A Station Eight Fan Web Site

Gargoyles

The Phoenix Gate

Ask Greg Archives

REVELATIONS 2012-02 (Feb)

Archive Index


: « First : « 100 : « 10 : Displaying #240 - #249 of 299 records. : 10 » : Last » :


Posts Per Page: 1 : 10 : 25 : 50 : 100 : All :


Bookmark Link

Greg Bishansky writes...

Failsafe

Well, this one kept me guessing. Mostly between dream and simulation. I know that teleporting beams were a possibility, but one I dismissed. Story structure wise, you don't do something this, well... apocalyptic, early in a series. I knew a twist was coming, but I had no idea which of the two it would be. Surprise, surprise it was both.

I've already seen people compare it to "Over the Edge," an episode of "The New Adventures of Batman" I always thought was severely overrated. In that episode, Barbara Gordon falls off a building and dies, Gordon blames Batman and swears vengeance; Batman is publicly unmasked, becomes a fugitive; Gordon is kicked off the case and then hires Bane to help him take down Batman; Bane betrays Gordon; Gordon and Batman die; and then Barbara wakes up and it was a nightmare induced by Scarecrow's fear toxin. She then vows to tell her father the truth to prevent something like that from actually happening and then doesn't. And then I throw my remote control at the TV. What a crock! Not only is there no internal logic to the nightmare, I mean... who has a dream or nightmare where they are dead and their mind is playing this? And then she decides to do something that would result in character development and change the status quo in an interesting way and doesn't? Really! Then I got on the internet and found out this was one of the most revered episodes of the series.

I've seen "Failsafe" get compared to "Over the Edge" several times already, and while "Failsafe" isn't perfect, it doesn't cheat anywhere near as much as "Over the Edge" did. If it did, the entire Team would have been killed in the first two minutes and this still would have been their simulation and dream. That, and the outcome of what happened here will likely have lasting consequences as opposed to Barbara deciding to tell and then not tell her dad she was Batgirl. I'm a firm believer in continuity and actions having consequences, and while I loved "Batman the Animated Series" and its spin-offs quite a bit, it tended to shrug off long term consequences to keep a certain status quo.

I think a closer comparison would be to the "Gargoyles" episode, "Future Tense." Like "Failsafe," that episode was both a dream and an illusion. Apocalyptic things happen, and you keep waiting to find out what the twist is going to be, but it also throws so much at you, you're distracted from thinking about it... you just know that something is wrong. Overall, I thought "Future Tense" was far more effective at distracting you on that first viewing. I also felt that it played fair more than "Failsafe." In "Future Tense," we never left Goliath. He was in every scene, and we saw everything he was seeing, and nothing else. While "Failsafe" was cutting to civilians hiding in bunkers, and other moments that no one on The Team was witnessing. And if they weren't witnessing it, why was it part of the simulation and their dream?

"Failsafe" was better than "Over the Edge" but not as good as "Future Tense." But then, few things are. It may be a little unfair of me to make the comparisons either way, but that's where my mind went and those were the comparisons that I drew. A comparison to a similar premise in a DC animated production and in another Greg Weisman production.

I really enjoyed seeing General Wade Eiling make his animated debut, at last. And with his proper design and the correct pronunciation of his name. Eiling appeared in "Justice League Unlimited" but with a different look, since General Hardcastle's design was pretty close to Eiling's comic design, and back in 2007, when Greg Weisman and I were having lunch together at a Taco Bell near the Sony studio he was producing "Spectacular Spider-Man" at, we briefly discussed Captain Atom, and I pronounced Eiling the way JLU did, and he corrected me. Since he co-created the character with Cary Bates, I think he'd know. Just like Dennis O'Neil knows the proper pronunciation of Ra's al Ghul even if Christopher Nolan does not.

I hope to see more of Eiling. I've read some of Greg and Cary's Captain Atom run, and he's a terrific character.

The ending of the episode opens a lot of possibilities and lasting consequences. M'Gann is more powerful than previously thought. I have some theories on where this will lead, but I am not well versed in DC lore, so I intend to keep them to myself... except for one. I am convinced she is a White Martian. And hey, this episode has plenty to make both people who love and hate the character happy. People who like her get a great episode that focused on her. While the people who hate her can make an animated gif of her getting stabbed by Martian Manhunter. Everybody wins.

Great episode, and if you will indulge me one more comparison to "Future Tense," well was it a dream or a prophesy? With the second season being titled "Invasion," that's something to ponder.

Greg responds...

