thailog ever been more obvious? He's not just a Goliath clone with Xanatos' brain, he's got Sevarius' style as well; monster indeed.

Why introduce Quincy to Xanatos? The orders could have come from Martin Hacker for all it matters. Hacker seems to be "in" on whatever plans the Illuminati has for Gargoyles. So maybe the meeting with Quincy will carry other consequences later on.

I think I'm more scared of Shari than any other character from issue #5.

Why are the Illuminati messing around with Gargoyles? That's the most troubling development to me. The clan is surrounded by Illuminati agents and they all seem interested in our clan. Perhaps Xanatos' trip and his assignment are designed to get him away from the Gargoyles while the Illuminati have their fun? Because X now has some amount of emotional investment in the clan (or at least, in his mind, he owes them one) and that makes him a liability to the Illuminati plans.

We'll have to wait and see I guess.


*** COMIC SPOILERS END ***

Gorebash

Wingless - You don't have anywhere nearby to order the comic? I drove 20-25 minutes out of my way to get my comic from a comic book store. If a comic book store won't order for you, offer to pre-pay. The cost of shipping through the slg website is ridiculous and I wouldn't order through the website unless I was ordering *6* comics. At 6 comics, you get the best bang for your buck for shipping costs because up to that point the shipping costs are the same.

*goes off to write his review*

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

WOW.

Just... WOW.

Karine and Steph have completely turned around my opinion of the book, which was becoming increasingly dismal, I'm sorry to say. I do believe this is the first book in the series that has *truly* looked professional.

Kythera of Anevern - [kythera (at) gmail]
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." - R.E. Howard

Wow . . . haven't been here in weeks!! (I've been rereading Harry Potter for Book VII, along with some real life issues) But I had to come back after reading Issue #5. Without further ado . . .

*****SPOILERS AHEAD*****

Beautiful shot of the Eyrie Building. Nice to see the Third Quarter Moon too . . . reminder that it's only been about two weeks since Hunter's Moon.

Mary & Finella . . . Greg, you smug mastermind! You just love throwing little surprises like that, huh? :P

Nice to see Dr. Sate again, though I honestly forgot what he looked like since I haven't seen Deadly Force in about six months.

Brooklyn's costume was wonderful, and it was my brother who noticed that his red wings acted like his cape!

I always did love that line of Robbins' in Dying of the Light about Conrete & Leather, so I was glad to see that survive into Canon.

Quincy & Xanatos were quite fun to watch, especially Quincey's line of "Now don't get smart, boy!" Knowing his estamated age, Hemings has every right to call him that!

I noticed how Thailog kept retracting his blades and using new clean ones, and I first wondered, Does he have a Danny Tanner/Jerry Seinfeld complex of having to always be neat and clean? Then it all made sense: He was taking DNA samples. While I enjoyed this revelation, I was kinda surprised that Thailog would use an old tactic again, clearly when the last time resulted in losing the Clones.

However, I then remembered Xanatos telling Goliath that old habits die hard as well as the thought that maybe Thailog is merely using an old tactic for a new means . . . and as some have said below, he and Sevarius are probably planning an army.

The shot of Thailog & Brentwood leaving the Eyrie was spectacular, IMO.

Brooklyn has one of the best lines in this issue, "You gotta be kidding me!", while looking at Delilah & Malibu. Good lord, his luck is terrible . . . for now at least.

Finally, the new girl . . . well, we don't have to call her new girl anymore, now do we? Shari . . . and she's a rank of nine. And Thailog's a Thirty-six!! Wow . . . wonder what they did to earn those spots??

Speaking on the Illuminati Ranks:

It appears that only WE are surprised by Duval's Number with the fact that even Xanatos knows he's Number #2.

666 Members (or possible members) of the most influential people on earth . . . wow.

Who IS One? I guess we'll find out soon enough . . .

Anyways, #6 can't come soon enough!

Phoenician - [<---My Kinda Useless Blog]
"The Suspense is Terrible . . . I Hope it Lasts" -- Willy Wonka

*hides eyes from spoilers*

Crzy, I don't know why Tolkien never caught on with me. It's not for want of an attention span: The first two books of the Gormenghast trilogy are fairly heavy reading, and I absolutely love 'em. I also once read a prose version of The Metamorphosis, with huge paragraphs. I'll keep giving him a try.

Incisivis - [incisivis at hotmail dot com]
"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream" -- Shirley Jackson

JURGAN> You're not the only one who wanted to reveal that. The theory makes so much sense, it has to be right.
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

*SPOILERS*

After "seeing" the end of issue 5 at the Radio Play, I quickly came up with my own idea for who number 1 is. First, I asked Greg W., just to be sure, and he confirms that there is a number 1. I thought maybe the 2's kept natural checks on each other, but no, there is a 1. However, there's no guarantee that the slot is full. So here's what I'm thinking. I think it's fair to assume that Duval is Percival. Greg has said he's not planning to change what he's previously revealed just to fool us. He'd have to have a very good reason, and I can't imagine there's any reason to change something that significant. So, if Percival's number 2, I think he's deliberately leaving slot number 1 open for someone else. Who would that be? Is there anyone we know that Percival would consider himself subject to? Obviously, there is one person: King Arthur. He was Arthur's subject once before, and the Arthurian legends almost always include the idea that Arthur will someday return. It therefore makes sense that, while Arthur slept, one of his knights would create a secret society to preserve and promote the ideals of Camelot until his return. He deliberately left slot number 1 open so that Arthur can take over the running of the organization when he returns. The reason this really appeals to me is for the dramatic potential is promises. The Illuminati will expect Arthur to take over, but I don't think he'd agree to that. So that leaves us with a very interesting conflict for Pendragon. Now, I know very little about Arthurian myths, so Todd can tell me how that fits in with Percival's character, but I really like the idea.

Phew! I've been waiting three weeks to type that!

Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]

I'll post a better review of the comic later, one my thoughts are organized. All I'll say right now is that the story was even better with visual aids. In the meantime, I finally got more con pics up:

http://me-262.livejournal.com/2007/07/18/

Greg B and Taina: That'll be five bucks. ( ;

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" -Gaff ("Blade Runner")

Patrick - that may be so, but not at the expense of the rest of the world's population that can't be at the convention. Why bother with a release date if you're not going to follow it? If there was a delay in publishing-that's understandable, but don't ignore your customers for a convention. There's no reason they can't have the website set up to take orders while they're away. It's not like they didn't know the Con was coming up, and couldn't have change the date on the site. It's just plain sad.
I'll still order it, cause I love Gargoyles - but Frankly, I don't want to hear any doom and gloom over poor sales when they're going to treat their customers this way.

