Just posted the prologue/teaser for my Ninja Turtles (1987) Gargoyles Season Three AU Crossover: Space Invaders -

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10782624/1/Ninja-TurtlesGargoyles-Season-Three-Space-Invaders

I love injecting several elements of mystery into each story the first I've already hinted at in the teaser, the mysterious 'outlander'.

enjoy
Celgress - [m44tu at unb dot ca]
posted @ Sun, Oct 26, 2014 3:48:03 pm EDT from 99.251.252.206

*checks the date that article was published*

October 24, 2014.

Right anniversary date, wrong show announced.

Heh.
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 8:53:39 pm EDT from 71.72.180.87

We now also have the date for the blu-ray of Young Justice: Invasion -- November 18th.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Young-Justice-Season-2/20420

Also looking forward to the special features coming with this set :)
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 6:37:00 pm EDT from 72.208.125.248

Castles Wyvern and Moray also didn't look very Roman in style. Moray even had some features, such as the rounded towers, which didn't appear until about the thirteenth century.

And yeah, happy belated anniversary, Gargoyles!
Arlo
Gargoyles need not apply.
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 2:35:41 pm EDT from 173.54.75.161

im a bit late but happy 20th gargoyles, hard to believe its been 2 decades since the show first aired.
Megatron Wolf - [megatronwolf at msn dot com]
"What would Snake Plissken do?
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 2:09:41 pm EDT from 69.122.134.118

This day is called the Feast of Crispian;
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a-tiptoe when the day is namned,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day and live t'old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors,
And say "Tomorrow is Saint Crispian":
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars
And say "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England, now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

* * *

Watched my DVD of "Awakening Part Two" last night, to mark the 20th anniversary of "Gargoyles". (Ideally, it should have been "Awakening Part One", but I'd watched that earlier on Tuesday evening. I'd decided to watch something on my DVD player to keep it from atrophying (some years ago, I hadn't watched anything on it for a long while, and it had apparently decayed enough for lack of use that all I could see when I *did* watch something on it was the upper half of the screen; I had to replace it), and since it was the week of the 20th anniversary, "Awakening Part One" seemed like a good idea.

I still think it a fine beginning to a fine series - and those first two parts contain some of my favorite moments in "Awakening". The medieval part of the story in Part One and the first act of Part Two. The gargoyles awakening and getting their first view of New York City (which really does seem like a strange, alien place when they stare down at it from the battlements). And the very ending of Part One with the preview of Elisa telling Officer Morgan that she's going to find out the source of that commotion, and as she speaks, the theme music starts playing and we leap into our first look at the opening sequence.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 6:52:05 am EDT from 108.226.1.5

In just before midnight, I knew I needed to stop by here to thank the folks here at my own personal online Eyrie Building. Station 8 has been my Gargoyles HQ for nearly two decades. Of course, I want to thank Gorebash. Plus my ASK GREG moderators, Todd & Masterdramon. But I'd also like to thank all the fans, past and present, who have made their way through these pages, this site.

Thank you. Truly. It's meant the world to me.
Greg Weisman
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 2:43:37 am EDT from 99.59.232.145

>Blaise: In fact, thanks to Gorebash for this website that has kept so many of us in touch throughout all these years!<
How could I forget to thank Gorebash? Cheers!
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]
watch my Demona AMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E
posted @ Sat, Oct 25, 2014 1:25:51 am EDT from 77.22.157.122

#GargoylesStories

At the first Gathering in 1997 there was a woman in the dealer room selling cels and line art from the show. The cels were going for something like $300 and up and I remember her having a sequence of cels from The Mirror of Demona holding Puck and flying through the subway and that totally blew my mind away that something like that could even be owned by a mere mortal such as myself.

However I didn't have nearly that kind of cash on me ($700? $1100? I forgoet.) and picked up a pencil drawing (used to make the corresponding cel) of Angela, Bronx and Goliath staring at the camera.

It might have been that first night, after the first opening ceremonies (or was it later?) where, for the first time, I got to meet Greg (and Keith) in person and had them both sign the line art. Greg signed first and began with "To Gore". I would love to know what the hell went through Keith David's mind, but he went with the flow, didn't ask questions, and also signed "To Gore".

