Gargoyles holds a space in my heart right next to Firefly and Star Trek: Enterprise. All of the above were epic series with amazing potential canceled before their time. Gargoyles has a great deal of apocrypha, surrounding the intended plans for the series before cancellation. Though I hoped the comic book published by SLG comics would have developed the ideas, alas it wasn’t in the cards.
I recently came across the Young Justice series on cartoon network. The series is written by Greg Weisman the creator and producer of Gargoyles. The series’s writing is tight and develops a great overarching mythos. It generates a portrait of the DC universe that is equal to, if not superior to the DCAU. What’s more, is that itIt comes embodies the closest thing to a spiritual successor to Gargoyles.
Both Gargoyles and DC’s universes have many of the same elements. Magic and science exist in concert with one another. Goliath, may be the perfect amalgamation of Superman, and Batman. Goliath is one of the last of his kind, a noble and good leader, and the physically strongest being on Earth, much like Superman. With Batman he shares a fiercely terrfying visage, tragic origin as an orphan, and the tendency to brood. Lex Luthor, shares much with Gargoyles baddie, David Xanatos. Both are billionaires who have an uncanny talent for manipulation. Gargoyles and Young Justice even share many of the same voice actors. However the Gargolyes/Young Justice Link is strongest with gargoyles apocryphal storyline.
It was revealed in various episodes of Gargoyles that a global conspiracy, known as the Illuminati is manipulating world events to unknow ends. They are involved in controlling various mystical artifacts and technological marvels. Their structure is elaborated upon in the comic showing various notable members throughout the world. Their top ranked leader is an immortal, Sir Peredur fab Ragnal one of the Knights of the Round Table. Eventually aliens called the “Space Spawn”, described in the episode the Sentinel would have attempted to invade the Gargoyle’s version of Earth. Instead of fighting them, the Illuminati would have joined forces with them.
Now to Young Justice. Instead of the Illuminati we are presented with the Light, a cabal of the world’s greatest villains. They are divided into a hierarchical structure. The immortal Leader instead of being Sir Peredur is none other than Vandal Savage. Season two of Young Justice revolves around the team trying to discover the details of a secret alien invasion. Instead of the “Space Spawn”, the aliens are the Reach. The Light is their partner enabling them to conquer Earth. Illuminati even translates to “the enlightened” which isn’t a big stretch to see where the Light got their name from.
I’m not saying that the two shows are the same. Gargoyles is a show primarily about acceptance, and forgiveness. The main characters are non humans trying to make a place for themselves in the world and trying to protect the innocent. Young Justice is a coming of age about fledgling heroes in the World of Superman and Batman. Its just nice to see such epic ideas put too good use.
