FUNNY - it doesn't seem like four months have gone by. Perhaps it's because, nestled in there, we finally let the elves loose on Poughkeepsie for a month and took a vacation. And it felt soooooo good! Of course, when we got back there was this issue to do, and a pile of mail that lent new meaning to the name "Stamplicker..." But we had great fun, we got that "wee rest," we took number 11 to press, you're reading it, and here's where you finally learn something about those "bird spirits" - or do you?
SPEAKING OF GREAT FUN, we attended the annual San Diego Comic Convention again this year. We expected an interesting time. We did not expect what we want to share with you on pages 38 and 39. Two more suprised humans the world has never seen!
BUT FIRST, three bits of information. First, Petalwing is an it, not a he or she - just thought y'all should know. Second, since people are still asking... no, Foxfur and Skywise were not lifemates - just good friends. Third, Leetah's mother's name is Toorah. And finally, please write to "Wendy and Richard." Not "Wendi and Richard" or "Wendy and Ralph" (Ralph?!?) or "Windi and Ron" (sheesh!) or combinations or mutations thereof. There are enough characters around here; the High Ones know we don't need more! Not like that, anyway!
MANY, MANY OF YOU sent cards or remembrances for Wendy's birthday back in June; and for those we missed individually, words don't really do it right, but thank you - deeply - from both of us.
EVER SINCE Foot-taster opened his big mouth back in issue #1 about the possibility of an ELFQUEST animated film, not a week goes by without an inquiry. Usually it's "when will it open?" Well, lemme set things straight. The progress report is this: we are talking with people who can help us realize the dream. It is an exciting but very slow process. The appearance of the color volume (available now) and the novel (next Spring) - both for the mass market - will help greatly. But there is nothing to report now. Believe us, when something happens, you'll know! You'll hear the noise!
CONTINUING FROM LAST ISSUE, we've reprinted another of the plates from the first ELFQUEST portfolio - Plate One, "The Lure," and Plate Three, "Troll King." And just in case you might think the unfortunate human is going to his death, please note: he's mired, but he's not sinking!
THE COLOR VOLUME IS OUT! It's available! It's beautiful! We love it! We're insufferably proud! See what all the yipping is about; use the coupon on page 35 to order your copy.
Finally, SUBSCRIPTIONS, BACK ISSUES, DISTRIBUTION, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, CONVENTIONS and so on - you'll find all sorts of important information on page 35. Take a look.
ONWARD!
R+W
I have to tell you how my sister came around to ELFQUEST. She was in a hospital after losing a finger to a hydraulic wood chopper. After reading ELFQUEST and noticing your three-fingered elves, she didn't feel quite so bad about losing a finger. Now she runs around with the name of "Elfhand," which was given to her by the police force she works on.
Rhonda Pettys
Bottineau, ND
What caught my eye was Marv Wolfman's comment
(in the letter column) about Shakespeare.
Y'know, most scholars seem to skim over the fact
that the Bard never intended to write Great
Literature. He simply told stories to the masses,
in a medium much maligned because it usually
consisted of one-dimensional characters, obvious
morals, meaningless action and violence thrown
in wherever possible, and pseudo-poetry. What
the Bard did was introduce to the medium true
poetry and wordsmithing, as well as characters so
vibrant and real that they live on today.
Perhaps Stratford-on-Avon and Poughkeepsie- on Hudson aren't that far apart.
Danny Barer
Walla Walla, WA
A question: In issue 15, Sun-Toucher implies
that Leetah's healing powers are powerful enough
to cure his blindness. If this is true, why didn't she
heal One-Eye's one eye? If Sun-Toucher's blindness
comes from overly long viewing of his
planet's star, I assume the damage is a destroyed
retina and perhaps optic nerve. I don't see how
further damage to the eye could really be more
severe than this.
Jay Parks
Cloudcroft
Observatory
Sunspot, NM
***** What a great letter to lead into a plug for the ELFQUEST novel, JOURNEY TO SORROW'S END, which should start appearing in bookstores by late Spring of 1982. The very question you ask is just one of the many details we were able to explore in the novel, details we've had to gloss over in the comic for lack of space.
In passing, I would like to commend you for
your excellent and sophisticated use of evolutionary
and anthropological concepts in ELFQUEST.
Your careful attention to accuracy in
details such as these enhances what is already an
experience of total delight. Your non-sexist, non-
racist presentation of cultural themes and ideas
deserves the highest praise. My daughter and I
are confirmed fans of ELFQUEST. May you continue
to progress at WaRP speed!
Mischa B. Adams
Anthropology Dept.
Cabrillo College
Santa Cruz, CA
In issue 10, I noticed that the Preservers call
humans "bigthings," while they refer to Cutter's
people as "highthings" - as in High Ones? Also,
from Petalwing's remarks about the "belonging
time," it is obvious that the silkspinners' history
includes other elves - perhaps the ones of Blue
Mountain. And I just know Rayek's up there!
Jocelyn Feaster
Philadelphia, PA
***** Heeeee hee hee! We love it when people are that certain about things!
The panel (issue 10, page 18, panel 2) of Leetah
sound asleep with the twins, gripping her little
knife, was touching. But I wonder what will happen
when the sheltered healer who avoids killing
dangerous scorpions on her children's feet and to
whom Redlance's deliberately inflicted wounds
were shockingly "unthinkable" will do when she
is forced to "save Cutter's pale hide," or that of
her children. Would Leetah to able to kill?
Helen E. Hubbard
Arlington, VA
***** Interesting question - and one she (and we) will have to face before ELFQUEST is over. We'll be learning more about just what it means to be a Healer next issue, and also in the ELFQUEST novel, out next Spring.
