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Zeliard writes...
Hi mr. Weisman! Yet another ASK GREG question...
I was wondering about what Sevarius said in Metamorphosis. He says that a geneticly engineered creature will take years to develop, so he created a mutegen to inject on human host.
1.Just how long does it take to create genticly a creature?
2.Did you ever plan to have artificial creatures created by mankind in Gargoyles?
Thanx, and have a nice day!
Greg responds...
1. As I've said before, I'm not big on quantifying things.
2. Eventually. The clones were a first step.
Michael Norton writes...
Dear Greg,
1) I am sure that Brooklyn's infatuations with both Maggie and Angela were BOTH hormonal and emotional. But which did you feel that it was more of?
2) It almost seemed out of character that Brook didn't react to Delilah with some interest. Did you ever toy with the idea?
3) Does Brooklyn's clone share his weakness for the opposite sex?
Greg responds...
1. I'm not big on quantifying emotions.
2. No. For starters, I think all the clones sorta creeped the Trio out. And the whole Elisa/Delilah thing was just too wierd.
3. Most heterosexuals share that weakness.
Sapphire writes...
I was wondering will Talon ever one day become human again
Greg responds...
Not in my lifetime.
John Haeser writes...
I've been pondering this for 5 years now, WHO the ck are Claw and Fang and why where they chosen?
Greg responds...
They were homeless guys who would not be missed.
Blaise writes...
Hey there, Greg! Love your responses about Maggie's past (though by the time you get to this question, they'll have been answered a LOOONG time ago). I must say, I've always been interested in the Mutates, Talon and Maggie in particular. I have to say, I was quite shocked when you mentioned Maggie's parents. I mean, of course she had parents, that goes without saying. It's just the way you mentioned how they *MIGHT* have played a role in her life that got me. However, this does lead to a question of character--one that I'd been wondering about for a while:
Maggie went to New York pursuing a dream which got shattered. She was homeless and then turned into a Mutate. On top of that, the man whom she, Derek and the rest believed was trying to cure them, turned out to have little intention of doing so (if any). Now she lives outside of the main stream of humanity in the Labyrinth. Yet, she managed to meet and fall in love with Derek/Talon. My question is, would she consider Derek worth it all?
It's an odd question. Anyway take care, and I got a few more Q's on the way!
Greg responds...
If she's still thinking that way, she must be very unhappy.
And knowing Maggie, the odds are that occasionally, she does think of it in terms of trade-offs and or punishments or rewards.
But I like to think that she's matured some since then. I like to think that she's gained some self-acceptance and that she doesn't regard Derek/Talon as a trade-off but rather as a blessing in her new life. I'm sure that's how Derek feels about her.
Zeliard writes...
Why did you decided not put tails on the Mutates?
Greg responds...
Check the archives. I've covered this.
TITUS
I saw TITUS on Saturday with my wife Beth and three people who worked on GARGOYLES.
1. Fred Schaefer, who was a development associate who helped develop the show. (I think it's safe to say that Talon was sort of Fred's idea in a very early pre-Derek form. We called the character Catscan then.) Fred is currently a producer/executive/story editor at Porchlight Entertainment.
2. Monique Beatty was my assistant during the Gargoyles years. She did a lot of research for me. She's now a producer at Kinofilms.
3. Tuppence Macintyre is an old friend of mine. She also did a lot of Scotish research for Gargoyles, just as a personal favor and because it interested her. She's a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles.
Anyway, the five of us went to see TITUS in Santa Monica. The film is based on one of Shakespeare's early tragedies, TITUS ANDRONICUS. It was adapted and directed by Julie Taymor, who adapted and directed THE LION KING for the Broadway stage. So it's not surprise that the film is visually stunning. Monique didn't like the anachronistic style of the film (depicting chariots and motorcycles side-by-side for example), but it's not the first time I've seen that kind of interpretation, so it didn't bother me.
