Kate> Not sure that I entirely agree with that. Sure, I'd love to see a lot more of them and their adventures, but I can truly say that about any character in the series! And considering the limited number of pages to work with, I think we've seen a fair amount of Brooklyn, Katana, and Gnash particularly in the chapters narrated by Brook and Katana and in "Trick or Treat". And not just the modern day stuff, but lots of flashbacks and hints of Timedancer adventures.
There are certainly characters who are getting a lot less attention than these three. I just hope that we continue to see more of everybody!
Matt
"And, thus, given no choice, we waited..." - Alesand, "The Reach"
posted @ Sun, Dec 17, 2023 6:05:09 pm EST from 47.233.90.133

Speaking of TimeDancer, I saw a pretty detailed post on the Gargoyles subreddit about the topic that was quite interesting. I don't agree with every point and I think that the person writing it was unable to put themselves into the mindset and context of why TimeDancer turned out the way that it did, but I am in agreement that Brooklyn and his new family really need some focus soon. They've been brushed over in the timeskip between the currently running comic and the last.
Kate
posted @ Sun, Dec 17, 2023 5:15:49 pm EST from 208.102.156.56

BLAISE - Thanks for stopping by. The flashback at Brooklyn's Timedancing in #6 does provide a clear hint of how Nashville got his name, but we still don't have the details as yet.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sun, Dec 17, 2023 8:14:36 am EST from 174.72.60.154

****A door materializes in the Room--it appears to have been once emblazoned with a blue bird, but that has been crossed out with a black "X". The door opens to reveal a storm of...well, a disgusting, smelly material. A form covered in...that material plunges out of that storm and into the Room, slamming the door behind it. The form leans against the door, breathing heavily for a bit. Then it traces arcane gestures in the air, causing the material (and its odor) to evaporate and reveal the form of Blaise.****

I've encountered $#!tstorms before, but the one that happened to Greg on the site formerly known as Twitter was one of the $#!tiest. And I wasn't even in the thick of it! I hate what happened to Greg and wish there was something I could do. I've done my best to report it, but I very low faith in that site.
You remember what I said earlier this week about how the "primitive reptile part of my brain loves seeing a villain I particularly hate PAY?" Yeah, been feeling that a lot about this now. I'm not proud to say it, but the "To the Pain" bit from "The Princess Bride" almost feels like a measured and reasonable response.
I can only hope that A) Greg is able to emerge from this as whole and unscathed as possible, and B) that the guilty party is brought to justice.

KATE> Thank you for the well-wishes for me and my cat.

TODD> Thank you, as well. I'm able to get her to take her pills (under protest), so I'm hoping the re-weigh/ultrasound on the 30th brings good news.

CRAIG> Thank you and I'm sorry to hear about your cat's health issues, as well. I hope the chemo works again (and more permanently this time). And yeah, I'm wishing I had gotten pet insurance before all this. I'm definitely making a note to do so in the future.

MATTHEW> Thank you, also, for the kitty well-wishes.

ANTIYONDER> And thank you, too.

MATT> Sorry to hear about the COVID; hope you're feeling better. Nice thoughts on gargoyle naming conventions, in particular the questions around the Ishimuran naming ceremony. I don't have too much to add to the discussion, other than that I look forward to learning how Nashville (or Gnash, rather) got his name.

Well, I don't have any comic ramble for tonight, but I hope to do one soon.
****Blaise banishes the door with a wave of his hand, then sets off to take a shower...then a bath.****
Blaise
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."--The Doctor
posted @ Sun, Dec 17, 2023 12:45:31 am EST from 45.48.54.221

I would almost prefer not being told the scripted names, as it would leave us more in the mindset of the gargoyles themselves; but I realize that would make conversation rather difficult (or at least very cumbersome; a lot of "the green gargoyle who...," and it's likely that the fandom would ultimately settle on our own short-hand nicknames anyway out of convenience).
Craig
posted @ Sat, Dec 16, 2023 11:15:41 am EST from 24.46.160.52

CRAIG - Yes, that seems the most likely way. (I remember Greg's mini-fic about Hyppolyta - which had no names, and yet which left you in no doubt - at least, if you were familiar with "Gargoyles" - about who was who.)
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sat, Dec 16, 2023 10:53:36 am EST from 174.72.60.154

Todd > (It would pose the challenge of how to discuss the individual members of that clan if they didn't have names - after all, the readers are humans.)"

