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REVELATIONS 2012-07 (Jul)

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David writes...

Will Gargoyles ever be released on Region 2 DVD? UK fans are missing out, and I'm becoming desperate to watch it again!

Greg responds...

I have no idea.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Leslie writes...

Hi, um, I apologize if you've already answered this; I did search the archives beforehand, but just in case I somehow missed it, I'm sorry.

My question is about Robin from your TV series, Young Justice. When you listed the languages that each member of the team speaks, you confirmed that Robin is multilingual, and named a few languages he's fluent in. But you didn't mention anything about Romanian, which I thought was his mother tongue. So which language in your show-Romanian or English-is his first language? And what is his nationality, then?

Thank you, both for reading/answering this, and for Young Justice, which is truly Phenomenal. :D

Greg responds...

He's American born. Perhaps he speaks Romanian too. But I have to admit, this is the first time in over forty years of reading comics that I've heard anything about Dick Grayson's nationality being Romanian...

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Dan writes...

Hi Greg. I wanted to tell you I was impressed with the most recent YJ episode Image. I did NOT expect the topic of Meg's appearance as Hello Megan to be broached in this way, nor did I expect Meg's, evidently crippling, fear of her appearance being known to be presented and exercised in this way. This show keeps breaking expectation. You've become very skilled at taking the less obvious path, even in the minutia. I love it, and wish you many, many years of renewal.

Also found the creator credits for the Hello Megan intro amusing. Was it fun scripting & storyboarding the show's intro & segments? You got to break genre for a bit there. I liked Superboy's reaction to finding out his namesake a lot. I'm curious to see the fallout, if any.

Greg responds...

Doing "Hello, Megan!" was a TON of fun.

Writer Nicole Dubuc even made us "Hello, Megan!" crew t-shirts, which a bunch of us wore to SDCC in 2011.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Anonymous writes...

1 - Were Angela and Broadway still virgins by the time of "Phoenix?"
2 - Goliath and Demona became mates during "Vows", did they lose their virginity that night?

Greg responds...

1. No.

2. Yes.

(Both of these are canon-in-training answers, of course.)

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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P. N. Guinn writes...

First, I just want to say that Gargoyles is one of my all-time favorite shows, and I often return to it when I'm lonely and I'm always pleased by how fresh episodes like "Vows" remain after many viewings many years later. I'm also a big fan of Young Justice--to be honest, it took a while for the show to win me over 100% (of course, very high expectations were in place, both because it's a DC animated property and because you were working on it), but, I'll admit I've watched the Brazilian "leaks" up through "Unusual Suspects" and those episodes are pitch perfect, so, great job, and many thanks. I'm VERY excited for what's next.

Now, on to my questions:

As several people have pointed out, Brazil and Turkey are ahead of the US in terms of airing schedule. I don't know if you're aware, but fans have undertaken to sub the broadcast episodes back into English. I know you have mixed feelings on the subject of fanfiction, but I wonder if you have feelings on the practice of fans sub titling your work, originally created in English, back into English with their own translations? (And if you do have feelings/ideas on the subject, would you care to share?)

And while we're on the subject of fanfiction--I know a lot of authors who engage their fans have a public policy of not reading fanfiction, and you're among these. IIRC, the reason is because you don't want to incur the risk of being sued by a fan who claims you stole their work. I'm a law student and something of a nerd/geek, so I'm intensely curious to know where you picked this idea up. I'm taking copyright right now, and two of the doctrines we've learned seem to be in contradiction with the viability of this fear: (A) The idea/expression distinction (ideas are not protected under copyright, only their expression, so the idea of having Prospero on Gargoyles, even if you got it from another source, would probably not be considered infringement since the idea of having Prospero on Gargoyles is probably too abstract, whereas if there were a specific fanfic which predated a Gargoyles comic by five years and the Gargoyles comic carefully followed the plot of the fanfic, that could be a case of copyright infringement). And, (B) Infringing works are deprived of copyright protection, so if a fanfic infringes on a copyright (which, presumably almost all fanfic does, unless fanfic is fair use), it would have no copyright protection. (Here a critical question is whether fanfiction is fair use, which is an odd little quirk of the law, in that it's a well-known black hole in the law of copyright that seems unlikely to be adjudicated, and therefore, unlikely to ever be resolved.)