And the acting is fantastic. Anthony Hopkins (who I've loved forever -- does anyone remember the movie MAGIC?) plays Titus. He's brilliant. His lament to the stones is heartbreaking. Jessica Lange is good as "Tamara, Queen of the Goths" (now tell me that isn't a Gargoyles' character in the making). And Alan Cumming (who voiced John Castaway in "The Journey") is a nice, twisted villain as Saturninus, the Roman Emperor. But the revelation is Harry Lennix as Aaron the Moor. Amazing.
The story of Titus is not for the squeemish or for children. It's a real pot-boiler. Something just this side of a horror movie with a hard R rating for violence and nudity, though thankfully a minimum of on-screen gore.
The play was a big hit for Shakespeare in his day. But it's been dismissed as a critical flop. And I can see why. I've read it a couple times and thought it awful. Which coming from a bardolitor like myself is pretty harsh. It seemed like none of the characters were sympathetic or interesting.
But I'd never seen it performed, so I was looking forward to the movie. As usual, Shakespeare plays tens times better than he reads. In the movie, I had -- at moments -- plenty of sympathy for nearly all the characters. And the wonderful thing is that my sympathies are constantly shifting. No one is without sin. All share the blame except for Aaron's son. And Aaron himself is amazing.
Although, I can't help agreeing that Shakespeare wrote TITUS at least in part as parody of the tragic genre -- the way SCREAM was designed to be both parody and exemplar of the horror film -- I can also see flashes of KING LEAR, HAMLET and CORIOLANUS in Titus' character.
But Aaron prefigures Othello, Iago, Edmund and Shylock at least. He's a remarkably progressive character for the time. A villain, who is the only character to succeed in preserving a sliver of innocence within the world of the play.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it. And I recommend it to any Gargoyle Fan over the age of 17.
Airwalker writes...
1. How old is The Director?
2. What are the ages of the rest of the BAD GUYS cast?
Greg responds...
1. Uh, don't hold me to this, but I'd say 50.
2. Robyn Canmore was 14 in 1980.
Dingo was in his mid-thirties in 1994.
Matrix was born in 1995.
Fang was in his early thirties in 1994.
Yama was in his late twenties (biologically) in 1996.
Wing writes...
Continued...
What were <some of> your plans for the Mutates <specifically Claw, but not necessarily just him>?
Greg responds...
Wing, Wing, Wing, Wing, Wing...
Same deal. This is not the format or forum for novel-length responses.
As I've mentioned many times, Fang would join the Redemption Squad.
Claw, Talon and Maggie the Cat would remain in the Labyrinth.
Wolf (who's also a mutate technically) would join the Ultra-Pack.
Airwalker writes...
Just how long was Talon planning on keeping Fang in a cell?
Greg responds...
You know, I never bothered to figure that out. I think they had some kind of trial and a punishment was meted out (loosely based on New York State law. But since I knew that first Demona and Thailog, and later Sevarius would bust Fang out. And that Fang would ultimately wind up in the Redemption Squad, I never bothered to decide the length of time that Fang WOULDN'T end up having to serve.
I'm always hesitant to reveal things like that. Like admitting that every detail WASN'T etched in stone, somehow destroys the magical mystical illusion that everything on the show did tie together. But...
Airwalker writes...
How does Diane Maza feel about the fact that it was her advice that finally helped Derek decide to work for Xanatos?
Greg responds...
Probably pretty lousy. Wouldn't you think?
Though of course her advice was sound based on the info she had at the time.
Airwalker writes...
How does Talon feel about raising a Gargoyle/Human hybrid who looks and sounds exactly like his big sister?
Greg responds...
Strange.
(What did you expect me to say?)
Airwalker writes...
On the Mutate redesign, why eliminate the cat tails? I always thought it gave a sense of balance to the designs.
Greg responds...
That was Frank's call. You'd have to ask him.
Airwalker writes...
In THE CAGE, while I understand Talon was eager to look for any excuse to blame Goliath for his troubles, how could he take in Xanatos' story so easily? I mean, he heard the whole presentation in METAMORPHASIS, he knew Xanatos financed everything, how could he be so willing to ignore that?
Greg responds...
You're asking this from the man who had Demona say "What have I... What have THEY done to you?"
Never underestimate the power of denial, pal.
OnyxStar writes...