I imagine it would be similar to the Lunfanan clan, and the new Wyvern members we've met in Dark Ages, with Greg inventing names to refer to the characters in the script, and the fandom becoming aware of those names through Greg or the artist revealing them.
Craig
posted @ Sat, Dec 16, 2023 10:40:40 am EST from 24.46.160.52

Appearance may be a factor writing wise why some gargoyles are named in certain ways, like the London Clan. If there's another clan that utilizes something similar naming-wise its yet to be seen. We still know very little about the Xanadu Clan or the New Olympian Clan.

As for Katana and the Ishimura Clan both past and present. There was a period of time before the Meiji Restoration (usually dated 1868) where children were given "smaller" names at birth which grew into something more adult when they got older. It wouldn't surprise me if Katana wasn't her hatching name but one that she grew into when she got older, and possibly picked up some skill with a blade.

Whether that continued on with the modern day clan is unknown. One thing that stood out to me was how ironic the names were in "Bushido." Kai is large and mountainous in size while Sora's coloration is reminiscent of coral from the sea. Yama has feather-like markings on his wings that evoke the sky but his name makes the most sense culturally speaking. Gargoyles in Japan are heavily based on the tengu of myth, one thing that is most often associated with tengu is taking the appearance of yamaboshi, spiritual hermits who live in the mountains and practice the ancient religion of Shugendo.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 9:44:59 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

MATT - I hope you're feeling better now.

Interesting thoughts on gargoyle names, including the possibility of a gargoyle clan or two turning up who don't have personal names yet. (It would pose the challenge of how to discuss the individual members of that clan if they didn't have names - after all, the readers are humans.)
Todd Jensen
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 7:38:24 pm EST from 174.72.60.154

Annoyed on Greg's behalf for all the trollish antics. People suck. Hope it gets worked out as soon as possible and somewhat satisfactorily.

Been home sick with COVID most the week. Time to binge some Gargoyles! Watched "Bushido" today. Had a thought that I don't think we covered after Katana's issue. If her clan named her due to shared characteristics to the weapon, does that aspect of the Naming Ceremony carry through to the modern Ishimura Clan? What characteristics does Yama ("the mountain") share with a mountain? Sturdiness, immovability? What about Kai ("the ocean")? Large and powerful? And Sora ("sky, air")? (Side note: "Does the sky need a name? Does the river?" Hudson might well meet gargoyles named sky and river from Ishimura one day! Ha)

Also, how long after Egwardo's hatching will Tachi receive a name? When does the Naming Ceremony happen? Brooklyn indicated that they'd wait will they "got a feel" for the hatchling, which meshes with what Ishimuran Gargoyles did in Katana's time at least. So, it might be years after hatching before Tachi is officially named.

Love that even though we've yet to meet a clan that doesn't use names (aside from the ancient Wyvern Clan and Demona's Clan), they have not quite embraced the idea as humans have. At least not all of them. London seems to name based partially on appearance, Mayan might only have names for pendant wearers, Manhattan largely chose their own names, Labyrinth and Avalon were given them, and Ishimura receives them from their clan in a Naming Ceremony.

Interesting stuff, though I still hope we meet at least a clan or two that doesn't use names. I suspect the Xanadu Clan doesn't based on Fu-Dog just being Fu-Dog. Maybe New Olympian too since they are so isolationist and (presumably) human adverse. I also hope that the future Wyvern Clan (being so traditionalist) goes back to no names. Even shirking ones they might've had before founding the clan.

