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The Phoenix Gate

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An Old Fan writes...

So I know you've answered this a number of times over the years, but rather than I asking the nth time, I've spent a while thinking about the "how".

So Macbeth and Demona cannot die but by their own hand and although there are situations that seem like they could die by another's (beheading, smashed stone, etc), these situations cannot happen because of the spell the Wierd Sisters placed on them. It protects them from assured fatal injuries that normally would kill mortals (again beheading, smashed stone, etc). The spell basically would manipulate events to ensure that Macbeth and Demona would always get out of such a situation (Macbeth getting caught in the French Revolution and is scheduled to be beheaded but some mishap with the dungeon keys delays it, buying him time to escape or Demona is forced to roost elsewhere instead of her normal spot because of some freak storm preventing her in getting back, thus sparing her from being smashed by the Hunters one morning).

They would have uncanny luck in avoiding death situations that would otherwise be assured.

Greg responds...

I guess you're basically right, but I would recharacterize it. The Sisters may not have magically enforced this "manipulation," as you put it, so much as they magically predicted future events.

Response recorded on August 18, 2021

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Talos writes...

How would Magic change in 2198 and would it be more widespread in the future?

Greg responds...

Magic doesn't change. Whether it would be more widespread is a spoiler.

Response recorded on August 16, 2021

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Talos writes...

What is the difference in Gargoyles between a Wizard, a Sorcerer, a Shaman, a Scholomancer to even a Voodoo practitioner?

Greg responds...

I don't know, what?

Style? Cultural differences? Self-identification?

Response recorded on August 12, 2021

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Mb writes...

Hello Mr. Weisman!
Thank you so much for taking your time and giving us Fans the opportunity to ask questions:

Since rain of the Ghosts and Gargoyles include Supernatural Elements, I wondered: are YOU a believer of the Supernatural?

Greg responds...

Yes and no.

I do believe in it, but I also believe its better to live and behave in this world as if none of that exists.

Response recorded on January 04, 2017

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Няшный Кэк writes...

Hi again. As long as rules require to group questions by different topics, I've written that as separate questions.
So.
1. If Puck is Oberon's servant, why can he be summoned by Titania's mirror? Not some Oberon's possessions, but Titania's.
2. Does the spell, that Demona used to summon Puck, have any translation? Was it in Latin? I failed to find it on Wiki.
3. Why didn't Oberon just use the mirror as Demona did in order to summon Puck? Was he just in a mood for stroll?
4. In the way I see it, there's kind of tension between Puck and the Weird Sisters, as they say they can hunt him down for Oberon. I mean -Hunt-. Not to bring him, not to call him, not to remind to him. Hunt him down. Why? If this IS a spoiler, please, just forget you've read 2d question. If I just dramatize, feel free to tell it in any form you like.
5. Would - if heard - the ringing of the iron bell be at least painful to ANY one of Oberon's children in their true form? If not to all, then to who will it be?

Greg responds...

1. If the spell is powerful enough, he can be summoned by any magic mirror.

2. It's Latin and can be found here: http://gargwiki.net/Summoning_Spell
I don't have the translation here at my Nickelodeon office. But you can probably get it from one of the fans by asking in the S8 Comment Room.

3. Yes. He pretty much says that. (Are you asking these questions from memory without looking back at the episodes? Cuz, if so, you're really waiting a LONG time to get answers you could've gotten yourself.)

4. It's a spoiler.

5. To all.

Response recorded on October 13, 2016

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Jarrod writes...

Hello Greg!

Love all your work, so thank you for such a great stories.

In the episode "the mirror," Puck Says "All Humans on this concrete Isle." NYC has such a constant flux of traffic, between cars, cabs, ferries, and public transport, when people entered Manhattan did they magically become a gargoyle even after the spell was cast? Did those who left the Isle magically revert to human form? Since the populace appeared to accept the notion that they were always gargoyles, I imagine that if those entering/leaving the island did change, then they did not notice. Would that be correct?

Thank you so much!

Greg responds...

Yep.

Response recorded on September 12, 2016

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Anonymous writes...

Hey Greg. First off, thanks for answering my Oberon and Dr. Fate question (And for using a superhero analogy, to).
I just had a few questions regarding magic in Young Justice (Sorry for any spoiler-questions):
1. Do supernatural creatures (Like vampires)exist, or is what we see what we get in regards to magical beings?
2. Do you regard Young Justice's magic as following the same "rules" as Gargoyles's, or did you right it differently?
3. Is magic known to the public or government, or is its knowledge restricted to practitioners and associates?
Thanks again!

Greg responds...

