[TRANSCRIBER NOTE: This editorial is hand-lettered (and in all caps) to fit the form of a wolf's head-- I've transcribed it by hand rather than scanned it, not attempting to mimic the original formatting, and put it in more readable mixed-case. --MK]
A little while ago, we had the good fortune to meet a charming rascal by the name of Slick, with whom we had a most enlightening conversation. No words were used, however, because Slick is 125 pounds of golden, intelligent and irrepressible wolf.
Boston's museum of science was having a special wolf day, so naturally, we felt we had to go. We had read about wolves, felt we had known them intuitively; now for the first time we would come face to muzzle with one. At the museum we met Slick, one of the most beautiful animals imaginable, who was immediately the center of attention, and his two travelling companions, Pamela Brown and John Harris (they can't be called Slick's trainers for, as John pointed out, "Sure you can train him. You can train him to do anything he wants!" We also spent all too brief a time talking with a young and wonderfully wise Paugussett Indian named RaAhota (Little Tree) about earth medicines.
As John explained, Slick travels all over the country to schools and museums as wildlife ambassador, promoting preservation of wolves and other endangered species. Pamela, at one point, said something to us that we'll never forget. "Whatever you want to call it, the spirit of nature put Slick here for a reason." And as we watched the big ham taking John for a walk about the floor, inspecting the portable loudspeakers, nibbling the buttons on our leather coats, and thoroughly delighting everyone, infant to grandparent, who had gathered round, we knew what that reason was.
You see, since the age of fable, to have the wolf at your door is to be in big trouble; to throw someone to the wolves is to abandon him to a deadly fate; to cry "wolf" is to cry danger and terror. But Aesop was wrong. Disney was too. There is no such thing as the "Big Bad Wolf." There is just the awesome dignity of nature and all her creations... This is something we've largely forgotten, but to the Wolfriders it is the way of life. The wolves of Cutter's tribe are not owned-- they're not pets. They are equals, wild brethren who happen to have fur, four legs, and big feet. Their world is freely shared; it was they, remember, who taught the wolfsong to the elves.
I received the second issue of ELFQUEST today. The mail was delivered a little later than usual and I only had a little time to glance at it before going to work... It was after 1:00 am when I managed to drag myself back home. When I walked through the front door, it was to be greeted by a wife who was nearly to the point of pulling her hair out from frustration and a little girl who absolutely refused to go to sleep.
For a moment I considered going back to work, but then my paternal instincts got the better of me and I picked up Melissa (my little girl) and carried her up stairs along with a copy of ELFQUEST. I quickly changed and then Melissa and I cuddled beneath the covers and began our journey with Cutter and the Wolfriders.
I should explain here that when Melissa and I read a story we actually take part in it. Hence we had our own wolf to ride. His name? Innerstate. This is her way of saying interstate. She figures that if you've got to travel, you might as well do it on a good highway.
Well, across the desert we went. We almost died of thirst. I had to get up and get Melissa a glass of water twice. If that were not bad enough, we also had to clean the sand out of our tent (bed sheets). Even with frequent stops by Melissa to make sure she was looking at the right pictures, the story zipped right along. When I turned the last page, the magic of ELFQUEST had done the trick; Melissa was curled beside me fast asleep.
Let me say this before ending. I am fully grown and thus easily fooled concerning the relative values of different stories. Melissa, on the other hand, is only four years old and therefore an excellent judge of elves.
Richard Parker (DREAM QUEST)
Austin, Texas
I doubt that I have the right extrapolating on what I consider
to be a weakness in the storyline (especially this early in the
series, so please bear with me if I folly), but I'm rather disappointed
to se the women of the holts/bands used as they have
been so far. Oh, their characters are not stereotypes, not in
the least, but it would seem logical to me that all of the elves
would be trained/versed in the arts of hunting and (unfortunately)
warfare, for want of a better word. Especially on as
harsh a world as that which is their home. The safety and survival
of a race does not always depend on the strength of the
male of the species alone.
Well, enough griping... you're doing one helluva good job. You have the talent, thank God. Thanks for ELFQUEST. We needed it.
