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GARY SPERLING

Gary Sperling has passed away.

It wasn't a surprise. Though he never smoked a day in his life, he had lung cancer. Surgery to remove one of his lungs failed to halt the spread of the cancer, and a few minutes ago he passed away with his wife beside him.

Some of you may have met Gary at the 2001 Gathering in Los Angeles. I hope you did. I hope you got a chance to talk to him or at least listen to him. He was a phenomenally intelligent, reasonable and wonderful human being.

Gary was a lawyer by training, who gave up a lucrative career to do something he loved. Write. Specifically, he wrote cartoons. A lot of cartoons, mostly for Disney TV Animation. A very incomplete list of shows he worked on would include: Darkwing Duck, Gargoyles, Nightmare Ned, Hercules, Buzz Lightyear, Max Steel and Kim Possible. (And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.)

He was a terrific writer and story editor, and a great friend. His contributions to Gargoyles are hard to measure. He was truly a rock on that show. Someone I could always count on. Listing his Gargoyles credits will give you a partial idea of just how much your enjoyment of the series was based on Gary's work...

UPGRADE - Story Editor
PROTECTION - Story Editor & Writer
HERITAGE - Story Editor
KINGDOM - Story Editor
GOLEM - Story Editor & Writer
M.I.A. - Story Editor
THE NEW OLYMPIANS - Story Editor
BUSHIDO - Story Editor & Writer
THE GATHERING, PART TWO - Co-Story Editor & Co-Teleplay Writer
TURF - Story Editor
THE RECKONING - Co-Story Editor & Teleplay Writer

In addition, he helped develop BAD GUYS and was the writer on the BAD GUYS Story Reel which I show every year at the Gathering.

Among other things, Gary turned Brooklyn into a leader, turned Dingo into a good guy, created both the London and Ishimura Clans and set the stage for Broadway and Angela to fall in love. If any of those things helped to make you a fan, then he's the reason.

Gary leaves behind a wife and two young children. Plus many other friends and family members who will miss him tremendously.


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Gargoyles DVD

Hey gang -- Good news and bad news time.

I was contacted by John Hanna at Buena Vista Home Video (or whatever the division is called now).

The Gargoyles DVD is definitely ON. As some of you know, I had been concerned since I hadn't heard from John in a long time.

The "bad news" is that it has been moved back to 2004 release to coincide with the TENTH ANNIVERSARY of the series.

As bad news goes, that's sorta cool.


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Aaron writes...

Re: The Weird Sisters.

"Their tri_part mission."

Luna's log, Stardate: Um... It's hard to tell from Avalon.

These are the adventures of the Weird Sisters, our tri-part mission, to seek out new life, and play mind games with it... To find new ways to plague Demona... To boldly never give a straight answer to anything!

I have entirely too much free time.

And, so this'll have a question in it, is Puck's magic flute connected to the opera "The Magic Flute"?

http://www.pvponline.com

Greg responds...

Maybe. Haven't seen that opera.

Response recorded on April 24, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Greg writes: "(That smart_ass response was a reference to an old tootsie_pop commercial. Anyone old enough to remember it has my sympathy.)"

Actually, I'm pretty sure the tootsie-pop people have reused that one sometime in the last five years. I think I even saw that commercial while watching gargs.

http://www.megatokyo.com

Greg responds...

That's cool.

Response recorded on April 24, 2003

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Oberon writes...

In you mind did Merlin have any particular religion back in medeival times. I ask this because many books and movies say he was a druid, but many others said he was a Cristian.

Greg responds...

I don't see him as either, per se. Though influenced by both.

Response recorded on April 24, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Greg writes: "I read the entire L.A. Times Comic section everyday -- even the ones I hate -- out of habit and compulsion."

That sounds familiar. It's taken me years just to stop reading The Family Circus. But what the heck is Get Fuzzy? (Obviously it's a comic strip, albeit not one syndicated in my area) What's it about?

Next step, get Greg hooked on webcomics...

http://www.sluggy.com

Greg responds...