1. What you see is what you get until or unless you see something more. Which is a fancy way of saying: NO SPOILERS.

2. More or less.

3. Everyone knows about magic. Whether they believe is another story.

Response recorded on September 08, 2016

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Cam writes...

Hello,

I hope this question doesn't sound too nitpickey, but, I've been reading the archives and came accross something of aninconsistancy. I'll start off by refreshing your memory of this exchange beyween you and another poster:

"matt writes... what would happen at dawn if Demona put on a Mayan sun amulet? would she turn to a human or remain a gargoyle?"

"Greg responds... I think she'd turn human. But I don't think she'd be able to nap."

Now, you've also said before, when refering to magic, that Children of Oberon magic (ie. Puck's spell on Demona) does not mix with mortal magic (ie.the Myan Amulets)...and that both types of magic cannot be used at the same time or on the same object (ie. on Demona during the day), or the results would be disasterous.

My question is, in this specific scenario, why would both magics affect Demona (Puck's spell turning her Human & the Amulet preventing her from sleeping) without something more disasterous than a bout of insomnia?

It seems to me that, if anything, the magics would cancel each other out and she would remain a Gargoyle and turn to stone.

Greg responds...

I think it's fairly clear I was joking, when I wrote: "Greg responds... I think she'd turn human. But I don't think she'd be able to nap."

As for the actual answer to the question, my current answer is that it seems like a highly unlikely scenario, and I'm not particularly interested in hypothetical questions. But if it were to happen, I'd have to answer with NO SPOILERS.

Response recorded on July 22, 2016

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Oz writes...

Hello, Greg. I've got a few related questions which I hope you can answer.
1. In the "Gargoyles" universe, do mortal sorcerers ever take familiars.
2. If so, what is the nature of the relationship between the sorcerer and their familiar?
3. What kind of creature or being is the familiar, typically?
Thanks!

Greg responds...

1. Ever? Sure.

2. One of familiarity.

3. Same as in traditional literature, generally.

Response recorded on June 24, 2016

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Anonymous writes...

1) The spell the Weird Sisters cast on Demona and Macbeth ensures that the two of them are unaging and immortal, only able to be killed by one another. However, in "The Mirror", Demona expresses her wish to no longer turn to stone during the day, stating it makes her "vulnerable".

If Demona were to be shattered by someone other than Macbeth when stone during the day, would it bypass the Weird Sister's enchantment and kill both her and Macbeth permanently, or would the enchantment be powerful enough to simply piece her back together?

Greg responds...

1. Vulnerable to Macbeth, at least. The rest of your question is hypothetical and moot.

Response recorded on April 19, 2016

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Anonymous writes...

If wally did not believe in magic prior to his experience with Fate's helmet, thant what did he think of Zatara, a well known magic-based hero and teamate of his mentor? Did he assume Zatara was a fake and a liar?
Did he and Barry never have a conversation about magic, and how Barry saw it with his own eyes being a teamate of Zatara's? And if Barry did tell him it was real, why wouldnt Wally believe him?

Greg responds...

I think Wally initially assumed the same thing about Zatara as he assumed about Doctor Fate, i.e. that he was using skills to come across as using magic. And I think Wally respected that. I mean, after all, if villains are a superstitious and cowardly lot, than why not fool 'em with a little showbiz. The fact that Zatara also performs as a stage magician probably lent credence to Wally's assumptions.

As for what Barry might have told him, even if Barry said something like, "Today's science was yesterday's magic," it would only reinforce Wally's perspective, even if Barry was simply pointing out that just because we don't understand it, doesn't mean it isn't real.

Response recorded on June 03, 2014

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fallen legend writes...

Hello greg I have some questions regarding your writing style.

1.- Do you agree in" clarke's third law" aka "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" in your fictional works?

For instance in Gargoyles/Earth 16/witch etc is all magic just advanced science?.

Titania hinted that magic and "human science" were one and the same in gargoyles. But Wally on the other hand... learned that magic is not just advanced science, hence my curiosity.

1b)if not How do you distinguish magic from "advanced science"?

2.-You have mentioned before that you wouldn't never give a "grand finale" to any of your works. But if you could... would you have write a "goodbye story"?

We know the story will never end but... we will be able to say goodbye?

Greg responds...

1. Depends on what "world" I'm writing for.

1a. No. Magical energy in all those worlds you mentioned exists. Doesn't mean it can't be tapped by advanced science, but it still IS.

1b. Source of power, I guess.

2. I might give a "grand finale" or "goodbye story" to an individual character or characters, but not to the world as a whole. My mind doesn't work that way.

Response recorded on April 23, 2014

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Mabeth King of Scots writes...

Could you clarify how human magic works in the gargoyles universe

Greg responds...

