Fallenlegend writes...

Hey Greg, got some multiverse questions. Not going to ask about earth 17 as I know that:s a spoiler…but ignoring that:

1.- How open would you be to earth 16 interacting with other universes?
2.- How open would you be to the idea of Canon crossovers with other shows for earth 16 ? I know there are plays, but those aren’t canon. Say Teen titans and the team of Young justice meeting for real instead of that Beast boy nightmare.

2b Also how do you feel about the ides of canon crossovers between other shows with Gargoyles (not counting your planned spin-offs like Bad guys’’
3.- Do you view Earth 16 as being isolated from the multiverse? As in part of the multiverse, but more bound to interact with other universes?

Thanks Greg

Jan Rott writes...

Hi there,
The Tazmanian Tiger has two thylacines named Benjamin and Natasha. Can you tell from the picture (https://gargwiki.net/images/9/98/TazmanianTiger.JPG) which of the two is Benjamin and Natasha?

Jan Rott writes...

How many seasons would you have planned for Gargoyles and its Spin-offs to realize your own vision?
1. Gargoyles
2. Bad Guys
3. Time Dancer
4. Dark Ages
5. Gargoyles 2198
6. Heroes of Ulster
7. New Olympians
8. Pendragon

Emily The Disney Fan writes...

Hello again Mr.Weisman! I'd just like to Say I'm one of the Lucky few Fans Who've just managed to Get the Graphic Novel Version of the Gargoyles: BAD GUYS series! And I LOVE IT! and Here are Some questions I Do Have for it if you Don't Mind!

1) I Don't Know if you Answered this Already, But Is there was reason why the 3rd issue was Drawn by a different Artist than the one who drew the Rest of the other Comics?

2)Since Dr. Sevarius works for Thailog Now at Nightstone Unlimited, Is it Possible That Thailog was IN or aware of Sevarius's Plan to turn everyonein Times Square on New Years Into mutants?

Charisma82 writes...

I just re-read all of the Bad Guys comics, and as I read I kept wondering if there were secret clues or hints in the art or the way you worded the narrative and it got me thinking about a few questions:

1. a) In Gargoyles, is there a clue or hint you've dropped either in the show or in one of the comic books that you thought was clever/you really liked that no one has picked up on yet? (you don't have to say what it is/don't need to give spoilers).

1. b) Was it a clue or hint that you thought people would pick up on and they never did or is it one that would've become clear/made more sense as the show/comics went on?

2. Follow up: I remember reading that you said you dropped a hint/clue/big fact in the 2014 Radio Play at ConVergence that no one picked up on when you thought they would. Has anyone asked/talked to you about it yet or is everyone still in the dark to whatever it is you put in that radio play?

Thank you for your time and answers.

-Charisma82

mbkerr writes...

I am writing an article about unproduced television spin-offs that found new life elsewhere, and Bad Guys was one of the first to come to mind. The website I'm pitching the article to requires that all source material be citable.

1. Is there any citable reference regarding Bad Guys, particularly when you were first planning it as a television spin-off and the plans fell through?

2. If not, are you able/willing to give an interview over the phone if requested?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Greg Bishansky writes...

I wrote this up on my blog last Christmas (a bit of a gift to myself there) and thought I'd share it here.

For every hero, or group of heroes, there must be villains. The villains test the hero, the villains make the hero. In the realm of superhero lore, Batman and Spider-Man have been cited as having the greatest rogues' galleries in comics. And I do not disagree. Sadly, other heroes or teams seem to come up lacking. Sure they may have one or two great villains, but the rest seem to be meh. The FF have Dr. Doom and Galactus, sure. The X-Men have Magneto and the Sentinels, Green Lantern has Sinestro, but the rest of their rogues galleries have always seemed, at least to me, to be okay at best. I know some will contest this opinion, but it's my opinion and as far as this blog goes, that's the one you're stuck with. Personally, I always thought the Third Great Rogues' Gallery belonged to "Gargoyles." So, let's honor them.

First of all, here's who didn't make the list and why:

Wolf - Nothing against Wolf, he's fun. He's a big dumb thug, but he's fun. But, as of yet, I haven't found him to be very interesting on his own. And I always thought his teammates were more interesting and fun to watch.

Tony Dracon - I like him a lot more than a lot of other "Gargoyles" fans seem to. He's usually fun, but he didn't quite have enough to make this list.

Oberon - I never thought of him as a villain, and I still don't. Even when he was trying to kidnap Alex. Did I agree with him? Not at all, but I don't think he was in the "legal" wrong either.

Robyn Canmore, Dingo, Matrix, Yama, and Fang - If you don't know why, shame on you.

Second of all, here's who I hope to add to the list some time:

Queen Mab - Come on Disney, let Greg do it!

Morgana le Fay - Ditto.

With that out of the way, let's dive into list.

20. Duval and Peredur fab Ragnal

At present, we've seen too little of these two to know much about them. But what we have seen has been enough to give us an intriguing mystery, especially if you've been following ASK GREG for the past fourteen years. They are the guiding hands of the Illuminati Society, which was created a century after the Fall of Camelot, by Sir Percival to "set things right." Which of these two men is Sir Percival? Well, I have my theories on that. Peredur fab Ragnal is the Welsh name for Percival, and Duval sounds like a modern alias for Percival as well. In fact, for years Greg Weisman told us that Percival was Duval, and then when the comic comes out we get Peredur. Following that, he said nothing changed from his original plan? So, who is Sir Percival, and what's the deal with the other guy? Again, I have my theories.

But I imagine that should new material ever come our way, one or both of these guys will shoot up on this list.

I also enjoy the idea of Duval being cybernetic, but I think he needs a bit of a re-design. Especially in what he wears.

19. The Banshee/Molly

The Banshee may have only been in one episode (with a cameo appearance in another), but damn did she leave an impression. Everything about this character was executed flawlessly. The character model, the animation, the voice, the effects! I loved how ghoulish she appeared, you could see the background through her.

It also helps that "The Hound of Ulster" is one of the best World Tour episodes. The script is tight, the animation is gorgeous, and a lot of the character actions are subtle and over the top when they need to be. Look at Molly's brief, brief exchange with Rory's father for the subtly, which contrasts the wonderful over the top performance as the Banshee.

18. Duncan

This guy was a jerk. I mean, really. A paranoid tyrant who thought the world was out to get him. Well, not the world so much as his cousin, Macbeth. I suppose I can understand seeing Macbeth as a threat to the throne, but he just seemed to go out of his way to make Macbeth miserable. He reveled in it. When he died, we were all happy to see him bite it.

17. Hakon

Batman has Joe Chill, and Spider-Man has the Burglar. Goliath has this Viking chieftain who massacred his clan. Well, Hakon may not have acted alone, but with the swing of his mace, the series really began. Like his descendant, Wolf, he's pretty one-note. But he plays that note masterfully.

But perhaps the better story isn't even the one where he shattered the clan, but the one where his vengeful spirit attempted to drive Goliath insane. That episode was the perfect send off for Hakon, even more so than falling off a cliff to his death. His angry, vengeful spirit was trapped alone at the bottom of a cavern for all of eternity without anyone or anything to hate. At least that's where I think he should have stayed. Hakon might have ranked higher if he didn't come back one last time in an episode that I thought was one of the show's only misfires. But hey, sixty-five episodes, eighteen comics, and only one misfire. You're still golden.

16. Coldsteel/Iago

Now this guy is fun. I love his design, both as a gargoyle and as a robot. I love his Doc Ock-esque tentacles, and I loved Xander Berkeley in the role. Coldsteel is a manipulative jerk, and it's fun to watch him work. His favorite victim is usually Coldstone, and his goal remains unchanging… possess Coldfire. In a nutshell, he's a creepy stalker.

What's also fun is that he's had three voice actors, and not because Berkeley was unavailable. When he controlled Coldstone's body, he was played by Michael Dorn. When he possessed Brooklyn, he was voiced by Jeff Bennett. And they both did it without talking like their regular characters. Watch "Possession" again and listen to "Brooklyn" speak. It's obvious who is in the driver's seat.

I also enjoyed his appearance in the comics, working for Xanatos to distract our heroes from the theft of the Stone of Destiny. Where will he go from here? I'm not sure. I tend to think he works better when he's teaming up with other villains than acting on his own. Well, he did see potential in the Coyote robot, so maybe that's not over; one could see him working with Thailog too; perhaps even re-team with his rookery sister, Demona… they did get along quite well in "High Noon."

