Blaise writes...

BAD GUYS SPOILERS!!!

STRANGERS

I picked up my copy the day it came out, have only now gotten around to writing about it. I felt a quiet sort of excitement in regards to it--but a different kind of excitement than I get with the regular series. This is the first spin-off. This is the first story that WON'T focus on any of our usual main characters. As such, it will prove just how compelling the rest of the "Gargoyles Universe" can be.

So far, it's looking good.

I recognized the opening pages from the leica reel shown at the Gathering (I wonder if anyone else noticed Fang accidentally losing a bullet from his ammo clip). I also recognized the song Matrix is listening to (and which shows up throughout Dingo's battle with T.T.) as "The Will to Love" from W.I.T.C.H.. I love that little shout-out, but it also works as more than just a reference/in-joke. Sometimes the lyrics echo the action on screen (albeit in subtle ways): the most obvious for me being the line "to find a girl on my wavelength" while we see Hunter spying on Dingo. All-in-all, it's a pretty cool bit.

Anyway, rewind two months from the good ship "Redemption's" demise, and we are introduced to the Tazmanian Tiger: a guy who looks like he could have stepped out of any "Golden Age" comic book. When I first saw this guy, I had to pause for a minute to laugh out loud. I mean, have we EVER had a guy in the "Gargoyles Universe" like this before? By all rights, he should be a joke, and he is...right up until he slashes Dingo through the Matrix-armor. He still gets taken out pretty easy, but it kind of shows that, as silly as his name and costume may be, he's still dangerous. And I find myself wondering right along with Dingo just where the heck this weirdo managed to find not just one, but TWO extinct Tasmanian Tigers. Story for another day, I guess.

Dingo is playing the part of super-hero for real, just as he wanted. He's got the silly insults for his enemies ("tasmaniac"), he's got the concern for the poor thylacines, he's even got his own Australian version of Superman's "Look, up in the sky..." entrance bit. And, lastly, he's got something our old gargoyle friends have a hard time with: the hearts of the people. Go Dingo.

I'm happy to see the Shaman again, and I hope we manage to find out more about him.

I loved the tableau of the Pack--it looks cool. I just had to say that.

Yikes! I can see the hole in Dingo's back! I can completely understand Dingo's unease at the idea of the Matrix...well, "hacking" into his nervous system like that. Of course, once he's ordered the Matrix not to interface again, that is when the Hunter strikes.

It's nice to FINALLY have Dingo's real name stated in the canon material. And I love this exchange:
DINGO: "Bounty hunter?"
HUNTER: "Just a Hunter."
I also love Dingo's "Really NOT the time for I told you sos..." when the Matrix follows Dingo's earlier order not to interface. I hereby add my voice to the others who like how the Matrix moved back only the part of its body that it had to.

The fight between Dingo and the Hunter is well done. I have to say, I feel kind of sorry for poor Dingo here--no matter what he does Hunter is able to counter it. She looked especially cool when she caught the boomerang without looking. The most I can say for Dingo is that he knows how to roll with the punches.

I was very surprised that Hunter had a method of neutralizing Matrix--I wonder what her briefing for this mission was like. It's interesting that we pick up with her AFTER she has already been sprung from prison and all that, and I look forward to having the gaps filled in.

Strange how Hunter responds to Dingo's bit about going the "super-villain route" with "Who hasn't?" She was raised to believe that what she was doing (hunting gargoyles) was right, good, and justified. I find myself wondering how her world-view has changed since "Hunter's Moon."

I love Hunter's face when she asks if "the helicopter was too big a tip-off" that the EMP had worn off. It's also pretty cool that the Matix is the one who jumps at the chance of joining Hunter. Dingo just sort of resigns himself to it.

Tengu hunting...and Hunter gets a wicked smile on her face when Dingo asks "What's a Tengu?". The most interesting thing is that they BOTH have hunted gargoyles before. Of course, for Hunter it was a lifelong mission; Dingo did it as a kind of team sport. Either way, I look forward to seeing how both of them will react to Yama.

Kudos Greg. You have successfully started a spin-off and whetted my appetite for the next installment of "Bad Guys." Not that I'll complain about the wait too loudly...after all, we still have another issue of the main series waiting in the wings.

Long live the comics!

Kristen Brown writes...

I Wanted To Know Is There Going To Be A Season 4,5,6.... Of Winx Club Because I really Like That Show And I want To See Season 4,5,6...? Please Answer This Question As Soon As Possible.

Georry writes...

I am looking forward to seeing the new Spider-Man series you are working on.

I read somewhere that the series first season order has been extended from 13 to 26 episodes, is this true?

Anon writes...