Well, we figured very few people would believe we were killing everyone off. So we intentionally put in the "teleportation" option to distract from the possibility that it might be a simulation or dream (let alone both).

I haven't seen "Over the Edge" so I have no comment on that one. As for comparisons to "Future Tense"... well... I'll leave that to you and others to weigh.

For more of Eiling, try to pick up issues 9 and 10 of the Young Justice companion comic.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Anonymous writes...

Will we be seeing more of Dick Grayson's uncle Rick in the YJ series? Does the explanation of Robin's origins in the comic book mean that the series will not really focus on it?

Greg responds...

SPOILER REQUEST. NO COMMENT.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

GGG writes...

1. Is Icon a part of the Justice League?
2. How old is Icon?
3. How old is Rocket?
4. Why was red arrow, rocket, and zatanna all together? are they their own team?
5. How old is zatanna?

thank you so much... great episode!!! loved it.

Greg responds...

1. ASKED AND ANSWERED.

2. I don't know.

3. ASKED AND ANSWERED.

4. Red Arrow, Rocket, Zatanna, Tempest and Aquagirl were the back up Team in the vision/exercise. Don't read too much into it. It wasn't real.

5. ASKED AND ANSWERED.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Veronica writes...

Oh my God, you guys scared me to death with episode 16! First Wolf, then Artemis, which is by the way my favorite, then Aqualad, then Superboy and then Robin and Kid Flash. I love that Wally was so determined to get Artemis back! Anyway, to my question, how important are M'gann's powers in YJ??? Just curious, very understandable if it's a spoiler request.
LOVE YOUNG JUSTICE! YOU GUYS ROCK!

Greg responds...

They're important. All their powers are important. (Am I not understanding this question?)

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Knickerbocker writes...

Who was that soldier Superboy insisted go in front of them when they were evacuating? Was he anyone special or a cameo from the Comics?

Greg responds...

Jason Bard.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Jack-Pumpkinhead writes...

Dear Greg,
Just watched Failsafe and WOW, that was INTENSE!! I mean, I knew something was up, but I did not see that ending coming. That revelation about M'Gann was awesome. And you even got a cameo of future detective Jason Bard, very cool. No questions today, just praise.

Greg responds...

I'll happily take praise. (I have no shame on that score.)

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Comet writes...

Was it ever planned to reveal more information about the "Blue Beaked Gargoyle" from Demonas Clan in CoS?

Greg responds...

Eventually.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Anonymous writes...

Hi Greg! You've probably heard this a million times before but I LOVE the work you and Brandon do on the show Young Justice, I wasn't a comics fan until watching it, not I am. Anywho, if it's not too much trouble, I have some questions.

1. How long ago did you start working on the show?

2. What are the birthdates of the characters on the team?

3. For those heroes who made brief appearances on Revelation (Blue Devil, Plastic Man etc.) Are they now members of the League or were they just momentary team ups to stop those giant plants?

Again, huge fan. Thank you for making the most wonderful show I've seen in years. You can tell Brandon I say thanks too. :)

Greg responds...

1. I think it was February or March of 2009.

2. ASKED AND ANSWERED.

3. ASKED AND ANSWERED.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

ern writes...

I was just wondering that since Season 2 will be a complete arc, what would happen if Cartoon Network decides to order a few more episodes for season 2? Will the Invasion arc be extended or a will completely different story be told? Just wondering. Not saying that it will happen but just a thought since such a thing has happened like when the CW ordered extra episodes of Nikita at the very last moment.

Greg responds...

Twenty episodes is the full and total order for Season Two. Of course, I hope they order a Season Three eventually, but twenty will remain the total for Season Two.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012

Bookmark Link

Vanotd writes...

Hi Greg, enjoyed all your series so far. Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-man (the artwork was "interesting", but still an enjoyable cartoon), and Young Justice. I had to laugh when you answered a fan's response about Young Justice coming to Blu-ray (which is a format for High Definition DVD's. I guess working on Young Justice must exhaust you.). Anyway, just a couple of things i wanted to know.

do you keep all the concept art for all the characters you have made for each show, and are you allowed to give the art to people?

will we have any opportunities to see other Justice Society of America members in cameos? considering Jay Garrick has been seen along with Dr. Fate.

keep up the good work!!

Greg responds...

1. No, the art is not mine to either keep or give away.

2. SPOILER REQUEST. NO COMMENT.

Response recorded on February 07, 2012


: « First : « 100 : « 10 : Displaying #240 - #249 of 299 records. : 10 » : Last » :