Once Upon A Time There Were Three Brothers...
"Once Upon A Time There Were Three Brothers..." is a piece of prose fiction originally written by Greg Weisman in 1997 about the death of Maol Chalvim I and his three sons: Duff, Kenneth II, and Prince Malcolm, as well as the usurping Indulf and Culen. The story was later adapted and published with each issue of Gargoyles: Dark Ages and is meant to serve as a prequel to the prequel series. Part One was adapted in "The Reach". [1] Part Two was adapted in both "The Draw" and "The Oath". [2] Part Three was adapted in both "The Promise" and "The Dream". [3] Part Four was adapted in "The Pledge". [4]
Production Background
As an Ask Greg exclusive, it was updated whenever Greg Weisman was inspired or if the mood struck him. [5][6] In 2003, Greg considered it to be his first “attempt at Fan Fiction.” [7]
A Part Five was initially planned to cover what life at the rookery was like before Castle Wyvern was built. Three years after Part Four was released, Greg remarked that the story was still “unfinished.” [8] Seven months later though he rambled that it better served as a prequel, writing, "the last posted chapter of three brothers wound up being the last chapter of that little story period. Because '3Bros' really wound up being just a prologue to DARK AGES. And where '3Bros' leaves off is in fact right at the beginning of where DARK AGES begins." [9]