Wingless

So is the You-Tube Radio Play up yet? *is totally impatient to see what is so exciting*
Vaevictis Asmadi

I think that means that SLG is taking their entire inventory and most of their staff to Comic Con. Not an unheard thing for a smaller publisher.
Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]

dph - That's really sad. A release date is a release date. Nice way to piss of customers.
Wingless

From the slg blog (http://www.slgcomic.com/pages/slgblog.php) :
Please note that the titles coming out this week will not be added to our website for purchase until after Comic-Con, as there will be no inventory and nobody here to fill your order.

Does this mean slg hopes that at the comic con they will sell out of the issues they have in inventory?

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

An odd little thought that I had about the Illuminati and their rejuvenation drugs.

* SPOILERS FOR THE COMIC FOLLOW *

The new revelation about Mr. Duval's status as No. 2 rather than the very head of the Society suggests that possibly Greg's plans for him have changed - he may no longer even be Percival the Fisher King - but if the Illuminati is still linked to the Grail, this could be noteworthy.

We know that Mace Malone had been using rejuvenation drugs, with the result that he was in very good physical condition for a man of his chronological age. Quincy Hemings, whom we know has been at the White House since the beginning of the 20th century (and I doubt that he first got a job there as a child) also looks in fine physical condition, so he's probably been using similar methods. But both Malone and Hemings have white or greying hair.

In at least one medieval Grail romance, it is stated that the Holy Grail can keep people physically young and healthy for a long time - maybe even forever - though their hair turns grey. If Duval is still Percival/the Fisher King, could the Grail be linked to the rejuvenation drugs that the Illuminati use?

This is just a speculation, of course, but one that I can't resist thinking about.

* SPOILERS END *

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Who is number one?

Isn't Number Six, number One? Always gives me The Prisoner associations.

Mara - [angelcarnivore at gmail dot com]
"That's the Beauty of it" Reverend Thrower, The Seventh Son

JJ: I think the general concensus is that things were said out of turn, mistakes were made, people are sorry. Let's move on, shall we? Or do I need to start putting ecstasy in the brownies AND root beer?
Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" -Gaff ("Blade Runner")

**Spoilers**
I felt like what I read on the last page just turned the gargoyle universe upside down. I have to plot it as being the biggest revelation that I've seen so far. It puts the events of "Revelations" in a whole new light.

GXB - I agree. It seems like with Thailog is trying to build an army. A couple of questions, though. Among the 8, is he counting any of the mutates? <As for the numbers... > But that leaves a new question: is the number of people at any given rank a constant? If that's the case, that leaves only 3 ways for anybody to climb up the ranks.
**End Spoilers**

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

I visited the Mugglenet forums a while ago (they're currently down and won't be back up again until the final book's been out for a while), and noticed to my amusement that a lot of the people who posted there had signatures urging people not to spoil the last Harry Potter book for anyone else. (My favorite signature had Hermione bitterly remarking to Harry and Ron that Draco Malfoy had just spoiled Book 7 for everyone; Draco overhears her and indignantly denies it, saying that even he wouldn't stoop that low.)

* SPOILERS FOR #5 *

I really enjoyed this one, and was surprised at many of the elements in it. Among these were:

Two women at the costume party who bear a suspicious resemblance to Mary and Finella.

More revelations about the Illuminati, including that Duval isn't the head after all, apparently. (Maybe Greg's changed his mind on that one. I'd like to know who No. 1 is.) And I also did the math and discovered that the Illuminati would have 666 members. Maybe they *are* in league with the Devil after all. :)

Thailog turning out to be another member of the Illuminati - as does Shari (we finally have a name for her). That part *definitely* took me by surprise.

Thailog's definitely picked up one trait from Xanatos: the little revelation at the end of his real purpose for the big scheme. It'll be interesting to see what he and Sevarius are going to do with all that gargoyle DNA.

I liked Delilah in this issue a lot. She showed true decisiveness in her rebuke to Angela for shouting "Don't listen to Thailog!", and made a good point; free will means the ability to make the wrong decision as well as the right one. I was pleased to see her (and the other Clones except for Brentwood) choose the Labyrinth. (I wonder if it's just a coincidence that it's Brentwood who chooses to stay with Thailog - another "Future Tense" echo here?)

I also liked the Hudson/Jeffrey Robbins scene (which evoked "The Dying of the Light" for me, but in a good way - Robbins figuring out that Hudson was a gargoyle was one of the very few successful elements of the Goliath Chronicles), the revelation about Quincy's background (it's amusing to note that the two presidents whom he mentions both got into the White House through their predecessors being assassinated - coincidence?), and Dr. Sato getting introduced to Goliath. Not to mention Brooklyn finally donning his costume.

All in all, worth the wait - and very good art, at that.

* SPOILERS END *

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Incisivis, what does reading for pleasure have to do with literacy?
Again, I read novels, but why does everyone else have to as well?

Please forgive me, but I cannot drop this so easily. I believe it is a logical fallacy to believe that those who do not read fiction novels are anti-intellectual, a fallacy that should be expunged from our minds if we are to make progress against *real* anti-intellectualism.

JJ Gregarius

I'm gonna say it again-C'mon SLG-post the comic so we can bloody well order the thing!
Wingless

I think if we want to be nit-picky, every author is not for everyone. There are some people who can't understand my fascination with Philip K. Dick, and I can't blame them. His novels establish the world he's trying to create very nicely, but they usually tend to fall apart at the end. Each to his own.

My comic shop had only two copies of the comic. I only bought one, I'm gonna order a second to bag when SLG gets their shit together. I'll post thoughts after I've fed, but for now I just wanted to say that I found out from the shop's manager he'd accept a stack of Gathering flyers, and when I told him what they were for, he actually thought that the convention sounded really cool.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"But see? That's what I'm talking about. Now Venture will send Samson after the rest of us and he'll go totally sickhouse on our asses! I like my ass, gentlemen." -The Monarch.

Post spoilers without a warning in the Harry Potter fandom and you'll quickly wish for them to do something mild like send you to Askaban or loose Dementors on you.

