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Algernon writes...

Hey Greg,

Thanks for answering my Dracula and Malefic questions.

You've often talked about incorporating various characters and concepts from mythology, folklore or the public domain into the Gargoyles Universe. E.G. Dracula, Prospero & Jean Valjean.

But are there any characters or concepts from the PD that you'd legally be allowed use in the GU, but would rule out for thematic or aesthetic reason?

Greg responds...

Probably. But nothing comes to mind.

Response recorded on April 12, 2017

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CJ writes...

Does the Disney Company exist in the Gargoyles universe? I know for example that Elisa has dressed as Belle and Jasmine for Halloween and that the gargoyles saw Bambie in a movie theater.

Greg responds...

Yes. Clearly. In fact, the Disney Company clearly exists in every universe. ;)

Response recorded on March 14, 2017

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Sarah Anderson writes...

Hi Greg :-)

Would you elaborate more on the concept of "all things are true" but yet "few things are accurate" in the Gargoyles universe? It Seems a contradiction--how can all things be true yet most things inaccurate? I apologize if I'm missing a simple concept but I was never good at logic or philosophy. If you could help me get this idea I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. :-)

Greg responds...

The devil's in the details.

Response recorded on April 13, 2016

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Long Beach Comic Expo - 2016

Here's my schedule for this weekend's Long Beach Comic Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

11:30am - 12:30pm
DOWN TO NERD: INVADER ZIM AND GARGOYLES: CONQUEROR VS PROTECTOR
Thunderdome (Seaside Pre-Function) w/RuthAnn Thompson (moderator), Dave Crosland, Greg Weisman.
Description: Some come from another time to protect, another from a different planet to conquer- but both hold a special place in our hearts! Gargoyles VS Invader Zim. We will focus on the first 5 episodes of the TV series Gargoyles with writer/creator Greg Weisman and the first 5 issues of the Invader Zim comic books with Dave Crosland. What are the differences and similarities do these creatures out of space and time have? How will they fit in on modern day earth? Casual Fans and Hard Core Nerds alike join host RuthAnn Thompson and be "Down To Nerd"!

01:00pm - 02:00pm
THE ART OF STAR WARS & THE FANDOM BEHIND IT
Danger Room (S1) w/Ben Paddon (moderator), Terry Dodson, Craig Miller, Cat Staggs, Greg Weisman.
Description: Cat Staggs has been working for the Star Wars / LUCASFILM family since 2004, for which she has illustrated short fiction for starwars.com, produced sketch and trading cards, exclusive prints for Star Wars Celebrations III, IV, Europe, Celebration V, and Celebration VI. Terry Dodson is an American comic book artist who penciled the Dark Force Rising comic series in 1997. He has also provided art for Mark Waid's Princess Leia limited series. Moreover, Dodson has drawn the Books-A-Million variant cover to the first issue of the Shattered Empire miniseries, and the CBLDF variant to Star Wars: Vader Down, Part I. Greg Weisman is the writer for Star Wars Rebels - "The Machine in the Ghost", "Art Attack", "Droids in Distress", "Breaking Ranks", "Gathering Forces" and Star Wars: Kanan: The Last Padawan. Craig Miller was Director of Fan Relations for Lucasfilm from 1977-1980. He created and oversaw the Official Star Wars Fan Club as well as having edited and written virtually all of the first two years of Bantha Tracks. He was the producer of the Star Wars Sesame Street episodes in addition to operating R2-D2's head in the episodes, as well as being Producer for Lucasfilm on commercials such as the ones for licensee Underoos.. He was also responsible for creating the 800-number telephone hotline for The Empire Strikes Back that allowed fans to call up to receive more information about the movies and characters.

02:30pm - 03:30pm
DWAYNE MCDUFFIE AWARDS
Creator's Lab (S5)
Description: Long Beach Comic Con is proud to announce the commencement of the Second Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award. This one of a kind award will be granted on February 20, 2016 to an American comics work, published in print or digitally in 2015, deemed by the Selection Committee to promote diversity. In the spirit of Dwayne McDuffie, "promoting diversity" can be judged as either broadening the range of characters portrayed in comics, or adding to the variety of creators contributing to the medium.

04:00pm - 05:00pm
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN PANEL
Danger Room (S1) w/Greg Weisman (moderator), Victor Cook, Kevin Hopps, Kelly Hu, Josh Keaton, Pamela Long.
Description: In 2008, a new version of everybody's favorite friendly neighborhood Web-Slinger - dedicated to recreating the feel of the original Stan Lee & Steve Ditko and Stan Lee & John Romita, Sr. comics - hit the air. Come hear the creative talents behind The Spectacular Spider-Man talk about what went in to making this classic take on a classic character. Panelists include Victor Cook (Director-Producer), Kevin Hopps (Writer), Kelly Hu (voice of Sha Shan Nguyen), Josh Keaton (voice of Peter Parker/The Spectacular Spider-Man), Pamela Long (Color Stylist) and Greg Weisman (Writer-Producer)!

06:00pm - 07:00pm
GETTING ANIMATED WITH TOP ANIMATION EXPERTS
Rumble Room (S4B) w/Ray-Anthony Height (moderator), Chris Copeland, Greg Weisman, Dean Yeagle.
Description: Top animation experts Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-Man), Dean Yeagle (Caged Beagle Productions), and Chris Copeland (Marvel/Disney Animation) discuss how they broke into animation, their work and a Q&A with the audience!

I'll also have a table a on the show floor, specifically table AN-11 in "ANIMATION ISLAND" between Ellen Jin Over and Amy Mebberson, and near Dino Andrade, Michael Bell, Keith Coogan, Chris Copeland, Matt Doherty, Loren Lester, Tiffanie Mang, Joey McCormick, Chuck Patton, Peter Paul, Sara Richards and Aaron Sparrow. I'll be there between panels on Saturday and all Sunday morning until noon. (Not as sure about Sunday afternoon. We'll have to see.)

I'll sign and personalize anything you put in front of me, but I will also be selling copies of my two novels, RAIN OF THE GHOSTS and SPIRITS OF ASH AND FOAM ($10 each), CD sets of the RAIN OF THE GHOSTS AudioPlay ($30 each) and RAIN OF THE GHOSTS prints, drawn by artist Christopher Jones ($10 each, but free with a purchase of the AudioPlay and/or both RAIN and SPIRITS). In addition, I'll be selling animation scripts from series including GARGOYLES, W.I.T.C.H., THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, YOUNG JUSTICE, STAR WARS REBELS and others, ($20 each). Finally, I'll be selling script copies of a couple of the special one-off convention radio plays we did, i.e. THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN MEETS GARGOYLES and GARGOYLES MEETS THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN MEETS YOUNG JUSTICE ($20 each). All purchases are cash only.

I hope to see you there!


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Just a Nerd writes...

Not so much a question as something interesting for anyone who feels up to it. Quizzes of EVERY character in YJ and Gargoyles. Go nuts.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Clever_Username/every-young-justice-character

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Masterdramon/gargoyles_characters

Greg responds...

Well, I got 50% on YJ and 86% on Gargoyles. (Though I think I've done the latter before.)

I consider both scores pathetic. My memory sure ain't what it used to be.

Response recorded on February 11, 2016

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Kira writes...

I read the are Greg's answers etched in stone question in the FAQ and that got me thinking

#1 Are any answers absolutely set in stone
and
#2 Would you consider Retconing or Altering anything from the series (aside from the Goliath Chronicles)

Greg responds...

1. If you mean here at ASK GREG, then no.

2. Anything canon, like the first 65 episodes or the 18 SLG issues, is fixed. Mistakes exist in there, but we try to just incorporate mistakes into the universe. Is Sevarius' name misspelled on his briefcase? Yes. But we assume that mistake happened "In Universe" and that Sevarius got a discount because of the error. Of course, some things that you think you know from watching the episodes may turn out to be not as they seemed. For example, if you thought the Archmage died at the end of "Long Way to Morning" you were wrong. But not because we contradicted what was in the episode, but because when you see "Avalon, Part Two" you are presented with more information that changes what you thought you saw.

Response recorded on January 19, 2016

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Phil(Enlightenment) writes...

Greg, The last time I saw you, which was at the last gargoyles convention, you expressed a desire for me to be on this forum due to my solution based way of thinking. I know now why I gravitated toward you so fiercely as I am awake now. My question: Do you know what star system you channeled gargoyles from?

Greg responds...

I do not.

Or rather, it's from the star system Sol, but from a parallel universe. (Or so I must assume.)

Response recorded on January 15, 2016

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Steel_Goliath writes...

would you count the ending of hunter's moon part iii a definitive win for the manhattan clan

Greg responds...

No.

Response recorded on February 24, 2014

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Underrated

Peter David was kind enough to forward this link:

http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/12/the-25-most-underrated-animated-tv-shows-of-all-time#25

#2 out of 25. Not too shabby!


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Thomas writes...

I notice that with Gargoyles you have given so much information that fleshed their world. Can you give information for the Young Justice Wiki on Kryptonians, Thanagarians, Amazons, Atlanteans, Termians and other races to give the world more dimnension?

Nothing major, spoilerish. Just fleshing material

Greg responds...

NO. Most of the Gargoyles "flesh" is either (a) from the canon, which had 65 canon episodes and 18 canon comic book issues or (b) info given LONG after the show was done producing new episodes and/or (c) stuff I regret having revealed.

If and when the series ends (in all its forms and media), I may consider being more forthcoming. But I may not. Ideas minus execution are open to second-guessing that just isn't any fun. (Well, not for me, anyway.) And if Gargoyles has proven anything, it's that you never know when you'll get another shot at it, and so some secrets are better left kept.

Response recorded on November 19, 2012

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DrStubbsberg writes...

