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Chip Coffin writes...
Me once again, comment, not a question. I was just on iTunes when I noticed the latest episode of Kim Possible was up. Now I don't have cable, so iTunes is how I watch most cable shows, I purchased the episode (haven't watched it as it is still downloading) and then went to TV.com and discovered that you were the one who wrote it, making me really excited to watch it! The Episode was entitled Big Bother, and I guess I'm just looking for comments from the writer, seeing as how by the time you get to this post I'll have watched it.
Rock On-Chip
Greg responds...
I'm not sure what to comment on. I had a really fun time writing it. I'd written one Kim before, and thought I hadn't done a very good job (though the final product turned out great -- just through efforts not my own). But I felt very good about this script, and the proof in the pudding is that most of what I wrote made it on screen. There's a Gargoyle in-joke in there too... although it got trimmed a bit. Same with a reference from a "Mummy" I once wrote and a Max Steel.
Julia writes...
Hi! In regards to Max Steel (which I love dearly), I've always wondered: where did Jefferson Smith's name come from? Is that an homage to 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington', an amazing coincidence, or something else altogether? Thanks!
Greg responds...
I honestly don't recall. I was given many, many of the names when I joined the project. I just don't remember if that was one they handed me or one I came up with. (I'm guessing the former, as I'm rarely shy about taking credit ;)
UKHoneyB writes...
Hey, I'm not sure, but do you still take Max Steel questions? I've got a couple I've been sitting on:
1) For all intents and purposes, the Max Steel series is canceled in the USA (there's a large fan base in Latin America, with three movies produced so far). As such, do you feel able to discuss your plans and ideas for the show, or not? If so, would you be willing to share?
2) You've references a Max Steel "Bible" in a few earlier questions: do you still have it and would you be able to share any information in it if you still do?
Thanks for reading, even if you don't reply!
Greg responds...
1. Well, it's not that I'm unwilling, but you're talking about a series that I did 13 episodes for back in 1999. So my memory isn't crisp on the subject. Anything specific you were curious about?
2. I might still have it at my other office. I don't have it here at Sony. Sorry.
Kassey writes...
Oh my god! Thank you very much for answering my questions for Max steel I was 12 years old when I wrote that I went on your site again after a long while and now I'm 15 years old I'm still a fan no matter what. I do honestly miss the show.
Thanks you made my day.
One last question: Is there any dvd or something that cuntains every Max steel episode?
Kassey still our biggest fan Chapleau, Ontario Canada.
Greg responds...
Hi Kassey. I'm afraid I'm not aware of any Max DVDs. If there were one of the first season, I'd love to have it too.
Zackary Nellom writes...
My name is Zackary Nellom.I dont really have a question abut GARGOYLES,but about Max Steel. I looked everywhere and I couldnt find any kind of tapes or movies. Since you ARE the creator, I thought you might know where I can find some.Please help me
Greg responds...
I wish I did. But I don't. Sorry.
R.I.P. Edward Albert
R.I.P. Edward Albert.
Edward did a voice for us on a couple of episodes on Max Steel. I won't pretend I knew him well, but he was a good and talented guy on those two occasions. The son of Green Acres Eddie Albert, Edward was a talented actor and activist. He'll be missed.
Jeremy Rand writes...
Got a question about Max Steel for you.
I know you don't want to hear summaries of episodes that you didn't do, but I have a question that you might be able to answer. In many of the episodes in Seasons 2 and 3, a major theme is that Josh uses less T-juice than Max because Josh doesn't have the superhuman powers (just extra sharp hearing and eyesight). However, I remember that in episode 4 (Sportsmen), Josh quit the Del Oro Extreme because he couldn't shut off his Max powers -- it was unfair and not a challenge. So, am I confused, or did the writers for seasons 2 and 3 make a mistake?
Oh, and I know you probably wouldn't want them, but in case anyone's interested, Max Steel Season 1 is on DVD. People in the U.K. can get them from http://www.streetsonline.co.uk/ . People in the U.S. and other countries will have to get them off eBay.
Thanks for your time.
Greg responds...
I would want Max Steel Season 1 on DVD. Very much actually. I had no idea it was available. I'll try to find it. So thanks for the heads up.
As to your question, well... I'm going to have to say that there was a screw-up. Josh and Max weren't two different guys. Josh used his powers to change his appearance to look like Max, so that he wouldn't be recognized. But he had all his powers at all times. At least that's how we wrote it during Season One. Of course, I was fired after Season One, and who knows? Maybe that was why.
Valric Sargeant writes...
Can you get me info on Maxsteel?
Greg responds...
Can you be more specific?
Kassey writes...
Hi!
I really like you're style of writing for the show of Max Steel did you ever meet Christian Campbell? Does the letter 'S' stand for something? Because I think that it's cool the way you put those titles together so "those are my two questions"
you're biggest Max Steel fan Kassey Demers Chapleau Ont,Can
THANK YOU!!!
Greg responds...
Hey Kassey,
Don't know if you're still reading ASK GREG, but yes, I knew Christian quite well, though I haven't seen him in a couple years.
S stands for Steel.
sflfunding@aol.com writes...
hi greg. My name is Michelle. My son who is 2 years old and is obsessed with Max Steel. I have been looking all over for videos for him. I have had no luck in finding any. If you can help me in any way, I would appreciate it. I am willing to pay anything for them. thank-you
Please e-mail me at sflfunding@aol.com.
Greg responds...
As far as I know, videos for Max Steel are not available. Sorry.
Jim Tate writes...
I was watching Max Steel with my 2 year old son and was curious what software was used in the making. What about Lip Synch software.
Greg responds...
I have no idea. Sorry.
Demonskrye writes...
I have a Max Steel Question that hopefully will be more fuin than painful. I didn't get to see the show that often, but from reading this site, I've learned that in your version, Josh's parents were named Molly and "Big Jim". My toy collector boyfriend tells me that there is a British action figure line called "Big Jim" which is quite similar to the American G.I. Joe line and thus in the same scale as the Max Steel figures. Apparently, some people in the online action figure collecting community have been wondering if there's a connection. So...
1) Is the name of Josh's dad an intentional homage to the Big Jim line? (if it is, please skip 3. If no, ignore number 2.)
2) If so, was it a suggestion from Mattel or something you came up with on your own?
3) If not, where does the name "Big Jim" come from? (And isn't it kind of an interesting coincidence?)
Greg responds...
1. When I was a kid, I had Big Jim (here in the U.S.). Also Big Jack, Big Josh and Big Someone Else. I was told by Mattel that when they were developing the Max Steel line, it came out of a desire to revamp their old Big Jim line. Given that, I thought it made sense to name Josh/Max's dad Big Jim. They were fine with it. And Big Jim did make one flashback appearance in the first season.
So it wasn't a coincidence and it was kind of a mutual thing.
Good catch.
kimmer14@comcast.net writes...
Looking for a website that will give me a list of all the title names of the action figures of "maxsteel".We have about 8 of them.Example:"wave flier","samurri warrior",etc. Trying to collect for my son.Any help?Thanks
Greg responds...
Sorry, aside from the time displacement that's unfortunately typical of ASK GREG, I didn't even know the answer to this back in 2002.
Steve Nunez writes...
I loved your episode of Video wars for the jem series, I was wondering how you and cary bates came up with the storyline, and why you only seem to have written 1 episode for the show? You and Cary also seem to have done a lot together. Will you two be working on future shows? and personally, I think you both rock! :-) Stnp@yahoo.com
Greg responds...
Thanks. Cary & I were writing partners for years, mostly at DC Comics. Nowadays, we still like working together, so I made him a story editor on Gargoyles. And I've had him write scripts for me on that show, plus Starship Troopers & Max Steel.
Basically, if I ever get another show, we'll wind up working together again, most likely.
I'm glad you liked the Jem episode. We only did one, because we were only offered one. I'd have been happy to do more. I'm not too clear (as it's been over 15 years) how we came up with that particular storyline, but I think it was suggested by the bible. Not the premise per se, but it felt like a natural.
Anonymous writes...
I know that it's impossible, but in your opinion, what would happen if there was a cross-over between your two creations Gargoyles and Max Steel? How would the characters react towards each other?
Greg responds...
For starters, credit going where it is due, Max wasn't my creation. I developed the show, but did not create it.
After that, I guess they'd fit together all right. Max is assigned to investigate Gargoyle sightings or something. He's got nano-tech powers. It could be fun.
But it doesn't particularly jazz me.
Kathy writes...
What happened to Max Steel? My sons miss him terribly.
Greg responds...
I don't have an answer for you. I only worked on the first season (the first 13 episodes). They did two more seasons after I left. I thought it was still airing in reruns on cable somewhere, but I'm not sure.
George writes...
So, Greg , what type of series are you currently working on your own besides Gargoyles and Redemption Squad, a.k.a. BAD GUYS, Max Steel, Timedancer and all of those other Gargoyles Spin-offs?
Greg responds...
For starters, of course, Max Steel is not a Gargoyle Spin-Off. It was a show on Kids WB, produced by Sony and based on a toy from Mattel. I developed it and worked on the first season in 1999. Since then, I've had no involvement.
I have never stopped trying to bring back Gargoyles or one of its Spin-Offs in some way, shape or form, but in the meantime I still have to earn a living.
I've worked on a number of shows as a freelancer since Max. A non-comprehensive list would include: 3x3 Eyes (English dub), Atlantis: Milo's Return (direct-to-DVD/Video), The Mummy, Kim Possible, Bionicle: Mask Of Light, etc.
I've also been working more recently for a number of companies in development, including Platinum Studios, Warner Brothers, DAG and Hasbro. (All in addition to various spec projects on my own and with partners that I/we hope to sell some day.) I'd love nothing more than to talk about this stuff, but it's both bad luck and bad business to talk about a project before it's sold.
