diff --git a/src/Plots.jl b/src/Plots.jl
index 899de166..6746edc1 100644
--- a/src/Plots.jl
+++ b/src/Plots.jl
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ export
 
     plot,
     plot!,
-    subplot,
-    subplot!,
+    # subplot,
+    # subplot!,
 
     current,
     default,
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ include("themes.jl")
 include("plot.jl")
 include("series_args.jl")
 include("series_new.jl")
-include("subplot.jl")
+# include("subplot.jl")
 include("layouts.jl")
 include("recipes.jl")
 include("animation.jl")
diff --git a/src/backends.jl b/src/backends.jl
index 8d76e2c8..cb5ccdad 100644
--- a/src/backends.jl
+++ b/src/backends.jl
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ subplot(pkg::AbstractBackend; kw...)                    = error("subplot($pkg; k
 subplot!(pkg::AbstractBackend, subplt::Subplot; kw...)  = error("subplot!($pkg, subplt; kw...) is not implemented")
 
 # don't do anything as a default
+_create_backend_figure(plt::Plot) = nothing
 _before_add_series(plt::Plot) = nothing
 _add_annotations{X,Y,V}(plt::Plot, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}}) = nothing
 _update_plot_pos_size(plt::AbstractPlot, d::KW) = nothing
diff --git a/src/backends/bokeh.jl b/src/backends/bokeh.jl
index 39048d3b..91044421 100644
--- a/src/backends/bokeh.jl
+++ b/src/backends/bokeh.jl
@@ -133,23 +133,24 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::BokehBackend, d::KW)
+# function _create_plot(pkg::BokehBackend, d::KW)
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{BokehBackend})
   # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
   # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
 
   datacolumns = Bokeh.BokehDataSet[]
   tools = Bokeh.tools()
   filename = tempname() * ".html"
-  title = d[:title]
-  w, h = d[:size]
-  xaxis_type = d[:xscale] == :log10 ? :log : :auto
-  yaxis_type = d[:yscale] == :log10 ? :log : :auto
-  # legend = d[:legend] ? xxxx : nothing
+  title = plt.plotargs[:title]
+  w, h = plt.plotargs[:size]
+  xaxis_type = plt.plotargs[:xscale] == :log10 ? :log : :auto
+  yaxis_type = plt.plotargs[:yscale] == :log10 ? :log : :auto
+  # legend = plt.plotargs[:legend] ? xxxx : nothing
   legend = nothing
   extra_args = KW()  # TODO: we'll put extra settings (xlim, etc) here
-  bplt = Bokeh.Plot(datacolumns, tools, filename, title, w, h, xaxis_type, yaxis_type, legend) #, extra_args)
+  Bokeh.Plot(datacolumns, tools, filename, title, w, h, xaxis_type, yaxis_type, legend) #, extra_args)
 
-  Plot(bplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+  # Plot(bplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/gadfly.jl b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
index 8f7756e8..b4f806e4 100644
--- a/src/backends/gadfly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
@@ -570,9 +570,12 @@ end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # create a blank Gadfly.Plot object
-function _create_plot(pkg::GadflyBackend, d::KW)
-    gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
-    Plot(gplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# function _create_plot(pkg::GadflyBackend, d::KW)
+#     gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
+#     Plot(gplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend})
+    createGadflyPlotObject(plt.plotargs)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
index b77667c7..832262cd 100644
--- a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
+++ b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
@@ -82,14 +82,16 @@ immutable GLScreenWrapper
     window
 end
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::GLVisualizeBackend, d::KW)
-  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
+# function _create_plot(pkg::GLVisualizeBackend, d::KW)
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend})
+  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend
   # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
 
   # TODO: this should be moved to the display method?
   w=GLVisualize.glscreen()
   @async GLVisualize.renderloop(w)
-  Plot(GLScreenWrapper(w), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+  GLScreenWrapper(w)
+  # Plot(GLScreenWrapper(w), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 9df82384..056cec38 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -848,9 +848,9 @@ function gr_display(subplt::Subplot{GRBackend})
   end
 end
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::GRBackend, d::KW)
-  Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
-end
+# function _create_plot(pkg::GRBackend, d::KW)
+#   Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
 
 function _add_series(::GRBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
   push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
diff --git a/src/backends/immerse.jl b/src/backends/immerse.jl
index a896b5ce..14d5ac0a 100644
--- a/src/backends/immerse.jl
+++ b/src/backends/immerse.jl
@@ -29,12 +29,15 @@ end
 