First off, huge fan of Gargoyles and really impressed that you're still so invested in the show.

Right, now the question - I've had a poke through the archives and can't seem to find anything quite like this so: Do other mythological creatures (eg dragons, manticores, unicorns, etc) exist in the Gargoyles Universe, or are the legends simply related to various Gargates or Children of Oberon.

As a follow up, if any of these species do exist are they intelligent, or just animals?

Greg responds...

Generally, the answer is the latter, but the question is too big to be answered definitively. It's hard to answer something that gives examples, but still asks me to answer in theory with a single yes or no to simultaneously cover each and every fantasy species ever.

Response recorded on April 30, 2012

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Anonymous writes...

What is hob-goblin of little minds about?

Greg responds...

SPOILER REQUEST. NO COMMENT.

Response recorded on April 11, 2012

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Matthew writes...

This is about pretty much all the series you've worked on. I've noticed that most of your series has a large cast of recurring characters (and that despite this characters tend to be very well delineated.) Now for Young Justice, WITCH, and Spectacular Spiderman that may be just because they were pre-existing properties and already have large casts. However, Gargoyles also had a large cast.

Was this a because of conscious choice?

Do you perfer working with a large cast of characters?

Greg responds...

I do. I like creating worlds that feel real and populated.

Response recorded on October 12, 2011

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GargWiki

We're back, baby!

That's right. The official GargWiki has been down for quite some time with server issues. But Gorebash, our host here at Station 8 has provided a new home for us. So check out: http://gargwiki.net/Main_Page

Most of what you might want to ask me (and thus needlessly crowd the queue here at ASK GREG) about Gargoyles is already easily available in this very smart-looking and user-friendly wiki.

I myself participate in keeping it honest and utilize it as a resource all the time.

Again, that's:

http://gargwiki.net/Main_Page

Worth the look.


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adrian writes...

Is there free will in the Gargoyles universe?

Greg responds...

If there is in our universe, than there is in theirs.

Response recorded on April 12, 2011

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Greg Bishansky writes...

This discussion has been had in Station Eight a few times, and I thought I would bring it up here. It seems to me like one could make a case that Demona is the lead character in the greater story of the GARGOYLES UNIVERSE.

If one looks at "Dark Ages," "Gargoyles," and "Gargoyles 2198" as a three act story, Demona's story is the one story arc that really plays out through the entire timeline. She is there for all three acts.

Yes, Goliath is the lead in "Gargoyles" and Samson is the lead in "Gargoyles 2198." I think Hudson is the lead in "Dark Ages," but I might be wrong. And they all play huge roles, crucial roles. But Goliath and Hudson are not in Act Three, and Samson is not in the first two acts.

Demona, without being the lead in any of the acts, is the constant presence. Sure, she may not appear in "Pendragon," "New Olympians," Heroes of Ulster," and may only have a small role in "TimeDancer" and "Bad Guys." But if "Gargoyles" is the center of the universe here, and "Dark Ages" and "2198" are both acts in that story, it almost makes me wonder if this is really her story. You've got her youth, her fall from grace, her time as the main antagonist (or one of them), and then her eventual redemption.

Not to take anything away from Goliath, because I definitely agree that "Gargoyles" is his story and that he is the most pivotal character in that series. But is his story a large piece of her story?

I'm not saying it's all about her, because it's not. I don't think that or feel that, because this is all one huge ensemble piece made up of many stories, but like I said, she seems to be the most constant character out of all of them in the Big Picture. And all without ever being THE LEAD in any of the "three acts."

Greg responds...

It's definitely an interesting theory.

Of course, I don't actually view the Gargoyles' Universe as any one character's story, including Goliath. To me it's a tapestry with many threads...

But I'm not disagreeing per se.

Response recorded on September 14, 2010

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Diego writes...

Should more comics never be made, will we ever see your master plan(s) for the gargoyles universe?

Greg responds...

More of it anyway...

Response recorded on August 13, 2010

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Lambda writes...

Hi Greg,
I just realized something very sad. Because gargoyles only age at half the rate of humans, by the time the Trio/Angela and Goliath are in their 40s and 50s respectively, Elisa, Fox, Matt, Xanatos and all their other 'original' human friends will have either died or be quite elderly.

1.How do the gargoyles cope with knowing they will outlive these friends (pending unnatural deaths)? It has to be depressing, especially watching your friends grow old before your eyes.

2. Was this something Elisa and Goliath considered before admitting their feelings for one another?

Thanks!

Greg responds...

These are issues we would absolutley be exploring over time. Keep in mind, that prior to the current era, most of our Gargoyles had few close human friends. So this is new for them.

Response recorded on July 14, 2010

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Sarah Anderson writes...

Hi Greg!

Just so you know, Gargoyles is, to me, the absolutely finest animated series I have ever seen. (And I've seen a lot!) So thank you!

Now, one question...you've said that you don't see a lot of gargoyle/human pairings because you want to keep Goliath and Elisa's relationship unique. I get that, and I actually like the idea myself. But (yeah, a but XD), logically, don't you think out of all the billions of human men and women, at least SOME of them would be interested in gargoyles? I mean, within the fandom alone there are lots of people who think the gargoyles are very attractive, so I would think that out of the whole world, there'd be a lot of them that would be more than willing to try a relationship with a gargoyle. And I would imagine that as gargoyles interact more with humans a few would probably get "interested." Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm just thinking aloud, and was hoping to hear your thoughts (in more detail) on the points I just made.

Thanks so much!

Greg responds...

Well... I think you underestimate the reality of the situation. When watching characters (of whatever species) in an animated cartoon, everyone is made of the same ink and paint (or pixels). So the physical differences seem superficial - compared to the appeal or drama or pathos of individual characters, which in a way is how it should be.

But try for a moment to put yourself INTO that universe. Try to truly picture the physicality of the differences in a real world context. I'm not saying it could never happen. And maybe by 2198 it's slightly more likely. But generally, I think that kind of pairing is going to be quite rare. That doesn't mean intense friendships, relationships, emotions won't grow between individual humans and individual gargoyles, but I'd never see it as commonplace.

Response recorded on June 09, 2010

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Bazell writes...

For clarification: is it fair to assume that in the Gargoyles Universe, nature operates through the principle of Darwinian natural selection as opposed to other evolutionary theories? A lot of your language seems to suggest so.

Assuming so, then the Fae's ability to use magic is just an evolutionary adaptation - albeit a magnificent one. The philosophical implications of this alone could fuel a lecture. Regardless, a sub-question: are Fae suseptible to cancer?

Greg responds...

It's a fairly Darwinian Universe, yes.

Response recorded on April 01, 2010

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Random Fan writes...

Hey there! just going to get to the point. You've said that gargoyles started in pangea and where at one time a international race. What happened to american gargoyles before the manhatan clan got there?

Greg responds...

Long gone...

Response recorded on March 31, 2010

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Rebel writes...

Which part of the world did gargoyles first arise in? For example, humans apparently arose in Africa and then migrated almost everywhere else, and then evolved. I'm curious to know which continent gargoyles first came from. If you'd care to narrow it down even further, that'd be great, since a continent is a really big place.

I did a search to see if this had already been answered, but I didn't see anything. If you've answered it already and I missed it, my apologies.

Greg responds...

Pangea.

Response recorded on April 22, 2009

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Corrie "Cormak" McDermott writes...

Hello Greg,

Gosh, it's been over 7 years since I asked a question here!

First off, I'd just like to say how thrilled I am that you still continue to push for Gargoyles to reach the fans. No matter the medium! Before the comics, I lived for the "Ask Greg" section of this site, (I still enjoy reading here when time away from work and my horses allows). The comics have really been a godsend. It's always a disappointment to find your favorite show has no new material in the works, so I commend you for helping to keep Gargoyles alive and available to us all no matter what obstacle you must cross.

I'm very upset to hear about the license situation with the comic, but I have not given up hope for the future spin offs and further stories.

I'd guess you write timelines and probably have notebooks and computer documents full of continuing ideas. Have you ever thought about doing an encyclopedia/compliation with all of the characters, places and events as well as future events you have outlined? (Obviously with Disney's approval of course)

I apologize if the question has already been asked. I searched the archives and didn't see a mention. (There are alot of pages!)

Best of luck, keep up the good work and Long live the Gargoyles!

Greg responds...

I've thought often about it. No publisher has ever expressed any interest.

Response recorded on October 15, 2008

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NewGuyontheBlock writes...

Are vampires involved in the Garg universe (like the ones in Underworld Two)?

Greg responds...

According to Princess Katharine they are. But I've never seen either Underworld, so I have no comment on whether or not our vampires might or might not be LIKE the ones in that movie.

Response recorded on July 30, 2007

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Juan writes...

I Wondering (hi agian) Was there any gargoyles in the middle east particularly during reign babylonia mesotomia i dont know how u spell but where we call iraq in ancient

Greg responds...

Yes.

Response recorded on June 05, 2007

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dph writes...

In general, do you view the fall of Atlantis in the gargoyles universe as a good thing or a bad thing?

Greg responds...

I don't view those kind of things in black and white terms.

Response recorded on March 13, 2007

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Vashkoda writes...

Your ramble on "The New Olympians" got me wondering about the magical islands in the Gargoyles Universe. There almost seems to be a theme that all islands inherently have something "unnatural" about them (and often are home to the last surviving gargoyle clans). This would include the obvious ones like Avalon and New Olympus, but you could even include Scotland/England, Ireland, Queen Florence Island, Easter Island, Japan and Manhattan itself (I might even include Atlantis since you say it exists in the Gargoyles Universe in some form). Was this a conscious theme, or did islands simply get the spotlight in the Avalon Tour due to the easy access by skiff?