Of course, I'm not a lawyer (yet) and this is by no means intended to be legal advice, and I'm also not suggesting that you read fanfiction (personally, I'd rather you produce your awesome original stuff than spend time reading fanfic). But as a law nerd, I'm intensely interested in the relationship between perceptions of the law and the law on the books, and to what extent the law (and perceptions thereof) impact professional practice.

Thank you both for your wonderful works, and for your time.

Greg responds...

1. I am HORRIFIED that people are watching episodes for the first time on YouTube - and in a different language no less. Given that those episodes were due to air in the U.S. in a matter of mere weeks, I think it's appalling that anyone would choose to watch them that way. So then having someone sub or dub it back into English seems beyond preposterous - and again mildly HORRIFYING. Just be patient and watch the shows as they were meant to be watched. Don't spoil them for yourselves.

2. I learned this fear from corporate attorneys at EVERY entertainment company that's ever employed me. And I've also learned this fear from personal experience from fans and others who have filed lawsuits or threatened to. And that's the key. It's not about who has a valid case, it's about who can make me miserable by filing suit - and how I can protect myself (as much as possible) from exposing myself to that misery.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Anonymous writes...

Hey greg! First of all, I just wanna say that Young Justice is my favorite show, and whatever you're doing, keep doing it. :) I just had a few comments on the last couple of episodes...
IMAGE- loved it. I really liked how M'gann was forced to become her true self and I especially loved the ending with Queen Bee telling her to 'cooperate or everyone will know'. Nice touch, really enjoyed it.
1) Why did it seem like Robin didn't really want to be leader? Was it because of what happened in Failsafe?
2) Where was Zatanna? I thought she was a part of the team, but i didn't see her here.
3) Does Martian Manhunter know that M'gann is not really a green martian? Does anyone else know, or does everyone believe her?
COLDHEARTED- I liked this one, not my favorite necissarily, but I definatly enjoyed it, and I can't think of any question I have that wouldn't be classified as a spoiler.
MISPLACED- I had been waiting for this episode since the series stopped in 2011, and let me just say it was worth the wait. I loved it, I loved Zatanna's heart breaking cry to her father just before he put on the helmet, I loved how Captain Marvel seemed to make the terrible situation funny. And again, no questions without spoilers...
Thanks for reading and I hope I didn't waste your time! Sorry if there are any spoilers or anything, I tried my best to stay away... Please answer as best as you can :)

Greg responds...

1. Yes.

2. You also didn't see Artemis or Aqualad.

3a. Yes.

3b. They all know now.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Jasae writes...

Hello there mister Weisman, I am a big fan of your animated works (gargoyles in perticular) Admittedly im not very versed in dc comics though I really do enjoy the young justice series and as i was watching through it I developed a few questions I was itching to ask if its not to much trouble.

1. What was the original t.o morrows motive for creating the red robots?
2. Ive heard alot of people talk about legal issues regarding characters use and even a rumor that you intended to use 'wonder girl' but couldn't. I know legalities is probably not your forte but I was just curious what sort of legal issues could arise if their all characters owned by dc comics.
3. Assuming in theory that the show turns out to be a sensational hit with the audience and the network (which it already is) for many years to come, how long would you want to keep the show running? Possibly a silly question but what im trying to ask more is 'do you have an overall ending planned for the series or will you invent more story so long as your able?'
4. and i really really really hope this does not offend but I wanted to say I found your four response to this set of questions http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=14460 to be hilariously amusing. XD
By chance do you have any other 'spoilers' along those lines for any of your projects past or present?

Greg responds...

1. To infiltrate and destroy his heroic opponents.

2. I don't know. Though to correct your "rumor" - we were informed before we even really got started that WG (both of them) were off limits, so she was never really included in our development of Season One. Obviously, that changed during the Season, so we included Cassie during our development of Season Two.

3. No set ending, no. I'll keep going as long as they're willing to put up with me.

4. Yes, I can tell lies until the cows come home. But I have to be in the right mood.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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I'm Sexy and I Know It writes...

How did Cheshire survive on her own when she ran away?

Greg responds...

How does any runaway with the skills of an assassin survive?

Seriously, I'm not saying there isn't a fun story (or sixteen) to tell about this, but this is NOT the forum where I'd tell it (them).

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Anonymous writes...

i remeber reading in the archives that you pitched a premise for transformers in the 80s. when you say premise do you mean like a story arc or single episode. do you remeber what your idea was? be interested to hear what you would have done with that universe.