Finally, most recently, I've been writing for a new Warner Brothers animated series for Story Editor/Producer Duane Capizzi (of "Men in Black" and "Jackie Chan" fame). Again, I'd love to talk about it, but I don't know if Warners has announced the series yet, and I definitely do NOT want to be the guy who let the cat out of the bag.
Sorry.
Cathy writes...
MAX Steel
I am a parent of a 7 yr old boy. My son loves Max Steel and all of sudden the show has been cancelled? I cannot seem to find any infomation on why or what. I was wondering if you could bring me up to speed on what happened? I have done numerous searches and cannot find current information on Max Steel. I do really appreciate the response!
Cathy
Greg responds...
Well, Cathy, I somehow doubt you're still checking this site for an answer after 19 months. And even if you are, I can't be of much help. I worked on ONLY the first season of Max Steel. I know they did at least two more seasons, but I had no idea that it was still on the air at all. I last saw it this past spring -- what I assume was a rerun on cable.
Anybody else know Max's status?
You might check with the Mattel toy company, who has a vested interest in maintaining fan interest in the property.
Sunny writes...
I was wondering what you could tell me about the Max Steel character?
Greg responds...
Lots, probably. What do you want to know?
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.
Ricky writes...
Hi Greg, ever thought about getting Max Steel and Rachel together. Despite you're not with the Max Steel project anymore. Have any thought about what you could've done with the characters?
Greg responds...
Well, in the one season (out of three) that I did work on Max Steel, we did (briefly) get Max and Rachel together. In an episode called Sharks, set in a submarine (or two). They succumbed to emotion, the depths and a lot of sexual attraction and kissed. Then they immediately backed off. Max (or rather Josh) was still in love with Laura. Rachel was conflicted, since she's Max's boss.
I'm not sure where we would have gone long term -- since I left the show before season two.
Just last week, I finally saw one of the episodes I didn't work on. (Up to this point, I'd seen none except my thirteen.) It seemed to be from the third season, and had a very different feel in many ways. Max and 'Berto were still there, though 'Berto was now a field agent. Psycho was still the villain, but he seemed to be operating independently. There was a new girl with Max and 'Berto, and no sign of Rachel, Laura or any of the rest of my supporting cast, unless you count the occasional reference to Jeff -- who didn't appear. I watched a couple acts of it, but then my kids lost interest and changed the channel, and I didn't care enough to change rooms and see the end.
Ricky writes...
DO YOU THINK THAT MAX STEEL WILL EVER BE MADE INTO A FULL-LENGTH FEATURE FILM?
Greg responds...
In a word, no.
But who knows? Max Steel is owned (largely if not entirely) by Mattel. Would you count "Barbie in Rapunzel" as a full-length feature? If so, then I suppose it is possible.
ATTENTION FANS OF MATT BLUESTONE
Tom Wilson (the voice of Matt Bluestone) is currently recurring on the NBC series Ed, playing a widowered fireman and a potential love-interet for the Molly Hudson character, played by actress Leslie Boone, whom I've also worked with on 3x3 EYES. (Leslie is a very good friend of Thom "Lexington" Adcox.)
I've worked with Tom on most of the series where I had some control over casting, like MAX STEEL and TEAM ATLANTIS. He's one of my absolute favorite performers, and he and Leslie make a very cute couple. He's already been on two episodes. I don't know how long a run he'll get. But I hope he sticks around.
Ricky writes...
I know the titles from other sites (Max Steel)
Greg responds...
Oh. How did they know?
Ricky writes...
Hi again...
Sorry to hear that the Atlantis project was scrapped, that's terrible news...actually a series like that would've been great to see. Too bad!
Why are all the first episodes of Max Steel titled with "S" names? Was it your idea, any humourous reason?
Greg responds...
My idea. No humorous reason.
The reason in my head was always a bit obscure. I was trying to do something that I never quite achieved. Years later, it's even less clear to me now.
But here's a question... since the titles don't appear on the episodes, how do you know them? From this site?
Blaise writes...
Hi again!
This question actually deals with the credits listing of the series (yeah, I know it seems I have too much time on my hands, but that's beside the point).
Two things about GARGOYLES' credits stood out. The first you already talked about--the writers recieving credit at the beginning of episodes during the first season. The second however I also found to be quite interesting--GARGOYLES actually gave a true cast list. Usually in these Disney shows, when the credits say, "With the Voice Talents of..." they just lump the actors' names together without telling who they played. GARGOYLES was the first Disney animated series I know of (BUZZ LIGHTYEAR did it later) that actually listed both the actors and the characters they played. This enabled me to (when I started taping the episodes and could hit pause) more fully discover just how diverse and talented this cast was. I could recognize names and see if a person played multiple roles, and I was quite pleased.
So...
1) Is there any story behind this, like there was for giving the writers' credit up front?
2) Whatever the case, I'm glad I could know who played who.
Thanks!
Greg responds...
I don't know if this would qualify as a story, but I liked how Batman the animated series listed who played who. It seemed to show more respect for the actors (and as I was a fan of Batman) more respect for the fans who might be VCRing the thing and want to know.
So we followed their lead. And I'm glad we did. I tried to talk SONY into doing that for Starship and/or Max Steel, but they weren't interested.
Ricky writes...
I wonder if you noticed this, in episode 2 of Max Steel, when Rachal and Max were in the dark alley and they encounter 3 dread minnions and Psycho, one scene Max is wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans, he's having fainting spells in this episode remembering how he got his powers, after he regains consciousness he suddenly is wearing his fighting uniform, he didn't power up or anything, then after defeating dread's minnions and Psycho escaping, he's back to wearing the dark shirt and blue jeans again...Can you explain this? Do you know what I'm talking about?
Greg responds...
Well, first off, it's episode THREE: Shadows. Not episode TWO: Sacrifices.
Second off, however, I don't recall there being a mistake here. Are you sure he didn't power up off screen.
At any rate, I can't confirm or deny anything. It's just been too long since I've seen the eps.
Ricky writes...
Greg,
Thanks for responding to my questions. I've written about four novels, but none of them have been accepted. Maybe it's my style of writting I don't know...but perhaps we can help each other in this matter. Would it be all right if I sent you a story on this web page despite it being against your guidelines...I'd like someone to read it, and since it's about Max Steel I thought you would be the more appropiate person to send it to. Just take a look and if you like it then perhaps we can colabrate on something.
Thanx
Greg responds...
Ricky,
I appreciate the sincerity of the offer. But I'm afraid I'm not interested for a score of reasons. Here are the main ones:
1. Max Steel generally is a painful topic for me. I'm quite less than anxious to see anyone else's version of that character.
2. I don't know you. You may be a great guy. Or you may be law suit happy. Even if you are the former, if I break my rule for you, than someone else who is law suit happy can claim that sometimes I break my rules and that I must have broken it for him or her.
3. I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a new collaborator. My brother and I are collaborating on a screenplay. But working with him is like working with my second self. Otherwise, generally, I prefer to gut it out on my own.
Having said all that, I wish you all the best with your work. If writing is your passion, then stick with it.
Andrea L. Marbry writes...
Dear Greg,
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but remember when you said that when Max Steel went off the air, you'd reveal YOUR plans for the show? You might want to start to get your notes together. Even though WB has announced that they've committed to a third season, the fact that Max Steel IS NOT on the WB Fall 2001 schedule, coupled with the fact that they ran the last episode of the second season, "Breakout", BEFORE the May 2001 Sweeps, signifies bad news. If the fat lady isn't singing airas, she's definitely warming up....
Greg responds...
The third season will be on Cartoon Network, or so I'm told.
Yttrium writes...
Can you tell us of any particularly amusing/interesting garg reference in either MAX STEEL or 3X3 EYES?
Thanks.
---Ytt
Greg responds...
I can't think of any in max.
There are quite a few in 3x3, including the use of a lot of garg voice talent. For example, Keith David plays a cop and uses his Morgan voice. He also plays a much more startling character. It's a hoot.
There's a homeless guy who hums the gargoyle theme song. I did that voice.
Someone says, "What could be strong enough to leave claw marks in solid stone?"
And so on...
Nothing that didn't TOTALLY fit the context. We didn't want to abuse 3x3 for the sake of Gargoyles. But where it fit, it fit.
Nathan writes...
I can't find info on psycho anywhere! what made him the way he is (I.E. Cyborg)? I really want to know.
Greg responds...
Never revealed that in my 13. Ask Mattel.
Idle Swimmer writes...
I know Mas Steel is still a sensitive subject for you. (Trust me, I can hear it from your tone when you answer some of the questions.) I swear this will be the last question from me. Did they pull you off the show because of the direction you're taking with the Max/Josh-Laura-Rachel relationship triangle?
Greg responds...
Well, though it was always in the development, they clearly came to feel that they didn't like it. So that was one of the reasons. But not the only one. As we had moved past that triangle by the end of my 13th and final episode.
The new triangle I was planning was a Max-Laura-Josh triangle. Which I was mostly going to play for comedy.
And I don't know whether they would have liked it or not. They booted me without ever discussing what they wanted for the second season. Caught me QUITE off guard.
They've claimed I'm a lousy writer. Maybe I am. Max certainly wasn't my best work. But I blame them and they blame me... Etc. It's all very subjective.
Not fun, huh?
(Can't believe I said all that. No wonder I can't get a job.)
General writes...
How did Josh McGrath turn into Max Steel exsactly?
Greg responds...
He activated the Max-Probes in his body and clothes.
Ricky Stewart writes...
Ricky here again,
Max Steel is an **AWESOME** character! I'm almost finished my Max Steel story. Do I have your permission to post it on the internet, or would you like to read it first since you are the creator? Pointers? rickystewart2001@yahoo.ca
Greg responds...
A) I wasn't the creator.