It's about a guy named Rob and his two pets, a sweet dog named Satchel and a semi-psychotic cat named Bucky. Animals talk in the "Get Fuzzy" world, though otherwise the human pet dynamic is pretty much what you'd expect.

The strip is often laugh-out-loud funny.

Response recorded on April 23, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Greg writes: "In 1040, after the bargain, she (Demona) was 35 (Macbeth's chronological age). She still looks great though, doesn't she?"

I think that's worth a Hell Yeah!

http://www.sinfest.net

Greg responds...

Hell, yeah!

Response recorded on April 23, 2003

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Oberon writes...

In one of the Avalon episodes the Weird Sisters sais something like "We make no bargains with sorserers" so my questions are
1: Is this because they dislike magic using mortals?
2: If so, why?
3: Do the Children of Oberon feel that way in general?

Greg responds...

1 & 2. They have a bit of contempt for mortals in general, and probably magic-users in particular -- since they seem to be infringing on the Children's turf.

3. Many do, I'd think.

Response recorded on April 23, 2003

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Adam Carlson writes...

how many eggs can a gargoyle female lay at one time? during there life time?
And, if there are 36 eggs taken to Avalon, how many gargoyles lived at Castle Wyvern before the massacure.

Greg responds...

1. One. Two on EXTREMELY rare occasions, maybe. Maybe.
2. Three or four tops.
3. I've answered this before, and I don't remember what I said exactly. About forty. But nearly half the clan migrated to form a new clan sometime before the massacre. So there are more eggs than you'd expect from the small numbers that were massacred.

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Greg writes: "Dead Again. Is that the Branaugh/Thompson movie?"

Yep. It also has Derek Jacobi, Andy Garcia, and an uncredited Robin Williams. Nifty little bit of film noir. Also interesting in being the only Branaugh/Thompson project I can think of that's not written by The Bard. I recommend it highly.

Greg responds...

I've seen it. Back when it first came out.

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Greg writes: "And we don't sell or rent gargoyles at this site. Goliath might take offense."

No matter how much the fans might beg, plead, or offer to shell out? ;)

Greg responds...

Hmmm.... Well, I do have a few invisible, intangible, mute gargoyles for sale. How much are you offering?

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Aaron writes...

Okay, finally caught up on Ask Greg.

Greg writes: ""Anton" sounds Germanic?"

Anton was, at one time, an extremely popular boy's name in the Netherlands, in part because collaborators wanted to gain favor from their Nazi overlord, whose first name was Anton. Since the Dutch are a Germanic people, Anton could be considered quite Germanic. Admittedly, Sevarius doesn't *look* that old, except perhaps in his first appearance, but something to think about nevertheless.

Greg responds...

Hmmm. Okay. But of course, there are plenty of people named Anton without any justification beyond "My parents just liked the name."

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Jim R. writes...

Did you ever submit that CGI Proposal or whatever it was that matt and Phil won from the 2198 contest? I would imagine you might have since they told us it was dated 9/21/00.

Greg responds...

No, actually I didn't. I was planning to, but it was made VERY clear to me that Disney wasn't interested in any Garg spin-off at this time. So I'm saving it until the wind changes. To mix a metaphor, there's no sense poisoning the water on a perfectly good idea with a group of execs that are determined not to like it. I'd rather pitch it fresh when personnel or strategies have changed.

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Adam Carlson writes...

How many gargoyle clans were there when the show was ended?
Do any of the other Avalon gargoyles join Angelia in the real world?

Greg responds...

1. In 1996, the following clans were extant (although some were far from healthy in numbers):

Avalon
Ishimura
Labyrinth
Loch Ness
London
Manhattan
Mayan
New Olympian
Pukhan
Xanadu

2. Eventually, others would visit. But I don't immediately see anyone else taking up permanent residence outside Avalon.

Response recorded on April 22, 2003

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Cha-cha writes...

1.Where there any other clans in Scotland around 994?
2.Was(and is it)uncommon for a gargoyle to mate outside the clan?
2a. If not, would that gargoyle belong to both clans or have to choose just one?