 
 # create a blank Gadfly.Plot object
-function _create_plot(pkg::ImmerseBackend, d::KW)
-  # create the underlying Gadfly.Plot object
-  gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
-
-  # save both the Immerse.Figure and the Gadfly.Plot
-  Plot((nothing,gplt), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# function _create_plot(pkg::ImmerseBackend, d::KW)
+#   # create the underlying Gadfly.Plot object
+#   gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
+#
+#   # save both the Immerse.Figure and the Gadfly.Plot
+#   Plot((nothing,gplt), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend})
+    (nothing, createGadflyPlotObject(plt.plotargs))
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
index acb8306b..ee6072da 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
@@ -229,11 +229,11 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::PGFPlotsBackend, d::KW)
-  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
-  # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
-  Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
-end
+# function _create_plot(pkg::PGFPlotsBackend, d::KW)
+#   # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
+#   # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
+#   Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
 
 
 function _add_series(::PGFPlotsBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
@@ -253,15 +253,15 @@ end
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _before_update_plot(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
-end
+# function _before_update_plot(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
+# end
 
 # TODO: override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc) after creation
 function _update_plot(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend}, d::KW)
 end
 
-function _update_plot_pos_size(plt::AbstractPlot{PGFPlotsBackend}, d::KW)
-end
+# function _update_plot_pos_size(plt::AbstractPlot{PGFPlotsBackend}, d::KW)
+# end
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ end
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_subplot(subplt::Subplot{PGFPlotsBackend}, isbefore::Bool)
-  # TODO: build the underlying Subplot object.  this is where you might layout the panes within a GUI window, for example
-  true
-end
+# function _create_subplot(subplt::Subplot{PGFPlotsBackend}, isbefore::Bool)
+#   # TODO: build the underlying Subplot object.  this is where you might layout the panes within a GUI window, for example
+#   true
+# end
 
 function _expand_limits(lims, plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend}, isx::Bool)
   # TODO: call expand limits for each plot data
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index 7c4466c5..4eb0d0d8 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::PlotlyBackend, d::KW)
-  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
-  # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
-  Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
-end
+# function _create_plot(pkg::PlotlyBackend, d::KW)
+#   # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
+#   # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
+#   Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
 
 
 function _add_series(::PlotlyBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
diff --git a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
index 8a9a7b5a..f1d0c449 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
@@ -96,16 +96,20 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::PlotlyJSBackend, d::KW)
-    # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
-    # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
-    # o = PlotlyJS.Plot(PlotlyJS.GenericTrace[], PlotlyJS.Layout(),
-    #                   Base.Random.uuid4(), PlotlyJS.ElectronDisplay())
-    # T = isijulia() ? PlotlyJS.JupyterPlot : PlotlyJS.ElectronPlot
-    # o = T(PlotlyJS.Plot())
-    o = PlotlyJS.plot()
+# function _create_plot(pkg::PlotlyJSBackend, d::KW)
+#     # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
+#     # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
+#     # o = PlotlyJS.Plot(PlotlyJS.GenericTrace[], PlotlyJS.Layout(),
+#     #                   Base.Random.uuid4(), PlotlyJS.ElectronDisplay())
+#     # T = isijulia() ? PlotlyJS.JupyterPlot : PlotlyJS.ElectronPlot
+#     # o = T(PlotlyJS.Plot())
+#     o = PlotlyJS.plot()
+#
+#     Plot(o, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# end
 