It still has the creases in it from trying to pack it away for the bus ride home. The next day I went to a frame store next to where I worked and paid nearly as much as I did for the line art itself to get it framed. It is still my most favorite thing hanging on my walls. It has a few companions now, like an original page from the SLG Gargoyles comic "Bash", a promo poster for the comic sign by everyone involved in it, a giant poster of the art from one of the VHS tapes signed by Greg and Thom Adcox, a side-view of Demona's face drawn by the same woman who would, a couple year later, draw the Phoenix Gate design that would then be tattooed into the bodies of mine and several others in Pigeon Forge, TN, and the one cel from Gargoyles that I own which is of Goliath and were-Fox fighting from Eye of the Beholder with Elisa in the background, gun drawn, trying to find an opening.

And tucked away in the back of my closet, protected from everything, is Greg's Disney Television Animation 10 year jacket with "GDW" embroidered on the front. Got that at one of the Gathering auctions. Size large. If I drop 50 pounds it might almost fit me. It has been kind of cold out lately...
Gorebash
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 11:25:02 pm EDT from 72.70.26.180

****A phoenix flies in through the window, landing in the middle of the Room. It shakes its head and morphs into an old familiar form.****

WOW! It's been a while! I hadn't meant for it to go this long without posting, but I've just lacked either the time or something worthwhile to say. But I couldn't let this pass by...

20 YEARS OF GARGOYLES> Again: WOW! It's been a while!
I remember Monday morning, 7 am, the 24th of October, 1994. A 14-year-old boy was tuning in to check out the cartoon he'd been anticipating since earlier that year when he saw the trailer on his family's new The Nightmare Before Christmas VHS. Being a fan of mythical winged creatures, dragons and gargoyles in particular, of course he was intrigued. Doubly so when it looked like there would be good gargoyles in this one. He had seen some additional commercials since then, and as he finally tuned in on the 24th, he had one thought that repeated in his mind: "Please don't be stupid."
It wasn't.
The first episode, and the rest of the premiere five-parter, made him wish he had a fast-forward LIFE button just to see the next installment. The rest is history.
Still, it's hard to believe it's been two decades. I still think of Gargoyles as "recent."
Thank you to everyone involved in making this wonderful animated series, as well as it's comic continuation. "Never the end" indeed!
Special thanks to Greg Weisman for sharing so much of his time and writings with us through Gorebash's "Ask Greg" section.
In fact, thanks to Gorebash for this website that has kept so many of us in touch throughout all these years!
AND thanks to everyone who ever worked on or participated in "The Gathering of the Gargoyles" conventions over those 13 wonderful years it ran (I'm glad I made it to at least 3 of them)!
So many good things have come from this for me. And I am very grateful.

Well, back to the real world. Until next time (which will hopefully be sooner rather than later)! ****Blaise fades from view and returns to his lurking.****
Blaise
"Some days you're the pigeon. Some days you're the statue."
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 11:04:49 pm EDT from 75.83.200.80

"It was twenty years ago today/Master Greg taught the clan to play"

Happy anniversary, Gargoyles!
Spen
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 6:20:06 pm EDT from 173.30.226.198

Happy 20th, Gargoyles!

I would've been 7 at the time, and while I didn't watch the show then other than catching a few random episodes (something I still give my younger self an occasional imaginary "What the heck, man?" dopeslap for), it has been an incredible influence on me. Not only did it introduce me to a great writer and creative person, and just being an amazing show in its own right; among other things, it expanded my knowledge and appreciation of Shakespeare, reawakened my interest in world mythologies, and started me looking more critically at animation and storytelling in general. I've learned a great deal of things and expanded my interests through this show's influence, and I can't thank enough all the awesome people whose hard work made Gargoyles what it is.

Here's to 20 more years!
Ross
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 5:22:13 pm EDT from 50.148.97.169

It was 20 years ago today that, just as Gargoyles was about to premier, I switched over to something else; probably a Brady Bunch re-run. It'd take a couple months before I'd actually catch an episode and realize the advertisements for Gargoyles that had appeared on my school's milk cartons for the previous two months, which inspired a desire to avoid the show, were just really, really bad at doing their job.