B) I don't read fanfiction EVER.
C) I have nothing to do with Max Steel anymore.
D) I can't give you permission to do anything regarding the character.
E) But I'm glad you like him.
Ricky Stewart writes...
Hi Ricky here,
This is not a request for employment, but a plea for a chance to break into the business. I'm a writer and I'd like to write a novel. Can you help me?
P.S. How did you come up with Max Steel. Awesome character. Sorry you're no longer involved.
Greg responds...
I'd like to write a novel too. Can YOU help ME?
And I didn't come up with Max. Mattel did. I just developed the character.
Maxy Steel writes...
I just keep rollin' them out, don't I?
1. From the episode "Scions," who played the voices of Jim and Molly McGrath, and Marco Nathanson?
Thanks for putting up with me, and catch ya later! Luv ya all!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
Honestly, I don't remember. They're names would be listed in the credits. If you gave me a list of the actors names, I could tell you who played who.
Bruno writes...
Hi, Greg,
I was thinking: Im Max Steel and Starship Troopers, you worked with old garg fellows: Michael Reaves, Lygia Marano, Cary Bates... You invited them or was it a case of great professionals hired to work togheter?
Greg responds...
On those shows specifically, I invited them. If you find good writers, you try to work with them over and over.
Maureen writes...
As you may know, Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot is currently being re-aired (heh, mostly aired for the first time, 'cause they only showed 6 eps in Fall '99) by Fox. You wrote the second ep, "Out of Whack", with the rather scary subplot of Rusty being afraid he'd get turned to scrap in
"the grinder". You also introduced the Legion Ex Machina, their mole Dr. Gilder/Number Six, and picked a pretty darn cool (and gutsy!) way for Rusty to save the day. Any thoughts on this episode?
Also, are you related to Marlowe Weisman, who also wrote for Big Guy and Rusty?
Nosily yours....
Greg responds...
I know Marlowe, but no, we are not related. I am related to Jon Weisman, my brother, who has also written scripts for Men In Black, Starship Troopers, Max Steel, Hercules and So Weird.
As for "Out of Whack", most of the credit for that episode, and that series, should go to Producer/Story Editor Duane Capizi. The Legion Ex Machina was his idea. And my version of it was very different. Duane rewrote me quite a bit, actually.
But the basic telling of the story is mine. And I thought it was kind of fun. Originally, I was supposed to write a number of Rusty episodes. But then I wound up doing Max Steel instead. Oh, well.
Maxy Steel writes...
Okay, hi there again...
1. Was Kat a part of your universe?
Catch ya later! Luv ya all!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
No. At least not that I can recall. Again, I only did the first 13 episodes. If the character didn't appear in the first 13 than you gotta figure he or she ain't one of mine.
She Duo Infinity writes...
I have a question regarding Max Steel~ Is Berto hispanic? Right? I am seriously confused, I mean, or is he hawaaian? Also, does Katt *like* Berto? I mean, this is disterbing, and yeah. Anyway, buhbai! Everyone out there, dun dis Max. He's my friend. Anyway, see ya'll around! Dragoness rules!
Greg responds...
'Berto's from Columbia (in my development).
Who is Katt? (Sounds like something from season two, which I have no involvement in (or interest in).)
And do you mean Dragonelle?
Todd Jensen writes...
One "Max Steel" question that I've been meaning to ask you for some time, over a matter that genuinely puzzled me. The story of how he became Max Steel was done, not in the very first episode of the series, but in the third one (at least, the third one from the point of view of intended order of release), via a flashback. And that always surprised me a little, since the origin story struck me as something that I would have expected to see in the first episode. It would have been as if "Gargoyles" had opened with Goliath and his clan already being in New York for some time and the story in "Awakening" being done as a flashback in a later episode (and I mean by the story in "Awakening", all of it, including the present-day parts such as the Cyberbiotics raid and the first battle with the Steel Clan). I was wondering why you took that particular route in the series.
Greg responds...
It was largely a decision that came out of the decision that stated NO MULTI-PARTERS. Trying to introduce characters, locations, situations, etc. at the same time that you are introducing the origins of all that stuff is nearly impossible to do in 22 minutes. So we break up the story into two separate stories. And create a bit of intriguing mystery. (Or so I hoped.)
SEM writes...
Given what you learned from STARSHIP TROOPERS and MAX STEEL -- if you were told that you could do GARGOYLES again but only if it could be done in 3D Animation would you? Do you think GARGOYLES could even work in 3D?
(I know it's a hypothetical, but this was the main selling point that got VOLTRON back on the air after 10 years as VOLTRON: THE THIRD DIMENSION for 26 episodes.)
BTW for the person who asked what program MAX STEEL is rendered in -- I know Netter Digital (now defunct) used Lightwave, and that Foundation Imaging used Lightwave for season one (as well as for the work they did on STARSHIP TROOPERS). I presume its still being used for the current season but not sure. Lightwave's major competitor is a program called Maya.
Sorry if I wandered too far off topic, Greg, but since I knew this came up thought I'd answer it for the archives.
Greg responds...
Yes, I think Gargoyles could work in 3-D. And if that was my only option for bringing it back, I'd jump at the chance.
If I had multiple options, however, I'd use the animation style that best suited the subject matter of the series.
Idle Swimmer writes...
I was watching the show that day and I figure the facial expression of Josh seemed to be a bit atatic. I mean yeah, the eyeballs roll around, and he sometimes furrow his brows, but it still felt like something is missing. Same thing goes on with other characters like Smith and Nez. Am i over picky or is the facial animation isn't tip top?
Greg responds...
(We're talking about Max Steel, here, folks.)
I think that some of the animation (on the first thirteen episodes, the only ones I've seen) is definitely not that great. Some of it is all right, but none of it is terrific.
I will say, that there's no reason, however, why Josh shouldn't be as good or as awful as Max. They had the exact same facial model.
psycho,s son the 3rd model writes...
I just bought a max steel toy of bio-constrictor i ve only watched 4max steel eps and well/has he been in the cartoon series?
Greg responds...
You lost me.
Andrea L. Marbry writes...
Dear Greg,
Just a few more Max Steel questions.
1) If Mairot was going undercover on Jeff's orders,
how was he going to redeem himself in the eyes
of the man he betrayed into a death-trap,
namely Max? And what effect would this have
on Max's relationship with Jeff? My guess is:
catastrophic collapse! But, the fact that Jeff
made a desperate plea to James Bond, Sr, i.e.,
Charles Marshak, to save his son, suggests that
he didn't know or approve of the WAY Mairot
planned his "defection". Or, was Mairot supposed
to get Max out of the lab BEFORE things got
"nasty"?
2) If Dread wasn't getting his N-Tek info from
Mairot, WHERE was he getting it from? I have
an ugly suspicion, cobbled together from the
info on the kidsWB site, plus info from here
and there, that John Dread is actually Marco
Nathanson, who has gone rogue for some reason,
instead of dying in an explosion. After all,
bad guys walk away unscathed from all sorts of
stuff, and the info from the site indicates that
Jeff restored N-Tek to its proper mission after
Nathanson's death, which indicates that Nathanson
was warping N-Tek into ... something else,
perhaps something "dreadful?" Plus, after
"Strangers", Dread's first direct attack on N-Tek
was on its leader, which indicates he knew all
about N-Tek (just was attacking the WRONG member
of the family), possibly indicating a personal
grudge with Jeff.
3) Which brings up, when did N-Tek know about
DREAD? Before or AFTER Jeff's abduction? Was
that your way of introducing DREAD to everyone?
4) Was Max's powers "developed" or "discover-
ed"? Like was the "stealth mode", super-strenght
etc, deliberately designed after Josh's in-
fusion, or was it discovered that Josh had these
new powers "naturally", during tests after his
recovery? I must concur with Maxy Steel that
Josh looks too totally different from Max, indi-
cating that Josh is actually doing some sort of
"morphing", not just disguising himself, since
even at very low power levels, Josh stays in
the form of Max Steel, unless he consicously
transforms. Even when rendered unconscious,
as he was in "Shattered" (how did Mairot knock
him out, by the way?), he stays in Max Steel
form.
5) I also concur with Maxy Steel in wishing to
know more about 'Berto and his family, since in
"Snow-Blind", he'd apparently had left to go
home to Columbia on that vacation, yet had al-
ready returned to Del Oro - just in time to help
save Max's life, and protect him against further
Dread phone calls. So what had happened, and
why? Also, in "Spear-Carriers", what was that
guard doing to 'Berto's wrists, while Breamer
was responding to Max's call? I'd thought that
they were unchaing him, but even with VCR slo-
mo, I'm not sure. Since Breamer treated 'Berto
like a stray puppy rather than a prisoner (no
guard on him on the flight deck, let alone not
locked up someplace), I take it Breamer didn't
want to hurt anyone who wasn't a direct threat.
6) No doubt this'll be cold comfort to you after
the way you was "voted off the island" by WB,
but Pete is becoming a major part of Max Steel's
life. I would like to see those three untold
tales in some form or other, as well as the last
four unproduced Starship Troopers stories, just
for completion and closure. If there's anyway
you can let us know what happened, or was to
happen, I (and a lot of other people) would
really appreciate it. As long as it doesn't
get you in any trouble, of course!
Happy Holidays,
Andrea Marbry
Greg responds...
O.K. First off, keep in mind this is my version of events. This may not reflect what the current creators and execs of the show have planned, if anything.
1. Mairot was supposed to find a way to get Max out, if for some reason Max (and/or Marshak) could not. But Jeff didn't know who the real Mole was, so he had to play concerned father to Marshak and everyone, so that whoever the real Mole was would lower his or her guard.