-    Plot(o, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
+    PlotlyJS.plot()
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index 3b81e493..0eceaa06 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -315,23 +315,19 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::PyPlotBackend, d::KW)
-    # create the figure
-    # standalone plots will create a figure, but not if part of a subplot (do it later)
-    if haskey(d, :subplot)
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot)
+    if haskey(plt.plotargs, :subplot)
         wrap = nothing
     else
-        wrap = PyPlotAxisWrapper(nothing, nothing, pyplot_figure(d), [])
-
-        pyplot_3d_setup!(wrap, d)
-
-        if get(d, :polar, false)
+        wrap = PyPlotAxisWrapper(nothing, nothing, pyplot_figure(plt.plotargs), [])
+        pyplot_3d_setup!(wrap, plt.plotargs)
+        if get(plt.plotargs, :polar, false)
             push!(wrap.kwargs, (:polar, true))
         end
     end
-
-    plt = Plot(wrap, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
-    plt
+    wrap
+    # plt = Plot(wrap, pkg, 0, plt.plotargs, KW[])
+    # plt
 end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1023,56 +1019,56 @@ end
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_subplot(subplt::Subplot{PyPlotBackend}, isbefore::Bool)
-    l = subplt.layout
-    plotargs = getplotargs(subplt, 1)
-    fig = pyplot_figure(plotargs)
-
-    nr = nrows(l)
-    for (i,(r,c)) in enumerate(l)
-        # add the plot to the figure
-        nc = ncols(l, r)
-        fakeidx = (r-1) * nc + c
-        ax = fig[:add_subplot](nr, nc, fakeidx)
-
-        subplt.plts[i].o = PyPlotAxisWrapper(ax, nothing, fig, [])
-        pyplot_3d_setup!(subplt.plts[i].o, plotargs)
-    end
-
-    subplt.o = PyPlotAxisWrapper(nothing, nothing, fig, [])
-    pyplot_3d_setup!(subplt.o, plotargs)
-    true
-end
-
-# this will be called internally, when creating a subplot from existing plots
-# NOTE: if I ever need to "Rebuild a "ubplot from individual Plot's"... this is what I should use!
-function subplot(plts::AVec{Plot{PyPlotBackend}}, layout::SubplotLayout, d::KW)
-    validateSubplotSupported()
-
-    p = length(layout)
-    n = sum([plt.n for plt in plts])
-
-    pkg = PyPlotBackend()
-    newplts = Plot{PyPlotBackend}[begin
-        plt.plotargs[:subplot] = true
-        _create_plot(pkg, plt.plotargs)
-    end for plt in plts]
-
-    subplt = Subplot(nothing, newplts, PyPlotBackend(), p, n, layout, d, true, false, false, (r,c) -> (nothing,nothing))
-
-    _preprocess_subplot(subplt, d)
-    _create_subplot(subplt, true)
-
-    for (i,plt) in enumerate(plts)
-        for seriesargs in plt.seriesargs
-            _add_series_subplot(newplts[i], seriesargs)
-        end
-    end
-
-    _postprocess_subplot(subplt, d)
-
-    subplt
-end
+# function _create_subplot(subplt::Subplot{PyPlotBackend}, isbefore::Bool)
+#     l = subplt.layout
+#     plotargs = getplotargs(subplt, 1)
+#     fig = pyplot_figure(plotargs)
+#
+#     nr = nrows(l)
+#     for (i,(r,c)) in enumerate(l)
+#         # add the plot to the figure
+#         nc = ncols(l, r)
+#         fakeidx = (r-1) * nc + c
+#         ax = fig[:add_subplot](nr, nc, fakeidx)
+#
+#         subplt.plts[i].o = PyPlotAxisWrapper(ax, nothing, fig, [])
+#         pyplot_3d_setup!(subplt.plts[i].o, plotargs)
+#     end
+#
+#     subplt.o = PyPlotAxisWrapper(nothing, nothing, fig, [])
+#     pyplot_3d_setup!(subplt.o, plotargs)
+#     true
+# end
+#
+# # this will be called internally, when creating a subplot from existing plots
+# # NOTE: if I ever need to "Rebuild a "ubplot from individual Plot's"... this is what I should use!
+# function subplot(plts::AVec{Plot{PyPlotBackend}}, layout::SubplotLayout, d::KW)
+#     validateSubplotSupported()
+#
+#     p = length(layout)
+#     n = sum([plt.n for plt in plts])
+#
+#     pkg = PyPlotBackend()
+#     newplts = Plot{PyPlotBackend}[begin
+#         plt.plotargs[:subplot] = true
+#         _create_plot(pkg, plt.plotargs)
+#     end for plt in plts]
+#
+#     subplt = Subplot(nothing, newplts, PyPlotBackend(), p, n, layout, d, true, false, false, (r,c) -> (nothing,nothing))
+#
+#     _preprocess_subplot(subplt, d)
+#     _create_subplot(subplt, true)
+#
+#     for (i,plt) in enumerate(plts)
+#         for seriesargs in plt.seriesargs
+#             _add_series_subplot(newplts[i], seriesargs)
+#         end
+#     end
+#
+#     _postprocess_subplot(subplt, d)
+#
+#     subplt
+# end
 
 
 function _remove_axis(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend}, isx::Bool)
@@ -1144,16 +1140,16 @@ function finalizePlot(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
     PyPlot.draw()
 end
 
-function finalizePlot(subplt::Subplot{PyPlotBackend})
-    fig = subplt.o.fig
-    for (i,plt) in enumerate(subplt.plts)
-        ax = getLeftAxis(plt)
-        addPyPlotLegend(plt, ax)
-        updateAxisColors(ax, plt.plotargs)
-    end
-    # fig[:tight_layout]()
-    PyPlot.draw()
-end
+# function finalizePlot(subplt::Subplot{PyPlotBackend})
+#     fig = subplt.o.fig
+#     for (i,plt) in enumerate(subplt.plts)
+#         ax = getLeftAxis(plt)
+#         addPyPlotLegend(plt, ax)
+#         updateAxisColors(ax, plt.plotargs)
+#     end
+#     # fig[:tight_layout]()
+#     PyPlot.draw()
+# end
 
