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WEISMANSWERS 2009-11 (Nov)
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Bazell writes...
You have a strong Shakespearian background, so hopefully you'll see where I'm going here. About Romeo and Juliet, there is discussion as to whether it is a tragedy of character or situation. That is, was the tragedy the circumstances in which the titular character found themselves caught in, or was it the characters' own folly in their youthful rush for love (seemingly damn the consequences)?
A similar argument could be made about Spidey. Although Spider-Man is the iconic hero, the story is largely the tragedy of Peter Parker. Over and over through the decades the fabled Parker Luck (though I don't think you use the phrase in your show) has always been there, overshadowing Spidey victories with Parkers personal woes (be they emotional, social or something more serious). How would characterize the situation? Is the Parker Luck a product of Pete's own foibles or is it more entwined with his surrounding circumstances?
Greg responds...
My thinking is more... holistic than an either/or answer can provide. We act, we react, etc. to varying stimuli -- some in our control and/or range of influence, some completely outside it. And then all that gets mixed together. We blame ourselves for things we can't control. We shift blame for things we might have. And everything in between. That's how I view life: as a mess, basically. So when I read about either Romeo & Juliet or Spidey/Peter my thinking runs the same way. Not either/or but characters (hopefully recognizably HUMAN characters) struggling to make sense of the mess.
Bazell writes...
I hope this isn't too personal, but I see online that you went to Stanford and U.S.C.
What were your specific degree with which you graduated?
Greg responds...
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) from Stanford in English with an emphasis in Fiction Writing.
I received a Master of Professional Writing degree (M.P.W.) from U.S.C. with an emphasis in Playwriting.
Paul writes...
Will the events of "Identity Crisis" be referenced again in future seasons, since a lot of people in Peter's life ought to think of the whole incident with Peter and Venom whenever they think of Spidey? I'm asking this because "Accomplices" almost felt like a fresh start after "Identity Crisis", as though it was avoiding the subject of people pondering the connection between Peter and Spidey.
Greg responds...
So the Captain Stacy stuff felt like avoidance to you?
Everything is part of the background radiation of the show. And more specific repercussions will also be present in future seasons, assuming there are future seasons.
Paul writes...
1) Eddie's transformation into Venom in season 1 felt a bit sudden; he had been shown to be a warm and friendly person in other episodes, like "Interactions", when he's trying to calm Max Dillon down at the hospital. It seemed a bit strange that he would go after Aunt May in "Nature vs. Nurture" not long after checking up on her at the hospital in "Intervention". Would you say that Eddie was just masking his anger with a 'nice side' all along, and that the theft of the symbiote in "Persona", him getting told to "shove off" by Peter in "Intervention" and Spidey trying to kill the symbiote at the end of "Intervention" brought out his nasty side? It's just that Eddie going from liking Gwen and Aunt May to trying to hurt them seemed like a bit of a leap. It made me wonder if it's more a case of the symbiote having him in its thrall (giving him the 'love' that he can't get from anyone else, since his parents are dead and he didn't have a replacement father figure like Peter's Uncle Ben) than Eddie really despising Peter enough to hurt people that both he and Peter like.
2) When Gwen thought that Peter had lied to her about going to the Fall Formal in "Catalysts", Eddie looked pretty mad that Peter had upset her. Did Eddie harbour feelings for Gwen at any point in time, or were they always just friends?
3) At the end of "Identity Crisis", Eddie claimed that he was Venom. Did Gwen find out about this claim? If so, did she believe him?
4) Why did Doc Ock's motivation go from wanting to kill Spiderman (in "Reaction" and "Group Therapy") to wanting to conquer the world ("Shear Strength") to wanting to rule the criminal underworld ("Accomplices" and "Gangland")? Is it a case of the formerly weak-willed Otto Octavius wanting to make up for lost time by demonstrating his power to as many people as possible and making his name known and feared far and wide?
Greg responds...
1. Well, let's start with the notion that I don't agree with the premise of your question. I think if you watch carefully, Eddie's descent (or whatever you want to call it) is laid out with many, many clues planted along the way as to his true character and his many issues. Which is not to say, it MUST work for you. If it didn't, it didn't. But that doesn't mean I have to agree with you. But, yes, generally you're last sentence is correct. The influence of the symbiote is paramount.