15. Constantine III

What can I say about this guy? He follows a long tradition of Disney tyrants, and is just as fun to watch as any of them. Sometimes I think the tenth and eleventh century villains are even more vicious than the modern day villains, and Contantine sums that up.

When we first meet this guy, he uses Finella, the woman who loves him, to lure King Kenneth (who is in love with her) out just so he can murder him in cold blood and take his crown. Then he casts her aside so he can marry Princess Katharine and better secure his claim to the throne. And he tries to keep in control with barely veiled threats against her charges. Harsh.

But even better than that is his return in the "Gargoyles" comic book where he's hunting down and murdering every gargoyle clan he can find, and trying to find Katharine and her friends. By now, he's been in power for two years and rules with an iron fist… which leads to a civil war. This guy is such a jerk that he even kills the messenger that the army of the Three Brothers sends. You never kill the messenger.

And then there was his rather creepy relationship with his new protégé, Gillecomgain, which led to the two inspiring each other in a very twisted ways. Constantine is inspired by Gillecomgain's scars to wear them as war paint in battle, and in turn, Constantine inspires Gillecomgain to become the Hunter. As if Gillecomgain needed any more inspiration. Which brings me to…

14. Gillecomgain

Let's face it, even as a kid, Gillecomgain had issues. Obviously there was a lot of darkness instilled in him by his father, who himself had some very understandable issues also. What did these issues lead to? One rogue gargoyle was going through their barn, and Gillecomgain pointed a pitchfork into the shadows to scare a thief only to get slashed across the face. What did THAT lead to? Arguably the events of the entire series.

Gillecomgain's life didn't get better. Constantine III took an interest in him which set him on the path of becoming a masked political assassin, not to mention his continued hunt for the demon that scarred him. Like dominos, this led to events that made Macbeth the man he is today, the Canmore clan what they became, and set the tone for centuries of hatred and pain. And all because of one scratch in a barn.

As a character himself, Gillecomgain stacks up well. There is a moment after his arranged marriage to Gruoch, who obviously doesn't love him, where you almost wonder if you should feel bad for a man whose wife obviously despises him. Then he crushes her rose underfoot. What does this mean? Here's a hint, Luach might not have been Macbeth's son. Powerful stuff.

13. Falstaff/John Oldcastle

Okay, this guy is fun. Him and his gang of LARPers gone bad. They appeared only in the final two issues of "Gargoyles: Bad Guys" but they made an impression. I loved the buildup Falstaff received. We see him take a young Harry Monmouth (who would grow up to become Dingo) under his wing. Train him to be a thief, and take pity on the poor boy after his mother ran out on him. Only for that shocker of a final page where we see Oldcastle with his hands wrapped around the throat of her already dead body.

I really love his gang. At first glance, they seem super human, but are in fact incredibly skilled. And I love that Oldcastle, maybe the world's greatest thief, named himself after Shakespeare's king of thieves. He looked the part, and just seemed to take so much joy in everything he did, and that helped make it a joy to watch him do it.

I hope we get more at some point, because I want to know more about him. Why did he murder Dingo's mom? And when did the Illuminati recruit him? Does he have any other responsibilities for the Society other than guarding their giant vault? Well, until next time, and I believe there will be a next time.

12. Shari

Of all the new characters introduced in the comic books, the most intriguing has to be Shari. Is she Thailog's new executive assistant, or does she own him? So far it seems to be a little bit of both. But I'm sure it's far more one than the other.

I love the narrative device of her storytelling, and I wonder where her knowledge comes from. Sure, she's a very high member of the Illuminati Society, but there are some things she just shouldn't know. And yet, she does. Like I said, she's intriguing. Now, I have my theories on who she really is, in fact I think it's so obvious, I almost wonder what the point of not revealing it was, aside from the fact that I can't see a place in the stories released to do it.

And as a final bit of trivia, Shari's look and basic design was inspired by stage actress and long time "Gargoyles" fan, Zehra Fazal. I've seen her perform on stage, and she is brilliant. She definitely deserved to be immortalized in "Gargoyles" canon in such a way.

11. The Archmage

Who would have thunk it? A one-shot villain if "Gargoyles" ever had one. You watch "Long Way to Morning" again, and you'd never think this guy would have become so important in the grand scheme of the series. Well, let's just say that David Warner kicks ass.

While I do write off his appearance in "Long Way to Morning" as 'obvious one shot villain,' he's still fun, even there. But I think what everybody remembers most is his turn as the villain in the "Avalon" triptych. I loved "Avalon Part Two." I thought the script was brilliant. I thought David Warner's dialogue with himself was tremendous. The entire endeavor was just wonderful.

Do I agree with the decision to kill him off? Absolutely. I don't think he would have had any staying power in the modern day material. The guy is a clichéd sorcerer, even if he's a very fun one. However, that doesn't mean I think the character is done entirely. There is plenty for him to do in a certain spin-off that takes place during the "Dark Ages." Or maybe even something to do if one were to TimeDance and have an encounter with him.

10. Coyote

What can I say, I have a soft spot for this glorified toaster oven. At first glance he may seem like Ultron wearing half of Xanatos's skin, but the influence from Xanatos is evident. This robot has a sense of humor, sometimes even a perverse one. Granted it's not sentient or self-aware, but it almost seems close enough to fool you.

I love all the designs he goes through. They're all different, while at the same time reminding you of who you're looking at. But my favorite will always be the first one. I loved the look, I loved his perception-warping weapon the most. I wish he'd used it more often.

What's next for this character? Well, Greg has kept extremely tight-lipped. We know more upgrades are on the horizon, but come "Gargoyles 2198" … well, let's just say I think I know what the Xanatos of "Future Tense" was actually foreshadowing.

9. Jackal and Hyena

The "Gargoyles Universe" is well known for their complex, complicated villains. But sometimes, it's nice to just cut loose. Enter the sociopathic Jackal; and his twin sister, the psychotic Hyena and we're in for a good time whenever they show up. These two will crack you up one moment and then make you sick the next.

The first time they appeared, they didn't seem THAT bad. Then, come their second appearance, you have Hyena nearly slicing a fan's face up, and smiling when she gets arrested. Following that, we have Hyena falling in love with a robot. And then, after that, the two volunteer to trade in their body parts for cybernetic implants. Frankly, it's rather sick.

Jackal almost seems normal when you compare him to Hyena. "Normal" being very relative, until we get to "Grief" where he becomes the avatar of Anubis, giving him power over life and death, and what does he do? He decides he wants to end all life on Earth. Yeah….

I'm glad these two are close siblings, because they deserve each other. Still, whatever else they are, they're very fun bad guys. Hell, even a friend of mine named his gold colored Aztek after Hyena.

8. Anton Sevarius

Dr. Anton Sevarius earns points for being the creepiest villain we have encountered so far. He's even creepier than Jackal and Hyena! Sure, he's pretty much a hired gun, but the guy enjoys it. He revels in it. I can sum up Sevarius with one quote. After he was asked why he was doing this:

"For science, which as my associate Fang indicated, must ever move forward. Plus there's the money… and I do love the drama!"

This guy is only slightly more ethical than Dr. Mengele! And I also need to give a ton of credit to Tim Curry for really bringing this guy to life. Apparently, Brent Spiner was the first choice to voice Sevarius, but Curry got the role, and Spiner was cast as Puck. Thank god for those decisions.

Another moment that really stands out was when he was all over Angela in "Monsters." Does he have a sexual interest in her? I don't know, probably not. I think he just took pleasure in making her as uncomfortable as possible.

I think my other favorite Sevarius moment comes from "Double Jeopardy" where he thinks he's taking part in a Machiavellian scheme of Xanatos's and decides to act the part… very badly, I might add. So much fun, even when he makes you scream.

7. The Weird Sisters

Okay, let's get this out of the way. Silver haired Luna is the Sister of Fate; Raven haired Selene is the Sister of Vengeance; and Golden haired Phoebe is the Sister of Grace.