* * * ZOMG SPOILERS * * *

I'm glad Bill Clinton isn't in the Illuminati, because that would have just been really embarrassing for them. But that still leaves the question... "Who does Number 2 work for?" :P

* * * END SPOILERS * * *

345 days left until The Gathering 2008 in Chicago, Illinois!

Patrick - [<-- The Gathering 2008]
"666 is no longer alone, he's getting out the marrow in your backbone." - Genesis, "Supper's Ready"

Ugh.. I hate the Spoiler Nazis... I'm so use to being OVER that in Gargoyles. The Harry Potter fans will eat you alive if you even post a PROSPECT without a spoiler. :P

... so... SPOILER WARNING... I guess.



Shari's Voice: If I didn't know who Greg had in mind for her, my casting for Shari's voice would probably be Selma Hayak. ;)

END SPOILERS


The Comic: I can't find it on SLG or on Amazon (and why do 3 & 4 not have images on Amazon?). Once again, SLG is right on top of things. :P
.

Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<--- pre-register for Gathering 2008 in CHICAGO!]

MATT H> Well, welcome to the CR.

SPOILERS

The thing is, Shari's name was so far kept under wraps through the previous two issues. Yeah, there is no grand revelation to it, but it's still somewhat of a big deal.

END SPOILERS

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Well heck, if my post needed a spoiler tag, then I guess I messed up. I've lurked this room off and on for years but that was actually my first post. I didn't get the impression that simply naming characters was a spolier. Duly noted for the future.
Matt H

Okay, after chatting with a few people, I am going to do something I rarely do. I'm sorry. Really, I am. I've been trying to reign myself in, I'll do a better job at it.

Tony, I apologize.

On a more pleasant note.


********* SPOILERS ************

Definitely the best issue of the series so far. Story wise, and art wise.

I've been sitting on this issue's story for nearly a month now, after those of us at the Gathering got a sneak preview through this year's Radio Play (I was Broadway).

Questions are answered, new questions are raised, and the end is very eerie but leaves you wanting to see what happens next.

Goliath and Elisa finally stop acting like idiots and finally say the words "I love you", and all it took was Goliath nearly dying to do it.

But, Thailog was the real star of this issue. He was all over the place. His plan was an interesting one, he didn't want to kill Goliath, he was there collecting DNA. DNA from each and every gargoyle. No longer he didn't care much about the clones, he's starting over. Personally, I think this will be less a clan and more an army... he's got a lot of gargoyle DNA for Sevarius to play with.

We sink in deeper with the Illuminati. Xanatos is now on a mission from the Society, at the behest of Quincy Hemings... chief steward of the White House (been on staff since the Teddy Roosevelt administration). His number in the Society is Two... as is Duval's (makes you wonder who One is).

Goth Girl in the Labyrinth finally gets a name... Shari. She also is a member of the Illuminati, her rank being Nine. And the big shocker... Thailog is a member... bottom of the barrel as Thirty Six with Matt Bluestone, John Castaway, and Xanatos. Shari is now Thailog's new executive assistant, and outranks him. This is going to be interesting.

As for the numbers... there are thirty six Thirty Sixes, thirty five Thirty Fives and so on and so fourth... all the way to two Twos and one One... do the math and there are six hundred sixty six members... or at least slots for members. Greg, you magnificent bastard.

The story was great, kept me on the edge of my seat, and that was with knowing what would happen.

Now, the art... for the first time since this comic started, I have to rave about the art. Karine did a beautiful job with the pencils... and Steph's coloring is gorgeous to look at. THIS should be the permanent art team. I know Karine will be doing the art for "Gargoyles: Bad Guys" this fall, but "Gargoyles" is the flagship book, and should have the best talent on it.

At the Blue Mug A Guest, Greg said that he mentally cast Morgan Freeman as Quincy... but he won't say who he mentally cast as Shari... except that "most of us would know who the actress is."

******* END SPOILERS **************

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Matt H> Dude, you probably should have put a spoiler warning on that.
Phil - [p1anderson at go dot com]

Just got ish 5. I'm going nuts at how awesome it is. A lot of surprises. Stuff that I'll get into sometime later. For right now though, I can say that I've already vocally cast Morgan Freeman as Quincy Hemings. It seems pretty obvious. But nobody is jumping out to me for Shari. And ideas?
Matt H

I'm gonna have to agree with the consensus here. I have a friend who lurks here occasionally, but he's afraid to post because he thinks if he says anything Greg B. disagrees with, he'll be mocked and insulted for it. Greg, I know you're a smart guy who doesn't mean any harm. You have strong opinions and like to express them, and I'm the same way, but I learned a few years back that it can really aggravate people if I'm not careful. I often come off as trying to show people how much smarter I am than them, and I have to be careful what I say online.

Anyway, I got issue 5, and I thought it was great, although I wasn't as thrilled given that I'd already heard the script. I almost forgot it was out today. There was one surprise, though- on the first page, Mary and Finella appear to be at Xanatos's party. Maybe they're just costumes, but they look exactly like the real two, and Mary and Finella would probably still be alive. But why would they be at X's party? Very interesting...

Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]

Sure Phil-NOW you say something just as I make my post :-P
^_^

Wingless

Today is #5 comic release day and no one has said anything yet. Not to mention SLG doesn't have it on their site to buy yet *pout*. C'mon guys! The sooner you post it, the sooner I can order it, er, them(I buy 3)
Wingless

Gargoyles #5> I ran out during my lunch break to pick up my copy and...HOLY CRAP!!! You people weren't exaggerating! That was incredible! I won't post spoilers yet (I want to read it agin, first) but is that who I think it is outside the elevator on page 1?
Phil - [p1anderson at go dot com]

CrzyDemona >> Thank you for saying something. I felt I should have spoken up earlier, but I've been trying to avoid starting a fight.

We can disagree with each other, but personal attacks are not appropriate. We need to make sure nobody is scared away from the Ask Greg community with cruel words. And I feel I must no longer be silent about this, even though I am a new member here. Greg, earlier you said you would try harder not to make nasty comments.


RE Tolkien >> Tolkien is my favorite author, but I hate the Hobbit. And the first few chapters of LotR are written in the same style as the Hobbit. However, if you can get past them, the tone of the book does change.