Just some thoughts.
Matt
"And, thus, given no choice, we waited..." - Alesand, "The Reach"
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 6:01:01 pm EST from 47.233.90.133

One thought on trolling and troll-posts that I've had for a while. Now, I understand that the term "troll" was derived from a style of fishing rather than the mythical creature, but I still find myself reminded of a remark J. R. R. Tolkien once made about the way that Orcs and Trolls (primarily Orcs, but he mentioned Trolls along with them) spoke, as well as the "orc-minded" nowadays - "dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt, too long removed from good to retain even verbal vigour, save in the ears of those to whom only the squalid sounds strong". That does sound like a good description of the language and style of trolling.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 8:46:50 am EST from 174.72.60.154

I doubt he'd be put off from doing the podcast just because some scumbag got into his Twitter and presumably other accounts. From the sound of his audio quality in the podcast he probably just calls in the traditional way instead of it being done over some Zoom or Skype call. At most it should probably just delay an episode if he's lost access to his phone somehow.
But that shouldn't be the concern right now, I just hope Greg manages to recover his stolen accounts and information.
Kate
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 1:43:03 am EST from 208.102.156.56

True, he's just a guest.
Anonymous
posted @ Fri, Dec 15, 2023 12:19:39 am EST from 136.50.255.89

The Voices Twitter page seems to still be active. Weisman is technically just a recurring guest on that pod, he doesn't run it, so I don't see why his being hacked would have any effect.
Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]
"There is a difference between you and me. We both looked into the abyss. But when it looked back at us- you blinked." -Batman, "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths"
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 11:53:12 pm EST from 73.98.83.6

Oye, just heard about all of this. That sucks.
Trolls will troll unfortunately.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 10:59:18 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

It's sad. Will Voices from the Eyrie continue, or is that tied to Twitter?
Anonymous
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 10:22:45 pm EST from 136.50.255.89

Wow, that's just awful.
I definitely wouldn't put it past the petty online bigots to go at Greg's account for his positivity and inclusion. I love his work and all but I don't think he's exactly high up on the target list for random important person account hacking. It's likely a deliberate target at him, which sucks.
Take this as another reminder to keep your passwords strong and unique to each website you use as well as 2FA.
Kate
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 10:18:02 pm EST from 208.102.156.56

Motivations? *shrug*

Nothing much in what I saw suggested this was hitting back at Greg for anything at all specific to him, beyond a high follower count, anyway. The vibe I'm getting is just that of a jerk celebrating his win in the most attention-grabbing way possible. Nothing special in that, in and of itself. Especially not on Twitter now.

I'm not going to rule out that it was more targeted, but I also don't suppose it matters much in the end.
morrand - [morrand276 at gmail dot com]
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 8:35:58 pm EST from 99.74.15.252

Todd > I would imagine so. That has been the main source of people harassing Greg on the Internet, I believe, so it stands to reason…and the few things I saw that the hacker posted from Greg’s account indicated a puerile (and probably racist) mindset.
Craig
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 8:23:05 pm EST from 12.74.238.26

CRAIG - [ It’s frustrating that this was all likely caused by Greg’s willingness to engage openly with fandom, as well as his admirable focus on inclusivity in his storytelling.]

Are you suggesting that the hacker was one of those people who disapproved of the latter quality and was striking back at him because of it?
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 8:03:01 pm EST from 174.72.60.154

Sorry to hear Greg is going through all this, especially given what morrand says. If accurate, that’s much worse than having one social media account hacked. These days, basically our whole lives are in our phones. It’s frustrating that this was all likely caused by Greg’s willingness to engage openly with fandom, as well as his admirable focus on inclusivity in his storytelling. This, as they say, is why we can’t have nice things. I hope Greg is able to move past this soon, and as much as I typically don’t like to wish ill on anyone, I hope the hacker gets some kind of appropriate karmic comeuppance. This kind of attack is so cruel and pointless.
Craig
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 7:35:54 pm EST from 12.74.238.26

I'm sorry to hear about the Twitter hacking as well - this is definitely going to discourage me from ever getting a Twitter account.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 7:22:50 pm EST from 174.72.60.154

The useless piece of distended rectum that has taken control of Greg's Twitter account claims to have done it by a SIM swap. That's likely, given some of the other things that got tweeted out by the same UPoDR. That also makes it likely that Greg has lost, or may soon lose, control of his email account. A SIM swap gives the attacker control of the victim's mobile phone, effectively, and through that, anything that connects to that (meaning texts and voice calls, and all the things that use them for password resets or two-factor login). It is an ugly, vicious attack.

