R.I.P. SAMMI

Our basset hound Sammi went into complete renal failure and had to be put to sleep today. We didn't get her or Abraham until both were senior citizens but they both gave us some wonderful years, and Sammi will be missed. She was a very, very sweet girl. Smart too -- most of the time. This is the first time that we've had no pets at all since Beth and I got Bigtime as a kitten in 1991.

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN

Hey gang,

Just wanted to let potentially interested people know about the one-hour (two episode) premiere this Saturday, March 8th of "THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN".

This is the new animated series that's been consuming me (pretty much literally) for the last year plus. I am very proud of it. If you like Gargoyles, I really think you'll like this too, especially if you've ever been a fan of Spider-Man (but even if you never have).

We're on KidsWB a.k.a. the CW. Check local listings, though here in Los Angeles we air from 10am-11am on Channel 5, KTLA.

I'm going to ask Gore to open Ask Greg to discuss Spidey.

Greg

MARCH 1

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

March 1st...

1991
[withheld]

HOT TOPIC T-SHIRT

Word has come to me that the HOT TOPIC chain of retail stores is selling a GARGOYLES T-SHIRT...

http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/store/product.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302029045&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442173198&bmUID=1204124623623

This is terrific news! (The moreso BECAUSE I had absolutely nothing to do with it, and it comes as a total surprise.)

This is also a GREAT opportunity for the fans. How do we prove to Disney, Buena Vista, Hot Topic, etc. that Gargoyles is a viable property? WITH OUR WALLETS! First chance I get I'm buying a shirt... (and I'm a guy with about 100 gargoyles t-shirts). As always, I'm not asking you to spend money you don't have or that you need for food or shelter or education. But if you have any disposable income and you care about keeping the property alive there is NO BETTER way then to buy a shirt. Need a birthday present for a friend or relative? Buy a shirt! You want the next DVD set to come out? Buy a shirt!

Keep in mind I don't make a penny off these shirts. But this is a REAL opportunity for us!

And as always, at the very least, help us SPREAD THE WORD: HOT TOPIC HAS GARGOYLES SHIRTS!!!

FEBRUARY 28

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 28th...

1991
[withheld]

WONDERCON

Hey gang,

I'm leaving tomorrow for San Francisco and WonderCon. I'll be signing at the SLG booth. And I'll be premiering the first episode of THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN in a panel at 3pm PST on Saturday, with a signing afterwards. I hope to see at least a few of you there!

FEBRUARY 22

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 22nd...

1996
The Weird Sisters track down Oberon in his mortal identity. They inform him that mortals have infested Avalon. Oberon decides that the time of the Gathering is indeed at hand and sets out to find his former queen, Titania.

FEBRUARY 21

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 21st...

1996
David Xanatos receives satellite photographs, which reveal a soil carving dedicated to the Trickster Coyote. He makes plans to lease the land that contains the carving from the local Native American tribe. He also commissions a new Coyote Robot, made with iron melted down from the Cauldron of Life.

FEBRUARY 20

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 20th...

1996
Yama and Taro consult over the design plans for Taro's Gargoyle Theme Park.

FEBRUARY 19

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 19th...

1996
Professor Lydia Duane and Doctor Arthur Morwood-Smyth make hotel reservations for their upcoming vacation on Easter Island.

FEBRUARY 15

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 15th...

1996
The stolen Mayan Sun Amulet goes on display at New York's Museum of Natural History.

FEBRUARY 14

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 14th...

1996
On New Olympus, Taurus apprehends the murderer Proteus.

FEBRUARY 13

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 13th...

1996
Odin becomes aware that Goliath has the Eye of Odin.

FEBRUARY 12

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 12th...

1996
After [withheld], King Arthur Pendragon returns to Avalon, unsure whether or not he'll ever go back to the real world.

Where things stand...

Uh... they don't. Not for me. They run at break-neck speed, these days. Here's what I'm up to.