2. Boy, you stuff a lot into a single question. Well, first off, I was trying to lead people to believe that Dread was Nathanson. But he wasn't. There was no personal grudge against Jeff. Just the practical grudge that Jeff's people were constantly thwarting Dread. As for where the information was coming from, the answer there was from N-Tek's master computer. The mole (in my imagination) was not a person, but they're own computer system. Which was built by Nathanson.
3. I don't remember.
4. By your definition, I guess "discovered". But I must reiterate that his facial design is exactly the same. Body design too. The only changes are his hair color and hair style. His eye color. And his clothing. The rest is in your imagination.
5. Breamer was interested in 'Berto. Thought he had found a kindred spirit. Also didn't perceive him as much of a threat of any kind. But I don't remember the wrist thing you mention. As for 'Berto's family, I think I did a little background work on him, but mostly I was saving it for a chance when we'd do an episode about them. Never got to though. Oh, well.
6. Uh, are we talking Starship or Max here? I always liked Pete.
Maxy Steel writes...
Hey Greg!
1. I noticed that Gregg Rainwater voiced "Jake Nez" in Max Steel, and "Jake MacDonald" in 3x3 eyes. Was there some kind of joke or connection with having the same first name for both characters, or just a really strange fluke?
2. I know that Max doesn't always wear the chest plate. (like how he didn't have it for most of "Scions") I was curious, does that thing do anything interesting? Hold water, contain weapons, possibily a swiss army knife?
3. I know that in "Sacrifices" Rachel and mant of the other agents had pistols or some kind of fire arm. Since this is a kids show, I was kind of surprised by that. So, out of curiosity, do most agents have a weapon at all times? I can see why max wouldn't need one, but others like Rachel, Jake, possibly Berto if he ever left N-tek?
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. Just a fluke. I named Jake Nez. But the Jake MacDonald character was already named when I came onto 3x3. Gregg was just great in GARGOYLES, voicing Coyote Trickster and Natsilane. He's been a favorite of mine ever since, so I try to use him on every project.
2. Don't know. I was not involved in the animation or design. Ask Mattel, I guess.
3. 'Berto maybe not. He doesn't usually go out in the field, and when he does, I'm not sure it occurs to him to grab a piece. Max, no. Rachel, yes, in my mind. But I'm not sure the WB agrees.
By the way, 3x3 Eyes is now available on video. And coming soon to DVD.
Maxy Steel writes...
Okay, I'll rephrase the questions.
1. In response to a question by Andrea Marbry, you said there were at least three "untold" episodes before "Strangers." I was asking if their scripts were written, and the episodes animated.
2. Put it this way: WHAT are Josh, Rachel, and Berto's middle names?
3. Not to sound snippy or anything, but are you ever at your desk when you answer these questions?
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. No. (And I didn't say "episodes". I said missions. Or at least I'm fairly certain that's what I said.)
2. I don't remember whether I gave them any, let alone what they were.
3. I'm generally at my Disney Desk, as I am today. Since Max was a Sony show, I don't have my Max files here. Because my Disney show does not yet have a green light, I currently have more time to answer ASK GREG questions here than I do in Beverly Hills. Sorry.
Matt Clara writes...
Greg, what software is used to model and animate Max Steel? What software do you prefer? How long does it take to produce a single episode, and about how many people work on one? What are the odds you can reply to me in person? emjaysea@worldnet.att.net (I'm 32 years old and only came here looking for this information--I've a great interest in modeling and animation).
Thanks,
Greg responds...
I am ignorant as to what's used to animate Max. LOTS of people work on episodes. Length of time varies, and as it contracts, quality tends to go down.
Unfortunately, Matt, this isn't a great resource for this kind of information. I'm not an animator. I'm a writer, basically.
And I can't start e-mailing you, because everyone would want the same treatment, and (a) I just don't have that kind of time and (b) if everyone was getting personal answers, then this forum would cease to be useful.
Sandrine Matheron writes...
Dear Greg,
Iwanted to know if a video-game on Max Steel is in project.
- If the answer is yes and if it will be on a computer please ask it for Mac too (because usually it's only for Windows and I haven't any)! Please ! ! !
- If the answer is no, can you ask for it ? Please ! ! !
In any case, I'm waiting and wishing that a day I'll have the chance to play on a Max Steel's plateform game. Will I be disapointed or not? Thanks for answering my questions.
Greg responds...
I have no idea. As I've stated over and over, I no longer have any involvement in Max Steel.
If you have questions about the stories in the first thirteen episodes, fire away. Otherwise, I won't be of much help. Sorry.
kmcgrath@zambasolutions.com writes...
I came across this page while trying to find out more about the Max Steel series, which Greg was/is an integral part of. The character Josh McGrath is Max Steel, like Bruce Wayne is Batman, Clark Kent is Superman. My four year old son is named Josh McGrath. So, I am after something, anything, that I can purchase that actually says that Josh McGrath is Max Steel. Mattel, which makes the toys, does not have anything - the toy packaging is devoid of anything. The web sites tell the story, but there is nothing else - I can't exactly print a web page image that is good enough to frame. Does Greg know of anything? Thank you for your assistance. - Kevin McGrath
Greg responds...
"the Max Steel series, which Greg was/is an integral part of."
Was, not is.
I'm sorry, I don't know of anything. Good luck.
Maxy Steel writes...
Me an' my eternal motor mouth...heh.
1. Do you have something like a "bird's-eye" shot of the whole city of Del Oro?
2. What about Josh's suburban home, the layout?
3. And the beach house?
Sorry, it's just...I have to know these things! I go crazy if I don't! Yeah, I'm real weird.
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. Do I? No.
2. I'm sure the studio does.
3. Josh's home is the beach house.
Maxy Steel writes...
Yet another question. I keep coming up with these, don't I?
1. Do Josh, Rachel, and Berto have middle names?
Please answer this one!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
Didn't you JUST ask me this.
And yes, I'm sure they do.
Maxy Steel writes...
Okay, something I've been wondering for a long time.
1. In Sacrifices, right before Smith collapsed and Psycho nabbed him, what happened? Why did he collapse?
Thanks a billion!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
A sonic pulse was released through Smith's cellphone. It knocked him out, and the Dread operatives pretended he'd had a heart attack.
Maxy Steel writes...
Hi again! More questions.
1. About what you said about the three untold episodes of Max Steel: Did they get created?
2. Do Rachel, Josh, or Berto have middle names?
3. I agree with Andrea Marbry. There should have more on Berto's past.
4. Do you know much about the upcoming Max Steel video game?
Thank you so much for listening to me blab!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. What did I say? Cuz I don't know what you're referring to.
2. I'm sure they do.
3. 'Kay. If I had done more episodes we would have seen more on his past. We would have met his family eventually.
4. NOTHING. As I've said, all my knowledge is past tense.
Paul J Lacayo writes...
Hi Greg. I know you don't do the series anymore, but since you did strangers, sacrifices, and Snow blind, I want to know if you cknow when those episodes will play again.
And do you know when Max Steel videos will come out in stores?
12/3/00
Greg responds...
No and no.
Don't have anything to do with it anymore.
Sorry.
Lawrence H.Y.Li writes...
Dear Greg,
I am interested in Max Steel but it is not hot in Hong Kong now. So it is hard for me to find some toys and models.
I like #24915 PSYCHO but can not find any clear pictures and toys in Hong Kong.Even from net.
Would you please kindly send me some pictures of #24915 or some web site that I can find it?
Thank you very much
Lawrence Li
Hong Kong
e-mail: hycoltd@netvigator.com
Greg responds...
I'm sorry, but I don't have that info.
Maxy Steel writes...
Okay, It's been so long since I posted...for me, anyway. There are a few questions you said I should ask again, beacuse you didn't have the information. So, I'll ask again.
1. How old are some of the frequents (Smith, Mairot, Yevshenko, Smiley, Dread, Vitriol)And a few we've only seen once or twice. (Dragonelle)
2. Is Yevshenko's name really Elena?
3. The WB site said Berto was 18. I thought he looked 16 or 17. You said you thought he's 19, and yet Max refers to him as if he's younger. (the grasshopper comment from Strangers comes to mind here) So, how old is he?
4. About Psycho, I meant how many times he was kinda left hanging with no way out. Like the space thing, or in Shattered, with the fungus.
5. Who did Annabelle's voice? I haven't seen much of gargs.
6. I still think it's DNA resturcturing. *pouts*
7. The time comment didn't make any sense. How about something in terms a non-gargoyle educated person would understand?
FYI, Rachel's authorization code is A057. Yeah, I'm obsessed.
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. Still not in my office. Don't have it with me.
2. I believe so. See above.
3. See above, but I think he's eighteen or nineteen. Certainly not younger or older.
4. It's all a matter of degree. There was the space thing, the fungus, the volcano. Those off the top of my head. You can count 'em as well as I can.
5. Annabelle had no voice. She never spoke. (Who did you think did it?)
6. What?
7. What are you referring to?
Andrea Marbry @altavista.com writes...
Dear Greg,
On Max Steel, why do Max & Berto wear blue costumes
while the other agents tend toward street clothes?
Also, the first season concentrated on Max's history with
N-Tek, but what was Berto's? Josh mentions that he was
already an agent when he asked his dad for permission to
join.
Why do Max & Berto operate as a team, with Rachel as a
supervisor, whereas other agents operate alone? Is it
due to the Max Probes accident, or are there other N-Tek
partnerships?
Was the first mission/adventure of Team Steel "Strangers",
or was there an earlier, "untold" mission/story that led
Jeff to accept his son as an agent, and to partner him
with Dr. Martinez?
And, finally, what are the heights of Max, Josh, and Berto?
Max does appear to be physically heavier than Josh does?
Thanks!
Greg responds...
Constraints of animation limited our costume options. Rachel appears both in street clothes and in agent gear. Jeff and Mairot wear street clothes, as they aren't field agents, but management.
'Berto was hired on just a few short months before Max.
