NOTE: Art From Gargoyles # 5 No final G:Bad Guys Art Ready At Press Time.
BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO Some of the worst villains from the eclectic world of the Gargoyles are getting a chance to prove they might not be all that bad in the appropriately titled "Gargoyles: Bad Guys" limited series from Greg Weisman and Karine Charlebois. Weisman told us what it's like turning the tables for Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Yama and Fang.
THE PULSE: When I heard that Bad Guys was taking some of the Gargoyles' villains: Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Yama and Fang; and having them be "good guys," I kind of thought of the Suicide Squad or Thunderbolts or other stories where we've seen this happen. Who or what influenced your decision the most to do an adventure of this sort?
GREG WEISMAN: My main influence is the movie "The Dirty Dozen," and it wouldn't surprise me if that was a major influence upon those other series as well. But the biggest reason to do this was because the characters' throughline seemed to demand it. It was where they were headed next.
THE PULSE: For our readers not entrenched in the Gargoyle's lore. Who are Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Yama and Fang? What powers/abilities do each of these villains possess?
WEISMAN: Hunter is Robyn Canmore, a member of the Scotish Canmore Clan of Gargoyle Hunters. She has no super-human powers, but she's an impressive and resourceful fighter. Dingo is Harry Monmouth, a weapons-master from Australia, who had a long career as a mercenary and a brief career as a television star. He has no super-powers of his own, but he can merge with Matrix, an artificial hive-mind intelligence comprised of millions of nanobots. Matrix can reform his body into any shape, including battle armor for Dingo to wear. Matrix can also absorb and incorporate technology of almost any kind. Yama is a tengu, i.e. a gargoyle, of the Ishimura Clan of Japan. He can glide on his wings and is tremendously strong. In addition, he's trained as a samurai. Fang is a mutate, i.e. a human mutated by science into a were-cat-bat-electric eel. He's strong; he can fly, and he can fire electric bolts from his hands. He's also extremely obnoxious.
THE PULSE: What problem could arise that it would take those villains to save the day instead of the Gargoyles or police or other protectors?
WEISMAN: The series is more international in scope than Gargoyles usually is. These Bad Guys are worldwide trouble-shooters with a base in Paris.
THE PULSE: What's it like getting to give Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Yama and Fang the spotlight in this type of story instead of having them as the "evil" in Gargoyles?
WEISMAN: It's a lot of fun to watch them struggle against their nastier impulses.
THE PULSE: Since these are characters from the Gargoyles universe and since the Gargoyles have a huge fan following, will we be seeing any of them in these pages? Are the Gargoyles supporting players?
WEISMAN: There will be characters crossing from the main Gargoyles series into Bad Guys, but none of the leads -- at least not in this first mini-series. It seemed important to make sure the Bad Guys could stand on their own ten feet.
THE PULSE: In Suicide Squad and other tales like this, we've seen the villains offered a clean slate and redemption for past infractions if they participate in the group. What kind of "reward" are these villains offered to fight fire with fire?
NOTE: Art From Gargoyles # 5 No final G:Bad Guys Art Ready At Press Time.
WEISMAN: Each character has a carrot and a stick to keep them motivated. But Redemption is the major theme of this first mini-series.
THE PULSE: Which, if any, other bad guys are made this offer but refuse?
WEISMAN: That would be telling.
THE PULSE: How much debate is there among Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, Yama and Fang either individually or as a group about whether or not to accept these terms?
WEISMAN: Lots. No one quite goes quietly.
THE PULSE: Freedom would be a strong motivating factor, but are any of them truly trying to repent here?
WEISMAN: All of them, actually, though some are more conscious of the motivation than others.
THE PULSE: What other factors are influencing these villains?
WEISMAN: Family. Authority. Lust. Curiosity. Fear. Hunger. Loneliness. Even nobility.
THE PULSE: How did you come to collaborate with Karine Charlebois on this story? What other work has she done in and around the field of comics?
WEISMAN: Karine and I go back over ten years. We met at the first Gathering of the Gargoyles (our annual convention, www.gatheringofthegargoyles.com). She was a talented fan artist, who over the years became an even more talented pro. She did a wonderful job on a fill-in for us on the main book. And we were thrilled to get her for Bad Guys.
THE PULSE: How many parts is Bad Guys? What are your goals for this story?
NOTE: Art From Gargoyles # 5 No final G:Bad Guys Art Ready At Press Time.
WEISMAN: This is a six-issue limited series telling one multi-faceted story that brings the team together. In success, I'd love to do more.
THE PULSE: How is working on this different from the other versions of the Gargoyles you've worked on before?
WEISMAN: It's tonally different. If Gargoyles is a gothic symphony, Bad Guys is sixties guitar rock. Everyone's a lot less polite.
THE PULSE: What other projects are you working on in and around the comics industry?
WEISMAN: Well, of course, I'm still doing the bi-monthly on-going Gargoyles comic for SLG. With both Gargoyles and Bad Guys on alternating bi-monthly schedules, the fans get (in essence) a monthly Garg-Universe fix. Otherwise, my full, full, full time job is as Supervising Producer of "The Spectacular Spider-Man" for Sony and Marvel. It will premiere on Kids WB in March of 2008.
The first part of Gargoyles: Bad Guys is supposed to be in stores this Winter.
Posts: 19969 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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I liked the Gagrgoyles comicbooks. I just wish they would come out more frequently. Looking forward to this miniseries. Posts: 229 | From: Lakewood, OH | Registered: Aug 2003
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