GARGOYLES
Issue #8 is complete. Late last week it was sent to Disney AND the printer, so that the moment the former approves it, the latter can send it to press.
Issue #9 is written. David Hedgecock is doing roughs and original designs now. The cover, already pencilled and inked by Greg Guler,is being colored by Robby Bevard.
Issue #10 needs to get written. I'll get to that as soon as I'm done writing Red Tornado #1 (see below). Dave will be pencilling that cover off his rough.

GARGOYLES: BAD GUYS
Issue #2 is currently being lettered. The art is complete: pencils and inks by Karine Charlebois, finishes by Karine and Robby. The cover, a Guler/Bevard job featuring Yama, is done.
Issue #3 is currently being roughed out by guest artist Christopher A. Jones. Chris is the regular penciller on The Batman Strikes, and he and I worked together on the Captain Atom/Gargoyles/Justice League Europe parody from a few years back. The cover, a Guler/Bevard job featuring Hunter, is done.
Issue #4 is currently being roughed by Karine. The cover, a Guler/Bevard job featuring Fang, is done.
Issue #5 will get scripted as soon as I'm done scripting Red Tornado #1, Gargoyles #10 and Red Tornado #2. Guler is currently working on the cover, which features Dingo.

RED TORNADO
DC Comics has hired me to write a six issue limited series featuring one of my favorite characters, i.e. Red Tornado. (Duh.) I'm currently scripting issue #1. I'm hoping that any attention I get on this book will help us over on the Gargoyles books.

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN
And, oh yeah... there's my actual job... and the main reason why I'm completely exhausted these days.
Episode #1 - This week we have a music and fx preview. The episode will preview at WonderCon on 2/23 and premiere on KidsWB on 3/8.
Episode #2 - We had a music and fx spottting session last week. This episode will ALSO premiere on KidsWB on 3/8. Or so I've been told.
Episode #3 - I've seen the Teaser and Act One. Hopefully, I'll see the missing acts this week, so that we can do our first pass edit and call retakes. We also have a music spotting session late this week.
Episode #4 - We should get it back from Korea this week to edit and call retakes.
Episodes #5-12 - We're waiting to get these back from Korea.
Episode #13 - Reviewing final color models.
Episodes #14-15 - Seeing design work daily and waiting to see storyboards.
Episodes #16-17 - Seeing design work daily. We'll be recording some pick-ups this week with a couple of actors who missed the main recording sessions earlier this month.
Episode #18 - We're recording this one on Thursday of this week.
Episode #19 - I need to finish editing the script for this one tonight.
Episode #20 - I'll start editing this script tonight or tomorrow.
Episode #21 - The writer should deliver this script late this week.
Episode #22 - The writer's working on this script now.
Episode #23 - The writer's working on this outline now.
Episode #24 - The writer will start this outline when she finishes writing the script to #21.
Episode #25 - I have to write this outline... you know, on my free time.
Episode #26 - The writer will write this outline when he's done writing the script for #22.

And I think that's it. Whew!

FEBRUARY 8

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 8th...

1996
On Avalon, Goliath, Angela and Bronx awaken. Quite aware they won't be getting home any time soon, the travelers elect to spend "a few days" resting and getting to know the Avalon Clan. And in Nigeria, Tea is marked by a were-panther on the day she departs for the city of Abuja.

FEBRUARY 7

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 7th...

1996
Dingo begins studying with an Australian aboriginal Shaman.

FEBRUARY 6

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 6th...

1996
After a week of licking her wounds, the Banshee is able to reform herself. She flees Ireland in order to hide from both Oberon and Cu Chullain.

FEBRUARY 5

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 5th...

1996
Halcyon Renard returns to Manhattan and contacts Matt Bluestone, informing him of Goliath and Elisa Maza's situation. Matt passes the word on to Hudson and the Trio, who inform Talon. Matt also attempts to cover for Elisa with her parents and Captain Maria Chavez.

FEBRUARY 4

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 4th...

1995
The armed robber returns the money to Mr. Jaffe and turns himself in thanks to the intervention of the Manhattan Clan.

FEBRUARY 3

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

February 3rd...