It was felt that given Max's unique combination of Max-Probes and inexperience, that he needed a unique support staff. But most agents don't operate alone (at least not in my view). Most had partners. Nez had Murtaugh, for example.
There were at least three earlier untold adventures. Though from moment one Team Steel consisted of Max, Rachel and 'Berto. Marshak was added later.
I'm not too good with statistics, sorry, but Max and Josh weigh the same amount (not counting gear).
Sandrine Matheron writes...
Dear Greg,
I like very much the Max Steel series.
1.When will the second season arrive in USA and in France(if possible) ?
2.I don't know if you are concerne about the graphism but in Shadows (I think it's the title of the Paris' episode, in french it's " Paris, ville sombre ") Paris'streets are not well done. They're to american with the hill and the double yellow lines in the middle of the road… (normally there are no hills and there's one white line in the middle…) but the Eiffel Tower's place is beautiful (where was the Seine ?).
Can you answer my questions please ? Thank you.
Greg responds...
1. I believe the second season (which I have nothing to do with) has already begun airing in the US. As for France, I have no idea. Sorry.
2. In general, we felt the animation was very disappointing on all our cities, except maybe Del Oro Bay.
Maxy Steel writes...
Boy, I have too much free time on my hands.
1. In season one, about how many times did Psycho supposedly die?
2. Has Shannon Kenny (Rachel) done any other roles in other shows you've worked on?
3. Is Berto really 18?
Doomo Arigatou!
-Maxy Steel (who has had too much sugar!)
Greg responds...
1. Gee. Hmm. Twice? Three times. It depends on how you define it. There was only one time when N-Tek really felt pretty sure that Smiley had bought it. That was when Nez sent him flying off into space in "Sabres".
2. No, darn it. I'd love to work with her again, though. She's an amazing actress, with a great voice. She's currently in that Vincent Ventresca Invisible Man series on Sci-Fi (I think).
3. I thought he was nineteen. But I don't remember for sure.
Maxy Steel writes...
Yeah, I just keep sendin' 'em in. I hope I'm not bothering you to insanity.
1. If L'Etranger is not a robot, and he's not a person in a suit, then is he a cyborg, like Smiley?
2. And wouldn't hair and eye color "naturally" changing be counted as DNA reconstruction?
3. In your world, did Mairot die in "Shattered?"
4. Which voice actor does who in the show, of the characters that show (somewhat) regularly. I already know ones like Max, Rachel, Berto, Smith, Laura, Pete, Smiley, Mairot, and Dread. But what about others, like Sophia, Vitriol, Dragonelle, Woody and Annabelle Barkowski, and L'etranger?
Thank you soooooo much!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. In my development, yes. I can't speak for the new producers.
2. No. I consider it part of the color/light warping abilities of the Max-probes.
3. No.
4.
--Sophia and Dragonelle were voiced by Mia Korf. (She's great. She also did a voice for me [Natsuko] in 3x3 Eyes.)
--Woody was the amazing Jeff Glenn Bennett (voice of Brooklyn, Owen, the Magus, etc.)
--Vitriol was an actor named August Paro, that I had never used before. But I thought he had a great voice.
--Annabelle was done by the same performer who voiced Claw and Nought in Gargoyles.
--L'Étranger was voiced by John DeLancie. Better known as "Q"
in Star Trek.
Maxy Steel writes...
Hi again, it's Maxy. More questions, once again.
1. There's a Max Steel bible?! I want one!
2. About what year is Max Steel set? Like, is it set in the present, past, future? How far in any of the directions?
3. What are the ages of the frequently seen characters? (Smith, Mairot, Yevshenko)
4. Does Yevshenko have a first name?
Thanks a bunch!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. Yes, it exists. But I'm not currently at liberty to distribute it to anyone.
2. Somewhere between the present and Max Headroom's "Twenty minutes into the future." Say, twelve minutes.
3. I don't have that info handy.
4. Yes. From memory, I'd say Elena, but I don't want to be held to that. Again, I'm not at my office where I have access to that info.
Ask again another time.
Andrea L. Marbry , marbryalm@AltaVista.com writes...
Dear Greg,
Sorry about the synopsis to the first episode of Max
Steel, Season II [posting it (inadventently), that is].
Hope it doesn't get you into any trouble! But the reason
why I am so fascinated about 'Berto is that my first epi-
sode of the show I saw was "Spear-Carriers", his "trial
of fire", so to speak. I'd noticed that most of the senior
N-TEK personnel, like Rachel & Jeff, are very protective
of him. My question is, given the events of Snow-Blind,
Sphinxes, and especially, Shattered, is it proabable that
'Berto's temporary captivity aboard Breamer's Javelin
was a covert Dread plot to abduct him? If not, what led
Breamer to treat 'Berto with "kid gloves" after capturing
him? And, finally, who responsible for the great music
used on Max Steel?
Looking forward to more of your work,
Andrea Marbry
Greg responds...
That Spear-Carriers episode was supposed to air much earlier in the sequence. I think it was like the sixth show or something (though I'm away from my office and don't have that info handy).
And, no, it wasn't a Dread plot. Breamer was impressed by 'Berto. At least in part because 'Berto pretended to be impressed by Breamer.
I believe the music on Max was by Jim Latham, but I wasn't involved in the post-production of that series, so I'm not sure.
Maxy Steel writes...
Yup, Maxy's back! More questions...
1. Where's the Max Steel archive on this site? The part with the episode bios ad stuff.
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
There isn't one. This is a Gargoyles site. I answer Max questions here occasionally. And there's an archive of those answers here.
Maxy Steel writes...
I'm back, thanks so much for answering my questions. I've got a few more.
1. How old is Rachel? One site said she was 26. Is this true? (This same site also said Jake Nez was 32.)
2. Is L'Etranger a robot, or a person in a suit?
3. Why weren't there that many animals in the first season? I counted about four or five.
Muchos gracias, doomo arigatou, thanks a million!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. I'm not at my regular office so I don't have my Max "bible" on hand. Those ages sound about right, but if you want to be sure (at least in terms of what I was thinking) than ask me again later.
2. Neither.
3. I'm surprised we had that many. What animals did we have? A shark. What else? If the scripts didn't call for them, the animators weren't likely to design them.
Maxy Steel writes...
Just a few quick questions about Max Steel:
1. Why does Max have a uniform like the girl's uniforms, and then Berto's is different? Is it because of Berto's postion at N-tek or something?
2. In your world, what honestly happened to Jim McGrath?
3. Why is it that when Josh becomes Max, his entire DNA structure seems to change? I'm not picking up on that one.
Thannks a million!
-Maxy Steel
Greg responds...
1. In the original set-up, which I'm not sure we executed consistently, Max was an MX operative. MX-1. Rachel was an Agent/Operative. (I forget her number, but she said it once in a French elevator.) 'Berto was part of the Sci/Tech staff. That should explain the different garb.
2. I don't know whether or not they plan on using my original plans. Since I don't know, I don't want to screw them by giving it away. When and if the series is cancelled, I'll answer that question.
3. Huh? Just his appearance -- and really only his hair and eye color. His clothes have Max-probes in them and change at the same time. But he doesn't change them. His bio-link signals them to change.
Joxter writes...
Max Steel question... You've indicated that one reason all the episode titles started with the letter "s" is because it amused you, but you also indicated that there were other reasons. What were some of the other reasons?
Greg responds...
Nothing that'll ever happen since I didn't work on subsequent seasons.
marbryalm@altavista.com writes...
Dear Greg,
I see that you're trying to restart your Gargoyles
series elsewhere, with what network, please? And, of course, the best of luck to you. Just for your information,
on Max Steel, Season II, things got off to an explosive start when Dread, who survived the Dread airship crash in
"Shattered" attacked Josh by kidnapping his best civilian
friend Pete, and ran Max thru a gauntlet designed to weaken
and eventually destroy him. But, even cut off from Berto,
who finally tracks him down and re-energizes him with a
portable trans-phasic generator, Max still manages to survive the deathtraps, especially the most vicious one,
where Pete is chained to a time bomb in an old mining
cavern, and rescue his friend. (Laura, by the way, is
spending a year at sea, but has spoken to Josh again,
saying "See you later, (but) NOT goodbye.") After Berto's
save, Max is able to capture Dread and lock him up in a
high-tech castle dungeon. Oh yes, there was a robot dog
in this episode (Berto is developing a pet hobby), that,
as of the second episode, has morphed into an android cat
(that occasionally barks at Max).
Of course, I understand your wish to avoid commenting
on the program since you were invited off of it, but the
above is for folks who don't have access to the second
season yet (like in Canada). However, in your storylines,
is there some reason why Berto rarely, if ever, leaves
N-Tek HQ, and when he does, it's always in a heavily-secure
environ, like Behemoth?
Greg responds...
I never said I was trying to start Gargoyles up "elsewhere". Gargoyles is owned by Disney.
Uh...
O.K. For starters. Please DON'T feel the need to post synopses of future Max Steel episodes here. If I wanted access to them, I could get them. It just makes me nuts. There are comment rooms for that kinda thing.
As for 'Berto during my seasons, it was his job to "run" Max from his console. The console was either at N-Tek or in Behemoth. We did (under extraordinary circumstances) have him get out from behind the monitor on a couple of occassions. But to make that a consistent thing, would have changed his job description.
Todd Jensen writes...
In "City of Stone Part Three", when Xanatos and Owen are discussing how to find a way of breaking Demona's spell, Owen suggests researching the Grimorum Arcanorum. Xanatos correctly points out that even if they could find a counter-spell in its pages, they wouldn't be able to use it (and it could even be dangerous to do so on account of the "mixing magics is a bad idea" business).