2. I'll leave that to your interpretation.
3. Yes, she found out. As to whether she believed it, I'll leave that to your interpretation.
4. His motive never changed. In "Reaction", Spider-Man was incorrectly perceived as an immediate threat. In "Group Therapy", he was perceived as an obstacle that must be taken out of the way. But Ock's megalomaniacal motivations are established pretty much from moment one in "Reaction". He had a big plan in the first arc of Season Two, which was thwarted. After that, he simply is asserting his place in the world of crime, collecting fees for super-villain services, etc. I'm sure he has more BIG PLANS in the future, but not every hour of every day is filled with that. But again, your last sentence makes sense to me.
Haley writes...
This is not realy a question but i hope you read it.
I asked a question, but i total blew off the instructions in the begining. And i asked a question that had been asked a billion times before. Now looking back i worded it rudely too. I am sorry. I didn't mean to sound mean or to ask an over asked question. i am sorry. Yes i am the one writing the book and i am done. I didn't use the same location or anything that you ever did. I am sorry. I wish i could remove some of the questions i asked, but as you know i can't and if you read them before you get to this one, I AM SO SORRY. Please forgive my rudeness and the fact that i didn't read the instructions. Sorry. =(
Greg responds...
Consider yourself forgiven... assuming ANY forgiveness was even necessary.
The...!!? writes...
I hope to God that by the time this question gets to you season 3 is commisioned.
I wanna believe that there is gonna be a season three but everybody keeps saying given enough episodes, all depends on the ratings on disneyxd (that frightens me the most). The Spectacular Spiderman is my favorite tv show and i will hate to see it get taken off the air for crap like...whatever they are airing.
anyway, if there is a season 3 i do have questions...
1. on wikipedia it says you guys expressed interest in using heroes like cyclops, beast, ant-man, hulk, etc. is this true?
2. are hobgoblin and scorpion already drawn and if so are you happy with there looks?
3. is there a possibility that you will ever be able to use kingpin at all.
this all i can think of right now...
Greg responds...
1. Yes, we expressed some interest in all the characters you listed plus Human Torch, Captain America and Professor X. Others too, I suppose. But if allowed guest heroes, we'd start with Human Torch and work from there.
2. No, they have not been drawn yet for the show.
3. Anything's possible.
Doceinholeite writes...
HI Greg I like all your Spectacular Spider-Man work i whant to know what do you plan on doing after all 65 episodes?
Greg responds...
Right now, I'm just hoping we get an episode 27...
Paul writes...
Does the timeline of The Spectacular Spiderman follow this pattern?
Biology 101: September
Economics 101: October
Chemistry 101: October
Psychology 101: November
Engineering 101: December
Human Development 101: January
Criminology 101: February
Drama 101: March
I'm asking because it's hard to pin down which month some episodes take place in. "Market Forces" and "Competition", for instance, could be set in September or October, but it's unclear which, and "Accomplices" could be set in January or February, but it's unclear which. Likewise for episodes like "Subtext" as well.
Greg responds...
That's basically right.
Geoff writes...
Did all the foreign people & gargoyles in "The Green" & "Bushido" that got to speak know how to speak English or are Goliath, Angela, & Elisa for some reason trilingual? (It just piqued my curiosity that you couldn't really have everyone speak English without some explanation for dubbing purposes.)
This also kinda raises a question on why the Emir read the scroll to capture Anubis in English instead of Arabic. (Unless the scroll weren't written in Arabic. Was it?)
Greg responds...
There are two ways to interpret things. One is that the Gate compensated, and Elisa, Goliath and Angela were magically adjusted to the local lingua without them even being aware of the change. It's also possible that the folks at the other end were speaking English.
David B. Jacobs writes...
Also, in a previous post, someone asked about your thoughts on the Crimemaster, and you responded, "I do not not like him." (or something like that - not verbatim.)
Was this a typo, meant as "I do not like him." or did you intentionally use the double-negative?
Greg responds...
Intentional use of double negative.
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