1995
It is still snowing as an armed assailant robs Mr. Jaffe's local grocery store, a childhood haunt of Matt Bluestone's. Goliath accompanies Elisa Maza on her shift, gliding above her car. David Xanatos and Demona revivify Coldstone from pieces of Othello, Desdemona and Iago. Coldstone makes a splashy public entrance in Time Square, where he's confronted by Goliath and the Trio. When Demona, Xanatos and a Steel Clan robot join Coldstone, the battle moves to the George Washington Bridge, where Elisa, Hudson and Bronx soon join the fray. Coldstone sacrifices himself to save Goliath and winds up dormant at the bottom of the river. Goliath and the other gargoyles rededicate themselves to protecting all of Manhattan.

JANUARY 29

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

January 29th...

1995
It starts to snow. Elisa Maza gives Derek Maza a recording of Fox's revelations. The gargoyles hide the helicopter - permanently. Jackal and Hyena are arrested on charges of attempted murder.

1996
Rory Dugan wakes, unsure if his previous night's adventures were a dream. That night, he and Molly enter the Cairn, and Rory recovers Gae Bolga, the Spear of Light. The Spear transforms Rory, revealing he is the reincarnation of the ancient Irish hero Cu Chullain. In order to defeat him, Molly becomes first the Banshee and then the death-worm, Crom-Cruach. With Bronx's help, Cu Chullain defeats Crom-Cruach, banishing the Banshee. Cu Chullain transforms back into Rory, but he keeps possession of Gae Bolga and will remain the Hero of Ulster. The travelers return to Avalon, where it is morning. The gargoyles turn to stone.

JANUARY 28

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

January 28th...

1995
Lexington begins to repair Jackal's helicopter. Elisa Maza confronts Fox in prison. Fox reveals that David Xanatos created the Pack, and is using Jackal and Hyena to cement Derek Maza's loyalty. Elisa records Fox's conversation. Derek flies Xanatos to his upstate retreat, 'Xanadu'. Again, Jackal and Hyena attack. And again, the Manhattan Clan intervenes, using the repaired helicopter to defeat and capture the twins.

1996
In the morning, Rory Dugan returns home and argues with his father, Mr. Dugan. That evening at sunset, Elisa Maza, Goliath and Angela wake up to find themselves trapped inside Cairn na Chullain by the Banshee, who is convinced they have been sent by Oberon to bring her back to Avalon for the Gathering. Rory, looking for Molly, encounters Bronx instead. When the Banshee realizes that Rory and "the Great Beast" are together, she appears to Rory and lures him away from Bronx.

JANUARY 27

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

January 27th...

1995
Derek Maza starts working for David Xanatos. Jackal and Hyena attack them, but the Trio intervenes. Lexington manages to land Jackal's helicopter and hide it.

1996
In Ireland, Rory Dugan and his girlfriend Molly steal a jacket from a local shop and manage to elude the police - just as the four travelers arrive from Avalon. The Banshee quickly captures Elisa Maza, Angela and Goliath.

JANUARY 26

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

January 26th...

1994
The Emir's son is killed in a pointless car accident.

1995
Fox orders Hyena and Jackal to assassinate David Xanatos. And that morning, Derek Maza decides to quit the NYPD and accept Xanatos' job offer.

1996
At midnight, the Emir summons and imprisons Anubis, the Egyptian god of death. Elisa Maza and the gargoyles attempt to intervene but are captured. The Emir tries to force Anubis to bring his late son back to life. When Anubis refuses, the Emir attempts to become an avatar of Anubis' power. But Jackal intercepts the spell and becomes the Avatar of Anubis instead. Mad with power, Jackal destroys Coyote 3.0 and brings death to an entire Egyptian town, before the Emir recasts his spell and becomes the new Avatar. The Emir now understands that death cannot play favorites, and he destroys the temple to prevent anyone else from ever gaining access to Anubis' power. Elisa and the gargoyles spend the day outside the Sphinx. Then they return to Avalon. What's left of the Pack scatters.