Well, I've been reading over the questions and responses already posted, and they're inspiring questions of their own. I'll try to separate my posts into topics. And thanks again for doing this for us- you're keeping your series alive with the fans.
1. How did we learn that Hudson was Broadway's father? Does Hudson know this, and if so, how did he find out?
2. You didn't want to say whether the Mutates' children would be mutated themselves. Are they still *able* to have children at all?
3. Did Coldstone's son have a name?
Greg responds...
Calling this one topic is kind of a stretch, but you squeeked by...
1. I don't know that anyone inside the world of the series cares about this detail. Hudson is one of Broadway's many Clan Fathers. For that matter, Brooklyn and Lex would feel the same way. I think fandom learned that Hudson was Broadway's biological father from me. It was just something that always seemed right to me.
2. I'm not ruling it out.
3. If you mean his biological son, that's Gabriel.
Niner writes...
Dear Mr.Weisman,
I have a kazillion questions but I'll try to keep from going over five.
1)What did you have planed for a)Max Loew and the Golem?
b)Cuchulain?
c)Natsilane?
2)Would King Arthur have recruited any more new knights besides Griff?
3)Would Sora, Taro, Vinnie, Talon, or the Pack have appeared in "Bad Guys"?
4)Finnaly, would the Clones become more intelligent or would they stay dirt stupid?
Thank you very much.
Greg responds...
These are kinda all on separte topics, but....
1a. No immediate big plans, but I had some adventure stuff in mind.
1b. Adventure and romance.
1c. See 1a.
2. Eventually, but not right away. I didn't want the cast of a quest show to grow too big or unwieldy.
3. Sora and the Pack definitely. Taro & Vinnie, maybe. Talon. Doubtful. (At least not in my immediate plans.)
4. They were never dirt stupid. They were dirt ignorant. There's a huge difference. And in my plan, they would have been educated.
*The Bride of Ringo* writes...
Hi again, just one quick question:
Before maggie was mutated we know she was living out on the streets with a bunch of bums and in all honesty she looked pretty messed up... if Gargoyles wasn't intended for kids, would you have made her be on drugs or an alcoholic or have some other kind of problems that people who live on the street very often have?
Greg responds...
No. Not Maggie anyway. It has nothing to do with Gargoyles being for kids, by the way. (Compare what we did in "Deadly Force" for example.)
If I wanted to do a drug or alcohol story, I'd do one. I'd try to be very responsible about it. But in those days, I could do so-called controversial material. But I don't do it for the sake of doing it, I have to have a great story in mind.
Maggie wasn't about that. I don't know what might have happened to her down the road if she had stayed on the streets without Sevarius' not-so-benevolent intervention... but she probably would have eventually admitted defeat and called her parents to wire her busfare back to Ohio.
Her problem wasn't drugs or booze. It was naivete. In my mind, as I think I've mentioned before, she was a would-be actress who came to NYC with her life savings. Maybe a couple grand, which she went through ridiculously fast, thinking that any minute she'd be discovered and become a Broadway star!
At least, that's how I figured her.
Airwalker writes...
How do Talon and Maggie feel about the fact that the Gargoyles are living back at the castle?
Greg responds...
Maggie may actually feel hopeful. Talan mistrustful at best, downright bitter at worst. I had hoped to do a story exploring this in the third season and find out the answers for myself.
Obviously, it didn't work out that way, so honestly, since I haven't fully examined the question in my own head (let alone on paper or film) the real answer is: "I don't know."
Airwalker writes...
How would Petros Xanatos react if he found out about the Mutates and his son's involvment in their creation?
Greg responds...
Badly.
Todd Jensen writes...
Something that I've wondered about "Metamorphosis" for some time, and finally remembered to ask here. Why did Xanatos choose Derek as one of his victims for the Mutates project? The reason why I'm wondering this is because unlike Maggie (whose folks were presumably all back in Ohio), Derek had family living in New York who would notice his disappearance and investigate - and indeed did. And in particular, Elisa was already definitely not a member of the David Xanatos Fan Club even before the events in "Her Brother's Keeper" and "Metamorphosis", and Xanatos was surely aware of this. It must have been pretty obvious that he'd be in real trouble with her if she ever found out that he'd turned her brother into a winged panther.
