Kira writes...

Why did JUSTICE League let BILLY stay a member after they found out he was ten years old?

Todd Jensen writes...

I thought I'd tell you that I enjoyed your recent response to the question about how the Martians in "Young Justice" feel about depictions of Martians in human pop culture as invaders (whether H. G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" and its movie adaptations or Marvin the Martian in "Looney Tunes") - especially the bit about Martian Manhunter being bewildered by the title of "Life on Mars". It reminded me of my occasional musings over how Goliath and his clan must have responded to the way that gargoyles are depicted in pop culture - generally the bad guys (particularly in "Dungeons and Dragons"-type fantasy role-playing games) - with more sympathetic portrayals being much rarer (though I've seen a few outside the series, such as the Ultima computer games or the children's picture book "God Bless the Gargoyles"). (Though I won't ask you about the details of the Manhattan clan's response, since those probably fall in the "no spoilers" category.)

Bat-Mite writes...

Did the Joker kill Jason Todd?

Phil Anderson writes...

Grand Rapids Comic-Con Journal
October 21-23, 2016

This past weekend I spent three days at the Grand Rapids Comic Con where I finally got my chance to meet Greg Weisman. I've been following him at Station 8 for almost twenty years, but I never made it to any of the Gatherings so I had never met him in person before.

After weeks of anticipation Friday came. I took the afternoon off work and set out for the convention center, ten minutes from my house. Comic Con is a different world; there were a lot of people wearing costumes, some quite impressive and others not so much. Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad version) is the most popular this year.

I grabbed a program, checked the map, and made a beeline for Greg's table. I arrived to find him talking to a Penguin. (Not the flightless Antarctic bird, but a man in a tuxedo wearing a pointy rubber nose and carrying an umbrella.) I circled around a few times, watching for my opportunity while trying to remain inconspicuous. The Penguin and his friend finally walked away and I stepped up to the table.

"Hi, I'm Phil," I said.

"Hi Phil," he replied. He pointed out the scripts, books, and posters he had for sale. "Let me know if you have any questions." (Do I have questions?!)

He was responding to an important text on his phone, so I hesitated for a moment. "I'm a big fan. I've been following you on Ask Greg at Station 8 for almost twenty years."

He looked up at me. "Oh, you're *that* Phil." He shook my hand.

I don't remember what I said next. Something fanboy-ish, I'm sure. He smiled. I didn't know what to say next. He didn't seem to know what to say. It was awkward. Very awkward.

I told him I would see him again soon, since I had a lot of stuff for him to sign, and walked away. Then I remembered that I wanted a picture to send my daughters (who were driving home from college to meet Greg on Saturday) so I went back. He came out from behind his table and we took a selfie. He looks a little uncertain in the picture.

After walking around a little more, I left to pick up my teenage son, Henry, from school and bring him back to the Con with me. We explored together, commenting on the interesting and the weird. He seemed a little overwhelmed.

We passed by Greg's table again and met Mara, who was there with Greg. She was easier to talk to than Greg. I introduced Henry, and mentioned that he was a fan of Young Justice. Greg told us about the Young Justice presentation he was doing that evening. Henry looked over the scripts and art prints Greg was selling and determined how much money he would need to bring the next day. Then we continued on our way. It was less awkward this time.

Henry and I went to the Young Justice presentation. To be honest, Young Justice never grabbed me, despite Greg's involvement. (I'm more of a Marvel fan.) But it was enjoyable nonetheless. Greg is much more personable and engaging in front of a group. He talked about the strategy for getting Season 3: binge watch Netflix and buy the comics online (so WB sees the money).

After that, the Con was winding down for the night, so we drove home. Henry asked to watch Young Justice again on Netflix that night, but there was homework and housework to do. He also asked how he could get the Young Justice comics in time for Greg to autograph them.

Late that night my two oldest daughters arrived home from college with five friends. Saturday morning eleven of us were ready for Comic Con (my wife and I, our four kids [three daughters and a son], and five college friends). My girls all wanted to dress up, but there was a bit of conflict over who would be what character. The older and younger ended up both going as Elisa Maza, while the middle one painted a blue fox tattoo around her eye. Henry was planning to wear a Star Wars T-shirt and carry a lightsaber, but his sisters pressured him into painting three red stripes on his face and going as Young Gillecomgain. My oldest daughter's boyfriend wore a Gargoyles T-shirt that we later realized was not official merchandise. We were ready to go.