That we're still here, still talking about it after 20 years, says a lot about how great the show really is.
Gorebash
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 4:41:13 pm EDT from 204.144.15.9

Great review. Thanks for linking to it, Greg.

It'll be interesting to see how this franchise and fandom evolve over the next twenty years. And beyond! Never The End!
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 4:06:11 pm EDT from 99.92.110.98

The Examiner's comic book critic is celebrating twenty years, too.

http://www.examiner.com/review/celebrate-twenty-years-of-gargoyles-with-slave-labor-graphics-clan-building
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 2:14:27 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

Happy 20th Anniversary Gargoyles.
VickyUK
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 1:37:08 pm EDT from 31.55.86.95

And what an amazing 20 years it has been. It's amazing how well this property has held up. But not surprising, considering the amazing people who worked on it.

To 20 More years, my friends.
Chip - [Sir_Griff723 at yahoo dot com]
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. ~~C.S. Lewis
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 8:31:02 am EDT from 97.91.211.217

Here's to 20 more years.

Never The End.
Algernon
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 8:14:44 am EDT from 109.78.70.111

Neill: I'm in the same boat. Being the grand old of 3 when the show first began airing, my personal "20th" would more properly be April 18, 2018: the day that the Toon Disney channel debuted.

Still, while I may never have caught the Disney Afternoon in its original form, its shows live on in my heart - Gargoyles first and foremost among them.

So while it may not be my "personal" anniversary...bon anniversaire to this amazing show, and the fantastic cast, crew, and fans that've carried it to this day.

Once, and for all time...

WE LIVE AGAIN!
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"If someone ever tells me it's a mistake to have hope...well then, I'll just tell them they're wrong. And I'll keep telling them until they believe. No matter how many times it takes." - Madoka Kaname
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 7:55:28 am EDT from 72.130.106.142

Well happy 20th anniversary to all the people who worked on Gargoyles (and who still do maybe?) and to all the fans of the show!
I didn't see the show until 98 I think, so it's not really my personal 20th, but that certainly won't stop me from celebrating one of the best shows ever created.
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]
watch my Demona AMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 7:43:58 am EDT from 77.22.157.122

Happy Anniversary, Everybody!

20 years must be of special significance to gargoyles since it is the length of time between each rookery generation.
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 7:28:26 am EDT from 99.92.110.98

Happy 20th anniversary, "Gargoyles"!
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 7:02:35 am EDT from 108.226.1.5

Twenty years, has it been that long? I'd like to give a special thanks not just for being a huge impact on the creative tastes I have today. Not just for introducing me to such intangibles as honor, brotherhood, and the drive to fight against unimaginable odds. But for also making the dark a little scary knowing that the defenders of the night were out there.
Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 5:19:09 am EDT from 71.202.80.122

Yep, TWENTY years ago today many of you may have answered Elisa's question (through your television box no less) of what could be strong enough to leave claw marks into solid stone ;)

Personally, along with a re-release of the Season 2, Volume 2 DVD, 2014 was also CONvergence -- the big stop of many in the Gargoyles Anniversary Tour -- and five years since the 2009 Gathering, my first encounter with many lifetime fans of the series. I still have my 2014 Con Journal to submit, but in short: It was great to see so many of you again, and awesome to meet so many of you for the first time. Can't wait till next time, whenever (and wherever) that is. :)

It's now also been eleven years since I first stumbled upon AskGreg (and soon-to-be eight since I first started commenting in this room). Those are still low stats compared to many of the vets here, but I just wanted to say that this little corner of the net consistently remains something that I looked forward to visiting everyday.

I've written about many a many in my thoughts about the last year and look forward to many more Gargoyles anniversaries to come! Happy twenty years since "Awakening: Part One" first aired on television, everybody! :D
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 4:41:49 am EDT from 72.208.125.248

Here's to the Goliath bubble bath!
Inland
"All benches were removed from the city, all the fountains turned off, all the flowers and trees destroyed." - William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 3:10:37 am EDT from 71.227.195.216

Ahem... Happy Anniversary!

Here's to finally having the complete series on DVD!

Here's to the SLG comic book continuation!