It emanates from the toes.

CTD

Response recorded on April 01, 2014

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Vaevictis Asmadi writes...

Hello Greg,

I questions about magic in Gargoyles. To quote an older question:

<<1.What kind of magic powers the Holy Grail? Fay magic? Location magic?>>
<<Greg responds...>>
<<"1. There are other categories. Talisman magic for one.">>

I'm guessing there is much to this that we don't know. I'm a bit confused because in other responses, you identified certain talismans as being of one specific type of magic or another: for example the Phoenix Gate and Eye of Oberon are said to be Third Race magic; the Maya amulets are mortal magic; and the Grimorum was seemingly mortal magic, since it could not be (safely) taken to Avalon, and I think you said it was created by the Roman Magus.

1. What is meant by "talisman magic" in the Gargoyles verse? It seems that this means another form of magic other than to mortal, Third Race, and ghost magic. Does it mean that some talismans are neither mortal nor Third Race in origin? Or that talisman magic as a category doesn't depend on who/what made the talisman?

2. The Weird Sisters, on Avalon, said (paraphrase) "No magic may enter here, save Avalon's own." Does that mean that ghost magic and Space-Spawn magic can't be brought to Avalon? Or does it only apply to mortal (gargoyle and human) magic?

Thank you for talking to us.

P.S. I am really looking forward to the Gathering coming to CONvergence next year!

Greg responds...

1. Well, there's what the thing is and what the source is for what the thing is. And there's also things that are the embodiment of other things. I don't really want to narrow the scope too much outside the context of a story.

2. I haven't thought much about this, honestly.

See you at CONVERGENCE! We can discuss this more there!

Response recorded on January 21, 2014

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Greg Bishansky writes...

Chip Coffin and I were having a debate, and I thought you might be able to settle this.

When a spell like the one Demona cast in "City of Stone" is broken, can the spell be used again? In theory, let's say Demona wanted to cast it again, would it work? Would Xanatos need to light the sky on fire again?

Greg responds...

In theory… if you still had the pieces to put it all together.

Response recorded on December 18, 2013

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Paul writes...

I have a couple of questions about the "teleport to Avalon" spell cast by the Magus and later Tom in "Avalon, Part One".

Tom was able to cast the spell without using the Grimorum. Can anybody who knows the incantation cast the spell, or was Tom a special case because he had previously seen and heard the Magus cast it from the Grimorum? Or was he a special case for some other reason?

Did Elisa, Goliath, and/or Angela cast the spell to return to Avalon during their World Tour, or did the boat take them back to Avalon on its own?

Greg responds...

Hm. Good question. I'm going to posit that this was a very powerful spell, needing only an aural component. Once learned, it worked without assistance.

Response recorded on August 09, 2013

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no name writes...

Can halflings with a Gargoyle and a Third Race parent have children with humans - or human/Third Race halflings with Gargoyles?

Greg responds...

With or without the aid of magic or advanced science?

Response recorded on April 15, 2013

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Otho Fernandes Damasceno writes...

I would like to make a few questions about The Children of Oberon's weakness: Iron.
1) Why they are vunerable to it to begin with?
2) Is iron COMPLETLY inmune to their magic, or only highly resistent to it?
3) If so, how much iron composition other substances (like Steel) would need to be at least resistent to their magic?
4) If a Children of Oberon turn itself into a creature stronger than an average Gargoyle, would he/she be able to break a iron chain with it's bare hands?
5) If the Children of Oberon can't affect iron with magic, how did Oberon managed to do things like levitating Xanatos' laser-gun, shockwave several robotic gargoyles and melt a lamppost with his bare hands?

Greg responds...

1. Maybe because most iron comes from outer space? (Honestly, I don't know. They just are. Like Mon-El's vulnerable to lead.)

2. Iron is immune, but if you can pick up a pair of wood tongs with your magic, you can use the tongs to pick up the iron rod. (Or something like that.)

3. Any iron in an alloy adds resistance, but if you're looking for a numerical value, you've asked the wrong guy.

4. Nope.

5. Depends what they are made of. And also look at the answer to question two. A mighty wind is a mighty wind and can blow anything out of it's path. If Oberon can create a wind, it blows.

Response recorded on March 20, 2013

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Kevyn writes...

Did Demona carefully think through her Operation Clean Slate plan? If the virus was meant to eliminate all human beings, wouldn't that kill Macbeth, as well? If so, that would mean that by her killing him she would be engineering her own death due to their magical link.

An Ask Greg Helper responds...