Vaevictis Asmadi

Tolkien, LotR - When I was 14 and first read the books, I skimmed through Tom Bombadil, he bored me to tears and the Hobbits were NOT going as fast as I wanted them to go. ... turns out Peter Jackson felt the same way. ;)

Tolkien is NOT for everyone. Especially those of the short attention span variety. For those people, I recommend fantasy books like "The Last Unicorn". Actually, just about anything by Peter S. Beagle is a good bet for those easily distracted.

Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<--- pre-register for Gathering 2008 in CHICAGO!]
"Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!/ Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow!/ Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!" - The Fellowship of the Ring

Tolkien is good but it IS boring in some parts. I read them when i was 12 and only in one week each of them...but i had to come up with some device not to die of boredom...i sort of shut my brain down once he started with his nonstoping descriptions of a hilltops or a rivers Its not something to be proud of, i know, but it helped to reach the good parts :P
Demon@

I'm glad I wasn't here yesterday: I probably would have gotten an ulcer trying to suppress my reaction to the discussion on literacy. I love, love, books...print and animation are my favourite mediums.

I see anti-intellectualism growing in the US (and up here in Canada), and it makes me sad and angry.

You are missing on something if you only watch an adaptation of a work, but sometimes that's hard to avoid (i.e. if you're an anime fan who doesn't feel the urge to be fluent in Japanese culture and language). In the case of Harry Potter, though, I'd say, yeah, go for the books.

Confession: I'm a fantasy buff who wants to be a writer, yet I still can't make it through the LOTR trilogy. I'm going to try to force myself again, though. I prefer the work of Mervyn Peake, Michael Moorcock, Ray Bradbury, and China Mieville when it comes to fantasy.

All of whom might owe a debt to Tolkien, but I'm torn between believing that there are no holy men, no authors that you HAVE to love, and that there are, that I'll never be a good fantasy writer simply because I couldn't get pleasure out of Tolkien.

</reading habits TMI>

And my comic store always picks up stuff on Friday, so I'll be gone from here for a few days, if not more. Hopefully I won't have a repeat of the issue 3 fiasco, where it took me about six months to find it.

Incisivis - [incisivis at hotmail dot com]
"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream"-- Shirley Jackson

Bishansky - I think the "never breed" comment was a bit out of line here. There's some things you can think but you shouldn't really post in a comment room. We all do it at some point, but I think it really was over the top for this discussion.
Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson - [<--- COLOR G2008 flyer dot dot dot pass 'em around!]
Dizzy: No guts, no glory! // Rico: No Brains // Carl: No kidding.

VAEVICTIS - I never said that.
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Thanks for your concerns, suggestions and kind words to everyone who addressed my way of life and opinions. It's not like I hate reading. I surely don't hate others who love to read. When I do read, I like reading out loud just to hear myself saying the words.

Personally, I have nothing against Tolkien, I was just using him as an example. I'm sure there are thousands of great writers out there. Yes, I know saying, "I'm too busy to read" is usually a cop out because if there is a novel that truly interest you, then you read it once, twice, ten times if need be and maybe each time find something new or find a different way to look at something and form new or different opinions about it.

I think reading is a great way to increase vocabulary, general knowledge, self-reliance, and depth of character. If I read something I don't understand, it usually forces me to look it up in a dictionary.

But reading isn't the only medium to do such, and it's a medium I often do not use. I prefer aural stimuli along with visual stimuli. I watch Dane Cook "Vicious Circle" and he says the word, "snarky" and challenges us in his routine saying, "It's a word, Google it!" Of course I did, and I learned something.

So I have my personal preferences, and as I re-read this boring ass post of mine, I'm getting sleepy. Good night all.

TiniTinyTony

TONY -- Agree with what's been said about boring reads... if you don't care for Tolkien, then there's several writers that might be more to your liking. I can recommend a few:

-- Tanya Huff (very tongue-in-cheek and draws from some fantasy sources).
-- Anne McCaffrey (Great science-fantasy work)
-- David Webber (A bit heavy on techno-babble, but pretty good on character sets)
-- Timothy Zahn (pretty good sci-fi writer)

There's others, but I recommend these authors first, as well as someone from our own fandom; Christine Morgan, for a pretty good romp through horror and high fantasy settings.

Stephen Sobotka Jr
"If you love the house, you must love the crow on it." -- Chinese Proverb.

GREG: YOu jsut made my day! Thanks for posting that link! I couldn't watch it all I was laughing so hard! ^_^
Battle Beast
That is all I will say.

It's 2:08am here(UK)and I just have to say this. Woohoo, yay its out today, Can't wait. Any chance for some spoilers yet or am I gonna wait till you guys catch up Love to know what happens when Censored, Censored then it Blank, Blank, LOL.
Vicky82 - [Vickyfanofwwe at aol dot com]

Thanks Greg.

TONY >> I don't know how many different authors you have tried reading, but if you find (for example) Tolkien's style really boring, there are tons of authors that write in a completely different style. Everybody finds *some* books intolerably boring, but I do think it is too bad to give up on all books forever because you read a few that you disliked. Just as it would be a shame to give up on all movies forever because one happened to watch several one didn't like.

Or if most of the novels you've tried so far were all fantasy novels, try reading a novel of a different genre. It may be that the specific combination is what is bothering you. Personally, I prefer my to read my fantasy and watch my sci-fi on the screen.

Vaevictis Asmadi

Vaevictis> The link will be posted here. In the mean time, here are some excerpts from the 2006 Radio Play.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qVsy1ABuErU

That's of course Keith David and Thom Adcox as Goliath and Lexington. Crispin Freeman is Hudson. Jennifer "CrzyDemona" Anderson is Demona, Blaise as Broadway. Abbie as Elisa.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Sorry for the double post, it was for some reason posted automatically when I was NOT done writing!

I do find it disturbing that so many people dislike reading so much they will never pick up a book. Reading takes more effort than watching a movie, but there is much rich art that simply cannot be conveyed any other way.



COMIC >> So before I skip out for 2 months ... (I'm buying #5 in September when #6 comes out) is it true that the radio play will be put on You-Tube (with Greg W.'s permission)? If so how do I find and watch it? If Bash is so exciting, I don't want to wait 2 more months to see it if I don't have to.

Vaevictis Asmadi

TODD >> The answers I looked up for the repeat-questions were not useable?