In a semi-related question, one of the big mysteries that you never really touched upon in the show is the nature of the Bermuda Triangle. In the Gargoyles Universe, does it have anything to do with one of the islands named above? Your comment about being disappointed that the New Olympus shield looked like a fog bank from outside got me thinking, since that is often how people are described getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle. Yet Avalon, too, seems shrouded in mist. Any comments?

Greg responds...

It's not so much a theme -- and yet not merely a matter of convenience either -- but a factor of geography. Islands ARE more isolated, which gives rise to possibilities.

But it's not limited to islands. A remote locale like Tibet isn't an island, but might as well be, if you get the drift of my skiff.

I honestly haven't gotten to the Bermuda Triangle in my own head yet, vis-a-vis the Gargoyles Universe. For those of you who attended the 1997 Gathering, and saw the Radio Play that year (Rain of the Ghosts), you know I have another original property that covers that territory in some detail. So I haven't yet turned my attention to what approach I'd take for the Triangle in the Gargoyles Universe -- since I'd want some differentiation between Gargoyles and Rain. But all things are true.

Response recorded on September 07, 2006

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Todd Jensen writes...

A question about Elisa awakening King Arthur "early". Now, we know that Elisa awakened Arthur ahead of schedule, based on the information given in "Avalon Part Three" and "Pendragon", and that he was apparently originally supposed to be awakened somewhat later and for a different emergency than the Archmage (although we don't know what it was or how far away in time it would be).

What I'm curious about is: has Elisa thereby altered Arthur's destiny? To explain a little more about what I mean, I suppose that I'd better go into a brief "ramble".

We don't know much about the nature of fate or destiny in the Gargoyles Universe (beyond the fact that the Weird Sisters are linked to it, at least when Luna is the dominant one), but we can tell that it exists in some ways (such as Avalon sending people "where they need to be"). I don't know if it's actually supposed to be possible to "alter destiny" in the Gargoyles Universe, beyond the fact that we know that the past can't be altered (as Goliath and Demona have both learned the hard way), but since Elisa came to the Hollow Hill in her own time rather than in the past, her awakening Arthur obviously wouldn't count as changing history in the same way that somebody going back in time to, say, avert the Wyvern Massacre would. However, since the future is part of the time-stream (and I assume that the only 2198 in the Gargoyles Universe is the one where the Space-Spawn show up and take over the planet and there are no alternate 2198s where that event doesn't take place), it doesn't seem so probable that it can be altered.

On the other hand, we do know that carefully-laid plans that were devised, not by God or destiny or something of a transcendent nature, but by humans or gargoyles or the Oberati, can be changed through the actions of others. Demona and the Captain of the Guard's original plans to betray Castle Wyvern, for example, wound up having different results than those that they were expecting, thanks partly to Goliath's decision to only take Hudson with him, partly to Hakon's decision to smash the gargoyles at the castle in spite of the Captain's protests.

So what my real question is, I suppose, is this; was the original "future time" for Arthur's awakening (in which he will not be awakening after all thanks to Elisa) set by God or Fate or something of that nature, or was it set merely by people (as in, the ones who placed him in the Hollow Hill)? Has Elisa genuinely altered Arthur's future, or only altered his future as it was perceived by those who laid him to sleep on Avalon?

Greg responds...

It's a very interesting distinction isn't it? Does Destiny = Future?

Well, I'm thinking no. The future, as you stated, is part of the timestream. Actual events that happened in the future (from some kind of external perspective) are immutable.

But Destiny, to me at least, means something different. Destiny is about potential. It's not about a lock or a guarantee.

Individual characters may be loose with language, but I think that in the Gargoyles Universe, when one says a character is "DESTINED" to do X, what one means is that said character is destined to ATTEMPT X. Doesn't guarantee success. Success relies on a combination of indiviual and circumstance.

So, to your original question, has Elisa altered Arthur's destiny? I'd have to say... "MAYBE!!!!"

I mean actually, I know the answer to that question, but I just don't feel like answering it now. What I mean by "maybe" is that she certainly may have. She may have created a new destiny for him. She may have spoiled plans for the old destiny. And yet he may find his way back to that old destiny. Or what he does accomplish may not be exactly the original destiny, but winds up doing the same thing or sowing seeds for others to reep. Any or all of the above.

Response recorded on June 02, 2005

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Puck Robyne Lover!! writes...

Can you give me a family tree of oberon and titiania's children across the centuries? I can't figure out if Puck is Alexnder Xanatos is pucks nephew or not. I would really like to know about Puck's/owen's secret love that you mentioned earlier too.

Greg responds...

I'm not going to reveal anything new at this time, but I will summarize what I've already revealed:

Lord Oberon is the son of Queen Mab.

Lord Oberon married Titania (who became Queen Titania after Mab was overthrown). (Note: Oberon intentionally did not take the title of King. Retaining his "Lord" title is his semi-skewed attempt at being more... egalitarian.)

Oberon and Titania have two children together: one male and one female. I know exactly who they are, but I'm keeping their identities and personas secret for the time being.

Oberon also has at least two sons by mortal women: Merlin and the changeling boy from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

Titania has one child with the mortal Halcyon Renard. This is Janine Renard, a.k.a. Fox.

Fox married David Xanatos. They have one child: Alexander Fox Xanatos.

Puck, a.k.a. Owen Burnett, is not directly related to ANY of these individuals.

Response recorded on November 18, 2004

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Enigma writes...

I have a language question. The gargoyles (Manhattan Clan)come from medevil Scotland, right? Well, English 1000 years ago wasn't the same as it is now. It actually bears little resemblence to old English, so how could the gargoyles understand our English (Modern English) when they woke up in NY in 1994?
When you really think about it they should be speaking Scottish since they're from a time when people in Scotland spoke Scottish, not English.
So either way you look at it there should have been a lot of communication problems at first. (I can accept we can understand everyone in Scotland 994 since you'd have to use subtitles otherwise. Thanks :)

Greg responds...

You are essentially correct, although I'd use the term Gaelic, I think, rather than Scottish.

The "behind the scenes" answer, as I've mentioned before, was that we chose Scotland in part because it's a place where people CURRENTLY speak English, so we felt we could skate past the language question without too much of a problem.

The "in universe" answer, which I've also mentioned before, came, I believe, from Michael Reaves, who suggested that a spell was cast (perhaps by Demona before Goliath & Company were brought to the top of the Eyrie Building) to bring the Gargoyles up to speed language-wise without any of them realizing that they'd been effected.

Response recorded on October 22, 2004

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JEB writes...

Random question - which is longer (page-length-wise), the Gargoyles Timeline or the Gargoyles Encyclopedia manuscript?

Greg responds...

The Timeline, last updated 6/27/01, is currently 221 pages long (not counting all the handwritten margin notes done since then).

The Encyclopedia, last updated 9/16/98, is currently 350 pages long (not counting all the handwritten margin notes done since then).

Response recorded on May 11, 2004

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The Cat writes...

Hey Greg,
It's The Cat, again. Technically I've already asked this question, but it has more to do with when the gargoyles learned how to read than anything else.

It has been asked already, but your answer is not correct.

You aswered that Demona learned from the Archmage. Goliath learned from Demona. Lexington learned right before they were turned to stone for a thousand years. Brooklyn learned right after the spell was broken and of course Broadway and Hudson learned together from Elisa and the rest of the clan.

It is not correct in the fact that English was not a language back in 994A.D., much less a written language. So, here is your answer revised a bit for all those people that have to learn this in History class and then wonder how it could be possible for the gargoyles to have learned to read English if it wasn't a language.

Demona learned how to read English sometime while the others were in their stone sleep, after all life must really get boring having nothing to do and being a live for several centuries( do ya'll people really think that she'd kill humans all the time?) Goliath, Brooklyn and Lexington most likely learned how to read right after the spell was broken. After all the language Goliath and Lexington learned how to read was most likely Latin given the fact that that language was the only one besides Greek and Hebrew that were written down at the time.

Another question(actually the one above wasn't really a question, hmm, I've really got to work on that)

In the episode, A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time, The Scroles(I'm unsure if I spelt that right and I don't have a dictionary at hand right now) of Merlin were written in Ancient Celtic, but how could that be? Celtic wasn't a written language. Or it could have been and I just haven't covered that topic in my history lessons yet. But I don't think it was a written language at the time that the scrolls were written.

Well, I know this is a kind of multi-topic letter, but I was going on the topic of written languages more than anything. See ya.

Greg responds...

I don't think I was asked when they learned to "read English", I think I was asked when they learned to read.

Of course, we generally cheated on language issues. Michael Reaves had a magical solution to this, which I like and have commented on before.

As for the Scrolls, I'd have to do more research to answer you in the kind of detail your post displays.

Response recorded on April 26, 2004

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Zarok writes...

Hey Greg
I've just finished reading your "Roswell Conspiracies" bible, there are some really great ideas in it. The ban on faster than light travel is somewhat revolutionary and unique in a show like this. It's a shame that it didn't work out but it did get me thinking about outer space and aliens in the Gargoyles universe so…

1) Do the "Greymen" exist in the Gargoyle universe?

2) Did the "roswell incident" or some version of it occur in the Gargoyle universe?

Greg responds...

All things are true. One way or another.

Response recorded on March 26, 2004

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Anonymous writes...

1.Are Thor's sons alive? I mean they were said to survive ragnorak.
2.How about Vidar and Vali?
3.What about Odin's wife? Is she alive?

Greg responds...

I'm not going to start rattling off a laundry list of Norse Gods and figures.

I have basic ideas about how Norse mythology fits into the Gargoyles Universe, but I won't pretend I've yet had the opportunity (or need) to go through each and every "character" and figure out where he or she or it is currently hanging.