The Weird Sisters are, for the most part, a complete mystery. They have plans within plans that stretch through the centuries, after all what is time to them? They could even give Xanatos a run for his money. What is their agenda? Only they know. We've seen two thirds of the story, with Luna ascendant during "City of Stone" and Selene ascendant during "Avalon." But there is a missing piece, where does grace fall in their plans for Demona and Macbeth? Hopefully time will tell.

These three are great fun to watch. I love how they can be both nowhere and everywhere. And I love how they can and will take on different forms depending on who is looking at them at any given moment. Where do their loyalties lie? Well, it seems to be with Oberon, but I've long suspected there is something bigger at play with these three.

It would be easy to say they were plucked straight out of the Scottish Play, but in several folklores and mythologies, the Weird Sisters are present in some form. There is just something elemental and primeval about them. And that's part of what makes them a great element of the series.

6. Fox

Any woman who David Xanatos would marry would have to be cut from the same cloth he is, because anyone else would be beneath him. Fox is that woman. Hell, sometimes she gets the better of him, whether they're sparring in the dojo, or playing chess. And he doesn't resent this; it's just further proof that he's found the love of his life.

It's weird to watch her in "The Thrill of the Hunt" at times, because Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, and Dingo just seem so far beneath her, she almost seems out of place there. And yet, at the same time, the more we learn about her, the more it makes sense. When we meet Halcyon Renard, a huge piece of the puzzle is put into place. She was never a daddy's girl, in fact, quite the opposite. She was clearly motivated, for years, by just annoying her father. Maybe her mother too.

And I think it was just as much of a shock to her that she loved David. But I wonder what their relationship was like before her prison sentence? Obviously Xanatos made her a television star, but what else was going on there?
She was his lover and employee. And a trained mercenary, let's not forget that.

Like her husband, she grew and developed as the series progressed, and is every bit as interesting a character as he is. In fact, in an alternate universe, I wonder how the series would have played if Fox was in Xanatos's role from the get go.

5. Thailog

Ah, the prodigal son… and he's a bastard. Literally.

I love this guy, he's just a hoot. Thailog is as powerful as Goliath, as brilliant and amoral as Xanatos, and as hammy and immoral as Sevarius. All at once. And it shows. In every single appearance, it shows. The guy is a walking Oedipus complex, what with his desire to prove his superiority to his fathers. I suppose one might say that he's already gotten the better of Sevarius, since he has the good doctor on his payroll. And while he outsmarted Xanatos once, I don't think he's done. Turning Nightstone Unlimited into a powerhouse to rival Xanatos Enterprises is obviously a means to this end. But what next?

I think my favorite thing about Thailog is that while he is a clone of Goliath, that's the last thing that comes to mind when I think about him. He's a fully developed character in his own right, and not simply Goliath's evil twin. On that note, I'm happy his coloring is different, because the last thing this show needs is an entire episode where the gargoyles try to figure out which one is the real Goliath.

And how can anyone not find that maniacal laugh of his to be anything but endearing?

4. John Castaway

John Castaway is a fascinating character, hell to crack the top five, he has to be. Castaway is a weak man, and at the heart of everything, a frightened child. Too weak to stand up to his brother and say "this is wrong" and too weak to admit he was wrong when he pulls the trigger and everything goes to Hell. I think the only thing that has changed is his support system.

Now that the gargoyles have been revealed to the world, Castaway represents a political movement who are moving against them. And it's rather frightening. Not for being a group of hooded thugs, they are not, but for being like a cross between the neighborhood watch, and a support group. Oh, there is a violent wing of the Quarrymen, we know that. But with Castaway's shrewdness, and the Illuminati's backing, I don't think he would do something stupid like fire anti-aircraft cannons in Manhattan, or hijack a train. No… because that would make Castaway much less difficult to defeat than he is. And even then, who says that happens? The Quarrymen are destined to be a problem for at least the next two hundred years, and like the Hunters before them, his descendents will lead the organization.

Keep in mind, we can all trace this back to a scratch in a barn in the tenth century.

3. Macbeth

Well, where do I start? Well, I suppose I will start by saying that I almost feel bad for putting him on this list at all. He has a strong sense of honor, if skewed. He's worked against our protagonists and with them. But, in the end I think the only side he's on is his own. While he is more of an ally now, that doesn't mean he hasn't been part of the problem before and won't be part of the problem again.

His story is terrific. Rather than follow the Scottish Play, the story we got was a loose adaptation of the true history of Macbeth and his reign over Scotland. Yes, we had Demona and gargoyles, and the Weird Sisters and sorcery, but we also had a history lesson unfolding, even if we didn't know it at the time. And it's terrific. To this day, it's my favorite tale in the entire mythos.

When we first meet him, the centuries have certainly taken their toll. He is not above attacking the gargoyles, taking hostages, and committing grand theft. And yet, we never once think of him as evil, despite doing some pretty unethical and amoral things. That changes with "City of Stone" when we learn his story and feel sorry for him. But at the same time, I think the perception among many fans has swung around too far. Yes, we understand him more now. But that wasn't his redemption. Far from it.

I think the tail end of "Sanctuary" and "Pendragon" is where the change begins, and I stress this, begins. In the former, he learned that he is still capable of love. In the latter, while some didn't quite get why he competed so violently against King Arthur for Excalibur, well, it always made sense to me. This is a man who has suffered so much, who viewed his existence as sad and endless, that he was looking for something to give it meaning and maybe justify every terrible thing that has ever happened to him. Being the new Once and Future King would serve that purpose, wouldn't it? Well, it doesn't quite work out for him, but over the course of the series we have seen this man go from suicidal renegade to a man who doesn't think life is completely worth living, and now seeks purpose in his existence. Did he look like a fool clutching that broken sword? Well, he was a broken man. And once you hit rock bottom, the healing can begin.

2. David Xanatos

He was designed to be a heroic character, and he was cast as the villain of the piece. That, right there, is what makes this character so brilliant. He has so many positive qualities, so many admirable traits. He's smart, he's cool, he's suave, he's practical, he knows his priorities, he doesn't sweat the small stuff, he doesn't hold a grudge; the titled heroes have more personality flaws than he does! But he is also incredibly ruthless, and while he's not evil, he is incredibly amoral. He seems to be the walking personification of Frederick Nietzsche's ubermensch when one stops to think about it. And he is awesome.

I am actually struggling here, what more can be said about David Xanatos that hasn't already been said? He's designed many tropes all by himself. There was never a villain like him in animation before, and even after he's left, there still has never been anyone quite like him. He doesn't surround himself with dimwitted henchmen and beat them up and scream when they fail. No, quite the opposite, he is always surrounded by incredibly competent people. His assistant and majordomo, Owen Burnett comes to mind. And he so rarely loses. In sixty-five episodes, and eighteen comics, I can count the number of actual losses on one hand. Aside from that, he always comes out on top. Always. But when he doesn't, he doesn't throw a fit and scream, he shrugs it off and moves on to the next plan. There are always contingencies. This guy is the coolest guy in the series.

His character arc throughout the series is brilliant. I love his rivalry with Goliath, and I love how he doesn't hate or even dislike Goliath. He likes Goliath a lot, admires him, and regards him with what I can best call a mix of interest and benign amusement. That's far more interesting than Megatron's hatred for Optimus Prime. And I really love how Goliath would often use the word "evil" to describe Xanatos. Sure, Xanatos has done some evil things, but Goliath's view of him for the longest time was very two-dimensional. It almost represents how most audiences, especially in animation, were trained to view the villain. No, Xanatos wasn't a Dark Lord, or a diabolical evil. He was simply a trickster. A human trickster.

While Xanatos and Goliath seem to have made some form of peace, that still didn't make Xanatos one of the good guys! I love that! In a way, he's still the enemy, and now the gargoyles are living with him, and they know it! He still has plans and schemes, and while he likes the gargoyles and helps them out, that doesn't stop him from manipulating them to his own ends, or even working against them. And best of all, as far as Xanatos is concerned: it's nothing personal.

I also have to give a ton of credit to the performance of Jonathan Frakes. He made Xanatos sound so sophisticated, fun, and erudite.

David Xanatos, he should run a seminar on villainy. Often imitated, never duplicated.

1. Demona

Demona is the clear number one on this list, for reasons both grounded and very esoteric at the same time. At the most minimal of glances, she seems very typical. We've seen genocidal human haters before. But scratch the surface, even a little, and we get the deepest creation of not only the series, but one of the deepest creations in the realm of fiction. I'm going to say this now, and roll your eyes all you want, but Demona would not be the slightest bit out of place in Russian literature. Or William Shakespeare's for that matter. I love this character.