Greg responds...

Cary Bates and I pitched five separate springboards for individual episodes. No arcs.

Here's one:

THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Transformer Premise
by Bates and Weisman
(4-11-86)

After endless study of Transformer programming specifications, Quarto Quintesson, a young programmer-artist has designed a construct that has a 97% probability of starting a devastating war between the Decepticons and the Autobots.

The Quintessons send a few Sharkticons to one of Saturn's moons. The Sharkticons drop off the construct and retreat. Earth sensors detect the Sharkticon intrusion. Rodimus Prime, Spike, Blurr and Bumblebee are in the vicinity on a diplomatic mission. They pause to investigate. Arriving on the moon, they discover the construct. The construct is a small crystalline "sculpture" on a rotating stand. The "sculpture" looks like an over-sized three-dimensional micro-chip. As it turns on its stand, colored light refracts through the crystals and a soft music is played.

Spike says: "Hey, it's like an old-fashioned music box!" But it takes him a few seconds to realize that the Autobots are absolutely entranced by the beauty that they perceive in the "Ultrachip".

Cut to Chaar, where Quarto has arrived to seek an audience with the mad leader Galvatron. He informs Galvatron of the mysterious Ultrachip that all Transformers will desire, but that the Autobots will attempt to keep from the Decepticons. Cyclonus suggests that such an Ultrachip might help Galvatron consolidate his rule over the divisive Decepticons. Galvatron is infuriated at the suggestion that he needs any help and attacks Cyclonus but then unpredictably changes his mind and sends Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps to appropriate the Ultrachip.

Meanwhile, on Saturn's moon, Spike is explaining the concept of art to the Autobots, who like eternal soldiers, have never had the time to think about such things before. Spike accesses computer hologram records of various earth masterpieces...Rodin's The Thinker, Warhol's Soup Can, Bisin's Quantum Lady, etc. None has any real effect on the Autobots. The Ultrachip, however, is something new and wonderful to them.

And then Cyclonus and the Sweeps attack. The Autobots defend themselves, and the Ultrachip is momentarily forgotten, until the Decepticons get a good look at it. They too are mesmorized by its beauty. Without truly understanding why and having little to do with Galvatron's orders, they know that they must have it at any cost. The Autobots feel the same.

Spike pulls Rodimus aside and asks whether this "music box" merits all this trouble. Rodimus must explain that to Transformers, there can be no greater prize. Nevertheless, he offers Cyclonus a compromise. The Ultrachip will be left in a neutral location, where both Autobot and Decepticon can admire it. Cyclonus refuses the offer. Only the Decepticons may gaze upon the Ultrachip. Blurr in turn says that only the Autobots will be allowed to admire it.

Watching on his viewscreen, Quarto is practically gleeful, soon this skirmish will escalate into a full fledged war.

The battle continues. And the fragile Ultrachip is nearly destroyed by the conflict. Rodimus makes the extremely difficult decision to let Cyclonus take the Ultrachip. Better that the Decepticons get it, than that such beauty should be destroyed. Thus the Quintessons' latest plot is foiled by Rodimus' reason and compassion.

Cyclonus takes the Ultrachip back to Chaar and gives it to Galvatron, who orders everyone to clear his chamber. When he is alone, the mad leader destroys the Ultrachip...(or maybe he doesn't).

And on Cybertron, Kup is talking to Rodimus about the Ultrachip: "Too bad the Decepticons got it, we got a raw deal!"

But Rodimus opens a door, where we see Bumblebee, playing with crystals, constructing his own personal artistic Ultrachip, and Rodimus points out, "They may have gotten the chip, but we got the inspiration."

Now, before ANYONE posts questions about this premise, please keep in mind that this was TWENTY-SIX years ago. I remember NOTHING more than what you see above. NOTHING.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012

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Anonymous writes...

Some questions about the YJ episode "Image."
1. How old is Marie Logan and when did "Hello Megan" originally air?
2. If the show is so obscure it's not on the Internet, why were the reruns on the Comedy Classics Channel?

Greg responds...

1. At the time of "Image", Marie is 47.

1b. "Hello, Megan!" aired during the 1979-1980 television season.

2. They were checking to see if it would get any ratings.

Response recorded on July 17, 2012


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