The revelation later on that Owen was really Puck made that suggestion of his a bit puzzling to me. I would have thought that Puck would have already been aware that the Grimorum wasn't an option for the solution without Xanatos needing to tell him that. Or is he less knowledgeable about human magic than about faerie magic?
Greg responds...
There was no pilot movie. There was a pilot episode: "Strangers". And two episodes later there was an origin episode: "Shadows". In any case, I wasn't the one making those decisions then (and certainly not now).
John writes...
Hi Greg,
I´ve seen the first ep. of "Max Steel" Yesterday. A great show! ( exept from the intro. Well, maybe thats the only paralel between Gargoyles and M.Steel, the intros are verry weird ). But one thing I have to ask you: Was there anny pilot-movie of the show? If not, I think there should be one.
CU, John
Greg responds...
There was no pilot movie. There was a pilot episode: "Strangers". And two episodes later there was an origin episode: "Shadows". In any case, I wasn't the one making those decisions then (and certainly not now).
Joxter writes...
I know your plans for Max Steel aren't really in effect anymore since other people have taken over the show, but I'm still curious about some of the plans you had about the show, soo...
1-In your plan, would Laura ever have found out Josh and Max were one in the same, or would it be a Peter Parker sort of thing where the dual identity would be the major source of personal stryfe for Josh?
2- In the new episodes, (which you had no part in) Josh has decided that since he hasn't the time to be with Laura, he'll hook up with her as Max. Which strikes me as... Wierd... Did you have any sort of plans along those lines?
Greg responds...
1. No immediate plans for her to find out, but yes eventually, some day... I don't like anything to be static too long.
2. Acutally, that last decision was the last moment of my last episode. And it wasn't that Josh didn't have time to be with Laura. It was that Laura wasn't speaking to Josh.
Andrea Marbry , marbryalm@altavista.com writes...
Dear Greg,
I realize that this may be painful for you to do, and
I'll understand if you decline, considering that you wasn't
allowed to participate in Max Steel Season2. But, please,
check out the first new episode Saturday and comment. Thanx!
I'd especially like to know how it compares with your plans.
Thanks again!
Greg responds...
Too late.
Sorry.
Tana writes...
Wow, you've really caught up since I got back to san fran...now I've got a lot of reading to do once I get my computer down here with me. *smiles and crosses out any plans she might have for the next two weekends*
Anyway, I recently got a job at the WB Studio Store and noticed that we carry a children's t-shirt for Max Steel. I was like: Ooo Cool! and I thought that your kids might want one. It's actually a cool design. I get a 20% discount, and the shirt's probably only about 12 bux anyway (I didn't check the price of it) You want I should get some for them? I can either send the shirts, or just bring them to G2001. ^_^
Greg responds...
Tana, that's sweet, but the truth is Max Steel was sort of a negative experience for me. I'm largely proud of the stories we wrote, but it was never the show I hoped it would be. I don't need a lot of reminders. But thanks.
Kevin Burton writes...
Hey greg I think I have typed you a letter earlier but any way. When you get a chance please try to mail me blue prints of the biolink and max steels car, thank you.
Greg responds...
Sorry, Kevin. I don't have them.
kevin burton writes...
what are max probes and are they real. One more thing is n-tek a real bissnes.
Greg responds...
N-Tek and Max Probes are fictional, but the idea of nanotechnology is not.
Todd Jensen writes...
In the last two episodes of "Max Steel" in its first season (the one that you worked on), Max was shown working on an English assignment on "Huckleberry Finn" in his Josh McGrath persona. Was there any intention in this part of the story to nudge the audience into reading Mark Twain's novel, the same way as with the Shakespeare references in "Gargoyles"?
Greg responds...
It wouldn't have hurt. But the truth is, that Huck was a compromise. I originally had the essay be on the works of Faulkner. The WB rejected Faulkner as too intellectual. I asked them what they wanted and seriously suggested Dr. Seuss. They got very pissed off at me, like I was making fun of them.
So then I hit on Mark Twain. (I was past caring whether I was inspirational at that point.)
Andrea Marbry, marbryalm@AltaVista.com writes...
Dear Greg,
I'm a fan of your great work on MAX STEEL, and am sorry
that you won't be back. Do you have info on what's up for
the second season and, what will your next project be?
Greg responds...
I have no idea what they're planning for season two. Maybe a bionic dog. (Just kidding.)
As for me, watch for 3x3 Eyes coming out on video this Halloween. And on DVD this Christmas.
Todd Jensen writes...
They showed the Season One finale for "Max Steel" (the last episode that you worked on) this morning, and in it, portrayed Mairot as being revealed as a traitor to N-Tek, secretly working with Dread all along. Since you mentioned in response to an earlier question about Mairot that in your own plans for the series, he wasn't a traitor, that prompted me to wonder: was the season finale actually shown on television different from the one that you made, changed to alter Mairot's character? Or was the episode as shown on television the same as the one you did, with Mairot's treachery being just an illusion?
Greg responds...
In that episode, we revealed Mairot to be a traitor. If I had come back for the second season, it would be revealed that he was NOT a traitor, but rather a mole that Jefferson had planted within Dread's organization.
I have no idea what aired however, or what they currently have planned for Mairot -- if anything.
jadecobra@aol.com writes...
Well, this isn't actually a question. I'm assuming you're the same Greg Weisman who used to work at DC Comics. If you are then, "Hi!" This is Kevin Maguire. I used to do Justice League. I was wondering what the hell you were doing. I was watching Max Steel for the first time this morning and saw your name in the credits. I was going to congratulate you on the show til I read your responses and got the sense that it was a bitter, though possibly rewarding, experience for you. Beyond that I hope everything's going well for you and, oh, what the hell, congratulations anyway.
Greg responds...
Hey Kevin,
Yeah, it's me. I still have that page of art from Justice League that you gave me hanging on the wall. The one where Batman gives silent approval to Booster Gold.
Yeah, MAX STEEL was a pretty bitter experience at best. I'm now glad I didn't have to do the second season. (Though I was very pissed off about that at first.) As you can see, I'm still living off my GARGOYLES glory days to feed my ego. DC seems like forever ago. What are you up to?
Gengar! writes...
Will Laura ever find about josh's secret? I mean sooner or later he'll crack.
Greg responds...
Don't know. I'm not on the show anymore.
Chuey the Raichu writes...
What inspired you to create MAX STEEL?
Greg responds...
Sony hired me to develop a tv series based on a toy by Mattel. I don't think it's fair to call me the creator of MAX STEEL. I was handed the toy and the idea and a rough bible.
I think I developed the series. But I didn't create it.
Nillaberry2000 writes...
Hi Greg! Thanks for the response, it cleared up a lot of my questions. But I have one more question. Did Rachel find out that Laura and Josh broke up?And if she did, What was her reaction?(at least in your version)
Greg responds...
In my version, Rachel knows that Laura wasn't speaking to Josh. And she also knows that Josh was determined to get Laura back. And she wished him luck.
Gengar writes...
did josh and lara ever break up?
Greg responds...
Laura dumped Josh, at least in the episodes of MAX STEEL that I worked on.
Gengar writes...
What happened to Max Steel's Parents?
Greg responds...
His mother died in a boating accident. His father died in an explosion -- or at least that was my original plan. I don't know what the new team has in mind, if anything.
Nillaberry2000 writes...
Hi Greg! I have one major question. What is going on between Max, Rachel, and Laura? I'm so confused about the whole situation. If you could please answer this one question, it would be greatly appreciated:) Thank you so much!!
Greg responds...
Well, it might help if they aired the episodes in order...
And now that the new seasons' starting, I have no idea what they have planned.
But in the thirteen I did...
Josh was dating Laura since before he got his powers and became Max. After becoming Max, he was teamed with Rachel, who he was physically attracted to, at a minimum. Josh was still dating Laura but there was now an entire chunk of his life he couldn't share with her. And in fact, to cover his dual identity, he was now standing her up and lying to her on a regular basis.
Among his lies, was one where he described Rachel as an old lady. When Laura found out that wasn't true, she got very jealous, but Josh talked his way out of that.
Later, during an adventure that brought up a lot of painful memories for Josh/Max, he kissed Rachel. They both immediately regretted it. It screwed up Team Steel. They got passed it, but Max felt guilty enough that he (Josh) eventually told Laura. She broke up with him. Wouldn't talk to him. So he tried to ask her out as Max. (And that's where I left off. Don't know what the new team plans. If anything.)
Kayless writes...
1. With all the Star Trek actors doing voice on Gargoyles, was John 'Q' DeLancie ever considered for a role? I personally consider Q a trickster.
Greg responds...
1. John, who is great, did a role for us on Max Steel, as L'Étranger. It's possible that he was briefly considered for a roll on Gargs, but nothing that sticks out in my mind.
Ashley AkA NeoGold2000 writes...
Hey Greg.
Max Steel is my fav show, and I've been watching it sense the first season. My question is:
Is Josh's last name McGrath -or- Geraurd? Because I was watcing the show and Max groaned about "Another Geraurd" When he was on vacation with Laura
Thanks!
Greg responds...
His last name is McGrath.
Guerard is his English Lit professor. When he said "another Guerard" he was referring to the Prof. And in fact these other Guerard's turned out to be his professor's sons.
Sorry, if that wasn't clear. (Did you miss the first few minutes?)
Laura 'ad astra' Ackerman writes...
I while back I asked about the Ntek company emblem in Max Steel, a thumbs-up. I noticed it had four digits, namely 3 fingers and a thumb and asked if it was a Gargoyles reference or in-joke. You nit picked on my grammar and asked if I was saying a thumb had four digits. Here is take two- that hand with four digits instead of the human average of 5- were you having fun there, or was that somebody else's doing.
Greg responds...
The logo was designed by Mattel before I got involved, so whatever it is, it's not a gargoyle in-joke.
Sorry about the nit-pick.
MXONE writes...