Let's start with the surface elements first. She's got a terrific character design, and was so very well animated. Marina Sirtis deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the work she did bringing her to life. She embodied that character so completely that I never want to hear anyone else ever voice Demona on any animated project. No one can do it. Period. Hearing Marina Sirtis voice Demona was just as much of a revelation as hearing Mark Hamill's Joker. And I will stand by that statement even under threat of torture. She is also just such a badass! An intimidating warrior, an immortal, a sorceress, and she transforms into a human during the day! Hell, in both forms, she's pretty hot.

Now, for the esoteric. She has a guilt complex that makes Peter Parker's look tame by comparison, but she spreads it around to everyone else rather than internalize it. And considering how much she has to feel guilty over, this makes her arguably the most dangerous character in the series. She cannot accept her own culpability for the terrible things that happened to her, and for all intents and purposes, murdering her clan. She may not have swung the mace, but her ambition, her bigotry, and her cowardice put them in front of it.

Her favorite scapegoats are humanity as a whole, who make an easy and convenient target for her to project her guilt and self-loathing on. Now, does she have a point? Yes. Let's face it, humans can be bastards. We've done terrible things as a species. But, just as you cannot blame every Muslim for the attacks on September 11th, or every German for the Holocaust, Demona is wrong to blame every human for the terrible actions of a few. And at the end of the day, she was either directly or indirectly responsible for those actions. She betrayed her clan, and caused the massacre; she created the Hunter, and betrayed Macbeth. Demona created her own pain, and she intends to wipe out every man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth just to justify every damned stupid choice she ever made.

Despite all of that, she is an eternally conflicted character. She is not a one-dimensional cut-out. Deep inside, she knows she's wrong, she knows what she did. But she cannot and will not acknowledge that. And that's what makes her hatred for Elisa Maza so interesting. The one human she hates most is the one that has been a true friend to the gargoyles, because Elisa is living proof of just how wrong Demona really is. And the fact that Elisa and Goliath are now in love doesn't help considering Demona's lingering feelings of jealousy.

Of course, there is Demona's biological daughter, Angela. She is probably the one person Demona cares about in the world. My single biggest regret about the cancelation of the comic book is that we didn't get to see the two of them interact again. I am beyond curious to see where this goes. But one thing I am confident of, it's not heading towards a hysterically easy redemption. Nope, if we take the plan for the "Gargoyles 2198" spin-off seriously, and I most certainly do, Demona is still plotting against humanity long after Angela has died. Is it sad? Yes. Is it tragic? Yes. Is it Demona? Absolutely.

I also love how she is a walking mess of contradictions. Her belief system is based so much on lies she tells herself, that she will rationalize anything she can to fit her world view. Why? Because the alternative is admitting she is wrong, and right now, she will not do that. Cannot do that. Sadly for both her and Angela, I see tragedy in their future.

Demona's through line is one of the main reasons I am so desperate for "Gargoyles 2198" to be produced. I want to see how her story ends, and if it's going to end anywhere, it's in that spinoff. This is a story I am dying to see, and if Disney never produces it, well… one way or another I intend to find out what happens to her. What her ultimate fate is going to be. We know she'll have an epiphany of some kind. How does it happen? Why does it happen? What's the fallout? How does her story end?

Demona is an endlessly fascinating character. We've never seen anything like her in the realm of western animation before her debut, and I don't think she's been replicated since. Why? I don't know. But lightning has been caught in a bottle, and I am rather happy that no one has attempted to imitate this unique and perfectly conceived character but tragically flawed person.

Greg Bishansky writes...

For the GargWiki's timeline, I was wondering if you would please share the dates and descriptions from your timeline of the events of "Bad Guys"?

Thanks!

Ian Perez writes...

Second question--and given the snafu with the last one, the first one with my name...

Upon first reading "Bad Guys #4", I was rather surprised to see Dingo acting so forcefully in order to prevent Yama from killing Fang in righteous rage. I know acts like that are standard behavior for heroic characters, and that the point of the series is to feature the transtion of these no-longer-villains into actual heroes, but I wouldn't have thought that Dingo was at the "revenge killing is bad and must be stopped" phase yet, particularly given his past as a mercenary--until the moment occured, I would have thought that his reaction would have been to think "good riddance to bad rubbish".

So to sum up all this in the form of a question: why do you feel Dingo was so adamant in preventing Yama from killing Fang?

Harlan Phoenix writes...

Bad Guys was an excellent story, but I do have one question about one of the protagonists. Yama makes a point at the end of the story to note that each Bad Guy has an inner need to redeem himself or a greater purpose found in redemption. Matrix, however, is distanced from the rest of them almost immediately in terms of motivation as his mission is simply to preserve "law and order."

Now, I'm not knocking this at all; Matrix is my favorite protagonist in the book. But I think the distinction is interesting.

1. Does Matrix understand the concept of redemption?
2. Will he eventually find a reason why his own redemption might be necessary?

gipdac writes...

1. Were any of the Falstaff's Band of Thieves members Illuminati or are they just minions or henchmen?
2. If they are members of the Illuminati, what is the rank of:
A. Falstaff (John Oldcastle)?
B. Pistol?
C. Mistress Quickly?
D. Bardolph?
E. Points?
F. Doll?
3. What's the real name of:
A. Pistol?
B. Mistress Quickly?
C. Bardolph?
D. Points?
E. Doll?
4. Did Dingo know any of the Band of Thieves besides Falstaff and Pistol?
5. Why did John Oldcastle (Falstaff) strangle Dingo's mom?
6. What did the Redemption Squad plan on doing with Mistress Quickly?

Derek writes...

Could humans be turned into Gargoyles by the same process that was used on the mutates? Sevarius didn't say he couldn't do it but that he had no Gargoyle DNA to play around with. Would Gargoyle DNA too complex to use in the same way as the jungle cats, eels etc?

Phil writes...

Got Bad Guys #2 today and really enjoyed it. I'll have to read it again before I do any kind of review, but I have a question.

Toward the end we see Shari hanging out in the Labyrinth as "Fred" wanders through. Without making suggestions that may be construed as ideas, what is the time frame for this scene? Am I correct in assuming its sometime before Halloween?

Since we're on the subject, I'd like to fill in the Bad Guys timeline:
1) What date did Hunter recruit Dingo and Matrix?
2) What date did Hunter recruit Yama?
3) What date did Sevarius spring Fang from the Labyrinth?
4) What date did the Redemption helicopter get blown out of the sky?

Any other Bad Guys-related dates you'd like to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

dph writes...

Others and myself noticed that Dingo's Pack armor seems to have disappeared in Bad Guys comic issue #1. Did Matrix completely absorb Dingo's armor so that Dingo's original Pack armor doesn't exist out of Matrix?

Thoth writes...

When does Bad Guys #1 come out?

Rebel writes...

Hey Greg,

I was just curious as to how you went about choosing the villains for Bad Guys. Please note that I am completely pleased with the current Redemption Squad line-up, so I'm not complaining, I'm just curious. What was it about these guys that helped them make the cut, whereas other villains in the Gargoyle universe didn't make it? Where there some other villains who nearly got included but didn't quite make the cut? If so, who are they and why'd you decide against them? Feel free to volunteer any other interesting tidbits of information about how you went about picking the Bad Guys villains.

Tony writes...

1) Is it too late to reconsider the decision to have the "Bad Guys" comic in black and white? I know the economic decision behind it, but I find that certain comics and webstrips that have action in black and white are very hard to follow. I just hope the action isn't hard to follow in "Bad Guys". I believe this spin off will become a great success, and I'd love to see it at full potential which would be having it in color.

2) What is the potential price point for the "Bad Guys" comic?

3) If the first six are successful, will possible future releases remain in black and white?

4) Is the plan for "Pendragon" also black and white?

Thank you for your time.

Jason Aiken writes...

Hey Greg,

Not really any questions...

Loving the new Gargoyles comic. #1 and #2 really layed out the Gargoyles world and backstory as good as it could be done in two issues. #3 really started the new stuff off right with a lot of favorite characters (of mine anyway) returning. I am especially glad that you are including Matt Bluestone in a large supporting role.