RE:Reading >> Some books *are* boring. Tolkien is my favorite author, but his style is not for everyone. Unfortunately, the movies are almost nothing like the books, so if you only watch the movies you aren't experiencing anything that approaches the original book. Many of the characters are heavily distorted and the plot was changed around somewhat as well. Plus all the poetry was cut out.

Vaevictis Asmadi

JJ: The same sermon on family that a lot of Spielberg's movies wind up degenerating into. It's all about the children, even though the story he's adapting is almost always not about them at all (Philip K. Dick was probably spinning in his grave after "Minority Report" came out).

The two best movies he's done are "Duel" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." I watched "Duel" for the first time two days ago. First thing he ever directed, and it was effing spectacular.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"The Emperor is not here. I speak for the Empire, Xizor... Recall your ships and surrender into my custody or pay the consequences. I will risk the Emperor's displeasure. However, you will not be there to see it this time." -Darth Vader not being a pussy (in a book).

Completely off-topic- "(Demona) certainly encountered (other gargoyles), if she really thought her race was going extinct wouldn't she be trying to increase the population?" A question from Ask Greg. This just sounds like an amazing-ly horrible fan fiction in the making, plus an opportunity for an exploration of Gargoyles' pick up lines.

More on topic: Making someone feel stupid is a dangerous motivational tool- more often than not, it leads people to feel frustrated and ostracized and certainly doesn't make them any more disposed towards your point of view. Positive and constructive feedback or suggestions usually has a better chance of succeeding.

(aka- can't we all play nice?)

Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

Im surprise to see that the first ones that called him a bigot a couple of weeks ago (because he said he didnt like to see homosexual people kissing) are the first ones to attack him and insulting him now because he has different tastes. Amazing!!
Demon@

Oral Stories>> Funny thing is, in other episodes there are references to an oral tradition that the gargoyles themselves participated in: remember the gargoyles' descriptions of the Third Race "if the stories be true"? Then, why did Broadway assume Macbeth knew of Arthur first-hand?

In any event, there is no "book magic" that let Macbeth render his description of Arthur. If he had learned of Arthur through the oral traditions, his description would still be as powerful.

In a way, such oral tradition is like the Book People of Fahrenheit 451, memorizing stories and keeping them alive even after the Firemen destroyed all written copies of them. It is the story that is most important. The written word is just a convenient way of telling these stories.

Mind you, all this is from a guy who would prefer Gargoyles to be continued in written short stories rather than comic books!

Harvester of Eyes>> It's been a quite a while since I've read and seen JP. What family sermon were you referring to?
--

On another note, I find that your comments about Tony and the first Harry Potter book are non-sequitur. They just do not follow. Tony has tried several times to read novels, only to be bored (the exception was reading "The Hobbit" after seeing the LOTR movies ). That doesn't stop him from reading about the Philosopher's Stone in, say, an encyclopedia or a history text.

JJ Gregarius

I recently read that, after they made the decision to leave out the Dursleys in the movie version of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", the guy who played Vernon Dursley in the movies asked J. K. Rowling if they couldn't have the Dursleys attending an Open Day at Hogwarts, but she said "No". (I can't blame her for that; I certainly can't imagine the Dursleys willingly going anywhere near Hogwarts.)

While I liked the movie adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", it did leave out one small part that I was very amused by: the Dursleys being lured away from their house by the Order of the Phoenix with the news that they'd been selected as finalists for the "Best Suburban Lawn" competition, and Harry speculating what Uncle Vernon's going to do when he discovers that that competition doesn't exist! (And you've got to admit, it's exactly the kind of thing that *would* lure the Dursleys away!)

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

"Bushansky"- Apologies about the misspelling, Greg.
Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

Tony: <If there is a movie called 'Jurassic Park' and a book called 'Jurassic Park', then I choose movie in a heartbeat.> You're in luck. We've got both. You can keep the movie, though. I'll take the story that didn't turn Professor Malcolm into a comic relief, or degenerate into a sermon on family.

I'm really starting to think you're one of those people that they changed the title of the first Harry Potter book for. I agree with everyone else that you're cheating yourself out of better things.

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"NO! That's a bad Constantine! We do NOT make Christianity the state religion! We do NOT ruin Rome!"

*crawls in, appalled at self for being absent for so long*

Ugh, Aspen is a beautiful place to be for the summer, but the internet situation is awful! The dial-up modem on my computer isn't working, so I can't use the free AOL CD I brought with me, and the wireless at my apartment complex is utterly useless - so I have to drive to the school's computer lab to even check my e-mail. And that lab, for some demented reason, actually BANS this comment room! (Oh, the ignorance!) So here I am in the public library, back to the CR at last....

*END RANT*

Anyway, glad everyone had a good time at the Gathering! Wish I could have gone, since Tennessee is the closest it has come to my neck of the woods. I'm hoping to read some of the con journals whenever my opera schedule lets up. (Although, I'm not even caught up on the CR archives yet - I'm still in the middle of the June 2 week!)

COMIC #5> I can hardly wait! But wasn't Bad Guys #1 supposed to come out before Garg #5? (Sorry if this was mentioned previously....)

In response to Gore's lovely speech on "spreading the word" a few weeks ago (which I just read a few days ago), I started mentioning the show in random conversations, and I was surprised at how many people still remember it. The response is almost always, "I loved that show! So it's a comic now?" So who knows - maybe, instead of watching Rent on movie night, we'll watch "Awakening" instead ....

Clear skies. Good to be back.

ArkansasMezzo

I'm just happy that *blank* actually *blank blank* to *blank*, and that *blank* chose *blank*. I liked the one joke about *blank* being around *blank* and not the earlier *blank*. Really looking forward to *blank and blank*'s *blank*. Wee!

Unfortunately, I have to wait until Thursday or Friday to pick it up. Busy helping my mom with her booth.

TTT> I apologize if I came off rude. I was simply suggesting trying the actual HP books because so much is left out of the movies that may better explain what happens. But I do get what you're talking about when it comes to some books. I've yet to get more than three chapters into "The Fellowship of the Rings".

Asatira

Greg> Even though we both know the story for "Bash", I wonder if you understand what I said about it anymore than I understood what you said about it. I suppose that's good.
Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

Eh, just a typo. It happens.

Yep, less than twenty four hours to go now. I can't wait to get my copies. It's been hard sitting on this info for a month.

My favorite part was when CENSORED CENSORED the CENSORED! Of course what about BLANK taking the BLANK with those bad ass BLANKS!