Hiya, I was just surfin' around, and I found this. I had a couple questions.
1. Why'd ya have to make Mairot the DREAD spy?! I liked him!
2. Psycho is Josh's dad, isn't he?
Greg responds...
1. I liked him too. And in my continuity, he wasn't a Dread spy. He was going undercover. But I don't know what the new regime plans to do. If anything.
2. No. Not in my version of the show.
Coyote the Bando writes...
Oh, and just for good measure, one Max Steel question based on something I noticed in your reply to the question about the production company ...
Was it a conscious decision to have all the episode titles in the first season begin with "S?" Or was that a pure fluke?
Greg responds...
Concscious. (that would have been one heck of a fluke.)
Quickswitch writes...
Max Steel questions:
Hi mr. Weisman. By now, I learned that WB did not invite you to continue on Max Steel for the second season. How do feel about WB's decision? Do you know who will take over the show? Will you become a consultant for Max Steel, just like you were in Gargoyles: TGC?
I'm concerned about the show's future. It's all seem deja vu. The last time someone took over one of your show, it got pretty ugly...
Greg responds...
1. Originally, I was pissed off. Not so much that I wouldn't be doing the second season [because participating in the first season was so unpleasant], but because I wasn't being given the option of deciding for myself. Now, I'm just glad to be free of it. I don't miss it at all.
2. The new story editors are Tom Puggsley and Greg Klein. I know Tom. He's a good guy.
3. No. I have no involvement in the series now. In fact, this time no one even called to ask me what I had planned for the second season. They're on their own.
Laura 'ad astra' writes...
Funny little thing I noticed: The thumbs up on the suits on Max Steel have four digits (three fingers and a thumb). Is that a coincidence or an in-joke?
Greg responds...
Thumbs have four digits?
Whm writes...
Where can I get the "Max Steel" episodes and the descriptions of the episode?
Greg responds...
Well you can watch them Saturday mornings on the WB. You can also take a look at the Max Steel Archive on this site. And you can run a search on the internet.
As far as I know, the episodes are not available on home video.
N-Tek Covert-Op writes...
Max Steel question:
Is it John Dread or John Dredd?
Greg responds...
Dread.
LEE ROBINSON writes...
WHY IS MAX DAD BLACK AND WHY IS MAX WHITE AND WHERE IS MAX MOM
Greg responds...
Max's real name is Josh McGrath. His biological parents were Big Jim and Molly McGrath. Molly died in a boating accident when Josh was two. Big Jim died (at least in my mind) on a mission when Josh was four. Josh was then adopted by Big Jim's best friend, Jefferson Smith, who is African-American.
Mordavian Wraith writes...
Hi mr. Weisman
Yet another Max Steel question:
I saw the episode with the Chang and the decryp software ploy and I think it's one of best yet (don't know which title this episode is)!
I didn't understand where Max got the mask to breathe underwater, because Chang's goons would have found it on him earlier on the yatch.
Greg responds...
The episode was called "Seraphim". The mask was waiting for him under the water. There was a blinking beacon there to guide him to it.
Emilie writes...
Dear Greg:
My question is actually regarding the t.v. series "Max Steel" and not "Gargoyles." (I have a few questions and someone referred me to this site.) My aunt is translating the cartoon series from English to French, but does not currently have any internet service. She does, however, need background information. She would like to know if the characters "Rachel Leeds," "Jeff," and "Roberto Martinez" were created just for the T.V. series or if they existed previously like Max Steel and Pyscho. If you could also give me the meaning to "Max probes," and any other additional information about the characters, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your help.
-Emilie
PS- I will check this website for a response, or you can email me at Puppyluv82@aol.com
Greg responds...
Emilie,
Sorry you and your aunt had to wait so long for a response.
Rachel, Jeff and 'Berto were all created for the show. Largely, so were Max and Psycho, though the toys existed.
Max Probes refers to the microscopic Nanotechnology robots that have altered Josh McGrath's body and given him his Max Steel powers.
As for additional info, I'm not sure what you need. If she's translating the scripts, the info should all be there. But feel free to ask me any other specific questions you have.
Chapter XVIII: "The Mirror"
Story Editor: Brynne Chandler Reaves
Writer: Lydia C. Marano
Arguably the best single episode of the series. The animation is fluid, dynamic and very strong. The writing is sharp, even quite funny over and over. And yet, dramatically the story is still potent. It really advances the Goliath & Elisa romance arc. Changes Demona permanently. And introduces Puck -- and by extension, the entire third race: The Children of Oberon. All in a mere 22 minutes.
It's also very gratifying for me. A bit of a vindication. As you may have seen from the memos I wrote to Brynne & Lydia, there was some considerable resistance to the notion that none of the characters would notice their own personal change from one species to another. Most of my collaborators thought the idea was way too complicated to pull off. I argued that it might seem complex, but in fact it would play cleaner on screen -- and funnier and more directly to theme. In my mind, another title for this episode could have been -- had we already not been using it for our Werefox episode -- "Eye of the Beholder", because all the transformed characters really noticed was when someone else was "OTHER". Being a monster or being "normal" was based on their point of view, not any objective look in the mirror. [As it is, the title is the kind I like. Simple, objective and yet metaphoric. At one point, it was titled: "Mirror, Mirror". But we simplified it even more.]
But anyway, when the human Brooklyn, Lex and Broadway are confronted by "Gargoyles", the scene is an intentional mirror of the scene from AWAKENING, PART ONE where Brooklyn says, "If they think we're beasts and monsters..." Again, this is playing with the idea of "beasts and monsters" being merely in the eye of the beholder. The species have reversed, but the situation is exactly the same simply because the Trio remain in the minority. I suppose that's one thing that X-Men's mutants have in common with the Gargs. Both are a metaphor for being part of a minority. Feared almost automatically.
On the other hand, when Elisa is transformed, she believes that Goliath & Co. have been transformed into something like her. I think her immediate reaction is very telling about how she ALREADY felt about Goliath at that point. She's thrilled. She throws her arms about him. Now they're the same species. There's no impediment to their love. What's interesting is that if you stopped and asked Elisa under normal circumstances whether she would wish for Goliath to be transformed into a human, the answer would most certainly be "No." She knows that being a Gargoyle is fundamental to who he is. You can't change that without changing him -- and yet in that instant, in that unguarded moment, her desire to be with him overwhelms that rational knowledge. She's just happy.
At the museum, Elisa looks at herself in the mirror. She then moves, but the reflection holds. That was the idea of one of our board artists. A little clue that the mirror is magic. (It's not an animation error.)
Family Reactions #1
During that museum chase, my wife wanted to know why no alarms were going off. I figure Demona or the thieves just shut them off.
Erin didn't realize that that was Elisa dressed as a security guard at first. We were trying to withhold that information for a bit.
"Titania's Mirror", "The Children of Oberon", "Oberon sent me." We were laying groundwork to expand the entire series' base. But I don't know if back then I knew that much about what if anything I had planned specifically for Titania & Oberon.
Anymore than I knew then what I'd do with the "Dracula's Daughter" reference. But we try not to waste anything.
Coming up with that "Children of Oberon" name was a struggle. And so many people have asked me since whether or not Oberon is literally everyone's father, I almost regret landing on that choice. Our thought process is largely present in the episode when Goliath et al, go through various noms: Fair Folk, Dark Elves, Changelings, Shape-Shifters. Of course, at the time we were misusing the term Changeling. I think that was Odo's influence frankly, but I should have known better. I suggested "The Oberati". But the Reaves didn't care for that. I think they thought it sounded too much like an Italian sports car.
I do love the moment when Brooklyn cites Shakespeare's play as a sort of reference work on the Children. I hope we sent a few people to the library with that line. Did we?
I also love Hudson's line in response to Elisa's question: Are they real?
Hudson: "As real as I am, if the stories be true." It's full of delicious dramatic irony. If you can suspend belief on a bunch of gargoyles, then this shouldn't be a problem for you. I love things that work on multiple levels.
I also love Hudson's "Be careful what you wish for" line.
We were trying to show a bit here how Demona had managed to operate in the modern world up to this point. One of the thieves has clearly worked for Demona before without ever having laid eyes on her. Of course, showing Demona's M.O. here, was like giving it a swan song. Because after this episode, though she clearly doesn't realize it yet, her life is going to get MUCH easier. Being a human during the day is a great boon to all her scheming. I'm very curious about everyone's reaction to that? Shock? Amusement? I also tried to work very hard so that in that last two minutes of epilogue, everyone would get that she only was human during the day. I was very afraid that the audience would think she was permanently transformed into a human. Was anyone confused? Or was anyone surprised that Puck's revenge/gift STUCK? We wouldn't really explore the change until HIGH NOON. Had you forgotten about it by then?
Family Reactions #2
As Demona's casting the spell that will summon Puck. (Which I always thought was very cool, with the feather and all.)
Benny: "That's a magic mirror. Is Demona going in there?"
Erin: "Puck's gonna come out."
As I've mentioned before, during the writing of this story we figured out that Owen was Puck. So to play fair we dropped a hint here. Demona (who knows) says to Puck: "You serve the human. You can serve me." Puck changes the subject, replying "Humans [note the plural] have a sense of humor, you have none." This was done intentionally to distract the audience away from the hint we had just dropped. But obviously, in hindsight, it's a clear reference to Owen serving Xanatos. Anyone get it right off the bat? Anyone even take note of the line the first time? Originally, the line read, "You serve him, now you can serve me." With the "him" referring to Xanatos. But our S&P executive was afraid the "him" could be taken to mean Satan. I know that seems silly now. But keep in mind, we were very paranoid back then about the show being attacked for promoting devil worship. So we made the change.
Sensitive Broadway: "Maybe even love." It's a nice moment. Wistful.