Even though the characters aren't being animated, I believe that Hedgecock and Evans are doing a fantastic job of giving them life. The looks on Brooklyn's face during a few instances so far are a good example of this. It's obvious that he isn't happy with his personal situation and maybe even his place in the clan.

Keep up the great work, Gargoyles ranks up there with DCAU Library as my favorite cartoons and I'm glad the Gargs are continuing in comic form. Looking forward to the Bad Guys mini as well... that lineup would give the Gargs a run for their money.

Charisma82 writes...

I just read the good news that BAD GUYS will be a 6 issue limited comic book. I can see that if the comic book doesn't do well that you'd only want 6 done, but what if it does well? Would you make more than just the 6 comic books? I know you want to jump into PENDRAGON after the 6 are done, and if you do, would you continue BAD GUYS from that point, or would you go back and tell stories that happened within the 1st and 6th comic books?

Thank you for your time and for creating the new comic book.

-Charisma82

Fllay Allster hater AND Kira Yamato hater writes...

Hi greg,

Questions regarding "Walkabout"

1. Why did Dingo meant by helping Fox and Anastasia? Carry crates? Clearing the test sites?

2. How did the Matrix shrank after being so insanely large? Compression? Did it kill a handfull of nanobots?

3. What was Dingo's job before going to America?

Thank you.

Francois Ferland writes...

Hi Greg! I'm posting for the first time and it feels wierd, since I tried to send questions 4 or 5 years ago and they got deleted. Anyway...

First of all, I'd like to thank you for having been (and still being) such an important part of the Gargoyles franchise. You (and others of course) provided me with easily THE single best animated show ever. A well written series great voice acting, continuous plots, characters that are believable, and a complex universe that manages both to include lots of existing legends and myths while still retaining a distinct identity. I truly think that in terms of all-around quality for a dramatic show, Gargoyles was easily Disney's best effort by far. Reboot is the only other animated show that I've seen that seems to exhibit the same qualities, meaning well-written, clever and quite enjoyable for both kids and adults.

Also, I'm happy to learn that Gathering 2004 will take place in Montreal, meaning I might actually be able to attend! I don't know if you're the one who chose the location, but if you are, thanks on behalf of us Canadians!

Finally, I'd just like to thank you for actually answering the flood of questions we fans send your way. And especially your god-like patience towards people who obviously never took the time to read the FAQ OR archive. I can understand asking about a minor detail that could have been missed, but among the questions being submitted, I know there are some LAZY people I wouldn't mind slapping once or twice in the face...

Anyway, I have a number of questions on different subject, so expect a few one-question posts from me.

This one would fit in a "Writing" category if there is such a thing.

1. Regarding your current master plan (i.e. your ideas for the various spin-offs), it's obvious you've given lots of thoughts to the initial setting of each. The main characters and their immediate goals for example, as well as ideas for early stories as well as a few ideas for on-going plots. A lot of course would be dictated by the characters (and your muse I'm sure) as the shows would go along.

a) Now here's my question: Do you have an idea about the possible endings of some of your spin-offs? I don't want you to tell me anything, just if you have some "Ultimate goals" in mind for all your spin-offs.

Gargoyles itself has always been very open-ended. There never was a single overlying theme to the series, it just kept going on on its own, the plots and characters growing in complexity in a very organic and sometimes unpredictable way. It could potentially keep going on for years and years.

But some of your spin-offs have very specific premises. There ARE stories that are better told if planned from beginning to end as a whole. Others however are better if left to evolve on their own. An aimless story could potentially "find its voice" after a while, leading to an ultimate ending of sorts. Or, the initial premise could be transformed over time, leading the story in a quite different direction.

For example, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Initially, the show is about our heroes trying to restore a people (Bajorans) to a stable society following years of occupation by an enemy race (Cardassians). Yet, after two years, the show introduced a much bigger menace, a race who sought to conquer and control all others (the Dominion). From then on, the show eventually lead to a huge war with the ending signaling the end of the hostility.

a) How do you feel about long stories? About those that are open-ended and those that have some finality set for them? (I hope I'm not being to vague here. I'm really interested in how you feel about this)

And about some specifics spin-offs:

b) Bad Guys: The basic idea is about our main characters seeking redemption. Do you know if they ever find it? And would that be the goal of the show?

c) TimeDancer: Ultimately, the very final ending is, in a way, already known. Brooklyn makes it home a lot older with a family. But do you already have some sketchy idea about how he finally makes it there, like some final adventure dealing with the Phoenix Gate itself, or were you planing on dealing with it once you were forced to, like a series' finale?

c) Gargoyles 2198: This one seems to be mostly about the war against the Space-Spawn but as you often say, "Things aren't that simple". Would the liberation of Earth signal the end of the series, or would you keep the series going with the existing setting once the war is over? After all, there might still be other threats like Coyote-X, the Illuminati, etc.

d) Dark Ages: Since this one could theoretically run up to the beginning of "Awakening", I won't ask if you have an ending in mind.

e) Pendragon: It's obvious now that Merlin, Mr. Duval and Holy Grail would be important part of the story. Do you have an ending in mind for this one, or where you again planing on seeing where the story ultimately took you?

f) New Olympians: This one feels pretty generic, and feels like it could run forever like Gargoyles. The ultimate goal I suppose would be the acceptance of New Olympus by humanity, but judging by the response toward gargoyles, wouldn't likely fit within an entire series, no matter how long it might be. Still, got an ending in mind, even if it's pretty open-ended, like "Hunter's Moon pt.3"?

Thanks a lot for answering.

Arwen writes...

just wondering... i havent seen all of TGC, so if this comes up in the show & i missed it... well, ops but

1)anyway, after hunters moon, what hapens 2 robyn canmore? does she keep tracking "the Demon" or what.

2) does jon canmore/castaway blame elesa at all for what hapened 2 jason

Gothic Cowboy writes...

Salutations. I have a question concerning Robyn "Hunter" Canmore. Specifically, concerning her continued use of the Hunter persona and mask. The proposed Bad Guys show has long been my favorite of the six potential spin-offs, primarily because of my affinity for Dingo (I like to see redemption, I guess its just my religious upbringing). But when I read that Robyn would continue to use the identity and mask of the Hunter, I was initially nonplussed. The Hunter was born in a crucible of hate and anger. The red slash marks always seemed, to me, to be symbolic of the fact that the first Hunter refused to allow his wounds to heal. They may have physically healed, but once he put on the mask, they were suddenly red and (in his mind, at least) fresh. I didn't understand why Robyn, after she'd reformed and given up her family's misguided crusade, would nonetheless continue to wear the mask of the Hunter. But the more I thought about it, the more it made a certain amount of sense. Robyn is not the first Hunter, not by a long shot. Both of her brothers used the identity at one point in their lives, although they have both since abandoned it (though for vastly different reasons). Her Father was the Hunter. Numerous ancestors also wore the mask. By doing good while using the identity of the Hunter, she is, in some way, working to redeem not just herself, but her entire family line since Duncan. That was my interpretation, at least. Was I off the mark?

Anonymous writes...

Does Sora still love Yama? Even after his betrayal and banishment?

Dave writes...

Hey Gregg, I'm new to this site, and I was just wondering... is there something I missed about Gargoyles? I mean, I know of Gargoyles, and The Goliath Chronicles, but was there some other Gargoyle show that aired after?

What lies ahead for Gargoyles? Do you plan on bringing them back to the air at some point? I'd really like to see some new Gargoyles cartoons....

Thank you.

Todd Jensen writes...

In "Bad Guys", would the Matrix have been "powered down", so to speak, i.e. portrayed as less powerful than he was in "Walkabout"? In "Walkabout", he was capable of covering the entire world with his nanites, and was unstoppable by force (Goliath and Dingo were only able to prevent him from reformatting the Earth by reasoning with him); obviously, if he was still on that level in "Bad Guys", it would make things too easy for the Redemption Squad.

Lord Sloth writes...

I have a few questions about the Leica reel for Bad Guy's, as I've never seen it (but really want to).

1. If you can't/don't want to spread the reel all over the net, could/would you write a detailed/some what detailed report on how the story goes. You of course don't have to, but I'm sure it would satisfy a lot of people who have never gathered to a gathering.

2. What IS a Leica reel? Is there anything animated about it, or is it more of a montonage <sp?> of art work with voice-overs from key characters?

