>What did the first bit have to do with anything, unless I'm missing
>something obvious?

Brave and the Bold, the show G borrowed the title from, always had a mostly separate little story before the opening credits.

>Couldn't Gryphon have just Lensed them? Did they all just not
>recognize him from the news, and their galactic history classes?
>Certainly he of all people is much more than a mere civilian,
>and capable of handling himself?

Regardless of the fact he's there officially, flashing his Lens on Earth in 2411 seems to be a method to inviting trouble. And hey, we can now confirm that Gryphon has not actually met everyone ever.

... Baron Zoria, Blues player. Dear GOD...

Matrix Dragon, J. Random Nutter