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Originally Posted by judyindisguise
I confess I have no idea why Gargoyles has generated such fan enthusiasm. I've always thought it was a "borrowing" from Batman: TAS (certainly the drawing style and dramatic tone was very similar to Batman's). But I appreciate fan enthusiasm of any toon. So why is this gathering the last?
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1. The convention is very costly to put together as it is done solely by the fans. I believe the reasons for this being the last one is due to lack of attendances in the past conventions and the economy rearing it's ugly head.
2. The shows may look similar, but only at face value. Here are some differences from Greg Weisman himself:
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Random thoughts on the differences between Gargoyles and Batman:
--Batman was traumatized as a child, by witnessing the death of his parents, which left him totally alone and psychologically scarred for life.
--Goliath had a major tragedy occur in his life, but it happened when he was an adult. He was not left totally alone. He is mature enough to realize that bad things can happen to good gargoyles and he is creating a positive life for himself and his clan.
--Batman fights criminals because of a deep-psychological need to stop their evil.
--Goliath and the gargoyles protect the innocent because they are protective by nature. It is a very primal instinct to them. They are not taking eternal vengeance.
--Batman is one man in a suit. (Two men if you count Robin.) He wears a mask to protect his secret identity.
--There are six gargoyles, each with unique personalities. And they are a different species -- monsters. Nothing put on. No secret identies. No posing as normal. Very little technology.
--Gotham City is New York at it's worst. Dark, ugly, cynical.
--Goliath's Manhattan is a dangerous but beautiful place, w/a rich colorful palate. A place of Hope.
--Batman faces a colorful array of villains, all with their own separate backstories.
--The Gargoyles face a colorful array of villains, whose backstories intertwine with the gargoyle's own rich history in ancient Scotland and modern Manhattan.
--Batman is reality based w/a few exaggerations and sci-fi elements thrown in.
--Gargoyles is more fantastic. Magic is quantifiable, but it exists. Immortals and sorcerers walk the earth.
--Batman is a man for his time.
--The gargoyles are creatures who are displaced in time trying to adjust to the modern world.
--Batman has no regular female character (unless you count villains like Poison Ivy or the occasional use of Batgirl.)
--The gargoyles are supported by Elisa Maza, a strong, capable but tender, female New York Police detective.
--Batman wears a cape.
--The gargoyles have wings which can fold over like a cape, but can also be used to glide through the air, simulating true flight.
--Batman wears a utility belt with gadgets included.
--Gargoyles don't. Hudson wears a sword though.
--Batman wears boots.
--Gargoyles are barefoot.
--Batman doesn't have super-human strength or powerful claws or a tail.
--The gargoyles do.
--Batman doesn't turn to stone every morning and then explode out of stone every night.
--Gargoyles do.
--Batman doesn't have a dog.
--Gargoyles have Bronx.
--Bruce Wayne has nearly unlimited wealth to subsidize his heroics with technology.
--Xanatos has nearly unlimited wealth to subsidize his villainy with technology. The gargoyles have a medium-sized t.v. set and a used barca-lounger.
--The Batcave is a high-tech top secret location located underneath stately Wayne Manor.
--The clock tower is a low-tech place to hide above the police precint in Manhattan.
--Batman has a butler.
--The gargoyles don't.
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A couple aspects may have changed, but the rest is valid. The underlined ones are what I believe to best differentiate the two.
2a. But to go further. Someone said it best that Batman The Animated Series is a series of mini movies. Gargoyles on the other hand is like a long series of books. Each episode builds the storyline up (introduces a new character, storyline and changes the status quo).
2b. Much like Avatar after it, Gargoyles doesn't have the luxury of having a previous source material to draw stories from. The writers and creative team actually have to come up with their own stuff.
Not to knock the DCAU or The Spectacular Spider-Man as they are top quality shows, but with them you have the benefit of taking workable concepts and improving/ditching concepts that didn't work to make a decent story.
With shows like Gargoyles you're pretty much on your own, and to create a show like that from scratch is no small accomplishment.
06-24-2009, 07:30 AM