3. How much detail is shown in the animation/stills (i.e.: sketches or paintings or stuff the like I see in Gargoyles)?

4. How long dose it run for?

*Note* I could have asked the CR about all this, but I enjoy the way you write, when you do :^B (enough flattery?).

And I hope to see it for myself someday, not in Virginia, but in NY, 2003 if all goes well.

Anonymous writes...

I personally haven't seen Gargoyles since 1998. I live outside the United States and the T.V station that showed Gargoyles cancelled it despite the excellent ratings the show had. Anyway, I realize that I'm far behind on the topic of Gargoyles because all of a sudden I hear something about some Redemption Squad in which I see some of the bad guys in the series as part of it. Can you give me detailed info on this Redemption Squad?

seeker writes...

Where can I find the stories refered to in different questions? Such as the story of Oberon and Mab, or the stories that take place in the future? I've searced for them but haven't found them.

Anonymous writes...

1a.How long will the Redemption squad be active in the gargoyles universe? Does it exist in one form or another in 2198?
1b.Are the Monmouths of 2198 affliated with it?

2a.Are the Canmores still existant in 2198?
2b.If not then what happened to Jason? Will he have kids? If so what are their last names going to be?

3a.Will John Castaway ever wear the mask of the hunter?
b.Will any member of the monmouth clan ever wear that mask in 2198?

Anonymous writes...

Regarding the Bad Guys spin-off what story arcs were you planning for the show?

Anonymous writes...

1.Would you consider the golem to be an AI since it is artificial?
2.If you could rank the AIs of the Gargoyles Universe from most advanced to least advanced where does the Golem fit?

Shadowman writes...

Hello Greg,

Im a big fan of the gargoyles and all and I was wondering if the gargoyles were still on the air would you bring back the Hunter? and few other questions.. how many Hunters were in the gargoyle history? I know they were 1 in the ancient times and 3 in the present and McBeth was kind of one... and the other question if you did brought back the Hunter what kind of look would he have? a High Tech-ish look more beyond what the 3 Hunters had?

Meteo writes...

Dear Mr. Weisman,

Do you see Disney's acquisition of Fox Family as increasing the chances for more Gargoyles? Thank you!

Lord Sloth writes...

1) I was reading FAQ and in the timedancer section you talked about an antagonist called Calaban. Who is Calaban?
2) In the FAQ for bad guys, you mentioned an antagonist named Falstaff. Who is he?
3) Thanks a bunch

Anonymous writes...

Monmouths
What do the Monmouths think of gargoyles in 2198? Are they pro-gargoyle?

Anonymous writes...

What are their abilities of Dingo's matrix armor?

Anonymous writes...

By 2198 has Matrix achieved the Order it was programmed to create?

matt writes...

will there be any non-permanent members of the Redemption Squad? maybe those joining only for an episode or a multi-parter.
if so, do we know them, and will you tell us who they are?

Lord Sloth writes...

Did Fang act the way he does now before he was transformed, or was it sorta saposta be that he was corrupted by his new powers? The Mutation seemed to affect Derik a bit, or at least have a sort of eye of oden affect on him.

Gabriel writes...

Oie, i didn't keep a journal, so I have to go from memory.
Day 1:
I left Houston at around eight, tired from lack of sleep and hungry from hurrying to airport and only eating a quick cup of cerial. During the flight they served these nasty snacks that were really greasy; they call it sausage, I call it a waste of money. The flight took about three to four hours; I slept most of the away. I arrived in LA upset due to two factors: 1. On the way, I looked down at all the sand and desert, and out of nowhere all these ontological ramblings poured into my head. Did I have paper? No. Could I even write anything legible on a bumpy airplane? No. So there went a slew of ontological and time-continuum ideas right out the window. I shrugged it off and went on. 2). In LA, I got stopped by some Harr Kreshna guy who gave me this book to read about his religion. I thought, "cool" and tried leave; but he stopped me and hounded me for money. After repeatedly telling him no, he took the book back and gave me a pamphlet instead. JERK, I thought. I shrugged it off and went on.
Well, I got to the hotel--after almost diying (is that spelled right?) on the way there because of the driver who kept telling all the passengers stories about his Fatherland (Germany) and whole bunch of other stuff I didn't care for while he was NOT paying attention to the road--and found my friend Ryan from Dallas.
Well, because of this mix-up with our rooms, they wouldn't give us the keys, so I had to go find the guy whose name the room was under (Sean "Brooklyn X" Donagher) so he could prove to the clerk that we were supposed to be in the room. We decided to get our badges for the Gathering first, and, to our surprise, Sean was volunteering to give out the badges. He got us our keys, and we went down (not up where everyone else was) to our room.
After throwing everything on the floor, I wasted no time in blowing my money on junk I really don't need (cards, a CD, a place mat, a puzzle, this wierd french game with a marble, and a color print of Gabriel).
After throwing all that with my other crap I went back to audition for the radio play. I had no idea what I was supposed to do, and so I was really panicky. Of course, all the ontological mumbo-jumbo came flooding back in like burst damn...and I was reading the script, second in line--what luck. After skimming the script, I get called in. As soon as I walk in, I see Greg and start thinking, "If my being is met with bad-faith---oh crap, it's Greg Weisman, uumumum--but then my being is thus permeable to the I-it--sh*t, who am I gonna' read---oh crap, it's Thom Adcox, uhuhuhuh--quick, sit down!!" After sitting down, I was told to stand-up.
"OK, who are you going to read for us?" Greg asked. Sh*t, you didn't even decide who to read. Goliath--no. Brooklyn--maybe. Elisa--ha! Xanatos--no. Goliath--no. Xanatos--might as well.
So I read; I thought it went fairly well.
"Uh, do you think you could read that first paragraph again," Geg asked me, "except louder this time?"
"Uhhh, yeah, I guess." Damn him! [No offence, Greg:)] I read louder.
"Stop. You need to project." I read even louder. "Project!" Ah! Damnit, I bet that was too loud, I thought.
I finished. I felt better after barking like a dog and wimping out of my cheesy Celebrity Jeopardy Sean Connery impression.
The rest of the day went by like a flash. All I remember is getting Fabberbakke's autograph on my Gargoyles poster, some of the opening ceremonies, wondering when Yama became a bad guy, being happy at being an understudy, working-out at their crappy gym, and hating Bush for not putting a price cap in California since I had to pay 2.50 per night for electricity. I didn't talk to anyone since I really didn't know anyone; so I mostly just kept to myself, thinking, "So that's what you look like," anytime I saw someone's name I recognized off the 'Net.
I read a little bit of The Fall that night and decided I was just too tired to read any; so I went to bed, eager to jump into the next days activities.

Kelly L. Creighton/Kya White Sapphire writes...

directed towards WereFox- AH HAH! if you had come to the gathering, you would KNOW why demona made the disk! bwahaha! Ill let greg decide if he is going to bless you with the answer! (im feeling rather sadistic at the moment ;P)

GREG- when you showed that cool garg promo video (which you do every year) i yelled out "where can we get a copy of that?" and you said "you cant!" is that for legal reasons, as in Disney owns it, or is it just because you only have one copy? or is it something else?

Anonymous writes...

Which came first the Master Matrix or New Camelot? Who created the Master Matrix?

matt writes...

you said that Yama is blackmailed into joining The Redemption Squad cuz the Director knows the secret of Ishimura. now obviously Yama at least partially still wants to "come out" to the human world about gargs, you've even said that in a way Yama is right about that, but is the Director as un-trustworthy as Taro was? would the Director really reveal the secret? or does Yama want to be revealed to the world, but wants to get back in the good with Sora and his clan?

matt writes...

1. did Sora know about the theme park thing and Yama's involvement in it?

2. was she esspecially mad at Yama for his betrayal of the clan?

3. their relationship is going to be a rough one isn't it? what with him betraying the clan and getting outcasted and all...

Todd Jensen writes...

A few questions, now, about "Gargoyles 2198":

1. I've noticed a few parallel elements in it with "Future Tense", as follows:

Demona joining forces with the resistance movement.

The LXMs serving as a parallel to "Cyber-Lex".

Coyote-X as a parallel to the Xanatos Program (artificial intelligences out to conquer the world, both derived ultimately from Xanatos - although I doubt that Coyote-X has any direct connection to Xanatos, he did originate the Coyote line of robots).