Greg responds...

1. Where were they or were there any? The answer to the latter is yes. Though even by 994, the Garg population in Scotland had already been decimated.

2. Well, I wouldn't say it was common back then, but no, I wouldn't say uncommon either. That's not meant to be evasive, just nuancy. It happens often enough so that no one would think it truly odd. But it's not like it was happening all the time.

2a. Ultimately, the gargoyle can't physically live in two places at once, so he or she or rather they (the couple) would have to chose, but that doesn't mean both or either wouldn't be welcomed at the other location.

Response recorded on April 21, 2003

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Daphne writes...

you said that eventually the Gargoyles would attend night classes at colleges. would high schools or younger hold night courses for young gargoyles, or would they be generally homeschooled? and how would the schools adapt for the difference in aging rate?

Greg responds...

I won't pretend I've thought out all these details. Any change would be gradual at best. Homeschooling would predominate at first, certainly. Age would fundamentally have little to do with aptitude, I would think. But that might be controversial. It would be fun to explore, given the opportunity.

Response recorded on April 21, 2003

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Creamy writes...

If Gargoyles had continued, how would you have developed the Angela-Demona relationship?

Would they ever find a medium? Or be at least friends?

Since the last time Coldfire talk to to Demona was back in 994, what does she think of Demona's new way of life in 1996?

How close were Demona and Coldfire back in the "Dark Ages"?

Greg responds...

1. Carefully.

2. I think Michael Reaves came up with a Medium that we never used. I can't remember her name though at the moment.

3. I'm not going to reveal the long-term result of their interaction.

4. Well, at the moment, I doubt she's aware of it. But assuming she found out, I think she'd be very disturbed.

5. Close as sisters who aren't actually as close as they think.

Response recorded on April 21, 2003

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Daphne writes...

1)Does Santa Claus exist in the Gargoyles Universe?
2)If yes, is he Fae or halfling, or neither?
3)Would the Gargoyles have met him at any point?

thanks!

Greg responds...

1. Yes.
2. Not saying at this point.
3. Ultimately, in one way or another.

Response recorded on April 16, 2003

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Corrie "Cormak" McDermott writes...

Hi Greg,

I noticed that you type up notes about scripts of different episodes occasionally. ie. "The Mirror", "Eye of the Beholder" etc. Are you typing these up in any particular order? Or are they just being typed up randomly? I haven't seen notes/big ramblings on Hunter's Moon. (hint hint) Although I must admit I LOVED that scene that was never animated in the third episode between Jason and Elisa in the clocktower ruins. That was a nice touch.

I also just wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to answer our questions. I've been a fan of Gargoyles since the show aired. When I found this website I was in my glory with all the new information that was archived here. (Many thanks to Gorebash for this website as well!) So I just wanted to thank you for sharing what you have. You've made an E/G Fan VERY happy and inspired. Take care

Greg responds...

You're welcome.

I was watching and rambling on the episodes in their correct animation airing order. I got through the first 42 (out of 66) episodes before I had to take a break due to other committments. Now I'm hesitant to start up again both because time is still scarce and also because we have some much discussed problems here at ASK GREG, i.e. a backlog of questions that has me responding to something you posted in November of 2001 here in April of 2003. We've discussed a number of solutions, but all are sort of waiting on Gorebash. His site.

So it'll be awhile before I get to Hunter's Moon.

Response recorded on April 16, 2003

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weav writes...

when and are you going to try to start a new series.

Greg responds...

I have been trying non-stop since 1995. I've even gotten (or helped to get) a few things on the air, including Max Steel and Roughnecks. But it's hard.

Response recorded on April 16, 2003

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DPH writes...

What is your opinion of Arthur Pendragon's legacy in the gargoyles universe before he re-awakened?

What is your opinion of Arthur Pendragon's legacy after he really died in the gargoyles universe?

Greg responds...

1. Uh... I'm in favor of it?

2. Okay, let me just admit I don't understand the question.

Response recorded on April 16, 2003

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Pyro X writes...