As a side result, if I were in the position, I would not trust any texts or emails from "Greg" to be authentic, maybe not even phone calls, unless I had a way to verify them that did not involve just texting him back.

That does not mean he would need a new email account, but what he needs to do (if not done already) is to get back with his mobile phone provider and report the problem. With any luck, they can get him back in control of his phone and then he can start getting back control of his accounts. 611 or *611 should work even if the phone is off-network.

I would never suggest that those with Greg's phone number ought to call it and, when it's answered, play things like dogs barking Jingle Bells as loudly as possible, even though they'll be going to the crook until the SIM swap is undone. That would be petty (and also not very effective).
morrand - [morrand276 at gmail dot com]
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 6:53:39 pm EST from 99.74.15.252

That sucks. Is he gonna change his email too?
Anonymous
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 3:19:27 pm EST from 193.56.113.47

ANONYMOUS>

It is not.

Greg Weisman has gotten off of Twitter. Permanently.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 3:15:47 pm EST from 67.189.167.107

Is this really Greg's new X account?

https://twitter.com/Greg_Weisman/status/1735110683128483951
Anonymous
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 3:14:09 pm EST from 193.56.113.14

Blaise and Craig> Sympathy and best wishes for your cat.
Antiyonder
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 3:06:47 am EST from 71.84.183.196

Kate> Your story sounds interesting, keep us posted on that.

Blaise> For starters, I hope your kitty gets better.

On a another note, I'd like to bring up your topic on the "Retired Monster" trope, and what happens when villainy gets to be too much of an effort for a villain. I think I've heard an expression somewhere about how anger and hatred are draining forces and those steeped in it must constantly find new things or people to rage against or they end up burnt-out and hollow.

One of the best stories to examine a retired monster came from the Astro City story "Tarnished Angels" which follows a recently paroled B-lister supervillain. While he certainly isn't on the whole regretful for his past, he's not going out of his way to return to his criminal life. He's over the hill and no longer has any illusions about ever being able to make the big score that will set him up for life. At the same time, his record and condition (he has metal skin like Colossus but can turn it off) make trying to find honest work nearly impossible.

It further examines the number of other B-listers and how they came to end up where they are. Many of them are from poor backgrounds and neighborhoods where the big, inspirational super heroes don't visit. Others are disgruntled, working class schmoes or victims of mad science who can't go back to normal. The sad fact is that many of these folks generally rely on the leadership of smarter, more well financed, and some times just more ruthless supervillains in need of hired muscle. And they get caught up in that cycle committing crimes, getting crime, getting released and sliding back to crime until they either die or get too old to keep going on.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Thu, Dec 14, 2023 2:27:01 am EST from 64.85.245.77

MATT - [Maybe that is coming in the inevitable Trio chat.] And I still like to imagine that as taking place while the trio are fighting the masked kidnappers. (The fact that the Brooklyn mask clearly matches the "pre-Timedancer" version of him would certainly provide room for some commentary on how Brooklyn's changed.)

CRAIG - Sorry to hear about your cat as well.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 7:11:20 pm EST from 174.72.60.154

Blaise > Sorry to hear about your cat. I've been going through something similar with my fur baby this year. She first had nasal lymphoma, and thankfully responded incredibly well to chemo. But they now found more in her pharynx, so we're back to chemo again after hoping we were in the clear for awhile. It's definitely not fun, and makes you remember to cherish every moment you can. As a brief PSA: I recommend every pet owner get pet insurance. I've been paying them for years without any return on investment (my insurance doesn't cover routine visits), but now that my cat needs expensive treatments, I'm so incredibly glad I have it, and they have been very good at paying the claims very quickly.
Craig
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 2:10:57 pm EST from 24.46.160.49

Good stuff, Blaise. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I agree that Demona might eventually enter into a "i'm not going to try anymore" mentality. Maybe that is where she is at at the start of 2198.