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

"Bushansky"! Ha! Greg B is gonna love that one!

Anyway, in other news; tomorrow is a big day isn't it? Everyone excited about Issue #5? Geee, I wonder how that story is gonna turn out...

Really though, even though I know how it's gonna turn out, I'm anxious to have this Issue released. I've basically had to stop being friends with my friend Ryan these last few weeks to avoid saying anything about it. And it'll be fun to actually see the incredible artwork.

Anyway, last chance for those of us at the Radio Play to gloat and taunt our fellow Garg Fans!

Like, remember what that one character did with that other character? Oh man, and what that other character said about it was great! And speaking of great things that characters said, can you believe that one character said that one thing! Not to mention that other character revealing that one secret! Holy rookery eggs, that was crazy! And you gotta love how that one character did that one thing. Man, does Greg know how to write or what!?

Matt - [St Louis, Missouri, USA]
"Let this mark the beginning of a Golden Age! Between all our clans, both Human and Gargoyle!" -Macbeth

On LOTR- We should also keep in mind that Tolkien was most interested in Language, a linguistics professor. One of the reasons he wrote the books was to create a world for his various languages to play in, which is usually not one of the reasons someone goes about writing a book. That may account for some of the long digressions on myth and history and such that could have been cut from the book if Bushansky could have been there with his red pen.
Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

Tony> Misread your post a little.
I should have said "whether you read *novels* for entertainment..." My point still stands, as far as I can tell.

Aside: ever try reading short stories? Not sure if they'd work for you form your comments on visual and aural stimuli, but if you enjoy reading blogs, why not give it a shot?

JJ Gregarius

Tony>> Exactly. You do read for information. Whether you read for entertainment is of little consequence, isn't it?

Why do we chastise those who are not predisposed to enjoy the written word without some visual aids?

Wingless>> Ah, but the written word can be abused as well. Hence the saying that "history is 'his story'."

For instance, Todd, I take it that even in the written form, Arthurian legend has mutated over the centuries, no?

* * *
In any event, it was *hearing* the story that affected Broadway. Is the fact that Macbeth read about it, rather than learning it from a storyteller, that significant?

JJ Gregarius

JJ Gregarius> I do read magazines, newspapers, blogs, comics, comments in comment rooms, discussions on message boards, etc. I read for information and for pleasure. Overall, if I could choose between reading the news and watching the news, I would choose to watch the news. Some people are more stimulated via the combination of aural stimuli and visual stimuli rather than just visual without aural.

Put a book in front of me, i.e. The Hobbit and it's boring as hell. Let me watch LOTR trilogy and then read The Hobbit, and now I'm picturing the characters in Peter Jackson's movie acting out the book.

I'm making myself sound like I have no imagination; that I need some outside visual reference before delving into a good story. I do have an imagination but one could argue that it's probably not as active as a person who only reads.

I've tried reading LOTR. I've tried reading Star Wars books. I've tried reading fan fiction related to topics I enjoy. I've tried reading lots of things and in the end if it doesn't interest me or stimulate my senses then I become uninterested, bored, and sleepy.

If there is a movie called 'Jurassic Park' and a book called 'Jurassic Park', then I choose movie in a heartbeat.

TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
Chocolate Rain!

JJ Gregarius - Yes, Broadway was aw-struck by oral storytelling from Macbeth, but Macbeth also said, I read about it, of course. Broadway picked up on the fact that Macbeth could so clearly depict an event by not having been there himself, but by having read about it. Passing down information orally can(and usually does) become Embellished from person to person-until it's not the same story at all. At least in it's written form, the words stay the same(unless the writer was embellishing himself ^_^) True, hearing something spoken outloud can sometimes peak someone's interest in a subject more easily than the written word-depending on how it's told. In some cases the written word can prove to be better - since it can make you invision the events in your mind.

Anyway, all this coming from someone who doesn't read all that much either - but that's more of an issue with my eyes than anything else.

Wingless

JJ> Seriously, what episode were you watching? Because it certainly wasn't the one I watched.
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

On the other hand... how to put this politely...
I am a little .. astonished at Lighthouse.

It is as if the only valid story-telling tradition is the written word. The oral story-telling tradition has apparently proven worthless, as without the written word, we are left adrift. Heck, the illiterate Broadway apparently didn't understand the concept of history in Lighthouse: recall his reaction to Macbeth's summary of Arthur's life. He acts as if he had never heard vivid stories from the past before. ("You were there...")

All this would be quite offensive to storytellers and keepers of oral history.

And note that Broadway was awestruck by *oral* storytelling, essentially ;-)

Meeting Robbins was fun, and learning more about Macbeth's character was enlightening, but the moral of Lighthouse was misplaced, IMHO.


Tony>> You do read for information, correct?

JJ Gregarius

Re Tolkien: the chapter that would probably fit in best with the comments about his tendency towards long digressions is "The Council of Elrond", where the council keeps on getting side-tracked about matters not directly relevant to the main issue: what to do about the Ring. Elrond starts by, after explaining how Sauron lost the Ring to Isildur and Isildur was slain by orcs, digressing to talk about the history of Arnor and Gondor after the Ring, which prompts Boromir to encourage the digression further by talking about the current state of Gondor, then Aragorn to bring up how he's directly descended from Elendil and Isildur, leading to some tension between himself and Boromir, etc. Tom Shippey (a major Tolkien scholar) has commented that Elrond didn't strike him as much of a chairman.

(I once read a small but very amusing Tolkien fanfic in which Pippin suggested to Frodo, while the latter was writing down the whole story in the Red Book of Westmarch, that he ought to streamline the Council to the basics of "What are we going to do with the Ring and who's going to take it to Mount Doom?" Frodo protests that that wouldn't be accurately reporting what happened. Pippin, not satisfied, goes on to say that the disadvantage of Glorfindel coming to Frodo's rescue at the end of Book One is that he disappears from the story after that, and suggests replacing him with Arwen; when Frodo says that that's out of the question as well, Pippin decides to write his own account of the War of the Ring - which, presumably, a certain New Zealand film maker got his hands on a few thousand years later....)

Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Kai> And I agree with every word you said. Hence my "informed opinions" quote.

I love Tolkien, I think he's brilliant, but I would have loved to be an editor with a red marker when LOTR was written.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

I'll take a moment to address the Tolkien and Anti-Intellectualism points raised here.