Greg Weisman says:

"Good question. Keep in mind that magic isn't an exact science. The Weird Sisters told Macbeth and Demona that 'When one lives both live.' Demona used the magic Praying Gargoyle statue to insure she would survive the fullfillment spell. So would Macbeth have survived? Probably. She knows about the mortality link. She would not want his death at her hands if that resulted in her own. Towards Macbeth, her impulse should not be murderous by necessity. And mindset has a real effect on magic results. However, Demona isn't the most stable and rational of characters. She certainly has murderous feelings toward Macbeth. And if their linking spell 'perceived' the death of all humanity as a successful attempt to kill Macbeth, then it might very well have killed her as well. Did she consider this? Maybe.

Maybe it was a risk she was willing, even eager to take. Maybe somewhere underneath it all, she's a bit suicidal. Could she die with the idea of leaving behind a human-free 'paradise' where her daughter could live in safety? Remember, Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land, but he was not allowed to enter it himself. Maybe that's how Demona felt about it.

Then again, maybe not. Very provocative question."

[Response recorded in the Station 8 "Gargoyles" FAQ, Section VI.]

Response recorded on September 29, 2012

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Kevin writes...

1. What is the difference between a wizard/witch and sorcerer/sorceress in the Young Justice Universe?
2. What is an alchemist in the Young Justice universe?
3. Is it more difficult for a magic user to use nonverbal spells then verbal spells on Earth 16?
4. What type of magic users are Zatanna and Zatara before he become Doctor Fate?
5. What were the main influences in how you decided to portray magic in Gargoyles and Young Justice?

Greg responds...

1. There is none.

2. Someone who practices alchemy.

3. Depends on too many factors to answer cogently.

4. These seem like semantic concerns that I'm not sharing.

5. Mostly logic.

Response recorded on September 26, 2012

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The Greenman writes...

Hi Mr. Greg Weisman,

I have been a fan of yours since Gargoyles. One of the things that interest me is the basic structure of the themes and world building in the series. One of the styles I see continue to pop up in your series is the relationship between science and sorcery. This is something I have been a fan of in comics like Iron Man and Fantastic Four (specifically Dr. Doom versus Reed Richards). I love the simple explanation that energy is energy.

1. Now I didn't see much of this argument come up in your Spectacular Spider-Man series, because Peter debunked Mysterio, but can you say that you ever planned to and who you would've used to explore that science versus mystic aspect?

2. I am upset that directors such as Jon Favreau and Shane Black have knocked down the very idea of Mandarin showing up as not to approach the so-called mystic aspect. Though, it could be be alien in origin or something, as they claim and prove that even super-science isn't allowed in the MCU. Have you read and understand the Iron Man comics specific to Mandarin and Tony's relationship to science versus sorcery? Was it influential at all in your writing?

Greg responds...

1. Well, we had Calypso. I'm not going to get into much beyond the fact that we would have explored her character more.

2. I'm not sure specifically to what you're referring. I've read comics from the 60s, 70s and 80s with Iron Man and Mandarin. Probably nothing more recent than that. In any case, I don't think it influenced me much if at all.

Response recorded on August 15, 2012

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Ryan writes...

I forget to include a question mark on the last post,I try to write proper English so writing a declarative statement on site where you ask questions is quite embarrassing.
But since I do not want to waste your time are the terms magic/sorcery used in your shows different from each other or are they just the same thing.

Greg responds...

I think of magic as the substance and sorcery as the manipulation of that substance. But I'm not sure if we've been terribly consistent about it. (And you forgot a question mark again.) ;)

Response recorded on May 03, 2012

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alfred writes...

I just wanted to ask something about the gargoyles episode The Gathering part 2.

Was Xanatos wearing an iron suit?If the suit is iron,how was Titania able to freeze him?

Greg responds...

His helmet was off.

Response recorded on February 02, 2012

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Richard Jackson writes...

In "Golem", when Vogel reads the spell to transfer Renard's consciousness into the Golem, was he reading Hebrew in the original alphabet or a Latin alphabet transliteration?

Greg responds...

I don't know. I'd have to look at the episode to see if it's visually obvious.

Response recorded on April 29, 2011

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A Gargoyles Fan writes...

First and foremost, I probably should've looked more carefully when asking the previous question, and I'm sorry for that.

I've checked around the archives, and taken a better look, and haven't found an answer for this.

Sevarius stated once that if a Gargoyle didn't go through stone sleep, they would have to eat several cows in order to get the energy they need. Demona doesn't go through stone sleep anymore, so how does she get the energy she needs for when she becomes a gargoyle once more?

Greg responds...

I'm not sure you're quoting Sevarius correctly, but in any case... magic compensates for Demona's lack of stone sleep.

Response recorded on April 12, 2011


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