Response recorded on February 23, 2004

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Emma Rooney writes...

Where do you get all the information about Gargoyles from, without calling/visiting the sculptor?

Greg responds...

The sculptor?

Mostly, I make it up. Or rather, I made it up some time ago and I either type it up from memory or I refer to my old notes.

Or maybe, as I've suggested before, I'm just psychically tapping into the Gargoyles Universe -- if that doesn't sound TOO pretentious.

Response recorded on February 12, 2004

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Anonymous writes...

Since the Illuminati are going to be the villains for Pendragon, New Olympians, Bad Guys and Gargoyles were you planning a crossover for all four series?

Greg responds...

This is all so hypothetical. All series are set in the so-called "GARGOYLES UNIVERSE" so you would see characters running in and out of everywhere. So I guess the answer is technically yes. But deciding whether or not there'd be a true cross-over, i.e. a story that started with a Part One in one series and ended with a Part Two in another would completely depend on outside criteria, like whether the network would allow something like that.

Response recorded on November 14, 2003

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phil seiler writes...

hi greg i want know why they put gargoyles on churches

Greg responds...

You mean within the world of the show or otherwise?

Among the possible answers...

Rainspouts.

Design flourishes.

Superstitious totems.

Symbolic protectors.

Living creatures who have lived on that spot for centuries before the church existed...

Response recorded on October 21, 2003

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Wolfram Bane (wolfram_bane@hotmail.com) writes...

Weisman, Greg

Given the 'everything is real' concept, does Greg Weisman, gargoyle scholar, exist within the Gargoyles universe?

Greg responds...

I never said that "everything is real".

The Weird Sisters believe that "All things are true".

There's a huge difference in my mind.

As to whether there's a Greg Weisman in the Garg Universe, I honestly haven't given it any thought. Which in and of itself seems strange, don't you think?

I've thought about me being transported to the Garg Universe. And after seeing "Galaxy Quest" (directed by Dean Parisot, a dad in my kids' Indian Guides and Indian Princess Tribes), I thought about what would happen if the gargs actually showed up at the Gathering, but I haven't thought about whether or not I have a parallel version over there.

And now I can't because you just submitted it as an idea.

Oh, well.

Response recorded on October 15, 2003

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Gipdac writes...

In the gargoyles universe;
1) How large was Atlantis?
2) Where was Atlantis originally?

Greg responds...

1. I haven't given this a lot of thought at this time.
2. I have given this a lot of thought but do not want to reveal it at this time.

Sorry.

Response recorded on September 26, 2003

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LK writes...

This could be a delicate subject:

Although the World Trade Center is gone, <:( ,
will it still exist in the "Gargoyle universe?"

(or will this even be an issue?)

I apologize if there has already been a 9/11 "ramble".

I couldn't find anything in the archives.

Greg responds...

Well, probably when you posted this there wasn't. But you might have looked to see that a few dozen people posted this question before you did and that ultimately I would get to it before I got to yours. Oh, well. Check the archives again, and I'm sure you'll see an answer.

Response recorded on August 29, 2003

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Benjamin Gilbert writes...

Right off the bat, I should let you (and everyone else) know that I have some reservations about asking this question at all, but... the question seems important, somehow. The whole "gargoyles protect" thing, I suppose.

I was watching Awakening the other day, and there's a prominent shot (I don't remember in which part) of the World Trade towers. They were central to The Mirror, and probably were shown in other eps too.

1. In your mind, did the September 11th disaster happen in the Gargoyles universe?

2. If so, in your mind, is there a story there somewhere? (Not that you could tell it on the air, necessarily.) I mean, do you have thoughts about what the gargoyles did, or what Xanatos' reaction was, or suchlike? How do your particular set of extraordinary people react in those extraordinary circumstances? Or have you not thought about it?

3. If no to #1, would the WTC towers still be there in future episodes, or would they quietly vanish from the Manhattan skyline?

Greg responds...

1. Yes.
2. I've occassionally thought about it. But not in any real depth. Avoidance, I guess. I don't think I'd tell a story about it. The series "Without a Trace" just did a two-part episode that was very well-handled dealing with the aftermath of 9/11. And yet, there were moments where I couldn't help thinking it was still exploitive. And I like both the series and the episodes. I don't see how we could possibly, in the context of a fantasy-action show like ours, do justice to the magnitude of that event. So, yes, it happened, and, yes, it effected every one of our characters. But I doubt I'd ever address it on air, unless I (or someone on my staff) came up with just a brilliant take on it. But that seems unlikely.

3. N.A.

Response recorded on June 02, 2003

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Aris Katsaris writes...

Galvatron> I think you are confusing Greg's words and intent... His take is after all something like "Everything is true for a given value of 'true'"...

He never said that Muslims, Jews and Christians are *correct* in everything they believed. That might indeed be offensive - but it would also be impossible to pull off, since after all, they believe in some contradictory things as well.

From what I understand, Greg said that these guys worship what they perceive as Infinite and as Creator. That's factually correct in our real world. And then he went on to say that such an Infinite and a Creator exists. Some of the more specific beliefs may well be wrong.

Pagans believed in Zeus or Odin or Osiris or many others gods. And Greg says that, yes, Zeus and Odin and Osiris also exist. But some of the more specific beliefs about them may also be wrong.

So your claim seems to me to be nothing more than "Odin isn't portrayed as Infinite!". To which my response is: "He was never supposed to be, not even by the Norse themselves."

Now if Greg went on to portray the afterlife exactly as Christianity portrays it, *that* might be a bit exclusive... But it seems to me that he's going for a diversity of afterlives, a bit similar to what Terry Pratchett did...

(Weirdly enough however I *was* annoyed by the intrusion of monotheism and dualism in shows like Hercules & Xena which previously featured polytheistic pantheons. But that was more because it seemed to me to subvert the very theme of the heroism of "Man vs gods" and turn it into "The Real God[tm] vs the many false gods"... Greg portrays a universe where all these beliefs can pretty much coexist. The producers of Xena, on the other hand decided to portray a universe where they must fight to the death - the introduction of The One God immediately made the lesser gods something evil which needed to be destroyed. Bleh! )

Sorry for the rant, Greg! :-)

Greg responds...

No prob.

But I do think both of you have sort of missed the point. Personally, I believe in both God and evolution. I'm also a bit of a pantheistic pagan, and I don't find any of these notions mutually exclusive. But that's me.

What I believe I've always said about the show is that whatever you believe created OUR universe also created the garg universe. If that's one or more of the above (plus or minus) something else, fine.

Response recorded on May 30, 2003

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Justin writes...

Dear Greg,

You said that, and Goliath has also said that, "Long ago there were clans all over the world." Well that is a pretty vague statement. I do understand it was intentional but the idea has bothered be for close to six years now, where were these clans? Were there any in the americas? Africa? Italy? Moscow? I really would like to know how far the species migrated.

Thanks

Greg responds...

What part of "all over the world" don't you understand?

If you want me to list every clan location... well, I won't. I'm not going to go through an Atlas and start choosing spots.

The Americas? You know it. Africa? Sure. Italy? Absolutely. Moscow, specifically? I don't know.

They are an old race. Now on the verge of extinction, but once upon a time they were (briefly) the dominant species on the planet. They spread out.

Response recorded on May 27, 2003

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Laura 'ad astra' Ackerman writes...

Lastly the hard one: I took a quick look through the waiting to be answered section, (mea culpa, I don't usually check that part, only the actually answered sections), and I saw a few questions about the recent terrorist attack and the Gargoyles universe. I too am wondering what your thoughts on it are. Forgive me for being presumptuous, but my gut reaction is that you would want to deal with it. Gargoyles never stayed away from difficult issue, and this one came to it. If and (hopefully) when the show continues in some form, and assuming Disney allows you to, how would you handle it? Until now you have said you are leaning to continuing the show post Journey and going through the intervening years at a quick pace. It wouldn't necessarily be obvious what year it is in the story, but the people who are interested would be able to fit it into place and know the time frame from the internet. Now the time frame will be obvious with the most cursory glance.

Aside from the logistics of fitting it in and when, is the issue of how. Gargoyles has it easier than your run of the mill superhero. First off, it happened in the morning, so there us no question of them having been there. (And the fact that so many characters in the show are cops puts us literally and figuratively at ground zero.) Second off, they are strong and they can glide, but they have no way of magically lifting building high stacks of rubble, or zeroing in on survivors under those stacks. They cannot teleport, or put trapped survivors in stasis until they can be reached. In short, they are little more than a few extra sets of extremely strong hands. Still, for a fictional story to save one more life than we have so desperately managed to save strikes me as somewhat offensive. With the heartache and heroism we have seen in the past few days, it is so hard to find the balance between doing disservice to a difficult issue by ignoring it, and doing disservice to that same issue by trivializing it. Not that it shouldn't be tried, In between the extremes is a major service art plays to humanity.

Personally the whole incident has been as bizarre as it is horrendous. Sometime in the middle of Rosh HaShanna I found myself praying I would turn the television after the holiday to hear they found even just one more survivor. I am sure many were doing the same thing, but I was praying that for the rescue workers, so that they would have something to help them go on. At the same time I still hadn't, haven't completely registered the event. The numbers are too big to compute. And yet, I saw the second tower fall from Christopher street, the closest the subway got to work, and knew I had to continue walking south to work to get to my non-telephone based e-mail to be sure I could contact the outside world and get word out I was fine and find out about all my friends who worked even further downtown than I, (not to mention getting word to cousins in Israel who are used to the calls going the other way). I was able to hear that all my friends got out unharmed by noon and began the long walk home. All along the way people had set up radios and televisions for everyone to huddle around and sort out what exactly had happened. I have always maintained New Yorkers are far more friendly and caring than we will admit, but now, it is obvious. By the time we reached the 12th street the people lined up to give blood filled avenues by Saint Vincent hospital. They had so many people asking to volunteer that we were told
to try again in several hours. My friend had chosen a bad day not to wear sensible shoes, and we were stopping into shoe stores all the way north to find her a pair of Keds without luck.