Hi Greg;
I wanted to tell you that I bought 3X3 Eyes today (Halloween.) I had to have it imported, so I shelled out $109.99 Canadian (150+ American) for it, and it was WELL worth it. I loved it. (MANY people told me how stupid I was to pay that kind of money for a piece of plastic But I knew better.)

Mainly, I bought it because I knew you worked on it and I love the voices behind the characters.
Just wanted to boost your ego, and to say thanks!

Greg responds...

You're welcome. My ego can always use a boost, and the Garg fans have become pros at that little (very little) task.

I'm glad you liked it. All involved were very proud of how it turned it out.

Response recorded on April 15, 2003

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Sandrine M writes...

Hi!
Did you see the second season of Max Steel? Did they respect your ideas? What do you think about Kat, Jo, the two robots dog, the robot cat, the absence of Laura, Berto who goes out of his screen's life, the discovery of Max steel's secret by Pete, the new ennemies... Or did you see nothing and you will never see it?
Personnaly, I found the second season too previsible (we had to see an episode on him (Psyco), on him (the other human robot), on her(Dragonnelle)...Dread went in prison in the first one.It was too fast, he can't stay in prison...and I win again, in the last one, he went out)
A third season is in project?
I noticed too the clothes' mistake in the third episode, before Ricky wrote it on your website.

Greg responds...

I have never seen the second season. They didn't ask me my plans, so any resemblance to what I had in mind is purely coincidental and/or a natural result of things I set up in Season One. It's not likely I'll see that stuff. It would probably just make me nuts.

There was a third season, and I (very) recently saw part of one episode of the third season. It seemed like a very different show. Not bad. Just different.

Response recorded on April 15, 2003

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Dragon7 writes...

Dear Mr. Weisman I find your posts on gargoyle physiology and culture very fascinating. Having recently read some of your earlier answers to the newly identified Loch Ness Clan a question came to my mind as to how this clan raised and cared for its offspring. It is widely known that gargoyles in the other clans in the gargoyles universe lay eggs is this also true of the Lochness Clan and if so do they put their eggs into caves until hatching as the Wyvern Clan did in generations past?

Greg responds...

Yep.

Response recorded on April 15, 2003

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Nanea writes...

I apologize if this has already been covered. I didn't see it, but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed it.

My inquiry is about the Magus-Katharine-Tom relationship. I normally hate love triangles because in every love triangle, there is one who loses so there is a built-in "ouch" factor for me. But in the case of Magus-Katharine-Tom, was there ever an opportunity for the Magus to win Katharine? Or were his feelings entirely one-sided which would make it all the sadder? Or if there was a chance, did he doom himself due to his feelings of inadequacy (as he relates to Elisa) or more due to his feelings of guilt for what he had done and a feeling that he did not deserve happiness?

To me, the Magus is such a tragic character because he seems the most guilt-ridden over the part he played in 994AD. Consequently, he takes on a huge amount of the burden of responsibility (and seems to be the only one to takes immediate responsibility). Yet, he appears to pay such a high price. He lives in what seems to be a state of self-flagellation as he banishes himself from the world and gives up the basis of his chosen trade to honor his service to the princess as well as honor his word to Goliath, only to watch the love of his life marry another. Finally, he spends the remainder of his days in relative seclusion.

Goodness, but the above is sad, but I think it is what makes this series so different. It didn't flinch from the melancholy.

Thanks for your time.

Greg responds...

You're very welcome. Thanks for the nice comments. I think your analysis is pretty dead on.

I think maybe the Magus might have had a chance with Katharine had he asserted himself earlier on. When the three of them first began their exile on Avalon, it would hardly have been surprising if the two of them had "married", treating Tom as their foster son.

But the COMBINATION of the Magus' feelings of guilt and inadequacy (on a number of levels) combined to prevent him from making a first move. She wasn't raised to make that move either.

It's hard to say if she ever felt as deeply about him (romantically) as he felt about her. Probably not. But the potential might have been there had he been even slightly direct about his feelings.

Response recorded on April 14, 2003


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