Here's to Greg Weisman, Frank Paur, Michael Reaves, Brynne Chandler, Gary Sperling, Greg Guler, Bob Kline, Jamie Thomason, Keith David, Salli Richardson, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Ed Asner, Jeff Bennett, Thom Adcox, Bill Fagerbakke, Brigitte Bako, Frank Welker, and too many people to list!

Here's to twenty more years!
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Fri, Oct 24, 2014 2:28:21 am EDT from 67.189.178.253

For anyone following the SpecGargs on spring.me, don't be too surprised if you see certain characters start to change. Of course, crumbling reality can do that to you!
Most notable changes include "amalgamations", like Strangefate and Iron Lantern, and cartoonier versions of the Young Justice and other "New DCAU" characters. Be on the lookout for the "Static Shock" version of Static! ;)
No alternet versions of our favorite Gargoyles characters though. (The only versions that could work would probably be the Marvel comic versions. Maybe.)
Of course, I'm certain all this is reversible, including both Demona's and MacBeth's untimely demises.
Shingospud
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 9:41:00 pm EDT from 173.58.171.245

The Romans never even got that far into Scotland, anyway. (They settled for building Hadrian's Wall.)

The stone castles in "Gargoyles" are probably part of the same anachronism as King Arthur in medieval armor.
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 8:52:34 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

The Archmage helped build Castle Wyvern, according to the Wise Man.

The fact that magic is a real phenomenon in the Gargoyles Universe, and was accepted as such until the modern age, means that much of its history may not necessarily align with our own.
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"If someone ever tells me it's a mistake to have hope...well then, I'll just tell them they're wrong. And I'll keep telling them until they believe. No matter how many times it takes." - Madoka Kaname
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 8:10:47 pm EDT from 72.130.106.142

Could Castle Wyvern and Castle Moray have been built by the Romans? They obviously predated the Normans.
Paul - [nampahcfluap at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 7:59:46 pm EDT from 71.57.109.177

Let's get dangerous!
Anthony Tini
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 10:07:39 am EDT from 159.240.11.51

Darkwing Duck. Man, that brings back memories. Used to love that show when I was a kid. I still remember the first time I heard of it: on the school bus, while one of my friends was doing the pre-Internet version of trolling to some girls in the seat in front of us. Kept mentioning something about Darkwing Duck and a vampire potato. I was like "wtf is this show about?!" but then when I actually saw the episode, it kind of made sense.

In hindsight, talking about Darkkwing Duck and a vampire potato probably wasn't as badass as the kid was making it seem. But he succeeded in pre-Internet pwning them. Amazing what flies when you're in elementary.
Arlo
Gargoyles need not apply.
posted @ Thu, Oct 23, 2014 12:48:15 am EDT from 173.54.75.161

Todd> That implies it wasn't already.
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 8:48:48 pm EDT from 71.72.180.87

These comments about Xanatos remind me quite a bit of Hans from "Frozen." Maybe it's just that they're both handsome, charismatic, and manipulative.
Paul - [nampahcfluap at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 8:38:30 pm EDT from 71.57.109.177

Anybody besides me suspect that one of the most popular pages in that Darkwing Duck omnibus in this comment room will be the panel of Negaduck standing on a certain familiar-looking statue overlooking St. Canard?
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 6:33:48 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

O-M-G!
>Aaron Sparrow: We're very excited to bring this (and as yet unannounced) Disney Afternoon properties back to the fans!<
http://comicspire.com/2014/10/22/darkwing-duck-to-return-in-2015-for-new-ongoing-series/comment-page-1/#comment-2390

Not just Darkwing, but more...
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]
watch my Demona AMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 6:03:43 pm EDT from 77.22.157.122

And this new Darkwing comic is an ongoing series!! New stuff from my former favorite (now 2nd) Disney afternoon series :D

Now could JoeBooks please release an omnibus of a certain SLG comic? And also make it a new ongoing series? Thanks!
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]
watch my Demona AMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 5:13:33 pm EDT from 77.22.157.122

I presume they'll include the two crossover issues with Ducktales. Dunno if they'll include the other four issues of it, but I'd like those, too.

Still buying it, though.