Of course, once I got back to my apartment, and later at friends, we watched amazing amounts of news. With exception of sabbeth and the holiday, I don't think I've gone more than 5 hours without checking it in one way or another. In the days before we were allowed to go back to work we switched off between the news and silly things. I saw The Princess Diaries, my boss admitted to a slightly more
serious movie, but not much more. Thursday the wind shifted and we could smell the smoke. The wind still mainly blows away from us, but every once in a while it turns north again and it smells as if the city decided to put all its ovens on self clean mode. But for the most part the weather had been bizarrely clear and lovely.

Since then we have heard stories of heroism and humanity. Instead of panic and everyman for himself, people were orderly as they made their long way down. Strangers helped, even carried, each other down the stairs. Hundreds of firemen, police and other rescue workers ran back in and up and most probably died in the collapse. Thousands are dead, but thousands were saved by human kindness at the most basic and heroic level. I have never been more proud to be a New Yorker. [And that isn't even dealing with all the people that flocked to NY to help, nor the war I feel we must fight and pray we are mature enough to handle as we have not been in the past.] Everyone here knows at least someone who lost someone. And you can't help but look out windows that used to see the towers, or just down the street, and see a surreal open skyline still full of smoke.

I can't see how any story set in this city at this time can ignore the events, yet I am still too close to know if it is possible to do it justice. I am a (supposed) adult who has had more exposure to terrorism
than most New Yorkers and have an ability 'get used' to new status quos quicker than many. You have repeatedly said that Gargoyles would remain child friendly, even if the topics became more mature. I cannot help but think that children are in even more need than adults to make sense of these events and how it changes us.

thanks for the answers, (and the chance to vent).

Laura

Greg responds...

Laura,

I'm tempted not to respond at all. I'm not sure what I could say that would be even half as eloquent as what you just wrote. I know months have passed since you wrote those words, but today they have effected me deeply.

To answer your question... I just don't know. The plan to continue the series where we left off and speed through the years (keeping hard-core fans posted via the internet) made a ton of sense to me before September 11th. Now, of course, everything's changed. It's easy enough to simply NOT show the twin towers. If we're careful it just means we're not pointing the camera that way. And it could be before or after 9/11. But leaving it at that is something of a cop-out.

You've really hit the nail square on the head. How would I, would anyone really, deal with this topic respectfully in a fictional universe? On one level, I'd love to include it -- if for no other reason than to work out some of my own demons about that days events. As you said, the Gargoyles wouldn't even learn about it until sunset.

Then what? I don't think I'd have any of our regulars die in those events. It would seem to cheapen the sacrifices made by real flesh and blood people. Obviously, after the fact, I don't see how I could avoid having Elisa and the Gargs lend a hand. They wouldn't save anyone. How could I allow it? But just try to help.

But even that seems less than respectful. From my vantage in California, it's hard to see a way clear. Ultimately, this probably would never be a decision that would be left in my hands. But if it was, I'd have to take on a consultant (or two or ten). Representatives of all aspects of the event. People who were involved.

That's the best I can come up with now? It's all too hypothetical and painful to figure out in more detail.

But in the simplest terms if what you're asking me is whether or not the towers came down on 9-11-01 in the Gargoyle Universe, then the answer is yes.

Response recorded on May 09, 2002

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Anonymous writes...

You said Prospero and Sevarius would be interested in creating a kid for Elisha and Goliath so is Prospero a sick and depraved individual like Sevarius?
What exactly is Calaban in the gargoyles universe? Halfling?
Is Miranda still alive in 1996?
What about Prospero? Is he still alive? If so how did he stay alive?

Greg responds...

I think, for starters, you're slightly misquoting me, but in any case, your logic is heavily flawed.

Not saying now.

Not saying.

I've already admitted that Prospero is still alive. Probably in the old ASK GREG ARCHIVES.

Response recorded on October 17, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

Were you ever going to introduce the multi-armed gods of Hinduism? What would they be? If they were going to be Children of Oberon how did you plan to stop the Hindus from boycotting Disney like they boycotted Xena (I think for planning to kill the Hindu gods)?

Greg responds...

Given enough time and episodes, all things would have been included. But I don't currently pretend to have worked out the answers to any of your specific questions.

Response recorded on October 17, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

You said that you were trying to develop a scarecrow character for the Gargoyles Universe so have you finished developing it? Does it resemble Marvel¡¯s Scarecrow character, which is a demon or does it resemble DC¡¯s Scarecrow?

Greg responds...

I'm unfamiliar with Marvel's and I was consciously trying NOT to emulate DC's, a character I'm fond of and have used in a Captain Atom/Batman team-up story.

I have to date, not succeeded in coming up with a satisfactory Scarecrow character for the Gargoyles Universe. Which is a shame, because Gargoyles and scarecrows clearly have a lot in common.

Response recorded on October 17, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

Who is presently the president of the USA in the Gargoyles universe? Is he a member of the Illuminati?

Greg responds...

Presently, to my knowledge, George W. Bush is president.

Response recorded on October 10, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

What exactly were the sirens in the Gargoyles Universe(GU)? Halflings? Children of Oberon?

Greg responds...

I'm not telling you.

Response recorded on September 06, 2001

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Seeker of Knowledge writes...

In the Gargoyles Universe, are vampires afraid of crosses and other holy symbols, as they are in in Transylvanian myths?

Greg responds...

You were just waiting for this weren't you: All things are true.

Response recorded on September 06, 2001

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Artemis writes...

Hi Greg! First time poster here. I want to thank you on writing such a great show!! I only started to watch it a little over a year ago. I've only seen about 70% of the episodes, because of it's late airtime and the fact that I have older siblings who what dibs on the tv. What I really want to ask you is how did you come up with this whole series? It's really incredible how it all ties in, considering its complicated plot. My teachers have always told me that I have a gift for story telling, but most of its all been fan fiction. I love to write, but the only reason I do fan fiction is because I can't seem to make up my own characters. So how did you come up with all these complex characters? Did you have to sit down for hours to think of characters, or did they just suddenly come to you one day? Anything you're willing to tell me will be greatly appreciated. I don't care if writers don't really make it on their first story, I know that (I'm only 17, after all). I just want to write share with some people something that I can truly call my own. Thank you! (Next time around, I actually will ask questions regarding the show)
=^..^= <---Meow!

Greg responds...

Well, let's start by acknowledging that I wasn't working in a vaccuum. From day one I had a staff of people working with and for me on the show.

Special credit needs to go to Michael Reaves, Brynne Chandler, Gary Sperling, Cary Bates and Lydia Marano who were all huge participants in the process.

Lots of time was spent talking, batting ideas around. But honestly some things just came so easy and naturally that I still believe that the Gargoyles Universe is out there broadcasting history to me.

Response recorded on September 06, 2001

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Tynne writes...

Does Bigfoot/The Sasquatch (or to be more specific, beings who inspired legends of Sasquatch) exist in the world of "Gargoyles"?

Greg responds...

Yes.

Response recorded on September 01, 2001

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Aris Katsaris writes...

<g> You've recently received a lot of timeline questions, perhaps encouraged by the fact you've recently indeed given more specific timeline information about things and events... So I am a bit embarrassed that my first question after a long time is also a timeline one...

Anyway... :-)

Since Count Dracula exists in your universe, what year do you place the events that are described in (or which inspired) Bram Stoker's original novel?

Most modern adaptations of Dracula place them in 1897, the year of the novel's publication... but I had always thought that 1890 was a more reasonable date, since the story's epilogue starts with "Seven years ago we all went through the flames"...

Greg responds...

That makes sense to me. But I'd have to do some real research into Dracula and Vlad Tepes, etc. before I pinned anything down for the GU.

Response recorded on August 30, 2001

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Ricky writes...

I am a firm believer that ATLANTIS once existed. It sink deep into the Atlantic Ocean and has never been seen since. Edgar Cayce predicted that the western portion of ATLANTIS would surface in 1967 or 1968 and in 1968, then a huge stone road or wall was discovered off Bimini. It is commonly known today as the Bimini Road. Cool hunh?

It is theorized that ATLANTIS was powered by mystic crystals that eventually destroyed the fable island that Plato said was larger than Africa. He positions the fable island outside the Pillars of Heracles, which are known today as the Striats of Garbiltor. (Excuse the spelling)

Are you a believer?

Greg responds...

Well there were a bunch of crystal's in Disney's Atlantis movie and in Team Atlantis.

Are you asking me about within the Garg Universe or in my real life?

Response recorded on August 30, 2001

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JEB writes...

Are the Space-Spawn from within our galaxy (the Milky Way) or do they hail from another galaxy? If the latter, do they rule a substantial portion of their home galaxy?

Greg responds...

At this time, everything I've created for the Gargoyles Universe takes place within the Milky Way Galaxy (at least through 2198).

Response recorded on August 08, 2001

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JEB writes...

Did humans really build the great (known) monuments of the ancient world by themselves in the Gargoyles Universe? I refer to the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids, Stonehenge, etc. (Personally, I'd prefer to think so.)

Greg responds...

Not saying at this time. Plus there isn't just one answer to a question that large.

Response recorded on August 08, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

Is the supreme God of the gargoyles universe something like the Source of the DCU?

Greg responds...

I don't know what the Source is. But I will say (again) that I'm not going to define GOD in the Gargoyles Universe. I don't want to name Him, define Him or give Him limits. I'm not even fully comfortable with using the pronoun "Him".

