DIrishB
The Timeline Guy
Does anyone remember the show Gargoyles? It was on TV in the mid-1990's, an animated show done by Disney, and was actually a really good show.
It was about a group of Scottish Gargoyles (hence the name) from the late 900's AD who have a spell cast on them to sleep for a thousand years. They end up waking up in present day New York, when the castle they were perched on is bought by a wealthy businessman named Xanatos and moved to the top of his skyscraper brick by brick. Its this action which breaks their spell, and they awaken to a new world, all other Gargoyles since killed off. Alone and unfamiliar with their new world, they befriend a female detective named Elisa Maza. Over the course of the first season they learn Xanatos is corrupt and trying to merely use them, and also that a fellow Gargoyle, thought to be dead, is in fact alive. This one, named Demona, used to be the lover of the packs leader Goliath, but now is in league with Xanatos and their enemy.
The show features great animation (especially for ten years ago), a very gothic and dark like Batman-TAS. It also features surprisingly well-written storylines with a very well thought out continuity (they often reference events from other episodes without it being confusing had you never seen them). The most interesting aspect of the show is its running social commentary on humanity, both its good and bad traits. It also features moral lessons, as it was still aimed at children, but without adding hokey or stupid aspects in. This is probably why the show still has such a large following today, even among adults. The show features the voice talents of Keith David, Ed Asner, Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me; Sex, Lies, and Videotape), Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (both of Star Trek-TNG fame) so its a relatively well known cast.
Anyway, I was a fan of the show when I was younger, but eventually forgot about it once it went off the air. A few weeks ago I saw the first season collected on DVD at a local video store, and for nostalgia's sake I picked it up. It features the first 13 episodes of the first season. I sat down and watched them and was immediately reminded why I had liked and respected this show so much. Apparently the first volume of the second season is coming out the beginning of December, so I'll be sure to pick that up as well (the first season only had 13 episodes so is available complete in one DVD set, but the second had 52, so its being released in two volumes...no word yet on the third season). I'm also in the process of tracking down the Gargoyles comic series, which was done by Marvel starting in 1995 and only lasted 11 issues. Its nothing special in its own right, but it ties in nicely with the continuity of the show, again making direct reference to the show's episodes and taking place between the first and second season. Disney just signed a deal with Slave Labor Graphics to produce a new comic series based on Gargoyles, written by the show's creator and producer Greg Weisman. It should be hitting shelves in December or January, so I'll be picking that up as well.
Anyway, if you're interested give the show a chance. I know I enjoy it for what it is: a smart, entertaining cartoon with plenty of action and a great sense of humor. Check it out if you can, the first season DVD is available some places for only $15, the most expensive I've seen it is $25.
It was about a group of Scottish Gargoyles (hence the name) from the late 900's AD who have a spell cast on them to sleep for a thousand years. They end up waking up in present day New York, when the castle they were perched on is bought by a wealthy businessman named Xanatos and moved to the top of his skyscraper brick by brick. Its this action which breaks their spell, and they awaken to a new world, all other Gargoyles since killed off. Alone and unfamiliar with their new world, they befriend a female detective named Elisa Maza. Over the course of the first season they learn Xanatos is corrupt and trying to merely use them, and also that a fellow Gargoyle, thought to be dead, is in fact alive. This one, named Demona, used to be the lover of the packs leader Goliath, but now is in league with Xanatos and their enemy.
The show features great animation (especially for ten years ago), a very gothic and dark like Batman-TAS. It also features surprisingly well-written storylines with a very well thought out continuity (they often reference events from other episodes without it being confusing had you never seen them). The most interesting aspect of the show is its running social commentary on humanity, both its good and bad traits. It also features moral lessons, as it was still aimed at children, but without adding hokey or stupid aspects in. This is probably why the show still has such a large following today, even among adults. The show features the voice talents of Keith David, Ed Asner, Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me; Sex, Lies, and Videotape), Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (both of Star Trek-TNG fame) so its a relatively well known cast.
Anyway, I was a fan of the show when I was younger, but eventually forgot about it once it went off the air. A few weeks ago I saw the first season collected on DVD at a local video store, and for nostalgia's sake I picked it up. It features the first 13 episodes of the first season. I sat down and watched them and was immediately reminded why I had liked and respected this show so much. Apparently the first volume of the second season is coming out the beginning of December, so I'll be sure to pick that up as well (the first season only had 13 episodes so is available complete in one DVD set, but the second had 52, so its being released in two volumes...no word yet on the third season). I'm also in the process of tracking down the Gargoyles comic series, which was done by Marvel starting in 1995 and only lasted 11 issues. Its nothing special in its own right, but it ties in nicely with the continuity of the show, again making direct reference to the show's episodes and taking place between the first and second season. Disney just signed a deal with Slave Labor Graphics to produce a new comic series based on Gargoyles, written by the show's creator and producer Greg Weisman. It should be hitting shelves in December or January, so I'll be picking that up as well.
Anyway, if you're interested give the show a chance. I know I enjoy it for what it is: a smart, entertaining cartoon with plenty of action and a great sense of humor. Check it out if you can, the first season DVD is available some places for only $15, the most expensive I've seen it is $25.