Now announce more Disney Afternoon properties. You know the one. DO IT!
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 4:16:20 pm EDT from 137.183.232.27

Less than an hour ago, Aaron Sparrow announced the return of the Darkwing Duck comic book, by the same creative team who worked on it for Boom Studios!

https://twitter.com/Aaron_Sparrow/status/524995853392420864

They are also releasing an omnibus of the Boom Studios comics!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/10/22/joe-books-to-collect-all-of-boom-studios-darkwing-duck/

They've even got a "Frozen" graphic novel in the works, and the pre-order numbers are insane... in a good way.

http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/129448-cinebook-adaptation-of-disney-s-frozen-preorders-top-six-figures.html

Yeah... I'm feeling pretty good right now. That Darkwing Duck omnibus is so bought!
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 3:25:24 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

From a thematic stand point, Xanatos represents something, in a way, almost as insidious as the prejudice that Goliath has faced since the tenth century. He represents the dark side of this strange future world Goliath has found himself thrust into as much as Elisa represents the positive.

Goliath came from a world where people could be neatly divided into enemies and friends (or at least begrudging allies in the case of Katherine and the Magus). Friends might betray you and enemies may make peace but the basic categories hold.

Xanatos is something else altogether, something frankly alien to Goliath's mindset. He sees others whether human or gargoyles not as friends or even enemies but simply resources to be acquired and managed.

If Hakon had returned alone and unarmed after being initially driven off, waving some scrap of paper he said proved Castle Wyvern was his, he would have been laughed off at best or shot down in a hail of arrows and left to rot at worst. And yet, Xanatos does pretty much the same thing and Goliath has no choice but to abandon his ancestral home. This new world is governed by arcane rules Goliath can barely comprehend yet David has spent a lifetime manipulating to his advantage.

Goliath himself famously said "humans fear what they do not understand" but I think that applies more than a little to gargoyles as well. As much as he may despise what she's become, Goliath does understand Demona and what drives her. He's been tempted down that path himself enough to know how she thinks, something he's been able to use against her more than once.

Goliath doesn't understand how Xanatos thinks or why he wants the things he does. From Goliath's point of view that makes him dangerous, unpredictable and perhaps... just a little bit scary.
Algernon
This is the pinnacle of human emotions. Warmer than Hope. Deeper than Despair... It's Love.
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 9:59:11 am EDT from 109.78.241.46

So just caught the latest episode of Rebels and it seems to give credence to the moral of my previously posted story: two people can get along just fine if there's a third person for them to hate. In this case Ezra and Zeb can be quite buddy-buddy so long as Chopper is there to annoy them.
Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman
posted @ Wed, Oct 22, 2014 2:35:30 am EDT from 71.202.80.122

FWIW, to me Xanatos has always come off as, if not a straight sociopath at the very least a borderline one. Strongly borderline. Glib, superficial, charming, intelligent, successful, unable to take criticism well (at least at first), chronically dishonest and constantly manipulative, unempathetic to the consequences of his behavior towards others, and zero guilt to speak of. Also everything being done to further his own agenda "because he feels like it". Constant pursuit of power and fulfillment of ego. Thailog is just a more extreme manifestation of Xanatos in many ways. Less polished or refined, more sadistic for the sake of sadism.

Greg describes him as not immoral, but rather "amoral" which puts me in mind of the term first generated (I believe) by Hannah Arendt, the "banality of evil". It's not like he has any personal animosity or relish of other's suffering, he's not lashing out from inner torment, he just kind of does nasty or horrific stuff because that's most convenient or interesting to him. It also puts me in mind of the Thomistic idea of evil, that being simply enough, the lack of a due good - consideration of the consequences of one's actions on others is enough to qualify. It's not a flashy, dramatic or passionate kind of evil. It's just cold and almost blase.

To me that makes Xanatos the most insidious (and realistic) kind of villain. Because he's so commonplace in the real world. They don't really change ever. And his kind tend to get away with it.

Btw Harlan, I really liked your post. Gave me some things to think on.
FTBM
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 10:33:46 pm EDT from 23.82.54.67

Greg B.>"But yeah, he did win."