Response recorded on July 27, 2001

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matt writes...

so you've confirmed that Atlantis definitly existed or exists in the Gargoyles Universe. are the Gargoyles Universe and the "Atlantis"/Team:Atlantis Universe compatible or the same universe?

Greg responds...

I'm not gonna go into detail, but Atlantis did exist in the Gargoyles Universe. The Garg Universe and the Team Atlantis Universe overlap in Paris in 1920. (Didn't I answer this already?)

Response recorded on July 11, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

Where did Gargoyles originate? British Isles? Asia? Greece?

Greg responds...

Didn't I just not answer this?

Meaning, didn't you just ask this?

Had I answered this from your last post, what would have been the point of asking it again here?

Since I didn't, what's the point of asking it again IMMEDIATELY following your last post?

I just don't get it.

Response recorded on June 10, 2001

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Todd Jensen writes...

One amusing little historical note about Canmore, which I must confess spooks me a little. In actual history, two of his sons, both of whom became Kings of Scotland after him, were named Alexander and David. In the context of "Gargoyles", I must confess that I find that a bit on the creepy side.

Greg responds...

You and me both, buster.

One of the many freaky little things leaking into our reality from the Gargoyles Universe.

Response recorded on April 08, 2001

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Anonymous writes...

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

Greg responds...

You mean all at once?

Response recorded on April 08, 2001

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Siren writes...

Seeing as many gargoyle collectors call them "ugly" or "stone" angels, did you ever consider placing heavenly angels into the show?

Greg responds...

Eventually, everything.

Response recorded on March 13, 2001

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Siren writes...

You brought in a few religions and cultures into the show, did you ever consider using Wicca?

Greg responds...

Eventually, everything.

Response recorded on March 13, 2001

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Siren writes...

Seeing as you had a little cryptzoology in your show, such as Nessie. Did you consider other cryptids like Mokele-mbembe (Brachiasaurs in Africa), Bigfoot, Big Cats of United Kingdom, Chupacabras, etc.

Greg responds...

All things are true...

Response recorded on March 08, 2001

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Sapphire writes...

The majority of the world's people believe in a creator, from the Semetic peoples of the middle east to the indigious
peoples of the Americas. I was wondering in the gargoyles universe is the god that the Jews, Christians, and Muslims worship a fay or is he truely the god of the universe?

Greg responds...

God. The one true God of the Universe is not, in my mind, a fey. On the other hand, I'm not sure I'm going to equate him with the God of Abrahamic trio of religions either. I'm looking for something bigger still. Something that includes but is not limited by those faiths.

Just my opinion, mind you.

Response recorded on March 08, 2001

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Aris Katsaris writes...

Next ramble - Xanatos and Gilgamesh:

As I said my first thought was Gilgamesh, since he also had the wish to find immortality - yet above all because Gilgamesh is the mythological hero whose mortality is an integral part of him: the same thing that you said about Xanatos... Both have had dealings with immortals, yet both are hopelessly mortal...

Other than that, admittedly they don't seem to have any other point of similarity... Perhaps (though a bit far-fetched) that Gilgamesh also starts like a bit of a villain until he discovers friendship. But comparisons between Enkidu and Goliath seem even more farfetched and I decided to stop that train of thought.

The Gilgamesh story is among my very favourite ones... And I love characters such as Utnapishtim (the survivor of the Great Flood - the gods turned him and his wife immortal). In fact I find Utnapishtim's version of the story far more fascinating than that of Noah or Deucalion - two stories which for me are so sketchy as to be really *dull*.

Anyway...
1. Do you have any plans about Gilgamesh or Utnapishtim which are more specific than "Eventually everything?"
2. Since Utnapishtim was turned immortal - do you think he's still around? :-)

Greg responds...

Sure Noah wound up a boring drunk. And Deucalion was a bit of a stiff. But wouldn't you like to see Utnapishtim, Noah and Deucalion all sitting at one of these new post-Flood coffee houses, having a beer together, reminiscing about old times? How singers could really sing pre-Flood and how the smell nearly killed them on those damn arcs?

1. Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Utnapishtim (as well as Noah and Deucalion) all figured into my plans. Vaguely. That is, I have a few ideas for all of these characters. But they have not as yet fully coalesced in the old (and getting older) brain. But I will say that Jeff Robbins is involved with my Gilgamesh notions. (FYI - I never really made a Gil-Xanatos connection.)

2. Duh. :)

Response recorded on March 08, 2001

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Oberon writes...

In the Gargoyle Universe are Prospero, Caliban, Ariel, and Miranda still alive? Secorax? Setebose?
What race is Caliban?

Greg responds...

I'm not revealing any of this at this time.

Response recorded on March 01, 2001

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Vasy writes...

The gargoyle universe has norse gods like odin

and oberon and avalon from celtic culture, and banshee

From egypt the is the god of death and such

in central africa there is anansi

from america india there is coyote

1.Does the gargoyle universe have any gods from india in the stroies.

2.if so when do the stories take place....

3.Who are the gods in your stories

Greg responds...

Eventually, all things will be incorporated one way or another. Sort of a unified field theory for myth & legend in the Garg Universe.

Response recorded on November 15, 2000

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Aris Katsaris writes...

Since you plan to include Dracula, I have to ask you: Have you read about the historical Vlad Dracula the Impaler? And do you plan (as you did with Macbeth) to have his story incorporate more real history than we usually seen in the vampire stories about Dracula?

This guy seems to be one who was actually *worse* in real history, than he ever was in fiction... *shudder*

Greg responds...

I'm leaning toward a history-based Dracula and then taking it forward from there.

Response recorded on October 26, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

You mentioned here recently that if the series had continued, or if it were to be revived, you'd eventually do an episode based on the Faust legend.

My question about this: would this story be a bit of a problem from the S&P level, in view of the fact that a focal point of the Faust legend is his deal with the Devil, something that could be drawing very close to elements of a living religion? Of course, you already were able to use the Golem in "Gargoyles", and had plans to make use of the Holy Grail, so it's certainly likely that you have a means of making Faust and Mephistopheles's bargain workable in the Gargoyles Universe without bringing in explicit Christian elements, but I thought that I'd ask about this one anyway.

Greg responds...

Where there's a will, there's a way. Assuming I can get back on the air at all.

Response recorded on October 20, 2000

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Ruthlis Ahbanden writes...

1. Did Robin Hood exist in the Gargoyles Universe?

2. If so, do you see him as a normal human, or someone with some connection to magic?

Greg responds...

1. In one form or another.

2. Not saying.

Response recorded on October 19, 2000

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Ed writes...

Did the mediaeval witch-hunts ever actually kill any witches? Were there even very many around to be killed at that time?

Greg responds...

Maybe. Probably.

Response recorded on October 19, 2000

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Ed writes...

In the Gargoyles universe, whatever happened to Atlantis?

Greg responds...

Not saying now.

Response recorded on October 19, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Does the survival of the Loch Ness Monster have anything to do with the fae or the Lost Race?

Greg responds...

No.

Response recorded on October 05, 2000

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Kayless writes...

October and Halloween are approaching so I thought I'd ask some Werewolf questions.

1. Wolf is a genetically altered Werewolf. The Eye of Odin briefly turned Fox into a Werefox. Yet we never saw a true Werewolf despite Princess Katharine's hint; 'silver be for Vampire's and Weres'. Did you ever intend on featuring one in your stories or did the aforementioned characters fill your personal quota for Werebeasts?

2. Are the Werepanthers (can't remember their names) vulnerable to silver like Werewolves? They didn't seem like true Werebeasts to me due to the fact that they changed into full panthers and not hybrids, as is customary with most Werewolf tales.

3. Is it possible for a Gargoyle to contract Lycanthropy? (Mighty inconvenient since Gargs are only active at night)

4. Or a Fae? (Highly unlikely but you never know)

5. Or a New Olympian?

6. What is cause of Lycanthropy? Is it a curse based on Fae magic like in 'Mark of the Panther' or something else?

7. Is it something you're born with or something you contract? Or possibly both?

8. What would a Werewolf change into? A full wolf or a bipedal hybrid?

9. How much control do they maintain over their altered forms? Are they savage beast like the creature Fox turned into, or do they retain their lucid thoughts?

10. Do they change ever night, during the full moon, or at their leisure?

That's probably enough Lycanthropic related question for now.

Greg responds...

1. Eventually.

2. Maybe.

3. Why not?

4. Doubtful.

5. Possibly.

6. Lots of causes obviously.

7. Ditto.

8. Can't give you one answer.

9. I'm not going to get that specific now.

10. Depends on the cause.

Response recorded on September 27, 2000

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Justin writes...

Greg,
You mentioned that you consider vampirism to be a curse.
What if a gargoyle were to be cursed? Vampires can't be in daylight or they will die. But a gargoyle/vampires gotta sleep! So what chnages would happen?

Greg responds...

NOt answering that now.

Response recorded on September 25, 2000

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Adam writes...

You gave the ages of most of the characters before. I found the answer in the Old Archives (do a search for the word "biological" and you'll eventually come to it). A few people have asked about ages on the "Questions Being Submitted" page, so it's quite possible that you'll have give this answer by the time you get to this question. Just in case you haven't, here is your original response:

Ages in parenthesis represent biological age when that age differs from the character's chronological age.
As of December 31, 1996:
Hudson - 1118 (59)
Goliath - 1058 (29)
Trio - 1038 (19)
Angela - 952 (21)
Bronx - 1018 (9)
Demona - 1058 (35)
Coldstone - 1058 (28)
Macbeth - 991 (52)
Xanatos - 41
Fox - 30
Alexander - not yet 1
Elisa - 28
Talon, Dracon - 26
Beth - 21
Katharine - 1020 (62)
Tom - 1010 (52)
Gabriel, Ophelia, Boudicca - 952 (20)

Greg responds...