I also appreciate your thoughts on Brooklyn. It would be nice to see some more of the clan's reactions to his new age and appearance and wisdom and experiences. Maybe that is coming in the inevitable Trio chat.
Matt
"And, thus, given no choice, we waited..." - Alesand, "The Reach"
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 10:14:29 am EST from 204.184.178.1

Welcome back, Blaise! Great to have you here again, and to read your latest issue review. My best wishes to your cat, as well, and hope that she'll be all right.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 7:52:36 am EST from 174.72.60.154

Over the past few days I've been working on a story involving the London Clan and have nearly driven myself mad in making sure I'm staying within the canon's walls, as well as double checking that I don't write in something or some reference that'd be out of place in the mid 90's. I've always found it fun to try and work in little side plots that don't overlap with the observed narrative.

I rewatched M.I.A (This'll be the first episode I've seen more than once given how I only got into the series at the start of the year) and jotted some notes down about character lines and little details that wouldn't be readily available on the wiki. The rewatch left me wanting to see how Leo and Una really process the situation of their friend popping up again after being gone for 50 years. Then I realized that was part of the reason why I was writing my fic and laughed.

Blaise> I'm wishing you some better weeks ahead and that your cat gets well! Also adding Unforgiven to my movie watch list. The retired villain seems like a very interesting path they could go with Demona, that's something that's well within possibility given she has potentially forever to go down that route. She has to tire out eventually right?
Kate
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 2:22:36 am EST from 208.102.156.56

****Blaise staggers into the Room, conjures up an overstuffed chair, and flops into it.****
FOURTH...I guess.
So...bit of an interesting couple of weeks. Well, the week after U.S. Thanksgiving was just weird (break-in at the day job, getting cast as background on a show which then had to cancel the day before the shoot, and a neighbor knocking off the passenger-side mirror of my car--they paid to fix it, though), and last week has been mostly just recovering from the previous week. Also, my cat now has health issues (place your bets: is it IBD or small cell lymphoma?) I now have to deal with (mostly by giving her 1.5 pills every day...oh, and the vet bills).
Pity: it seems I missed quite the discussion...

REFORMATION, REDEMPTION, RE--, RE--, RE--...> I wish I had more to add here, but I think most things have already been said. Particularly by Ed--great post! I suppose if I had to add anything, it would be:

1) I can't say exactly what makes a "redemption arc" work for me in a work of fiction. I know when I feel like it's done well and when I feel like it isn't. But the details that go into the successful versions (Zuko from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" for example) are harder for me to put into words. Some of it, I think, is the ability to empathize (not just sympathize) with the character--realize that "There but for the grace of God go I" sort of thing. But also a character showing a recognition of their transgressions (the people they hurt, etc.), acknowledging not just that what they did was wrong but WHY it was wrong, and what they do with that recognition are a part of it. Of course, the characterization of the villain beforehand plays a part: it's easier to show the "Noble Demon" or "Well-Intentioned Extremist" making a Heel-Face Turn than the "Ax Crazy" serial killer or the gleefully evil "Card-Carrying Villain" (man, I am referencing TV Tropes a LOT right now...). And then there's the question of how do you write/portray the character after that point. I suppose there's a reason "Redemption Equals Death" is such a common trope: you get the "reformation," the "act of atonement" and the "punishment" all in one fell swoop and don't have to worry about any awkward interactions between the redeemed and their former victims or families of victims afterwards.
Also, I'll admit, even if I personally want to believe in redemption and reformation, and love it when it's done well...the primitive reptile part of my brain loves seeing a villain I particularly hate PAY (see Frollo in Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"). So that's always a part of it.