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/backends/qwt.jl b/src/backends/qwt.jl
index 2fa0cd9b..4cf82e2d 100644
--- a/src/backends/qwt.jl
+++ b/src/backends/qwt.jl
@@ -128,12 +128,13 @@ function adjustQwtKeywords(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, iscreating::Bool; kw...)
   d
 end
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::QwtBackend, d::KW)
-  fixcolors(d)
-  dumpdict(d,"\n\n!!! plot")
-  o = Qwt.plot(zeros(0,0); d..., show=false)
-  plt = Plot(o, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
-  plt
+# function _create_plot(pkg::QwtBackend, d::KW)
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{QwtBackend})
+  fixcolors(plt.plotargs)
+  dumpdict(plt.plotargs,"\n\n!!! plot")
+  o = Qwt.plot(zeros(0,0); plt.plotargs..., show=false)
+  # plt = Plot(o, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+  # plt
 end
 
 function _add_series(::QwtBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
diff --git a/src/backends/template.jl b/src/backends/template.jl
index 96282735..203f0aad 100644
--- a/src/backends/template.jl
+++ b/src/backends/template.jl
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::[PkgName]AbstractBackend, d::KW)
-  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
-  # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
-  Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{[PkgName]Backend})
+    # TODO: create the window/figure for this backend
+    nothing
 end
 
 
diff --git a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
index 5cf26fda..f50d741a 100644
--- a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
@@ -181,15 +181,17 @@ end
 # -------------------------------
 
 
-function _create_plot(pkg::UnicodePlotsBackend, d::KW)
-  plt = Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# function _create_plot(pkg::UnicodePlotsBackend, d::KW)
+  # plt = Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
 
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{UnicodePlotsBackend})
   # do we want to give a new default size?
   if !haskey(plt.plotargs, :size) || plt.plotargs[:size] == _plotDefaults[:size]
     plt.plotargs[:size] = (60,20)
   end
+  nothing
 
-  plt
+  # plt
 end
 
 function _add_series(::UnicodePlotsBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
diff --git a/src/backends/winston.jl b/src/backends/winston.jl
index fe6222e7..29347e81 100644
--- a/src/backends/winston.jl
+++ b/src/backends/winston.jl
@@ -102,11 +102,12 @@ end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-
-function _create_plot(pkg::WinstonBackend, d::KW)
-  wplt = Winston.FramedPlot(title = d[:title], xlabel = d[:xlabel], ylabel = d[:ylabel])
-
-  Plot(wplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend})
+    Winston.FramedPlot(
+        title = plt.plotargs[:title],
+        xlabel = plt.plotargs[:xlabel],
+        ylabel = plt.plotargs[:ylabel]
+    )
 end
 
 copy_remove(d::KW, s::Symbol) = delete!(copy(d), s)
diff --git a/src/components.jl b/src/components.jl
index 969ccda2..84867249 100644
--- a/src/components.jl
+++ b/src/components.jl
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ vertices(shape::Shape) = collect(zip(shape.x, shape.y))
 
 
 function shape_coords(shape::Shape)
-    # unzip(shape.vertices)
     shape.x, shape.y
 end
 
@@ -31,14 +30,10 @@ function shape_coords(shapes::AVec{Shape})
     length(shapes) == 0 && return zeros(0), zeros(0)
     xs = map(get_xs, shapes)
     ys = map(get_ys, shapes)
-    # x, y = shapes[1].x, shapes[1].y #unzip(shapes[1].vertices)
     x, y = map(copy, shape_coords(shapes[1]))
     for shape in shapes[2:end]
-        # tmpx, tmpy = unzip(shape.vertices)
         nanappend!(x, shape.x)
         nanappend!(y, shape.y)
-        # x = vcat(x, NaN, tmpx)
-        # y = vcat(y, NaN, tmpy)
     end
     x, y
 end
@@ -57,9 +52,6 @@ function weave(x,y; ordering = Vector[x,y])
       try
           push!(ret, shift!(o))
       end
-      # try
-      #     push!(ret, shift!(y))
-      # end
     end
     done = isempty(x) && isempty(y)
   end
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index 8b77a3f6..e2305a6f 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ function plot(args...; kw...)
     preprocessArgs!(d)
 
     plotargs = merge(d, getPlotArgs(pkg, d, 1))
-    plt = _create_plot(pkg, plotargs)  # create a new, blank plot
+    # plt = _create_plot(pkg, plotargs)  # create a new, blank plot
+
+    plt = Plot(nothing, pkg, 0, plt.plotargs, KW[])
+    plt.o = _create_backend_figure(plt)
 
     # now update the plot
     _plot!(plt, d, args...)
diff --git a/src/subplot.jl b/src/subplot.jl
index 34e2035c..67baa993 100644
--- a/src/subplot.jl
+++ b/src/subplot.jl
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 
+### WARNING: this file is deprecated ###
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Base.string(subplt::Subplot) = "Subplot{$(subplt.backend) p=$(subplt.p) n=$(subplt.n)}"