Shahrizad

Shari in 1996

Shari is a human female and a member of the ninth rank of the Illuminati. She is also Thailog's executive assistant. In 971 AD, she was known as Shahrizad while Alesand referred to her as the Dark Lady.

History

Shahrizad tells a story in 971.

In 971 AD, a troupe of entertainers called the Light-Bringers traveled to Wyvern Hill shortly after construction on Castle Wyvern began. Known at that time only as Shahrizad, the storyteller, gathered several of the locals - noble and peasant; human and gargoyle - around and began telling the story of the Three Brothers. ("The Promise")

In 1996 AD, now known as Shari, for reasons not yet known, infiltrated the Labyrinth on Halloween, and met Talon, Maggie and Claw, as well as Goliath and Brooklyn. Upon meeting the clones, she asked Al to tell her of their origins. ("Invitation Only")

After Thailog attacked the Labyrinth, and took back control of the clones, Shari volunteered to head to the Eyrie Building to warn Goliath. ("Masque") But, she was lying as she next showed up at Nightstone Unlimited and, after offering to become Thailog's new executive assistant, revealed to him that she was a high-ranking member of the Illuminati. ("Bash") Thailog brought Shari into his service and she began telling him a series of stories (generally shortly before Thailog turned to stone at dawn). ("Reunion", "The Rock", "Rock & Roll", "Rock of Ages".)

She continues to spend time in the Labyrinth during the day, ("The Lost") and acts as a spy for Thailog. When Maggie the Cat went into labor, Shari informed Thailog and was later surprised when she learned that Thailog had let them all go. A few nights later, she watched Goliath's hearing on television with Thailog. ("A Little Crazy," "Miracle Child", "New Rules")

Characteristics

Thailog carries Shari. A dark mirror image of Goliath and Elisa.

Shari's Illuminati pendant.

Shari (pronounced "Share-ee") is apparently a young woman of Arab ethnicity. [1][2] However, given the Illuminati's use of rejuvenation drugs, she may be older than she appears.

Shari has described herself as "partial to long stories" as well as a "storyteller". She has expressed the desire to be told stories by others (for example Al in the Labyrinth) and tell stories to others (for example Thailog). Shari usually begins her stories with the phrase "The story is told - though who can say if it be true - . . ."

Shari is Thailog's assistant even though she is much higher in Illuminati rank. Given Thailog's personality, it is unlikely he views anyone as his superior. Despite her higher rank, Thailog has threatened Shari on several occasions, despite the threats Shari never seems to be afraid of Thailog. It is most likely that they each see themselves as the other's superior and both believe that they are only humoring the other by letting them believe otherwise.

Appearances

• "Invitation Only" (First Appearance)
• "Masque"
• "Bash"
• "Reunion"
• "The Rock"
• "Rock & Roll"
• "The Lost" (No Lines)
• "Rock of Ages"
• "A Little Crazy"
• "Idyll or Nightmare"
• "Miracle Child"
• "The Reach"
• "The Draw"
• "The Oath"
• "New Rules" (No Lines)
• "The Promise"

Production Background

Shari character sketch by David Hedgecock

Zehra Fazal

While Disney rarely found any issue to address in the Gargoyles comic, one critique was Shari's "The story is told . . ." introductions, which they felt was too awkward. Ultimately, the introductions were kept. [3]

While writing for the comic book, Greg Weisman mentally casts new characters so he can hear a voice. For Shari, his actor of choice is Zehra Fazal. [4] Zehra was even used as a real life model for Shari's design. Zehra played Shari in the 2009 Gathering Radio Play, "Religious Studies 101: A Handful of Thorns". She also lends her voice to the characters of Halo and Cassandra Savage in the third season of Young Justice.

Additionally Zehra voiced General Yunan in episodes of Amphibia, one of which is the Season 2 finale "True Colors", that includes a reference to Gargoyles and has Keith David as the voice of King Andrias.

Back when Marvel Comics held the license to Gargoyles, Zehra wrote a letter to the creative team stating Elisa to be a favorite character of hers. The letter saw print in Issue 4.

The Gargoyles podcast, Voices from the Eyrie, launched in 2021 and the introduction was narrated by Zehra Fazal opening with the phrase that Shari begins each of her stories with. [5] While it has yet to be confirmed in the podcast itself, it's unlikely that this is a coincidence.

See Also

• Shari speaks!