Tolkien ~ is ~ a boring writer in a lot of ways. He often bogs down - especially in the Hobbit, with overly long and startlingly mediocre backgrounds and long songs / poetics that most readers can't pair with any sort of meter. The thing is that the dialog. characters, and plots stewing inside the mush are (IMO) fantastic. Very patient readers and those good at scanning past clutter are the people who I think will enjoy Tolkien's writing the most.

As to Intellectualism, I think a large part of any "backlash" in that direction is that most of what gets put in front of us these days is pseudo-intellectualism. We no longer entertain debate. We no longer demand solid proof - only opinions. It is poor form to challenge an anointed "authority" on the ground of logical construction or Rationalism. The definition of "Intellectualism" has shifted away from Rationalism and drown itself in a sea of poorly rationalized Emotionalism - the kind of tripe you see run out across so many college campuses these days.

Pseudo-intellectualism is simply a huge logic fallacy that rests on the premise that because someone is popular, rich, famous, or holds a prestigious degree that everyone else's reasoning must be invalid. Surely it is easier to believe someone's conclusion than to learn and master the proof behind it. No matter how poorly constructed or weakly founded the assertion they are correct because they are given the spotlight by a media outlet. Pay no attention to the fact that the "expert" it speaking beyond his or her area of expertise or is trying to pass of "soft sciences" with the same certainties as mathematics or physics.

Basically, many people aren't rejecting Intellectualism, but rather than bastardization of Intellectualism that others seem so eager to push into the spotlight. Half of the college campuses I've visited wouldn't know Intellectualism if it bit them on the ass. Academic standards that were once driven by results and reason are now controlled by marketing and feelings. Televised media has grown to dominate common discourse, and the people who set policy and tone on programs of record generally lack the way to reason their way out of a make-up bag.

But I'm not bitter or anything ...

Marty Lund - [kaioto at yahoo dot com]

I'd probably go more for the- there are things (modes of storytelling and communication) that are particular to both film and literature. There are certain things you can and never will get in film that you do in literature, just as there are things film can do that literature never will.

As for books to movies- movies are largely plot driven. I don't read books to know the story, I read books to see how the story gets there. If I had been next to the guy who shouted

*SPOILER*
Snape kills Dumbledore!
*Spoiler*

at the end of HBP, I would be dissapointed a bit, but that would not keep me from reading the book. But the point is not THAT he dies, but rather how, when, why, in what context. If you read books for the plot, that's nice but you, my friend, are missing out on a huge big bad wide world of complex and wonderful things.

(the same way if you watch well directed movies for plot, you'll miss most of what the director is say by how he does shots, etc etc- excuse me, I'm not a film person).

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. It's not what happens in the story, it's the story as it happens.

That's why I find books interesting, and Tony, while I can understand, I wish you will find books that you like, not for what they say, but for how they go about saying them. And it'll be cool and not boring at all.

(is it the length that makes it boring sometimes? I just finished a great book I recommend to you "The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo" by Peter Orner. It's beautifully written- it just feels like the people are speaking to you out of the pages, like you're listening to oral history- but! it's comprised of small vignettes. 200 pages or so of actual story (with a plot and all) but you could also just read the stories on thier own, because they are lovely. I might also recommend "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino. Great book, beautiful places, again full of short vignettes just a page or two long each. For a short by quite interesting book (with a psycho narrator to boot!) you could try "Travesty" by Jon Hawkes. I'm not sure if it's in print many places, you may have to order it, but it's a darn good read. Takes just a few hours to finish it. Basically, there's the narrator, his best friend, and his daughter in the car, and the narrator crashes them all into a wall at the end. Quite creepy, psychotic but cool and convincing narrator, twisted goings on, no escape from the car.)

I actually recommend those books to everyone- they're lovely (well, maybe lovely is the wrong word for the last book.. genuinely interesting to read)

Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

GW: I agree with you, Greg, in most of what you have said, but there is a huge
difference between illiterate and not like reading.
Maybe our society is very illiterate because its also very poor. Around the world
there are millions and millions of people withouth the possibility of education, that
may be the problem in a world growing more and more illiterate. Poberty is growing, and with
that illiterenacy.
Tony may not like reading, but perhaps he lives watching discovery channel.
Again, i do agree that its sad that many people do not like reading (so they dont)
and i do realize that most of them are very ignorant, they lack fluidity in speaking or writting
they cannot take or aknowledge the seriousness of some matters in their stupidity (like
the Co-president that won here the past elections because he was the owner of a soccer team)
But i do know people that dont read that much, either for lack of time or simple taste, and that have
a lot of knowledge, picked up either on good tv documentary or traveling.
I just think we shoudnt jump on someone just because that someone says something we dont
agree with...or consider them inferior. There other achievements of human race, tolerance
and respect.

Demon@

DEMON@> I just can't take a person seriously if they dislike reading. I know this probably makes me an elitist jerk, but I truly can't help looking down on them.

Literacy is one of humanity's greatest achievements, and I find it impossible to understand how anyone can not want to sit down and get engrossed by the art that is the written word. It's more enjoyable and mentally stimulating than anything put to film, and I absolutely LOVE film. I love film enough to have chosen it as a career.

Our society is getting more and more illiterate every generation, and very few people seem to care. In fact, I see people who take pride in it. Anti-intellectualism is on the rise, ignorance is bliss... and these people are voting!

Yeah, I know people get busy, but I still try to read a book a week. My father and I had problems, but he taught me to appreciate reading, it's one of the few things I thank him for to this very day.

And as for opinions, I agree with the great Harlan Ellison:

"Everybody has opinions: I have them, you have them. And we are all told from the moment we open our eyes, that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Well, that's horsepuckey, of course. We are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions. Without research, without background, without understanding, it's nothing. It's just bibble-babble."

... Sorry for the rant.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

I smell an hugly argument coming up. Its just his opinion why dont you leave him alone.
Demon@

Todd -- well, she was always my favorite villainess and role-model :D
Christine - [christine at sabledrake dot com]

TTT> I'm having flashbacks to "Lighthouse...". I'm with Battle Beast, you're missing so much if you only go by the films.
Asatira

...... O.o

Promise me something, Tony. Never breed.

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"Am I speaking Latin again? Silly me, sometimes it just slips."