2) There's another trope: the "Retired Monster." It's like a former villain...but without redemption or often even any reformation. This was a character who never underwent a Heel-Face Turn--they didn't stop doing bad things because they really recognized them as wrong and felt bad, but because committing them was just too much trouble or they just didn't enjoy it anymore or something similar. An example of this could be William Munny from "Unforgiven" (that movie's been on my mind lately): basically a mass-murdering outlaw who stopped when he settled down and married a good woman, and was reluctant to be pulled back into the life during the events of the movie, but never really did the whole "atonement" thing. And without his wife, and with enough motivation (the death of a friend), he falls back into his ruthless ways pretty quick (at least for one night).
Why do I bring this up? Folks have talked and debated about Demona's redemption for just under 30 years now, but what if her ultimate fate (or at least a phase she goes through) is something a little closer to this? The Retired Monster? Seeing the tragedies and pain in Demona's life have made many of us wish she could be redeemed, but what if the closest she gets to that is just...no longer trying to commit genocide and world domination without any real contrition for the things she's already done? A somewhat bleak prospect, perhaps, but it could be interesting (even as just a phase on the way to a possible reformation--she could live long enough!).

Speaking of Demona, though, it's time for me to play catch up on another issue.
EVERYWHERE> Demona returns! And it’s the first time in the “present day” of the series since “Invitation Only” when she grabbed that Atlantean crystal from the remains of the Praying Gargoyle. Well, okay, for the first three pages she’s Domique Destine, a distinction she seems to draw herself, but still. Yeah, she’s also our narrator for this issue, so we’re getting a clearer look inside her head than ever before. Some of what's revealed by her thoughts is already known by longtime fans, like how she finds her human form “disturbing and distasteful” but admitting it has its advantages--like driving up to her home in broad daylight. Of course, the follow-up to that (“and not a single human thinks to scream. More fool they”) is a wonderfully evocative bit that, to me, shows just how much she wants to be “The Dreaded” (to borrow from TV Tropes again) to the species she hates so much. Kind of like if the main character in “I Am Legend” *liked* what future generations of the new people would think of him. Only I think that Demona doesn’t want to be a mere “legend...”

Still, it’s a little fun to see her do something so mundane as turning on the News as she prepares for the evening (yeah, so turns out she *doesn’t* always rip her clothes). Of course she shuts it off the *instant* Elisa comes on. HA!
By the way, I LOVE how she meticulously separates all her usual accoutrements in the closet, even carefully folding her strips of cloth and belt. Maybe it’s because I’m a sloppy middle-aged bachelor, but I’m nowhere near that neat.
Anyway, Demona changes...and then transforms (in that great 2-page spread by Kambadais) and gets to work casting a spell. The LAST spell from the Grimorum Arcanorum! And even more surprising, it’s not in Latin! Not only do I like this little touch, but it’s nice to know that the Grimorum accumulated more spells throughout the years, even in languages different from its original author. Makes one wonder if proper spells could be written in the modern vernacular. Regardless of the language, this spell appears to be a bit more involved than the usual ones we’ve seen, taking nearly FOUR HOURS of chanting for Demona to succeed. Yeesh! I’ve been hyper-focused on things myself (usually video games), but I would still need a bathroom break sometime! At any rate she succeeds, and we see windows (for lack of a better word) looking in on Broadway and Lexington with Slaughter being attacked by Cybots, Brooklyn along with Angela and Hudson..and one of Goliath..and one of Bronx. Okay, so something that threw me off a little here: Demona is using the blood samples in the robotic mosquitos from “The Reckoning” for the sympathetic magic aspect of the spell, but when did the mosquitoes get Goliath and Bronx? I can imagine Demona wanting samples from them, but would Thailog want or need samples from Goliath? Then again, it wasn't too long long after that when Thailog staged an attack on the clan to get a *whole lot* of blood samples on Halloween in “Bash”, so I’m probably wrong about that. And now I’m wondering if part of the reason he had to do that was because Demona absconded with the leftover samples they already had. Anyway, like I said, that was a bit of “Fridge Logic” that occurred to me as I was reading, but however she got the samples, she got them so--[shrug].

Of course, more concerning: this means Demona knows about Egwardo.