Upon entering Comic Con on Saturday we headed straight for Greg's table. I introduced my family and Greg seemed a little overwhelmed. My daughters were all speechless and my oldest gave a fangirl squeal. My wife (who only came along so she wouldn't have to spend the day at home alone) asked Greg about his convention schedule and how many he goes to each year. They had a normal conversation, no awkwardness at all.

During the course of the day we stopped back at Greg's table several times. We bought books and scripts and art prints. We had him sign stuff we brought from home: DVDs, comics, a Gargoyles picture book, and printouts of "Three Brothers" and "Hyppolyta" (which Greg said he had never signed before). I tried to get some clarification on the Percival/Duval/Peredur relationship, but all Greg would say is "All things are true."

We went to a panel that afternoon led by Comfort Love and Adam Withers. Greg was participating and when we trooped in a few minutes before it started he pointed us out to his fellow panelists. Later in the day when we walked by Comfort and Adam's table she recognized us as "Greg's posse" which my daughter thought was the best moment of the day.

We couldn't make it Sunday morning, so I missed Greg's presentation on "TV Production from Beginning to End" but I was there in the afternoon in time for another panel with Comfort and Adam. After the panel Greg had to leave soon to catch his flight, so I hurried to his table to buy a couple more things and shake his hand one more time.

Overall it was a fun weekend. Greg Weisman is a celebrity at my house and it was great to meet him. Each time I stopped at his table it was a little less awkward, and I enjoyed talking to him. I still have a lot of questions, but none that I actually wanted him to answer in person. I don't just want to know what happens next, I want to see/read/experience it. So here's hoping for more Greg and more Gargoyles in some form, someday.

Algernon writes...

I don't usually ask YJ questions but I just gotta know something...

What exactly is a Ma'alefa'ak?

RobinFan writes...

Hi, Mr. Weisman. I've got some questions about YJ.

1) How can Commissioner Gordon afford to have Barbara in a private academy?
2) Does Barbara have any siblings?
3) Are any of the 2 Roy Harpers the chick magnet he is in the comics?
4) Does Conner Kent have a second name?
5) Did Wally and Artemis stay together during the 5 year time jump, or did they ever "take a break"?

Jon Winsil writes...

Dear Mr Weisman,
I would like to thank you for all the great work you have done in past, and I look foward, as I'm sure many of us do, to seeing it being continued. I would like to, in my question, both ask, as well as show my support and desire for a continuation of the Young Justice series. I really hope that the series will be continued, as many of us do - the statistics around the reception of the show speak for themselves. My question, is as follows:
Why (and I personally belive that this is one of the many reasons why it was so good) did the team behind The Team choose to introduce a heavy emphasis on the interpersonal relationships and the back story's of each character?
Thank you for considering my question,
Kind regards, a loyal fan of Young Justice

Dane writes...

Hey, got some more questions for this awesome show.
1. What is Icicle Jr.'s ethnicity?
2. Did it annoy Tommy when Junior hit on Tuppence?
3. Every time he hit on Tuppence (in Darkest) or Miss Martian (in Terrors) did he not realize that they weren't interested in him at all or did he just pretend not to notice? Sometimes it seemed like he was absolutely oblivious, even when Miss Martian clearly pulled a face at him in the prison bus or when Tuppence crushed his hand he didn't seem to be discouraged by that.
4. Does the Manta Flyer require at least five people to operate it, or could Kaldur and Tigress have controlled it even with fewer crew members?
5. Cameron seemed to know his way around technology. Did Senior teach him a thing or two growing up, because in the video game Cam was able to operate the machine to retrieve the artifact from the ice?

Jack writes...

Hey Greg!
1) What was Mister Twister's connection to the Light? Had the Brain not mentioned him I would have assumed T.O. Morrow was operating independently.

2) In a few of the Light's earlier appearances (where their faces are obscured) there are more screens on the wall than there are members. Was this an animation error or a deliberate choice in order to make their identities more cryptic (to both the audience and other characters)?

3) In issue 11 of the YJ comic, Ra's al Ghul's plan is to use a rocket to pretty much wipe out civilization. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Light's plan to put the human race in a high position on a galactic level, and allow humanity to evolve to its highest level? Doesn't Ra's and Talia's plan seem counterproductive, then?

Thanks for continuing to make quality cartoons! I'm always looking forward to your next projects.