I am an avid fan and have read
all four compiled color editions
(love that foreshadowing!). I
have a few questions:
1) Why do the members of different
elf tribes look different
from each other, on the average?
2) I am sure that there are
plenty of symbols used in
Elfquest. I think that the physical
appearance of the elves may be
symbolic, but I do not know how
to interpret them. Are they archetypical?
Archie Goodwin-typical?
Perhaps you can elaborate
on this.
3) Are Adar and Nonna hypostases
of Wendy and yourself?
Alexander Albright
Katy, TX
1) For much the same reasons
that we humans, living in different
parts of Planet Earth, look
different from each other, on
the average. Environmental factors
and their effect (or lack of
effect) on how any given group
develops.
2) The appearance of the elves
is indeed symbolic, and is the
very reason we used elves instead
of sea anemones. The
charcters are human-looking
enough so you can identify
with them, and alien-looking
enough so that you know they're
not just everyday folks.
3) Hey, watch your language,
fella-- we're in polite company
here! Just because Nonna and
Adar happen to look like us,
think like us, and do some of the
same things we do... --RP
Issue #13 had some nice surprises.
In the early issues of the
Epic reprint it was easy to tell
where the new artwork was,
even if you hadn't read the originals.
As the reprints went on it
became harder to tell, because
the point had been reached
where the old and new artwork
was almost the same in style.
Even so, the new art amounted
to little more than a new camera
angle on a scene or a bridge between
issues. Then came #13.
What's this? Skywise's mother
was a blonde, eh? We old-time
fans didn't know that was coming
either, folks! It's nice to be
surprised like that.
I have no doubt as to what happened to Skywise's mother after she left him in the river. One can only hope that she didn't suffer very long-- but knowing the humans of that area I doubt it. I hope she managed to claw 'em where it counts.
Sam Signorelli
Griffiss AFB, NY
Ah yes, but can you he absolutely, positively, undeniably certain that the fate you suspect for Skywise's mom is actually what happened? Hmmm? --RP
Only have one thing to say about Elfquest: I love it! Even though I know what will happen I love seeing the Epic version; the new artwork is fantastic and I enjoy seeing it. One tiny suggestion: how about a series outlining the history of the Wolfriders before the Holt burned. Maybe even when Bearclaw was chief, before and after Cutter was born.
Jen Fazzari
Wilton, CT
Unaccustomed as I am to public hyping (who am I kidding?) I do want to answer your request by mentioning Blood of Ten Chiefs, a series of prose anthologies that tells the stories of, as the name suggests, the elves who led the Wolfriders before Cutter. The first volume will be in bookstores this October and contains a tale about each of the Wolfrider chiefs from Timmorn right up through Bearclaw. The roster of authors is pretty impressive-- folks like Piers Anthony, C.J. Cherryh, Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey, and a couple of ringers from Poughkeepsie. --RP
This is the first time I've written
to any comic, and I've got
some comments. I'm glad you
don't curse in your comics. The
Flash had a lot of bad language
in it. Also, is being a lifemate
like being married? Also, will
Cutter miss Leetah so much that
he'll come home early?
Steven Underwood
Ormond Beach, FL
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to come up with convincing cuss words for Elfquest? Most of the curses we humans use come from three conceptual sources: religion, body wastes, and sex. Well, the Wolfriders don't have any formal beliefs, they find nothing offensive about natural bodily functions, and they like sex just fine. No source of insults there. Being lifemates means that the two (or, we suppose, more) elves have chosen to live with each other for at least a long time. There's no ceremony, and if someday the elves decide to split up, they just go their ways with no mess, no bother. But it does represent a commitment of choice. Cutter coming home early? You'll just have to wait and see on that one!
See you later, and as the man said of the servers in the over-heated seafood restaurant: "Shad and sweaty waiters." --Richard Pini