Dale Hammell (COPPER TOADSTOOL)
Richmond, B.C., Canada
I've just finished reading ELFQUESTs #2 and 3 and I wish to
thank you both for a truly beautiful experience. The delicacy
of your touch - in both writing and art - is magical to behold.
I can honestly say that you've greatly rerouted my
thinking about comics into the many varied directions a graphic
story can take. I feel you two have expanded some of the
limits of the medium, while at the same time returning some of
the fantasy I felt when, as a child, I came across the Amerindian
novels of Andre Norton, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,
the Weirdstone of Brisingamen, and naturally, Tolkien.
Having read Mark Evanier's letter, I have a few thoughts, tho. Of course, I did not know that you took ELFQUEST to DC or Marvel, but I seriously question whether ELFQUEST would have worked as well at either company as it does in its present, independent publication. Here you've got 32 pages to play with, and no editorial restrictions except your own. You don't have to fit all this beauty into a 17 page cliffhanger, or deal with the company "mythos" or a publisher's decision to cancel. You are free, and that freedom is lovingly expressed in ELFQUEST.
Bill Mantle
New York, New York
*** The next two letters are just as we received them. When
ELFQUEST is over and done, they will be among our most
treasured mementoes.
My friends,
You have made an important step towards understanding. It is not so much that ELFQUEST is a quest for understanding, as for the need to be free as it is peculiar within our own society, Men have not only misunderstood races entirely different from their own as Elven kind, hiding the beauty of race in superstition and ignored tales, but they have regarded those of their own kind who are different with similar lack of brotherhood. In many ways the conflict between the Red man and Black man and White man can be seen in your work. The Red men, our own American Indians were like the Sun People, lovers of land, the sky and wished peace with all men. Like the Forest people, the White men found them different and he did not understand them. He regarded them as ignorant and heathen much in the way the brutal forest people regarded the elves. He did not understand that they were his brothers too, children of the same One who created him.
But not all white men are crazy, brutal and ignorant and not all humans are the same way either. Perhaps one day you'll get around to depicting some of the more enlightened men and women of human kind. Perhaps in our own world we will see in the humans who could not understand the Elves folk, ourselves in our misunderstanding of brother man. Are not all the same Starchildren, did not man too come from the stars? When Adam came out of Eden he was the different one and he needed understanding in a world where he too needed to fit and find his place. If we can't understand others and those who are different, when again the Star Men come to visit our world, how will we expect them to understand us?
All roots are proud, Elven roots from many different branches and men descended from the Star Men and those who came out of Eden. In seeking our original roots, it humbles us and makes us understand that we to be understood must understand our brethren, be they Elf, be they red men, black men or even the beasts of the fields. And we thank you forever for your help in this understanding.
Peggy Gemignani
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Wendy and Richard - Hej (warm greetings)
Got your comics and the story line is real good. Hope this letter finds you with good heart and strong spirit. Also noted that wolves not look so vicious in this issue. The moral messages quite appropriate and well put, and worked into the story line.
One thing bothered me. When Memory Woman reflected on her contact with humans, you depicted one of my ancestors. We, like our Celt brothers and sisters and our relations to the south and in Africa and elsewhere in our Mother Land for thousands of years maintained good relations and respect for the little people, the wood spirits. And today, when many even of Celts and other European peoples have lost contact with these helpers you call elfs, we, the original inhabitants of Turtle Island (the N.W. hemisphere) maintain good relations with out little brothers and sisters of the woods, as well as other spiritual beings that compose a complex society of spiritual and supernatural beings. Take care. Luptikanawa.
Little Tree
West Redding, Connecticut
*** A good and necessary point is raised here. Although our story is not taking place on our own Earth (and so the humans are certainly not ancestors to any group of people here), events will not always be set in the same mold as they have been for these first four issues. Not all of our elves will be good and blameless; not all the humans will be bad. You will see evolution in some of the roles of both the female and male elves. It'll take time, and several issues, but we are aware of these concerns you're expressing, and we hope the wait will be worth it.