Reading makes me sleepy. So usually I don't read. I tried reading the LOTR books and they were SO boring. I did enjoy reading 'The Hobbit'. I might read the HP books now that I've spoiled myself. Watching movies is so much better than reading.
TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
Chocolate Rain!

Yah, Tony... If you Only see the film "Version" of "Goblet of Fire," you are LITERALLY missing half the book!
Battle Beast
That is all I will say.

Tony> Why don't you actually read the books?
Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"Am I speaking Latin again? Silly me, sometimes it just slips."

Somebody leaked the book online? Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Not a problem. I didn't want to be spoiled but when I saw the leaked book online, I couldn't resist. So I know the ending, but maybe I'll forget it in three years when the last movie comes out.

* * *
On a positive note, I'm finally getting a non-damaged copy of #3 this Wednesday! Yeah!

TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

There was an interesting comment in Greg's responses:

The Children are a relatively new species. Gender may be learned on their part (the way language came from human to gargoyle) which doesn't make it less important at this point.

dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

I'd rather you didn't. I'm perfectly fine waiting until Friday night, I don't need any spoilers.
Asatira

TONY - Please don't. It would only spoil the surprise for the rest of us.
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

@Tony- What? It's not the 21st...is it? *mind boggles*

(and no, not particularly- if others do, I'll just avert my eyes and hope you put a spoiler tag)

Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

Anyone want me to post the chapter titles of "The Deathly Hallows"?
TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

Ah, "The Eagle Of Truthiness". I love that story. Not THAT is a crossover done right :)

It's so infamous, Stephen Colbert himself has read it. ;)

Greg Bishansky - [<---- The 12th Annual Gathering of the Gargoyles]
"Am I speaking Latin again? Silly me, sometimes it just slips."

Looked again at Christine Morgan's Eagle of Truthiness fic. One part that I'd forgotten about, but found amusing, was a mention of one of Draco Malfoy's ancestors being a certain Maleficient Malfoy, responsible for the Great Spinning-wheel Fires of the 13th century.
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Todd: You might find this interesting:

http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/UnNews:Final_Harry_Potter_book_reportedly_based_on_Sopranos_finale

Not much about Snape, but still... ( ;

Harvester of Eyes - [Minstrel75 at gmail dot com]
"NO! That's a bad Constantine! We do NOT make Christianity the state religion! We do NOT ruin Rome!"

Jade,

1) It's not too late.
2) Post it where you would ask Greg a question http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/ask.php

TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake

I've read "Harry Potter and the Eagle of Truthiness" - though I might have appreciated it more if I'd seen "The Colbert Report". I still found much of it amusing, including what Colbert had to say about the Death Eaters being cowards, hiding their faces behind masks (much like Goliath's comments on Castaway in "The Journey"). At least he was an improvement on the average Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (with the exception of Lupin, they never seem to have a decent one - though maybe I should wait until the final book comes out and we find out once and for all what the real deal is with Snape).
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

Firstly, is it too late to post a con journal? And second, should I do it here or elsewhere?

Thanks!

Jade Griffin
Food!

In my wait for issue #5 I found this (fairly) old interview with Greg about plans for the comic series; http://brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=405

One interesting tidbit;

"I would say that the bulk of the stories are going to be set in New York. But I've already planned in the first arc to get back to Great Britain, once in the present and once in the past."

That's interesting considering that alot of people have been speculating that issue #7-9 involves a trip to restore the stone of destiny to Scotland.

I wonder where (or rather when) the trip to Britain in the past will take place. I've got a feeling it could involve Brooklyn, Mary and Finella. But who knows.

Anyway probably won't be back here until next week when I get my copy of #5. Looking forward to it.

Brigadoon Traveller

Re: crossovers and pie
Hey, if you wanna, go ahead. I am not going to track anybody down and go all Titus Andronicus on them no matter how appropriately Shakespearean it is. It's much less effort to go LA-LA-LA-LA-I-CAN'T-HEEEEEAR-YOU. Which is what I do. :P

As for crossovers in general, I love writing them because they can represent a fun challenge. "Dens Leoninus" (my Leo going to the Grangers' dentist office) was amusing; my "Partners" (Gargoyles/Alien Nation) worked almost TOO well! And of course there's other stuff like "Iron Chef Pokemon Battle" and "Harry Potter and the Eagle of Truthiness" that have damn near made me famous! Whee!

Anyhoo. A week late and all. Carry on!

Christine - [christine at sabledrake dot com]

http://www.slgpublishing.coresense.com/info-exec/display/shipping
TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]

Warcrafter: >.<
Demon@

BISHANSKY - Though I'm not sure how much control Demona had over the robot mosquitoes, since one of them got Elisa's DNA, which she obviously didn't want (though Thailog and Sevarius did).
Todd Jensen
Gargoyles - did for monstrous-looking statues what "Watership Down" did for rabbits!

sorry for the triple post

That last comment was for TiniTinyTony

Warcrafter - [grafixfangamer1 at sbcglobal dot net]
Humans are such easy prey for a gargoyle!

sorry for the double post

Demon@> I cant find Gargoyles #6 anywhere. Link?

Warcrafter - [grafixfangamer1 at sbcglobal dot net]
Humans are such easy prey for a gargoyle!

tenth in the name of everything that has happened to me in the past hour......and away we go with the show!
Warcrafter - [grafixfangamer1 at sbcglobal dot net]
Humans are such easy prey for a gargoyle!

9 in the name of Jazzy Spies(click and you'll see what I mean ^_^)
Wingless

8th in the name of... ah screw it, 8th.
Ntripy

seventh
oneuke

6th in the name of hope of getting the 5th comic this week!!
dph_of_rules
Whatever happenned to simplicity?

fifth in the name of #5 coming out this week!
Purplegoldfish - [skydragonn at aol dot com]
"Whoa, Tiny, you mean there's more than one of you?" "My name is not Tiny! I am Goliath!" - Elisa and Tiny

4th!
Asatira

Damn.

3rd then.

KingCobra_582 - [KingCobra_582 at hotmail dot com]
"Ignore me!" - Venture Bros.

1st.
KingCobra_582 - [KingCobra_582 at hotmail dot com]
"Ignore me!" - Venture Bros.

Seconds!
Spoonvonstup - [<--- Gargoyles Nothing Fights]

First!
TiniTinyTony - [tinitinytony at hotmail dot com]
"I wasn't born yesterday, you know - I've seen movies." - Master Shake