Were these three elements intended as parallels to "Future Tense", a la the destruction of the clock tower in the original series?

2. What sort of occupation do you imagine the Space-Spawn making on Earth? A really tyrannical regime of the sort where Earth's population is reduced to slave labor, or a more remote occupation where they pretty much let the Earthlings go on with their lives, though now as subjects of the Space-Spawn Empire?

3. How is it that Coyote-X is out to conquer, first the planet, then the galaxy? I will confess that I have something of a problem with the notion of a robot or artificial intelligence out to conquer the world; such a goal strikes me as more fitted to an "organic being" with such emotions as greed, ambition, arrogance, etc., than to an artificial intelligence, which I simply can't imagine developing emotions (truth to tell, my own thoughts on machines are pretty much the same as those of Goliath in "Outfoxed" - machines know only what they are programmed to know; it's living beings, such as humans and gargoyles, who are capable of making decisions, and choosing between the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do). I didn't have any problems with the Matrix undertaking this route in "Walkabout" since it was portrayed here as merely a logical extension of its programming (to bring about order to the terrain of the world; it was merely misinterpreting its mission) rather than being motivated by power-lust. However, I'm not certain as to how Coyote-X developed its goal. (Of course, artificial intelligences could have come a long way by 2198, and maybe by that time they have developed emotions and the weaknesses and failings of living beings like humans and gargoyles). Of course, I doubt that you want to fill us in on the details yet, but I just thought that I'd mention it.

Anonymous writes...

Is it a coincidence that both New Camelot and the Master Matrix are in Antarctica?

Anonymous writes...

What does the Master Matrix and the LXM robots have to do with the Matrix that we see in Walkabout?

Anonymous writes...

You said that Yama is blackmailed into joining the Squad. What does the Director hold that is able to force Yama to join the Squad?

Anonymous writes...

1.Why does the Director hate the Illuminati?
2.How does he know of it?
3.What nationality is the Director?
4.What kind of a civil servant is he?
5.Does he know of Mr.Duval?

Anonymous writes...

Why did Sevarius rescue Fang from his prison in the Labyrinth?
How would they come in conflict with the Redemption Squad?

matt writes...

you said that the cross-generational love between Yama and Sora isn't the norm, but isn't unheard of, so:

1. are there gargoyles (esspecially among the Ishimura clan) that are against relationships between non-rookery siblings?

2. have Yama or Sora ever wondered if perhaps they are biologically closely related, like brother/sister, uncle/niece? are they ever insecure about having a non-traditional relationship?

3. will they still be able to have 3 children if they want to? obviously, Sora being younger should be able to concieve 3 times, but are male gargoyles able to fertilize an egg at any time in their life? if they have 3 eggs, Yama will be a generation older than most the other fathers in the clan...

SEM writes...

Greg, saw "Walkabout" recently and had a question about Dingo's ending line about Australia having a new kind of hero. Was this intended in any way as a jab to Crocodile Dundee, who had been very popular in the previous decade? Maybe it's just because CROCODILE DUNDEE IN L.A. came out in the last few months that my mind made that kind of connection... not sure. Thanks!

Anonymous writes...

Why is Paris the hq of the Redemption Squad?

Anonymous writes...

What other characters were suppose to join the Redemption Squad besides Robyn, Harry, Matrix, Fang, Yama and the director?

Anonymous writes...

What were the Redemption squad created to do?

Anonymous writes...

You said that in the future the Castaways and Monmouths would be in conflict with each other so who does Jon marry somebody to have kids or does he adopt kids to continue his line? If he marries who does he marry?

Anonymous writes...

So have you planned a crossover with the casts of Pendragon, Bad Guys, Gargoyles and New Olympians appearing in the same episode?

Anonymous writes...

How does the Matrix armor that Dingo wears work? Does it work like the symbiotes from Spider-man ?

Anonymous writes...

Did you ever plan a crossover between the Redemption Squad, Gargoyles, Pendragon and New Olympians?

Anonymous writes...

Will any other existing characters that we know besides Robyn, Dingo, Yama and Fang serve a stink in the Redemption Squad?

Bruno writes...

Hi, Greg,

About Angela: Right after the World Tour, what are her opinions about...

1-Macbeth?

2-Fox?

3-Dingo?

Thanks.

Matt "KS" Maybray writes...

Greg,

This is my first time asking a question here, so be gentle...

It's been mentioned that in "Bad Guys", The Director would've been fighting against the Illuminati's Mr. Duval. Since you had planned for Duval to be Sir Percival, was the Director going to be any notable character from history, mythology, or literature? If so, then who?

In closing, I'd just like to thank you for helping create something that I've had much enjoyment from these past 7 years. There hasn't been any show quite like "Gargoyles" since (unfortunately).

Entity writes...

Hi Greg,

In "Walkabout," you state that David and Fox really were going to follow through with the Matrix reshaping the planet. I find that pretty jaw-dropping, even if it was to be a selective reshaping. They'd have to basically take over the world in order to do it. Not like they can just do it here or there and go about their business. But onto the specific questions:

1) What in particular did David and Fox have in mind for the world's reshaping? What did they see wrong with it that they sought to righten, or alter in their favor, with the Matrix?

2) How does this goal mesh with Xanatos' pre-established personality? I thought he was already comfortable in the world as it was. And why not? Free trade had evidently benefited him quite well. He was probably the most powerful, non-governmental man on the planet, no? X doesn't seem like the type to rule an empire, like in "Future Tense" (which was a tip-off as to the falsehood of Puck's dream). Rather, he seems to simply want control and power, but in a, well, down-to-earth way.

3) Did Anastasia care?

4) Does Xanatos still have the Matrix technology?

Justin writes...

Greg,
Hey a few more questions.
1) Who is Kai's mate?
2) By the time of the Journey how old is Kai biologically?
3) How many children have Kai and his mate produced? And what years did they hatch?
4) Have Yama and Sora had a child yet?

Thanks again

matt writes...

when i asked if Claw will ever talk again you said, "I hope not". why do you hope that Claw will never talk again? his not being to talk is psychological not physiological, right? as in its something wrong in his head, not wrong with his physical body. what spin-offs would Claw make appearences in? would he be a main character in any of them?

LSZ writes...

Is the Director's enmity primarily aimed at Duval himself, or the Illuminati?

Vashkoda writes...

1) How does the Matrix's consciousness/mind work? Is it the collective "mind" of all the nanites, or are some nanites assigned the function of being the "brain", and direct the actions of the rest of the nanites?

2) *Must* the nanites obey the collective mind/"brain-nanites", or is it in their capactity to work apart from it?

3) Did the nanites somehow fuse themselves *into* Dingo's body, or do they just form a suit of armor around him?

Sapphire writes...

You said something earlier on that in Bad Guys Fang's family will be introduced. My questions are

1) Did Fang ever have any kids when he was human?

2) If Fang had a child how would that child respond to his/her father since now that he is a bat winged couger man?

Marduk writes...

I made the posts about the conflict between Bad Guys and Gargoyles incase you don't remember. I'll attempted to clarify them.
At the end of Hunters Moon the Gargoyles are revealed to the public and the NYPD even have a Gargoyle Task Force set up. So it seems to me the Federal Government should respond to the situation fairly rapidly. They apperantly want the Gargs captured and send in the Redemption Squad to do it. Now the problem with this is the Redemption Sqaud hasn't been formed yet.. so if Gargoyles came back and you wanted to do this plan you would have to take a episode or two to form the RS, then have the government hire them to capture the gargoyles. But if after this happened you got a chance to do Bad Guys then you've used your pliot episode(s) up in Gargoyles and that's where I see a conflict.
So my question was if you got a chance to do more Gargoyles would some of your first new season(let's assume 13 cartoons) you spend a couple episodes developing the RS idea and then having them try and capture the Gargoyles or would you just have someone else get hired to do it and leave the RS to be developed later?

Marduk writes...

Oh, my previous question is referring to when Cyclonus asked how would of the federal government reacted to the Gargoyles and you said(I found the qoute) " They'd mess in. Send in a crack team of expendable agents to capture the gargs....
I found that tidbit in the Bad Guys archive so I figured they were the team you were talking about.

Marduk writes...