A convincing, insightful counter-argument that shreds my thesis to pieces and certainly did not miss my entire point at all.

So incisive is its depths that I find myself incapable of reaching the level of insight and sophistication of "Isn't it super cool how the villain is like a villain but does like the opposite?" and I will step out, lest I hinder such depth of exploration.
Harlan of the Ghosts
Let the ol' tail wag.
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 9:44:09 pm EDT from 76.2.64.133

Harlan also makes great points, yeah the heroes didn't entirely lose. They're all alive, together, Goliath didn't sink into darkness and despair. He and Elisa are now together. But externally, a lot of bad is happening

I think they're right about Xanatos, naturally. And no one ignores the family man aspect of him, no one that I've seen. He married someone he loves that is just as amoral as he is. How will Alex turn out? Too soon to tell. But you can love your family and still be a terrible person. Xanatos does it.

But yeah, he did win.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 9:27:23 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

I think my core problem with the assessment as presented is that, like most Weisman discussion, it very intentionally tries to lean as cynically as humanly possible in interpreting a series very openly structured as through the lens of Goliath's optimism. For, let's be honest, no real meaningful reason, as Xanatos's machinations are never ever actually talked about in a thematic context. Xanatos is a giant meme whose post-Tropian existence is purely one to point out how much of a novelty he is, rather than a character. You really DON'T hear about all the things that find Xanatos fascinating. Even in that discussion, his status as a family man is less a point of interest and more something we desperately need to get out of the way so we can be like "See!? See?! He's still bad!" Even though the point of discussion is how amoral and ambiguous he is, his good qualities as a person are never seen as full traits, merely dark ironies to make his villainous qualities SUPER DUPER VILLAINOUS. It's a fascinating, recurring doublethink that betrays the nuance of the character. People like him as core antagonist, really, almost purely for the novelty.

Which is a shame, because he's not really the core antagonist of the series by a long shot.

Reception to Greg Weisman's writing and Gargoyles in particular tends to be insanely paradoxical. For all its declared to be the most sophisticated television animation ever really got, so much of its praise comes by dumbing it down as much as possible by misattributing where the depth actually tends to be. I think the best line to ever sum up Gargoyles (and my favorite line in the entire series) is Angela trash talking during Hunter's Moon. "It's NOT a good night to be a bad guy."

Because by the end of the series, no. No it's not.

It's fascinating to me that, in all this discussion about why Xanatos is such a great villain or why the writing of the show was so great and groundbreaking, nothing about Gargoyles's thematic message ever shows up. Nothing about the actual structure of the story. Nothing about how said structure positions said characters, lines, or events in a specific order through which to communicate a certain idea or intent. NOT ONCE. It's always the plot practicalities of how a-, b-, and c-plots resolve with absolutely no thought given to their context. Xanatos got everything he wanted in most episodes, so obviously by the end of the show he must've won, right? The heroes lost? Man. Not that I'm taking themes or actual ideas or any of the actual context into account, but that's deep, like, legit.

The core antagonist of the series has always been prejudice.

The VERY first scene in Awakening (the now iconic "What kind of creature could leave claw marks in SOLID STONE?!"), the VERY FIRST CONTEXT we're given, tells us one thing: Gargoyles are different. The castle, Princess Katharine, all affirm this. We end Goliath's status quo, his pre-Manhattan normalcy, on him willing ending his life as prejudice, deep in regret as it had been enacted, wins. His family victims and, as far as we're concerned, the end of the gargoyle race.

By contrast, Hunter's Moon is the not that. Rather than being constantly shown as at odds with the humans, the Hunters are very intentional parallels of the gargoyles (Jason is Goliath, Jon is Demona, etc.) Humans are portrayed with intentionally reflective traits, not even FOILS, but even positive traits!, of the gargoyles. Gargoyle prey and human hunters (as the viking raiders were themselves), rather than fighting with dissonant portrayal, now both have the same faults, positives, hopes, and fears. Progress has been made.

Rather than embracing death, Goliath embraces life. I don't think I need to even explain that one. He literally saves the world from a giant, racial purging. When Goliath first fought hunters that demolished his family, he embraced death. Now, after fighting hunters attempting to demolish his family, he embraces life.