Dear Greg -- I would first like to just say what a wonderful series you created and that I'm happy new stories are being made after all these years!

My question relates to the concept of monogamy in Gargoyle culture --

You had stated that Gargoyles are both biologically and culturally inclined towards monogamy, including, for the most part, remaining alone after a mate dies, etc. You also said at one point that affairs, cheating, divorce, etc. are quite rare, though wires do on occasion get crossed and such things do happen, so...

1. Obviously every clan and every individual within a clan is different, but if two gargoyles were cheating on their mates with one another, how would the other clan members, in general, react? Would they consider it clan business or personal business? Would the two 'cheaters' be treated any differently either socially or 'officially' by the clan leader? Would cheating on one's mate be considered a banish-able offense? I'm speaking of an affair where both cheaters consent to the relationship and not an Othello-Desdemona-Iago situation.

2. Similarly, how would a clan typically react to two mates 'divorcing' one another? Would one have to leave the clan -- would both? Likewise, would it be considered the entire clan's business or personal business?

I apologize that I'm asking for generalizations (I know after years of reading Ask Greg that you don't much care for those!) but hopefully you can answer anyway because I'm very curious about this.

Thank you and all the best!

James writes...

Hello Greg! Congrats on getting the Gargoyles comic up and running!

I anticipated there would be a few mishaps in the monthly book (as is always the case), so I intentionally waited for the trade paperback in the hopes someone might get it for me for Christmas. As I prepare to drop subtle hints to a loved one, I must ask a few questions with regards to the trade...

-You posted on November 17th (I think) that space was slightly cramped in the trade, so what exactly was cut? I'm hoping we get all the pages of the first six issues (since I think those are all one arc), but from what you posted, it seems as though the premiere issue's 30 pages got whittled down. Could you clarify what that means? What, if anything, is missing? Is picking up the individual issues the only way to get all the story?

-Also, you posted corrections here in regards to errors from specific monthly issues. Does the trade contain the corrected versions, or are there a few typos or whatnot to look out for? What are they?

-Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I can't seem to find cover art or a release date for the trade. It's hard to suggest it as a gift without that info, so when do you anticipate the trade will be available in Canada for online or retail purchase, and what will it look like?

-Oops...one last question: Will the covers for the issues included in the trade be present in the trade? DC books usually reprint the covers in the last few pages of their trades, and since the Gargoyles covers look so nice, I assumed you might do the same.

Keep up the hard work - I look forward to reading it!

James (...who loves the "Avalon" arc, and wonders why you found it "rocky")

Vaevictis Asmadi writes...

I have a quick Pendragon question, here's hoping you're in the mood to reveal something...

1. a. In Pendragon, what was the thing that the Lady of the Lake brought out of the lake to attack Arthur? Was it water from the lake that she animated and controlled that only appeared alive, or was it actually a living being (unlike the animated stone dragon), or was it something else? It looked like a living creature, but it's hard to tell what it really was.
b. If it was a living being, what was it?

Dawna writes...

Sir, this has been bothering me for a while. Please answer, as I am getting desparate.

1.I live in canada, and I realy want to get the Gargoyles Comics, starting from #1. Where can i find them?
2.Where can I find the second half of season 2? I really want to see that happy moment when Elisa and Goliath get together.

Thank you for listening, although I'm sure you get millions of these each day.

Jonny Modlin writes...

I enjoyed reading Gargoyles Bad Guys#1 and I like the show of Gargoyles on DVD and the comic books along with spin offs!

KingCobra_582 writes...

Picked up Bad Guys #1 (along with Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash #2) yesterday.

I really loved the artwork here. Props to Karine for her talents, and she really captured the characters (I really loved that panel with The Pack!) beautifully. It was a little tough seeing it in black and white, but I'd already known that the comic would be, so I got used to it by page #2.

The story was great. Loved Dingo's interaction with Hunter. Nice dialogue between those two. Really loved Hunter barely dodging Dingo's boomerang.

Matrix was/still is a really cool character, particularly in this issue. I liked that he tried not to merge with Dingo after learning of his past. lol. I really liked his design style. Once again, kudos to Karine.

Honestly, I expected the story to begin with the Team meeting and hooking up into a group, but I somehow wasn't picturing it done in a flashback sequence. Nice.

Fang, another of my favorite characters, had some sharp lines here too. No real one-liners that I can recall (are some of his best friends STILL half-human, half-gargoyle babes? :-P), but I still had fun in that department. Can't wait to see his bickering with the silent, sullen Yama.

Can't wait to see where this is going next, story-wise, in issue #2.

A perfect 10 out of 10, this one. What a great start to an already appealing mini-series.

And, by the time you probably get to this, Merry Christmas, Greg.

And my condolences about Abraham.