Obviously Xanatos must have felt there to be some practical benefit to turning Derek into a Mutate that was enough to outweigh the disadvantage of making even more of an enemy out of Elisa. What I'm curious about is: what was that practical benefit that was strong enough for Xanatos to take the risk?
Greg responds...
First off, Derek had qualities that Maggie, Fang and Claw did not.
Simply put if you are creating your own race of gargoyles, you might consider that you need your own equivalent of Goliath too lead them. Even, literally, to teach them how to fly.
Secondly, I don't think he really feared making an EVEN bigger enemy out of Elisa. That ship had sailed. Rather, I think he felt, particularly if he succeeded -- as he very nearly did -- in keeping Derek/Talon in his employ, that having Derek as a Mutate-bodyguard would be a very effective deterrent against anything Elisa might do. Using Derek was a huge potential bonanza. And the downside (to Xanatos at least) was minimal.
He never really suffered for it.
Great question, by the way.
Kevin writes...
This is my first time asking a question, although I've read your responses on and off for 2 years now.
I have never found any answer to this in the archives, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
1. Did David Xanatos actually choose to have Derek become a mutate? This is something I was never clear about...Yes, Xanatos and Sevarius were basically putting on an act for Derek, but was Sevarius shooting Derek with the formula come about as just part of the acting on the Mad Doctor's part, or was Sevarius told ahead of time by Xanatos to specifically inject Derek.
2. Another Metamorphisis question. If Sevarius is really not the old man with the cooky accent he portrayed in the beginning of that episode, why did he feel the need to dress up like one??? I ask because if it was to disguise himself so that after faking his death he could go about freely, well then it failed. Everyone reckgonized him immediatly, including Goliath and Derek. So why bother pretending to be an old man in the first place?
3. And how did Sevarius "pretend" to be electocuted to death by eels anyway??? Did he have some sort of insulated suit?
4. Another Metamorphisis question. (something about that episode) How did Maggie end up on the streets of New York anyway? Was she hooked on drugs? She looked very unhealthy, much like she was coming down off after being high.
5. Okay, this one isn't Metamorphisis related. And I don't recall this one being asked either, but it does concern the whole Time loop thing which has been discussed. How did the Archmage even know about Macbeth(and the older version of Demona for that matter). Why did he choose to perserve those particular two?
Thank you for your time
Greg responds...
1. I'm not saying there was no ad libbing going on, but the evening went pretty much as Xanatos had planned.
2. He's a ham. He was having a good time. Weren't you?
3. He had something, obviously. Does it matter what?
4. I think Maggie came to New York to be a "STAR". She was tremendously naive. She probably had, like a thousand bucks, and figured that would last her the two or three months it would take before she was "discovered". Of course, a grand won't last you one month in Manhattan. Not if you don't know anyone that you can trust and not if you have no where to stay. I think she was rather quickly in desperate circumstances and living on the streets. She might very well have been sick, but no she hadn't been using drugs.
5. O.K. Per our new rules, since this is a new topic, you'll need to resubmit this question as a seperate post. Sorry.
Cindy the Werewolfling writes...
Hey Greg, Just one little question that probably doesn't have an answer . . . Where in Ohio is Maggie (the ever-loved lioness) from? Thanks!
Greg responds...
Shaker Heights?
(Is that in Ohio or am I completely confused?)
Todd Jensen writes...
We all know that gargoyles can only glide, and not actually fly. How about the Mutates? Are they also restricted to gliding, or are they capable of genuine flight?
Greg responds...
They are capable of genuine flight, but not without limitation.
Zeliard writes...
Hello Mr. Weisman.
My first time ever that I ask a question in Station 8!
1.a)In "Her brother's keeper", did Derek listened to the tape Elisa gave him?
1.b)If Derek did listened to the tape, what did he thought about Xanatos and elisa?
2)What happened to Fortress 2 after the crash? Did Cyberbiotics left it or the air base is still operational?
3)Why Matt Bluestone hasn't revealed his membership to the Illuminaty to Elisa and the Gargoyles?