Well! Now we know how the old Elvish Time
Trick works - time-proof cocoons spun by pixies.
And we have already seen Bearclaw at the grand
traditional elven sport of babysteallng. I wonder
how many other legends of Faerie you will
elucidate...
By the way, don't let anyone hold the Preservers against you as a modern prettification. The earliest recorded fays of Britian are the Portunes, who are only half an inch high and dress in flashy red coats and hats. Pixies have as ancient a lineage as elves, as I'm sure Petalwlng will tell you, whether you ask or not.
"It." That reminds me. In EPIC #1, you describe Petalwlng & Co. as sexless. I hope at some point we can find out how these critters keep their numbers up. Of course, there are several methods of asexual reproduction; I just wonder which one they use. I have this odd feeling they were...manufactured.
Earl Wajenberg
Nashua, NH
***** Yes - If you look just behind the left wing, you'll find a little stamp that says "Made In Poughkeepsle - lots of Preservatives added." No! Get back! PLOOOOSHT!
Strongbow's present predicament raises some
interesting observations. I noticed that Winnowill's
"sending" has the same wavy black lines
that characterized Madcoil's, though Winnowill
appears to be sane, and even more smugly confident
than Rayek. I feel he's tormenting Strongbow
by the power of evilly charged sending. Winnowill
speaks of what he's doing as a game and that, to
me, implies a sadist.
Judith Sampson
Tucson, AZ
***** An interesting observation: By now you know that the symbolism of the dark sending-star is correct, although many people wrote about Winnowill as a male (one reader was certain that Winnowill was Rayek in disguise! Ah well...). If you thought that Leetah was an intriguing character, wait 'til you learn more about this Lady!
"When Moonshade saw him carried into the
sky, she just stood there and let herself be taken
too." Yup. she would! Positively obsessed, that
woman. I couldn't help noticing, in issue #9, when
Strongbow grudgingly gave his permission for his
son to stay behind, Dart assumed he spoke for
both of them and Moonshade didn't say a word
either way. Ah well, I suppose even in a free society
like the Wolfriders, passionate, unquestioning
devotion of that kind has its place.
Alice Willoughby
Palo Alto, CA
***** Yup - that's what makes it a free society. That's why, in the next issue or so, they decide to... ooops! Sorry, almost gave it away. (And they thought Winnowill was a sadist!)
I appreciated greatly the Shakespearean feel of
the Forbidden Grove. Shades of A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM! There were the majestic
Oberon and Titania, embracing in an enchanted
wood, complete with their entourage of faeries
(Petalwing) and pairs of lovers (humans, and enchanted
too!).
April Lee
Oxford, England
If anyone deserves an outstanding performance
award for this issue (#10), Ember does. The range
she demonstrates here is quite remarkable. On
one side is the sequence (page 21) where she and
Cutter both let go with infectious exuberance; on
the other is the scene on page 10, panel 2. As the
group sinks into exhausted rest, the image of
vulnerability and weakness couldn't have been
more effectively conveyed than by Ember, eyes
slowly drooping, slipping her thumb into her
mouth. Both bits are simply marvelous.
Now that Ember seems to be in good shape, it might be time to turn some attention, to her brother. Of course I trust you've foreseen this, but speaking as an outside observer Suntop's whine- and-moan routine has gone on to the point where it could get on the nerves of a less-than-charitable reader. I hope the little guy gets another note to play soon; there's no reason why he can't be as good as his sister.
Roy Veldboom
Cedar Grove, WI
***** We think he already is a good, albeit in different ways. He is a complete person. Remember, though, that after all he's still just five years old, has had a monstrous responsibility thrust upon him, and feels he's failed. That's one large burden for one small elf-child.
***** What this magazine needs is five or ten
letters pages! We heard from several people who
shared with us their own "enchanted firefly
wood" experiences; and many of you wrote with
your speculations on the Preservers, their origin
and function. There were lots of guesses as to
what the Wolfriders would find in Blue Mountain,
and more than one reader felt certain that Rayek
would turn up here - we guess the poor guy just
can't rest in peace, can he...
Well! Thank you one and all. Stay with us, keep those great letters coming, and as Bette Davis said, "Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a bumpy night!" See you!
[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: The following text was originally accompanied by several photographs plus a sketch by Sergio Aragones. --M.K.]
They started calling it Elf-Con One. The hotel said if they saw any more pointed ears they'd throw us out. It was the 1981 San Diego ComiCon, where we had the unforgettable experience of seeing over fifty of our characters come to life at the costume call. Courtesy of two large groups - S.T.A.R. and the Tribes - as well as several unattached costumers, every elf who's ever been in ELFQUEST materialized for a wonderful weekend. (Right) The S.T.A.R. group, including a most authentic Rainsong - she had a new elf on the way! (Below) Portrait of the artist with Nightfalls and Skywise. (Below Right) Proud Elf-mom with Ember - Choplicker was off inspecting San Diego hydrants.
(Above) The Tribes, a thirty-large group who took on the task of doing every character we've featured - including past and present Wolfriders, a sampling of Sun Folk, one Troll and even a High One from the cover of issue #6! (Right) Stamplicker commandeers the stage to gather every elf who's showed up for an ear- splitting Howl. The bemused gentleman in jacket and moustache is Gary Owens, voice of TV's Laugh- In and Space Ghost, and MC for the costume call. (Below) Master MAD artist Sergio Aragones renders his impression of the frenetic affair. The photos on these two pages were taken by Sandra Deakins, Mike Price, and Richard Pini. Thank you one and all for a most memorable time!