Thanks.

Response recorded on September 25, 2000

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Siren writes...

1.)In the Gargoyles Universe are there mermaids?
2.) " " unicorns?
3.) " " dragons?
4.) " " Pegasus
5.) " " gryphons?

Greg responds...

1-5. In one way or another, "all things are true".

Response recorded on September 21, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

One last post.

You revealed in your last batch of answers that Gabriel is the leader of the Avalon clan. I will confess that this revelation amuses me a bit because of a slight echo here with "Paradise Lost" (which might be coincidental, of course, but which I'll mention anyway).

In Milton's epic poem, the original Gabriel (the Archangel) is portrayed as the leader of a squadron of angels stationed in the Garden of Eden to guard it (and who clashes briefly with Satan at the end of Book Four). Both the Garden of Eden and Avalon are earthly paradises; both are also associated with apples (although the general consensus of biblical scholars is that the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden wasn't an apple after all). And now both have as the leaders of their guardians a figure named Gabriel. I must confess that I rather like this touch, even if you didn't have Milton in mind when you came up with it.

Greg responds...

Been getting a lot of these recently...

Again, I've read Milton. So maybe it was back there in my head, but I'd be fibbing if I said I was conscious of it. Still it's cool. More evidence of a real Garg Universe out there? ;)

Response recorded on September 16, 2000

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John writes...

Hi Greg
It is just impossible, how you beat people, asking you mad questions. So I wanna sak you a good one:
Did you EVER thought about let one of the charakters die????? That would be bad for the fans (and for you, of course) but it would be good for the story and the dramatic. Please, don´t think, that I didnt like the show. I think, that if you really decide to let one of the Gargoyles die, that I´m the first, that throws tomatos at your house;-).
cu, John

Greg responds...

I've thought often about death. I know exactly how many of the characters die. Even when for some of them. For others I have no clue. And I'd like to keep it that way.

Response recorded on September 16, 2000

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Aris Katsaris writes...

Mary Mack> "The oldest known legend about vampires comes from ancient Greece, where they were known as Vrykolakes-- uncorrupted human corpses inhabited by the spirit of a demon."

Just for the record, nowadays, the greek word Vrykolakas is the standard translation for "vampire" - however the concept conveyed by the word is nowadays the more common vampire we're all accustomed of hearing/reading about - not the variation you cite.

Greg responds...

Hmmm. Interesting.

Response recorded on September 16, 2000

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Aris Katsaris writes...

To Duncan Devlin who said: "I don't quite understand the response. From my experience, not ALL things are true."

Let me just paraphrase a sentence of Terry Pratchett: "All things are true, for a given value of 'true' "

Greg responds...

Yeah. Exactly.

By the way, thanks for reading the questions. It's very refreshing.

Who's Terry Pratchett?

Response recorded on September 09, 2000

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Ed writes...

What species are vampires? One of the big three, or hybrids, or something completely different?

Greg responds...

Vampirism is an affliction in my book. A curse. Or, depending on your point of view, I suppose, a blessing. It doesn't change your species.

Response recorded on September 06, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

This is a sort of response to your comments on doing or not doing a Gargoyles/super-hero crossover of any sort. You mentioned that you didn't see it happening, short of a crossing between parallel universes, because the Gargoyles Universe and the super-hero universes of DC and Marvel Comics are very different in style. From what I know of mainstream super-heroes (which, I will confess, isn't all that much), I can certainly agree with you.

Take Batman, for example. The Batman Universe is clearly different enough from the Gargoyles Universe. In the Batman Universe, the "super-villains" are more out in the open, with the public all too aware of them. In the Gargoyles Universe, the "super-villains" are more low-profile; the general public don't know that Demona, Thailog, Oberon's Children, and the Illuminati actually exist. They know about Xanatos and Macbeth, but only in terms of their public personas; they know about the Pack, but only as "TV actors who went bad" - I haven't seen any indications that the general public know as yet about Jackal and Hyena being cyborgs now or Wolf being a mutant wolf-man. They don't even know for certain about the gargoyles until the end of "Hunter's Moon Part Three" - and even then all that they know is that the gargoyles exist, and nothing more than that.

In conventional super-hero universes, the weird and paranormal is very public and high-profile, known to the public. In the Gargoyles Universe, the weirdness exists just as surely, but is far more "covered up". For this reason, I can't seriously imagine Batman or Superman or Spiderman or the X-Men existing in the same universe as the gargoyles.

Greg responds...

They clearly don't exist in the Gargoyles Universe. I suppose it's possible that parallel versions of the Gargoyles exist in THEIR universes. But for a variety of reasons, I don't see it happening any time soon.

Response recorded on September 05, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

Somebody asked a little while ago here (and you answered it) about Cuchulain's association with a gargoyle beast, the "Hound of Ulster", and how it differed from the actual real-world legends about him. For my own part, I don't really have a problem with the difference, because it makes sense to me that Cuchulain having a gargoyle beast for an ally would get left out of the legends, or altered almost beyond recognition. After all, most humans aren't too keen on gargoyles in the Gargoyles Universe, and that makes me suspect that they wouldn't want it remembered that their own cultural heroes were on good terms with them. (Which probably similarly explains why Geoffrey of Monmouth, Malory, and the rest never mentioned King Arthur being allied with gargoyles).

Greg responds...

EXACTLY!!

Response recorded on September 02, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

Just thought that I might tell you that I was very amused (LOL), in fact, by your answer to the question about whether pigs can fly in the Gargoyles Universe ("I've got the bacon, do you have the catapult?") - particularly since I'd never imagined firing pigs from a catapult as a means of accomplishing that feat.

Greg responds...

Then you don't watch enough Monty Python.

Response recorded on September 02, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

This is something that I recently thought of, in light of your comments about maces being a gargoyle's natural enemy. According to what I've read and heard, "maza" is actually Spanish for "mace". While I don't think that that was a consideration in making it Elisa's surname (given that you said that you went for it because you were under the impression that it was a Sioux word for "iron" - but later on found out that it wasn't), I did find it amusing and ironic, and thought that you might be interested in learning this as well.

Greg responds...

I WAS told that "Maza" meant "iron" in Sioux. But now I'm not sure if that information was accurate. Does anyone know if "Maza" means "iron" in any Native American language or dialect?

But yes, the irony is kinda cool. The only one who can break through Goliath's considerable defenses is the woman with the mace. Further proof that the Gargoyles Universe exists, and I'm only tapping into it. And further proof that I screwed up by making the weapon in "Vendettas" a battle axe and not a mace.

Response recorded on September 02, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Were there any plans to incorporate Beowulf and the Grendel(s) into the Gargoyles universe? If so, what were they?

Greg responds...

Yes.

But I'm not going to answer questions that require novel-length responses.

Response recorded on August 23, 2000

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Joxter the Mighty (repost by Aris) writes...

Hi Greg, thanks for taking the time to answer all our questions, you don't get thanked often enough! Now, these are about the Santa Claus idea you've mentioned...

1) When you bring in Santa, do you intend to also bring in the elves?
2) Do you also intend to bring in the reindeer?
3) If you did bring in the reindeer, would they have the traditional names? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Rudolph, etc.?
4) Would your Santa have been based on the common legend or more on the original inspiration, Saint Nicholas?

Just curious, cause tho I trust ya, Santa seems a bit farfetched, even for gargs...

Greg responds...

1. I've already brought in the elves.
2. Ultimately.
3. Hadn't thought about it. I suppose it wouldn't hurt. But the question's largely immaterial.
4. Your question is not comprehensive enough.

Response recorded on August 02, 2000

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The Magus writes...

Greg-

Since Magus is not Magus' real name and only a title, is it correct to conclude that had his study in the magic arts continued he would one day be known as Archmage? Also, are there any titles, before/after Magus and if so what are they?

Thank you for your time sir, and I apologize for waiting two years to ask these questions.

Greg responds...

He might have. But I don't think it was his style to take that title.

(And you have nothing to apologize for.)

Response recorded on July 26, 2000

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The Magus writes...

Greg-
About two years ago you were totaly honest with me when I asked what the Magus' birth/given name was. You told me (and I thank you for your honesty) that you did not know what his name was because you had not decided on it. My question then is-
1. Have you decided on what his real name is?
2. What is the name (first, last and middle) that you have decided to give him?

Greg responds...

1. Nope.

2. Haven't.

Response recorded on July 26, 2000

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ANGELA writes...

Hi, Greg. I noticed something in "Hunter's Moon: Part 2" that was inaccurate. When Angela wasn't breathing, and Elisa performed CPR on her, she was doing it wrong. Elisa was pushing directly on the breasts, when in reality you are suppossed to push just below the breastbone so that you can move the lung sac to force air into it. Now, if someone were to watch this particular show, and then in reality someone actually imitated what they saw to someone, they could make matters worse or even kill them. I was watching the news one day, and they were talking about how on the kids' show "Rugrats", a character was choking on an eraser and another character performed the hiemlich maneuver to save their life. This happened in real life at a grade school, and the child, remembering what they had seen on the TV show, preformed this procedure and ended up saving the other child's life. I was just concerned that if kids or anyone for that matter were to watch this scene in the Gargoyles show, then someone could die because the CPR procedure was not done correctly. Thanks for your time, Greg. I appreciate it! :)

Greg responds...

I'm embarrassed to admit that though I once knew CPR, I have long forgotten how to do it correctly. When we made the show, I asked everyone involved to make sure we were presenting it correctly. I was told we were, and I didn't double check myself. Obviously, I should have.