Thank you for your time, bye!
Greg responds...
1. I think that's an ambiguity better left ambiguous.
2. For you to answer, really...
As per our new rules, I invite you to resubmit your remaining questions as multiple separate posts.
Airwalker writes...
1. What would be Katana and Nashville's reaction to Malibu?
2. Do you have designs in mind for Katana, Nashville, Tachi, Fudog, and Hudson's mate? If so, could you describe them?
3. You said that Brooklyn ended up with Mary and Finella in the 1970's. So doesn't that mean that they would still be alive today?
4. Why did you say that Shakespeare's MACBETH would amuse Macbeth? It portrays Gruoch as a Princess of Darkness. How can he take pleasure in that?
5. In what era did Demona arrive in America (Colonial, Antebellum, Reconstruction, etc)?
6. In what era did Macbeth arrive in America (Colonial, Antebellum, Reconstruction, etc)?
7. Now that Renard knows the truth about Anastasia, has it changed anything for him in terms of his feelings for her?
8. Considering that after all is said and done, Goliath was raised and lived most of his life in the 10th century, what is his stand on capital punishment?
9. What are the feelings of the Trio about the Magus and Katharine, considering that they only knew them before they changed, and have never seen their redemption, only heard of it?
10. What are the Mutates feelings about the Gargoyles now living in the castle?
11. Any news on the movie?
12. If you had done BAD GUYS, would Macbeth and/or Demona have appeared?
13. Why didn't anyone ever figure out that Gilcomgain was the Hunter? He has slash marks on his face that match the one's on the mask.
14. Broadway's blindness in FUTURE TENSE, was it just Puck playing with Goliath's sanity AND a prophecy or was it only just Puck playing with Goliath's mind?
15. If the show ever did come back, would you ever bring up or try to make clearer that the people Demona smashed in CITY OF STONE were truly dead?
16. You said that Demona would find love again. But what about Macbeth? Would he have found love again?
17. How rich would you classify Xanatos, Demona, Macbeth, and Post-RECKONING Thailog (Mildly rich, extremely rich, stinking rich, beyond the reach of ordinary people rich)?
18. What did the Mutates do with Sevarious' potion from THE CAGE?
19. Would you have shown us some of Fang's past and also some of his family if BAD GUYS had been done?
20. Can you give us a clue, where in the world, which hemisphere, which continent, where ever, is Coldstone and Coldfire's new clan going to be?
21. What was the name of Xanatos' mother and when did she die?
22. You said you haven't come up with real names for Jackal and Hyena. But do you have anything in mind?
23. Does Macbeth know about the Illuminati?
24. Does the Illuminati know about Macbeth?
25. Would we have seen some of Lexington's descendants in GARGOYLES 2158?
Greg responds...
1. That would depend on the circumstances of their introduction, don't you think?
2. I've dealt with this recently. I do have a fairly clear idea about Fu Dog. But I'm not going to pin myself down at this point.
3. Doesn't preclude the possibility.
4. It has a lot to do with Mac's relationship to Will.
5. In the immortal words of my Magic Eightball: "Try Again Later".
6. Which time?
7. What exactly does he know?
8. He probably has little trouble with it but feels that in an ideal world (which he knows this is not) it's a less than stellar solution. Of course, that's all very theoretical. In practice, we've seen how he responds.
9. Distanced.
10. The Mutates aren't a monolith.
11. Nothing new, since I last answered.
12. Maybe, eventually, but not in my immediate plans.
13. Dramatic license? Or.... There were a lot of people with similar scars running around Scotland back then. Yeah. That's the ticket.
14. You didn't really think I'd answer that, did you?
15. You mean go out of my way to cover that?
16. Sure. Why not? (I'm such an old softy.)
17. Xanatos is Beyond the Reach rich. Macbeth is just stinking rich. Demona's extremely rich. Thailog's just rich.
18. Maggie saved it.
19. Yes.
20. Huh?
21. Not saying now.
22. Jack and Hanna. (Just kidding.) (Unless, I decide that those names really amuse me.)
23. Not saying.
24. Not saying.
25. Not saying.
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