Hello Greg=) I am a first time questioner here at ask Greg, but a long time lurker( I have even read the archives).
I was wondering when you were planning on forming the Redemption Squad in the gargverse. Going by your comments the Squad would be a part of the government's response to the revelation that their is such a thing as a gargoyle.
That would lead to some problems though if Bad Guys got spun off since some of your original plans for BG would have already been used.
So my question is would you use the Redemption Squad as the(this qoute is from memory) "Hired group of highly trained expendable agents" if gargoyles came back? or would you use some other group?

Ed writes...

After Robyn, Yama, Dingo, Matrix and Fang, would there be any new recruits to the 'Bad Guys' as the series progressed, or is it a fixed group?

Ed writes...

Did you have any further plans for the "WALKABOUT" Shaman?

Vasy writes...

I saw posts of people tryiong to figure out what yama is and someone said it was a mountain in japanese.

In India Yama is the god of death...as well as other cultures, like china....so What were you guys thinking about when you created this character?????

Jared Koon writes...

Hi Greg. Just thought I might give some more info on the word "yama". This comes from Kodansha's furigana Japanese Dictionary.

Yama - 1. mountain
2. speculation, venture -- As in "yama o kakeru" - to take a calculated risk. Or "yama hodo" - as much as a a mountain, amounting to a great deal.

So the main and most common meaning of "yama" is mountian, but depending on the rest of the sentence, it can mean something else.

Denis De Plaen writes...

Hello, Greg!
Here's a BAD GUYS related question:
Aside of the Illuminati, would the Redemption Squad face more mundane ennemies, like drugs cartels, terrosist groups, Mafiosi and so on?
thanks for your time, and in the hope to see you again next june.

Aris Katsaris writes...

Weird thought: Were you aware that there's also an old Hindu death-god named Yama? (it's the name that reminded him to me)

From the few stories I've read about him, he seems a bit less impartial and serious in his job than Anubis (but then again *everyone* would seem so compared to Anubis). He even did some personal favours at times...

Now that I think of it, there may even exist present-day believers of Yama since I've heard that Hinduism throws almost nothing away - I suppose that could make Yama's inclusion in the Gargoyles series a bit more difficult than the inclusion of a purely mythological character...

Bruno writes...

Hi, Greg.

My last question (edited)

"Bruno writes...

2- Why every one of them join the group? Blackmail, redemption, who is who?

Greg responds...

2. Bruno, I don't give novel-length responses here. And if you don't know who is who then what makes you think it would be a good spin-off?

Briefly,
Hunter is a highly trained human (and former gargoyle hunter) who first appeared in "Hunter's Moon". She's Scotish.

Dingo is a former mercenary and member of the Pack who first appeared in "Thrill of the Hunt". He's Australian. Both Hunter and Dingo have prison sentences hanging over their heads.

Matrix is an artificial intelligence comprised of millions of nanotech robots. He/it first appeared in "Walkabout". He is a friend and ally to Dingo.

Yama is a Japanese Gargoyle from the Ishimura clan. He was banished from Ishimura after the events of "Bushido".

Fang was an American human mutated by Sevarius in "Metamorphosis". He was one of the Redemption Squad's first opponents. After being defeated, he was recruited.

recorded on 09-16-00"

A small comment about my last question: You're right. My second question about the 'Redemption Squad' was bad written. It really sounded how if I didn't knew who was Fang, Matrix, Yama, etc. But I know. The trouble is that, when I realized my mistake, I'd already posted it. My mistake. I'm sorry.
And, well, yes, I have a fairly, yet vage, idea about these guys' motivation. Except for Yama. If that's alright to you, I'll especulate a bit about him, ok?

Yama is in a quest, searching for his own honor - for both a gargoyle and a samurai (or Bushido warrior), one of the top important things in the world - then why should him join up with the Bad Guys? (and the Squad leader is Robyn Canmore, the Huntress!! Funny, huh?)
He should may had given up of his honor, but I dont't believe this. I believe that this was a voluntary action. Yama believe that "If I can teach some honor for these felons, maybe I can recover my own". And the Director may wish to have a true Good Guy in the Squad, why not?
Then I believe that he will be the group "conscience". And that, eventually, he may just leave and come back home. (But he will not make this, off course: The contrast among him and the others can make great storys.)
Well, that's it.

PS. When I watched 'Bushido', it was recordered in my VCR. But a trouble in the tape erased the sound. Yes, video but no sound in all the episode. And do you want to know? Even without sound, I could understand the story basis perfectly: The friendship among the gargoyles and humans in Ishimura, the idea of a theme park with the gargoyles, and the great final fight. The scene where Yama and Goliath argue in the 'Wyvern castle', I near could ear Goliath talking something as "It seems to me that he wants you and your clan as animals in a circus". Congratulations: These great storys survive everything, even lack of sound.

PS2. In the fight, one of the gargoyles, an old female, has a beak. Coincidence, or a descendant of Brooklin and Katana? (Sorry, silly question ^-^)

PS3. Another thing I noticed: Taro burned ALL his money with that park. For this, he could not mind with the fact that some gargoyles didn't want to be part of that. He must be paying the money losses until today. (he, he :-)

Ed writes...

How would Fang come to join the Redemption Squad: I mean, would he escape the Labyrinth first or have to be broken out, as in "THE RECKONING"?

Todd Jensen writes...

Re the Falstaff "villain/antagonist" business... Thanks for correcting me on this one. You're right; the two terms have different connotations to them.

Bruno writes...

Hi, Greg, I have some questions about 'Bad Guys'. I believe that this should have been the best of all the spin-offs. But I had searched at the Big and at the 'Bad Guys' archives and I'm puzzled whit some things:

1- The 'Redemption Squad' formation: Robyn Canmore, Dingo, Matrix, Fang, Yama and the leader Director. Rigth, or someone more or less?

2- Why every one of them join the group? Blackmail, redemption, who is who?

3- How is the relationship between the Director and they? Friendly or 'shut up and obey me'?

4- Why is the Squad created? They're a Task Force? Working for who?

Sorry if anything is already answered. Go on whit your amazing work!

Lexy writes...

(Questions on Yama and Sora)

1) In "Bad Guys" you had planned on Yama being part of the crew. But I doubt that will occure exactly that way if the regular "Gargoyles" series ever comes back. So..
Did you plan on having Yama try to redeem himself in some other way?

2) You mentioned that Sora was going to be one of the females included in the Manhattan Rookery. Why did she go all the way there to lay her egg? Was it do to some clause in Bushido? (I personally don't think that gargs have a hang up on dishonor being passed down ..but thought I'd ask)

Jackal's Love writes...

G'day Greg

Would any of the spinoffs featured the Pack (or at least members of the Pack) as villains?

Thank you for your time.

Todd Jensen writes...

I was just reading your latest batch of answers for "Ask Greg", and was amused to notice that you had planned to include a new villain in "Bad Guys" named Falstaff. What particularly got me about it was that you'd earlier mentioned that you'd planned for Dingo's real name to be "Harry Monmouth", an aka of Prince Hal, and that made it seem all the more appropriate to me that you'd have a Falstaff in "Bad Guys" (although I doubt that it would be the original Falstaff, assuming that he even existed in the Gargoyles Universe - sounds to me more like an analogue a la the Coldtrio to the characters in "Othello" or Terry and Sphinx to Romeo and Juliet).

LSZ writes...

1) Who would the main villains and antagonists of BAD GUYS be?
2) Would any of them start out as unique BAD GUYS-only villains we never saw before in any of the other series?

Sixshot writes...

In the Bad Guys spin-off, only Yama is a Gargoyle and the main cast the in the New Olympians spin-off are not Gargoyles. How will the episodes take place, most during the day or during the night?

Greg "Xanatos" Bishansky writes...

Does the Director know that Duval is Percival?

LSZ writes...

Would the Matrix still be functional by the time of Future Gargoyles series?

Axem Gold writes...

1) If and when you get to do tose Gargoyle Episodes and Spinoffs do you plan to do crossovers like the following:
Gargoyles: 2158/Timedancer
Dark Ages/Timedancer
Pendragon/Bad Guys

2) Would you still include the Previously On Gargoyles segments when necessary?

Cyclonus writes...

Hello

I've been wondering this. How would the Federal government have reacted to the Gargoyles? Would they try to take any actions? The government, not the Illuminati.