I don't love that it's wrong. But at the least, I hope that perhaps we can inspire a few people to learn CPR with the program. That was our main intent. Not to be an instruction manual on a relatively complicated procedure (relative to the Heimlich anyway) but to remind people that knowing CPR is a good thing. Unfortunately, I'm setting a very bad example by not following my own advice.

QUESTION: Do you think there would be any interest in having a CPR class at the L.A. GATHERING next year? Would people take the time to attend that? I would.

Response recorded on July 26, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

In your "Re-Awakening memo", you mentioned a "Madame Serena" as a character who was finally dropped from the story (and never even showed up in the series, in fact). What was she going to be?

Greg responds...

A fortune teller, as I recall. That was a Reaves idea that didn't grab me -- obviously -- since I cut her from Reawakening and for once didn't reuse the character later.

Still, she's probably out there somewhere.

Response recorded on July 24, 2000

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Laura aka 'ad astra' writes...

I tend to annoying nitpicking, sorry. When somebody asked why gargoyles have breasts if they lay eggs you responded "Don't tell the platypus". I think they sweat milk all over their body to feed the younguns, and don't use actual breasts. I am less sure of it, but I believe the other egg laying mammal, the spiny anteater, feeds her young with breasts. I spent a lot of time watching PBS when I was little- it annoyed my baby sitters to no end.

The good thing about my extensive knowledge of mostly useless trivia does lead to some interesting tidbits- like: You seemed surprised to find out there is a town in Israel named Dimona. Here's the fun part: Dimona houses a 'toy factory' that is widely believed to be the nuclear weapons facilities. As for the etymology, I don't know.

Greg responds...

Cool.

Response recorded on July 19, 2000

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LSZ writes...

1) In the Gargoyles universe, is it possible for magical talent to be inherited among gargoyles and fae? If you're descended from a sorceror, do you have the potential for magic-using?
2) If that is true, does Angela have any magical potential from Demona?

Greg responds...

1. If you're descended from a pianist, does that increase the liklihood that you can play the piano. Yep. So yep. But it's no guarantee.

2. Potential? Sure. But don't look for her to become a sorceress. Not really her style.

Response recorded on July 10, 2000

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Demona Taina writes...

One little question!

What do you mean when you say "cannon"? I'm a little confused because of that, since you use it to describe TGC, or something like that.

Thanks! :)

Greg responds...

I've never used the term "canon" in reference to TGC unless I was talking about "The Journey" or unless I used it to say that I do NOT consider the rest of TGC cannon.

I'm tempted as an English Teacher to just make you look it up in the dictionary. But basically, canon refers to material that is generally accepted to be a true part of some whole. For example, Shakespeare's canon includes many plays. But there are a couple more plays that some people think he wrote, but which most experts do NOT accept as "canon". Likewise, there are books of the bible which exist, but are not included in a standard biblical text. For example, "The Gospel of Thomas". These books are part of the "Apocrypha". They are not considered canon.

As for Gargoyles, there are only 66 canon stories, from my point of view. The first two seasons of the series, from "Awakening, Part One" through "Hunter's Moon, Part Three", plus "The Journey". Nothing else is canon. Not TGC, not TGS, not fan-fiction, the comic book stories, not even the stuff that I say is true here in ASK GREG. (Though the last is closer, since it at least reflects my intentions. I simply won't be held to it, if I change my mind before the canon gets into gear again. And I have, on occasion, changed my mind. On Samson for example.)

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind taking a "CANNON" to TGC. But that's an entirely different idea.

[Now, what do I file this one under?]

Response recorded on July 05, 2000

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A Fan writes...

I'd appreciate your thoughts on the accuracy of my hypothesis. I know you are likely to be cryptic, so I promise to be only somewhat annoyed it you are, although I'd prefer if you weren't.

About time travel, why is the Phoenix Gate the only time travel device out there? Or is it?

It is likely the only magical way, because if not, why would Oberon want it so badly? Unless it is like a washing machine. You can wash it by hand but you'd rather use a machine.

You've established that the past cannot be changed, and that Xanatos's current position in society is solely because of his little trip to the past.

Establishing that the Phoenix Gate is gone, except for its little TimeDancing trip, does that mean that time travel in the gargoyles universe is now totally impossible?

the final question would have to be, since you don't believe in a changable past, does the Gargoyles universe contain parallel time tracks, entire other universes with a different version of events.

Finally, I apologize if I missed previous answers to these questions. I have been reading the archive since it started, but my memory is a little bad at times.

Greg responds...

1. I didn't say that the Gate is the only device out there. Depending on your point of view, one could say the Grimorum acted as a one-way time travel device for Goliath et al. And for the Coldtrio as well.

2. Who said Oberon wanted it so badly? Puck thought it would make a good bribe. Who knows if he was even right?

3. I wouldn't say "solely" but sure, what's your point?

4. Not necessarily. But I'd never make it easy. (And calling TimeDancer a "little...trip" is the understatement of the day, at least.

5. Ehhh.... Those things tend to be abused whenever they're introduced. Look at the X-Men. That book became unreadable to me eventually. As I've said before, I'm open to thinking about parallel universe/tracks etc. But I tend to think I'll end up saying no.

6. S'O.K.

Response recorded on July 05, 2000

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Kayless writes...

Got a simple one for you. Was Robin Hood an actual person in the Gargoyle universe or simply a made up character?

Greg responds...

He's based on someone real.

Response recorded on June 29, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

A question about "The Silver Falcon". I recently discovered that the Chrysler Building was built in 1930. How, then, does Mace Malone manage to hide that bag with the marbles in it in one of its falcon-heads in 1924, six years earlier?

Greg responds...

Everyone has always assumed that that's the Chrysler Building. It's not. The script refers to it as "The Apex Tower". It's a fictional building, like the Eyrie. I won't deny that the artists used the Chrysler as inspiration. But we never called it the Chrysler. Never intended it to be the Chrysler.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to set the record straight.

Response recorded on June 29, 2000

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Kayless writes...

Hey Greg, I have some religious questions for you.

1. Since you are seemingly very well versed in religious doctrine, I'm curious as to how you feel about the Judeo/Christian scriptures that prohibit wizardry. Deuteronomy 18:9-18:12 (Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord) makes it quite clear that God brooks no wizards in his fold. Is there a conflict for you since so much of the myth Gargoyles is based on revolves around magic?

2. What about the uncanny resemblance between gargoyles and demons? Why do the two look so much alike? Did dybbuks manifest themselves in the form of gargoyles in order to sow discord with humanity, hence the current demonic stereotype and poor human/garg relations?

3. How do the Fae feel about the whole God business? They seem a rather worldly lot, though some might be old enough to remember biblical events.

4. Why is Percy still using the grail? The Holy Grail is a sacred artifact, not your run-of-the-mill magical maguffin. Why would it continue to grant its power to Duval, who has since proved unworthy? I know you said it was costing him a high physical price but I find it odd that it should be giving him any kind of benefits at all (Anybody see what happened to the bad guy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?).

5. Last one. Is the Judeo/Christian God the supreme ruler of the Gargoyle universe? Given the plethora of Gods and Goddess on the show, I'm just wondering what your views on this are (I prefer to think that He's the one in charge, but I had to ask).

Thanks for your time, as always. Now I must return to the Vole Wars…

Greg responds...

1. I'm clearly less "versed" than you seem to think. I won't comment on your citation in a vacuum. And I don't have a bible here in the office to check the context.

When you ask if I'm conflicted, I'm not clear on your question. Are you looking for my opinion on the bible? Personally, I think the bible is an astounding piece of literature with much to teach us. But I see the hands of man all over that book. And although it might lose me some fans, I cannot believe that God authored it. Inspired it maybe, but authored it, no. At any rate, I think many things in the bible are subject to interpretation. Often multiple interpretations.

2. Where do you get the idea that there is ANY resemblance between gargoyles and demons? From Medieval painters? Look, we haven't seen any demons in the series. We haven't seen any demons in the gargoyles universe. No angels either. I'm not saying whether they exist or not. But you're question assumes facts not in evidence.

3. The whole God with a capital G business? Like humans, every Child of Oberon is different. I try not to make monolithic generalizations.

4. Assumes facts not in evidence. A. Who says he's still using the grail? I said he still had it. B. And in any case, your question asked "Why". Why wouldn't he if he could? C. Who said the grail can "grant" power? D. If it can, who said it is? E. Who said Duval has proven unworthy?

And I certainly refuse to use "Last Crusade" as an authority.

I will say that the Grail is part of the reason that Percival and Blanchefleur are still alive. And that a price for that has been paid. But don't oversimplify.

5. As you may know, I'm Jewish. Most of my fellow Jews would not consider me to be religious, though that's something I might argue with. Personally, I believe in God with a captial G. Whether that means he's the Judeo/Christian God seems like a parochial question to me. Almost an elitist question. I also believe that God is REAL BIG on free will. His miracles are many but subtle, and all come with a free scientific explanation -- because if he simply manifested like George Burns on trial, then where's the free will? So why should things be any easier in the Gargoyles Universe. The Gargs believe in a God that is the sum total of all things. They are monotheists and animists all at once. I don't think that's inconsistent with Judeo/Christian beliefs, but I also don't think you're going to see any purely objective evidence on the show, ever. Take to the Gargoyles Universe what you will. And it should, if I'm doing this right, give you something back -- whatever you do, or don't, believe in.

Look, I know it seems like I'm blowing off your questions. I'm not. But try reading them with a fresh eye. They're almost impossible TO answer in a straightforward manner, because they are extremely complex, and yet they take for granted so many things as fact that have not been established either in the cannon or here at ASK GREG. These are all interesting topics and I encourage you to pursue them. But break your questions down. It'll help you avoid making assumptions.

By the way, what's a Vole?

Response recorded on June 29, 2000


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