But to the “windows!” We first catch up with the Cybot attack. I kind of love Broadway’s escalating “Ow” reaction, capping it off with (unknowingly) echoing Goliath from “Outfoxed”: “That stings!” The sheer number of Cybots is the real problem, but Lex (who has apparently studied these things because of course he has) figures they’re being controlled remotely and starts tracing the signal back to its source. He’s hesitant to leave Broadway, but the larger gargoyle just says “I’ll manage” and yells at him to go.
Demona takes a moment to channel the Wicked Witch of the West ("Fly my pretty") before turning to Goliath’s scene (with the remark that his wings “have most assuredly been clipped”). Goliath and Tobe Crest finally meet! Although the guard is being a dick about it, calling Goliath a “thing” and all. Is there such a thing as “reverse karma?” Like, maybe this future behavior is why the guard got whammied by Coyote back in “Leader of the Pack”? Tobe’s response to the guard (“He is not a thing!”) looks particularly intense. I don’t know all the details behind Tobe (who hired him, what ulterior motives there might be, etc.), but I really feel like at least part of the reason he’s doing all this is because he really *believes* in doing it. That this is important (if not personal) to him. Or he’s just a really good lawyer. Or both.
Still it's great that Goliath finally talks with Tobe. I’m liking the dialogue here: some echoes of things said in earlier episodes (“That’s one thing we have in common” and “Humans fear what they don’t understand”). That latter statement, Goliath says he’s all too aware of...and Demona practically gloats “such bitter truths, hm Goliath?” As if she’s thinking he’s learning something or being brought low when, as far as I can tell, he’s been pretty clear-eyed about this situation being a possibility from the start. Of course, that’s Demona’s perception of the world at work.

And with that perspective, she figures he’s going to be in the cell a long time and questions whether the rest of the clan, in particular Broadway and Lex at the moment, can survive without him. Of course they can, and they do, although Broadway gets by with a little help from Slaughter (love the latter's “Don’t mention it. I mean seriously, DON’T mention it. None of this is good for my rep”). Lex finds and attacks the car with Glasses and Pal Joey. I thoroughly enjoy Joey’s rising panic as Lex closes in on them and smashes through the windshield. All Lex does, though, is filch the RECAP visor (is this the first time we’ve seen Glasses without his glasses?), but Joey *still* needs the more level-headed Glasses to tell him to reverse the care out of there. With their flight and Lex breaking the visor, the attempt on Slaugher’s life has failed, but Glasses ominously notes that Dino “planned for something like this, too.” But for the moment the battle is over, and both the gargoyles and Slaughter aren’t exactly thrilled at the whole “I owe you my life” thing (and Broadway even makes sure to wreck Slaughter’s gun for good measure). Either way, it’s a victory for the good guys..and all Demona can think is “was that test too easy--or could it be that your clan doesn’t need you anymore, Goliath?” That sentiment of Demona's annoyed me a surprising amount (in a good way). I mean, wouldn’t being able to handle situations like this mean that Goliath’s trained them well? But I guess that’s just Demona’s view of leadership in a nutshell, isn’t it? That a "true leader" would be essential to *everything* that a clan does, and they would be completely lost without them?

But back to Goliath and Tobe Crest. The subject of character witnesses comes up, and Halcyon Renard is mentioned right off the bat (naturally). Xanatos is mentioned next...and discarded just as quickly (fun little bit that). Then Tobe brings up Elisa. I have to admit: I was speed-reading a bit when I first went through this issue and completely missed Tobe’s misspelling/mispronunciation of Elisa’s name as “Eliza.” It’s a humorous nod to how surprisingly often that seems to happen, even amongst declared fans of the show. Misspelling it I could understand, I guess, but how do you not know how it’s pronounced?! I’ve started to have wild ideas of creating a supercut video of *every* *single* *instance* of Elisa’s name being said in the series and whenever someone pronounces it as “Eliza” sending them the video (or at least a link to it). But back to the story: Goliath does not want Elisa involved in this as he doesn’t want her to “publicly tie her fortunes” to his, and he cuts off Tobe before the lawyer can try to argue otherwise. Now the question of “who’s paying for this” comes up, and all Tobe can say is that he’s “not at liberty to reveal that information at this time,” something that piques the curiosity of the audience, including Demona. She even asks the right question: “what will they claim in return?”