Puck reminds Demona that the mirror isn't "Aladdin's lamp". At the time, the Aladdin series was still in production at Disney. So that's a bit of an in-joke.
And how about that: Demona is still carrying a torch for Goliath. On some level, she wants him more than almost anything. Yet she continually allows her hatred to get in the way. And the irony is, that at this point, pre-Vows it isn't yet too late for them. But her actions further serve to cement the Goliath/Elisa relationship. More now than ever before.
Puck/Brent Spiner is just fantastic. I love that "charming personality" line. And "You don't know what you're asking, believe me." And "I'll do EXACTLY as you asked." And "My mistake." And "A very long nap." He's just so rich.
Plus the boarding and animation on Puck is just great. As is the sound work that accompanies him zipping around.
I always wanted Puck to be the one character who could break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience. Every time he appeared, we'd put a line or two in the script that was addressed to the audience. And every time, Frank or Dennis Woodyard would cut it out of the board. They didn't like breaking the fourth wall. (A lot of guys don't. I tried to do that with Max on Max Steel, but Richard Raynis and Jeff Kline wouldn't allow that either.) Oh, well....
Puck also establishes that Oberon's Children generally use rhyming spells instead of Latin or Hebrew or whatever. (Thus making life slightly -- but ONLY slightly -- easier on me and the writers.) But Puck isn't too formal: "Human's love a battle hearty, so does Puck, come on, let's Party!" Fun. (And I like Brooklyn's line, "Party's over." too.)
Family Reactions #3
When Elisa's transformed into a gargoyle.
Erin: "She looks cute." [I very much agree. Though I always wonder where her red jacket goes.]
Ben then asked why she was transformed.
Beth explained that Demona didn't want Elisa to be human anymore.
Erin then corrects my wife and explains that Puck is tricking Demona.
KIDS GET IT! Adults need to pay closer attention!
Goliath suddenly has lust in his heart:
G: "I never realized when you were human just how beautiful you were."
E (with a smile): "You mean you thought I was ugly?"
G: "Uh... careful! Updraft!!"
Man, that guy is smooth.
Anyway, that's one of my all-time favorite exchanges. I think it reveals so much. Somewhere underneath, Goliath has been attracted to who Elisa IS deep-down -- at least since AWAKENING, PART THREE. But he never thought of her as a potential love interest. He wasn't brought up liberally enough to think that way. After all, she has no wings, no tail. And those human shaped feet!
But suddenly, she's revealed as a FEMALE. Now, even when she goes back to being human, his perspective is permanently altered. Hers, however, is not. She's already consciously had those thoughts. Consciously rejected them. So at the end of the episode, he wants to discuss these (for him) new feelings -- but she does not. And the sun helps shut him up.
G: "That's not what I meant."
E: "But that's the way it is."
Another of my all-time favorite exchanges. (I'm really partial to things involving the G/E relationship. I know, I know, I'm a romantic sap.]
I also like the ongoing confusion. Elisa: "Everyone in Manhattan has been turned into... HUMANS!" Goliath: "No, no, no, no, no." And when the Gargoyles are changed into humans, Brooklyn is so sure that they've always been humans, it's funny. Like that moment in CITY OF STONE, when he's convinced that the "statue of Elisa" is a bad likeness of her: "They got the nose wrong."
FYI, there was an honest attempt, within the logical parameters of what our gargs looked like, to make their human versions resemble the actors who played them. Thus Goliath has darker skin than the others, because Keith David is African-American. (Though otherwise Goliath really looks like Conan to me.) The bald Lex has brown hair and the bald Broadway has blond like Thom Adcox and Bill Fagerbakke respectively. Brooklyn resembles Jeff Bennett but with Brooklyn's white hair instead of Jeff's blond. And Hudson looks like Ed Asner with a beard. More or less. Thom Adcox is the one who most looked like the human version of his character.
Cool little touches:
Demona nudges an unconscious Puck with her tail.
She continues to call Hudson, "Old Soldier". Her tenth century "name" for him.
Her line about the "gift of being a gargoyle". I love that superior attitude.
Lexington's "Fun, but weird" line.
Hudson wrapping the sheet over the mirror.
Elisa and Demona have a brief "cat-fight" as Gargoyles. Not quite as diverting as the one they'll have as humans in High Noon. But it was nice to put them on equal physical footing for a change. Let them have it out.
Demona mentions that Puck isn't too tired to make himself "invisible to the crowd". This was us trying to plug a hole in our story. We felt it would undercut the mob's reactions to our newly human heroes if they had the same reaction to seeing Puck. And yet Puck clearly looks more human than Gargoyle. More "other". So we slid that line in to avoid the whole problem.
FAMILY REACTION #4
Beth laughed at Hudson's very Scots reading of "No doubt about it." Which is pronounced more like: "No doot aboot it."
More sappy stuff (which I love):
Goliath's line: "I'll always be there to catch you."
Elisa completely forgetting her fear of flying in order to save the MAN she loves.
That brief moment when both Elisa and Goliath are humans at the same time.
Hudson's wistful line about seeing the sun, just once.
Although it had little to do with the metaphor, we couldn't really resist the notion of showing Bronx transformed into a dog. We picked the biggest dog we could think of, a Wolfhound type, though a bulldog might have been more reminiscent.
In the script, Demona smashes the mirror upon seeing her human reflection in the glass. But somehow the scene never got animated. So we added the sound of the mirror being smashed to the exterior shot at the end. This was important in order to give the story full closure. The initial point of the episode was to prevent Demona from getting Titania's Mirror. Structurally, therefore, I couldn't allow her to keep it.
But no fear, later we introduced Oberon's Mirror (clearly part of a matching set) in THE GATHERING, PART ONE.
I wonder what all those Manhattanites thought when suddenly they realized they were all barefoot.
jp12@mail.csuchico.edu writes...
I love the show. I can't watch it here in Chico, Ca. But, your work with villians is great. One vision for 2 seasons is very rare.
1. How much does it cost to produce 66 episodes?
2. Does it vary much for different studios/companies?
3. Any way I can get some of the material you show at the gathering? NY is pretty far from CA. I can't afford the trip.
4. What do you feel is your best work (not a specific "1", but things you'd recommend)?
5. I know and like Max Steel. Anything else you're working on now (even single episode plots)?
Thanks for listening. If you're even half as busy as I am, you'd be pressed to answer these in a timely manner. I'm glad just to hope for a response eventually.
Best Wishes, John Peacock
P.S.: Gargoyles is one of the few shows I'd be proud to watch with children. Hope yours keeps enjoying it.
Greg responds...
1. We averaged between 400K and 500K per episode in the first two years. The third year had, I believe, a lower budget.
2. I'm not sure what you mean.
3. New York isn't that far from Orlando, Florida -- which is where this year's Gathering is. (Next year's is in California.) And where were you during the TWO NYC Gatherings in 97 and 98? Anyway, what material did you have in mind?
4. On Gargoyles or period? Gargoyles is my best work. I'm fond of Starship Troopers and the comic book Captain Atom too.
5. I just completed voice directing a Japanese Anime video series called 3x3 Eyes. It should be available in September.
Robert Vigue writes...
Greg.
We Recently Started Watching and Taping Max Stell on Kids WB, But they do not do Subtittles on the show, We have all the subtittles written down but it is hard to match them up with certain Episodes, Do you know any website or a list somewhere that tell what each Episode is about with the apropiate subtittle, My E-Mail Adress is FHawk00003@AOL.com
If you could help us that would be great, or if you know someone that would know.
Firehawk.
Greg responds...
Uh, no, I rarely have website info. And I'm not sure what you mean? Subtitles, like close-captioning? Or episode titles?
If it's the latter, here's a primer, I guess...
SPOILER WARNING
#1 Strangers. The Pilot. Max Steel (aka Josh McGrath) is in Berlin when his partner Rachel Leeds and the entire Reichstag conference disappears. Max (with the help of 'Berto Martinez) helps Rachel and the others escape from freelance mercenary L'Étranger.
#2 Sacrifices. Josh's foster-father and boss Jefferson Smith is kidnapped by Psycho (aka Smiley), John Dread's right hand cyborg.
#3 Shadows. Paris is suffering from mysterious blackouts, as is Max, who's also flashing back to his origin.
#4 Sportsmen. Josh quits the Del Oro Extreme, but when mysterious lightning threatens the Triple Threat competition, Max Steel is forced to enter the contest.
#5 Seraphim. N-Tek agents Max Steel and Sophia Skarsgaard infiltrate the Cyberdragon organization in order to recover a stolen computer disk and keep it out of the hands of Dragonelle and Dread.
#6 Spear-Carriers. Team Steel gets a new mobile base of operations, but it's stolen with 'Berto trapped inside.
#7 Snow-Blind. Josh and his friends Laura Chen and Pete Costas vacation in Aspen, while Dread and Psycho plot to use the Bio-Link to kidnap Max and destroy Del Oro Bay.
#8 Sharks. Max and Rachel are on a tense undersea plutonium salvage mission aboard the N-Tek sub shark. But they have competition from L'Étranger. Plus Josh has to come to terms with his mother's death.
#9 Sabres. Max and Jake Nez attempt to salvage N-Tek's orbiting space station. But Psycho and Vitriol have other ideas.
#10 Sphinxes. Max, 'Berto and Rachel travel to Egypt to uncover Dragonelle and Dread's latest plot against world peace.
#11 Swashbucklers. Spring Break for Josh and Laura translates into a little pirate adventure for Max Steel. This one has Earthquakes.
#12 Scions. This one has volcanos. Plus a flashback adventure with Josh's biological father, Big Jim McGrath.
#13 Shattered. The final (for the season) showdown between N-Tek and Dread. Del Oro Bay. New York. Munich. Explosions. Fungus. And practically the entire cast. This one's got it all.
(It sort of embarrasses me that I'm so facile at the above.)
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