And of course, after all that, Goliath FINALLY gets his castle home back. But now with a new context. He may not like Xanatos, though Xanatos likes him well enough, but there's no ambiguity here: They are equals. Katharine and her ilk from where we began have been fully, unambiguously replaced with respect.

Xanatos is not the villain of Hunter's Moon so, structurally speaking, saying he made off victorious at the end of the canonical seasons of television is not only immensely disingenuous, but also misunderstanding even the most basic tenets of how a story is built and developed. You resolve your core conflict via a climactic confrontation with the central source of the problem. It wasn't Xanatos. It wasn't even Demona, despite her presence. It was always that basic tension and conflict. The Hunters are pretty blatantly defined by their lineage and their characterization is entirely based on putting them both familiar via backstory and parallel traits because gargoyles and humans are not the others in the story. We're merely trapped in still saying we are.

When the story begins, Goliath's family is the monster in his own home, his family the victim of a racial genocide, and he embraces death. When chapter two ended, Goliath was a man in his own home, he saved the entire planet from racial genocide, and he and his family embrace life.

The heroes lost? Are you CRAZY?
Harlan of the Ghosts
You should've warned us, Raven. Reading isn't just fundamental. It's dangerous.
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 7:32:44 pm EDT from 76.2.64.133

I like the "even 'Future Tense' Xanatos" part, since that was the closest he came in the regular series to acting like a conventional super-villain (as in trying to take over the planet).
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 7:31:47 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

I know, even "Future Tense" Xanatos was more subtle.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 7:24:01 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

Yes, that episode definitely made Xanatos act more "conventional super-villain-ish", especially when he's trying to get revenge on Goliath at the end.

(On the other hand, the line "I make my own visiting hours" struck me as true Xanatos.)
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 7:23:12 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

TODD> Well, yeah, look at "For It May Come True" and how Xanatos' antagonism was portrayed.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 7:06:49 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

Sorry for the double post, but I'd like to add how much I liked Greg Weisman's statement that Xanatos has "never been ABOUT being Goliath's enemy".

I think that's one of the things that makes Xanatos stand out from so many other animated antagonists. Most of them (and that even applies to many of the antagonists in "Gargoyles", such as Demona, the Hunters, the Pack, the Archmage, etc.) are primarily interested in destroying the protagonist - often to the extent that they wind up losing their opportunity to achieve other goals (such as taking over the world) for the sake of settling the feud with the hero once and for all - and in so doing make the mistakes that ensure their defeat.

But Xanatos' interest throughout was in increasing his wealth, power, and influence. The gargoyles were just one set of possible tools for achieving that, and he was interested in them only as they fitted into that; he wasn't pursuing them simply to settle a grudge. (Indeed, he stopped making serious attempts to capture them after the first season - except in "The Price" with Hudson - spending much of the first half of the season instead trying to come up with his own gargoyles, such as with the Mutates and Thailog.)

Hence, perhaps, the mistaken assumption by the "Goliath Chronicles" production team and much of the audience that Xanatos ending the feud with the clan and letting them back into the castle was a sign that he'd reformed (since with other, more conventional super-villains, making peace with the hero would mean that they'd abandoned their evil ways) - and the truth that calling off the war with the gargoyles wasn't a sign of redemption, because there's no evidence that Xanatos had given up the regular big scheming that was the motivation for his acts (and the Stone of Destiny story makes it clear that he definitely hasn't given it up).
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 6:52:08 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

I wouldn't say that Xanatos scored a complete victory; the gargoyles are back in the castle, but they're clearly not serving as his flunkies. The Stone of Destiny story made that clear.

Of course, that story itself could be a case of "the antagonist wins" since Xanatos and the Illuminati *do* succeed in stealing the Stone of Destiny, despite the efforts of the gargoyles (including Coldstone and Coldfire), Macbeth, and King Arthur - though with a twist that makes the victory almost irrelevant. (I say "almost", because Peredur learns from the Stone that King Arthur has returned - which will certainly have important consequences both for Arthur and the Illuminati.)
Todd Jensen
Hufflepuffs are really good finders
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 6:39:57 pm EDT from 108.226.1.5

Actually, apologies for what will be a triple post, but that short comment was inappropriate. Composing thoughts now to maybe be better generate discussion.
Harlan of the Ghosts
You should've warned us, Raven. Reading isn't just fundamental. It's dangerous.
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 6:21:25 pm EDT from 76.2.64.133

"How was Gargoyles a unique and groundbreaking series? Many ways. Including that at the end of the (televised) series, the villain won."