Now, however, we check in with Brooklyn, who is beyond pissed at Broadway and Lexington going AWOL. He’s even threatening to take away “all their kitchen, library and computer privileges” (OUCH, hitting them where it hurts!). Angela tries reason with Brooklyn that they’re not children, to which Brooklyn responds that they “shouldn’t act like children.” Since he’s mostly been used to parenting his kid, it’s probably not a huge surprise that he sometimes defaults to that sort of “Dad” mindset, however, these lines also brought something else to my mind: the TGC episode “Runaways” (apologies to everyone for this). Honest question: did anybody else read those lines and (even for a moment) remember when a similar exchange took place in that episode? Only there it was *about* Brooklyn, and here he’s on the other side. I just find it funny. And feel that this is better, too.

Well, Broadway and Lexington return and Brooklyn is not happy (“reprobates?” I like that), but Broadway and Lex are just too jazzed right now. Love the “high eight” bit, the two brothers talking up each other’s contributions to the win, and Hudson’s smile. Unfortunately, Brooklyn still doesn’t share in their joy, and Demona takes some time to, of course, gloat about Brooklyn's leadership struggles. But she doesn’t say anything about Brooklyn’s appearance (or anything about Eggwardo earlier, for that matter), leading me to believe this isn’t the first time she’s done this spell and spied on them. On that note...

One thing I wanted to see but have yet to in these comics (in no small part due to the 4-5 month time skip between “Clan-Building” and “Here in Manhattan”) is someone--anyone--reacting to “Future Bad@$$” Brooklyn and his family. But so far, the only reactions we’ve seen have been the few quick ones at the end of “Phoenix” and we haven’t even seen him interact with anyone outside the clan yet. I don’t need everything to stop for a huge “Brooklyn?! WTF happened?!” event, but I just would have liked to see a few more reactions to the change. But, that’s just me.

For now, Demona is done invading the privacy of her “once and future clan” (oh, the sheer denial and arrogance..actually, maybe it’s just being privy to her thoughts, but Demona just felt more “smug” as a whole to me throughout this whole issue). She now turns the spell to looking for the “Three Keys to Power.” Well, she finds out what happened to the original lot, treating us to cameos from the Archmage, Odin, and even the Phoenix. The last of these spurs Demona to remark that it’s presence explains “many a mystery I’ve encountered across my long life” and, oh, the implications...

However, those three Keys no longer exist, so no worries. Except, Demona says that “the universe abhors a vacuum” (really? Most of it seems to be vacuum, but OK), and that her “most recent research” suggests that there are three NEW Keys to Power (and we probably already know one of them, at least). And now she’s starting to look for them to A) destroy humanity, and B) take over the world (of course!).

This comic lives up to its title as we catch up with multiple things going on at multiple locations. Demona is just an observer for the most part in this issue (barring the ending where her Evil Plan (tm) gets underway), but hearing her thoughts is fascinating. It really shows her worldview and, coupled with her being able to look in on the Manhattan clan whenever she wants (and can spare about 4 hours), really heightens her threat level to me. Like I said earlier, I was surprised by how much more smug she felt to me here than before, but that’s a combination of the situation and her inner monologue. At any rate, I’m looking forward to the next 5-issue story arc next year. A good issue!

And, of course, I love the “In memory of Michael Reaves” at the end...


Okay, I have to try to get some sleep now and prepare for the rest of the week.
****Blaise snaps his fingers and the chair he's sitting in floats into the air and out of the Room.****
Blaise
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."--The Doctor
posted @ Tue, Dec 12, 2023 1:21:21 am EST from 45.48.54.221

Third (again)
Phil - [p1anderson at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Mon, Dec 11, 2023 10:34:02 am EST from 50.192.123.171

Second!
Matt
"And, thus, given no choice, we waited..." - Alesand, "The Reach"
posted @ Mon, Dec 11, 2023 8:22:50 am EST from 204.184.178.1

First.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Mon, Dec 11, 2023 7:27:43 am EST from 174.72.60.154