This seems like the exact opposite conclusion to make based on the ambiguity emphasized in the opening posts.

If anything, it goes from one oversimplification and dives right into another one.
Harlan of the Ghosts
You should've warned us, Raven. Reading isn't just fundamental. It's dangerous.
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 5:45:23 pm EDT from 76.2.64.133

An interesting discussion on David Xanatos and how the second season ended. Not just the screengrabs from ASK GREG, but the comments below it.

http://gregxb.tumblr.com/post/100371895115/themightyglamazon-nineteenninetyonenostalgia
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 1:38:02 pm EDT from 67.189.178.253

The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Equal Rites, Mort, Sourcery, Wyrd Sisters, Pyramids, Guards! Guards!, Eric, Moving Pictures and Reaper Man.
Algernon
This is the pinnacle of human emotions. Warmer than Hope. Deeper than Despair... It's Love.
posted @ Tue, Oct 21, 2014 1:01:48 pm EDT from 109.79.99.220

Well that didn't go quite as I expected but the show must go on.
Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 9:37:13 pm EDT from 64.85.229.140

Tenth! I'll second Mossflower/Redwall and Chronicles of Narnia, and add in The Dark Is Rising and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

I have to admit, the suspense on Greg's other three projects is killing me! I wonder how long we will have to wait?

I picked up my copy of S2V2 at Walmart on Friday night. This is copy #3 for me but I wanted to "vote with my wallet" and support the retail release. I'll probably pick up another one when it's available on Amazon. (Who am I kidding, at $10, I'll probably pick up a handful.) I'm disappointed to hear it's the same disc image as the DMC release; I was hoping for some special features this time :(
Kaylle - [kayl dot aluenne at gmail dot com]
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 8:26:16 pm EDT from 99.165.77.154

Rain of the Ghosts, Spirits of Ash and Foam, Masque of Bones, and...

...okay, so I obviously don't know the other titles of the nine books. And it's not literally my childhood.

DON'T JUDGE ME!
Brainiac - [OSUBrainiac at gmail dot com]
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 12:02:04 pm EDT from 137.183.232.27

8th
Anthony Tini
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 9:33:59 am EDT from 159.240.11.51

Darkness, Swamp, Skull, Thieves, Ice, Misery, Turtle
Neill - [neillgargoyle(a)gmail dot com]
watch my Demona AMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNGrg5Wm12E
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 8:35:31 am EDT from 77.22.193.1

Rauru, Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, and Nabooru!
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"If someone ever tells me it's a mistake to have hope...well then, I'll just tell them they're wrong. And I'll keep telling them until they believe. No matter how many times it takes." - Madoka Kaname
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 6:40:12 am EDT from 72.130.106.142

(5th)Fifth!!!!!
Vinnie - [tpeano29 at hotmail dot com]
Mark Twain: "Don't argue with stupid people. They'll take you down to their level and beat you with experience."
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 6:21:01 am EDT from 108.238.83.143

Fourth.
Matt - [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA]
"For science, which, as my associate Fang indicated, must move ever forward. Plus there's the money... and I do love the drama!" - Sevarius, "Louse"
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 5:13:10 am EDT from 99.92.110.98

Third!
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 3:50:06 am EDT from 72.208.125.248

I'll just say that "Gone Girl" was fantastic.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 1:51:30 am EDT from 67.189.178.253

Favorite books and stories from your childhood GO!

The Phantom Tollbooth, Redwall, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Chronicles of Prydain, 1001 Arabian Nights, Summer of the Monkeys and the Harry Potter series.
Matthew
From far, from eve and morning, And yon twelve-winded sky, The stuff of life to knit me, Blew hither: here am I. -A.E. Housman
posted @ Mon, Oct 20, 2014 12:00:19 am EDT from 64.85.229.140