First, some words from this issue's creative force, Barry Blair...
When Richard called the other day and
asked if I wanted to do an "editorial" for Elfquest:
New Blood #3, I was more than pleased about the
idea. At first, I thought I'd just jot down a few notes
on how I came up with the story for Suntop and
company. However, I later decided to do a talk
about Warp Graphics and its influence on me.
I've been doing comics for about fifteen years now. I started out doing animation for various local television programs in the Ottawa area. Like so many others I fantasized about getting into comics and how great it would be to do a monthly comic book series. Elfquest was the first real independent comic book I saw. I first found Elfquest in a poster shop in Canada. I had begun to self-publish by that time and my comics were distributed locally. Some of my work had also been published in fanzines and chap books, and through Charles de Lint's Tryskell Press, I was able to publish an elves portfolio. Seeing Wendy's elves brought it all home for me; I knew where my publishing endeavors lay. Just as I began my foray into mainstream, I began corresponding with the Pinis through the mail.
The important thing is that Warp existed. Everyone who wanted to work in comics worked for the "big two," but not Wendy and Richard. That's what I loved the most. The idea of these two people doing their own thing and making it work was fantastic. They had complete creative, artistic control over their work, and as a creator, that's what I wanted. And want.
So, after two rather unsatisfying attempts at publishing with larger comic book companies, I came to the conclusion that a small publishing house run solely by myself is what I wanted. I realized that the first independent company I encountered is still just as independent as the day I picked up its first book, so I started using Warp as the role model for my own Night Wynd imprint.
I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career, as I'm sure Wendy and Richard have had as well, and I've found the comic book industry not to be the bed of roses I thought it would be. However, the one thing I have learned from the Pinis is that you must be true to yourself, to find your vision and express it, with no compromise. I'm glad they let me come along for the ride into their world.
(However, ye editor wanted to know the
genesis of the Suntop story, so he prevailed upon
ye artist to give us, as Paul Harvey says, the rest of
the story...)
When Richard first approached me to do an
Elfquest story, I was of course thrilled, and
accepted the assignment. Then, the next day, I
thought, "I have no idea what to write about..."
At first, I thought I'd do a Skywise storyline because he's probably my favorite Elfquest character. Then, I thought that Skywise was everyone's favorite character - or at least of every reader I've met - so undoubtedly someone would do a story involving him
The idea of mixing human and elf intrigued me, and having a "fish out of water" story with an elf in a human setting was appealing. I spoke with Richard about it; he liked the idea as well as asked which elf I'd like to spotlight. Suntop!
Why? He has a magical ability tempered with innocence. I thought he'd lend a sort of wonder to it all as if the reader could see everything through his eyes... the events unfolding
I also didn't want to come right out and have Winnowill as the villainess. Richard and I both liked the idea of her manipulating the humans and ultimately causing all sorts of problems just for the heck of it - sort of like playing with toys and then, getting bored, moving on leaving havoc in her wake.
As for the actual execution of the story, it was great to do! Richard offered only minor suggestions and made almost no changes. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly and I'd do it again in an instant. So who knows... maybe Skywise and me...
And now to letters for this issue...
I was going through some of my recent
correspondence, and I discovered an unfinished
letter I started to you commenting on New Blood
#2. At least I think I never finished (or mailed) it; if
this is a repeat of a previous letter I apologize.
So, you ask, what did I think about New Blood #2 by Barry Blair? It was nice having a whole issue by him. The art in this one looks better (to me, anyway) than the short story in #1 did. Richard Smyers mentioned that Blair did not capture Wendy's "sense of motion" in the first issue. It seems he did better this time (perhaps the first issue was a "hurry up-rush/push the deadline" job) particularly toward the end with the four boys scuffling as kinds tend to do so often. I don't at all like that huge woman who is doing the cooking; she reminds me altogether too much of my sixth grade teacher (who weighed 300 pounds if she weighed an ounce). Prince Brian just thinks he's in control; it's obvious that wizard Tymmon is well on his way to being Boss there. Brian doesn't realize that Tymmon conjured the image of Brian's father (although it was strange how the image hesitated in speaking in the left lower panel on page 20). There is something quite nasty about Tymmon for Suntop to get a magic feeling from a human.
Hmmm. That would appear to be a mutant... troll (?) which kidnapped page Brown-hair at the end (I think he just met a nasty end, too). Fortunately Suntop is a good, levelheaded kid who keeps his wits about him in a tough situation. That's good, because the situation he's in (along with Eric) can at best be described as "deep doo-doo."
The letters pages are back!! 'Bout time, too. I have mentioned before that I missed the letters pages, mostly because I missed the feedback from other readers, and I think you agreed. Whatever, Bloodlines promises to be as lively as the earlier columns! Among tempting hints of Things To Come is the upcoming story by Wendy and Ken Mitchroney, and graphic adaptations of some stories from the Blood of Ten Chiefs anthologies (I'll vote for Night Hunt by Diane Carey, with Tale of the Snowbeast by Janny Wurts as a close second).
Wayne Weaver, Jr.
<<street address removed from archive>>
It was not easy to let the letters pages go for the first few issues of Elfquest: Hidden Years, so you'd best believe that they're back, in that title as well as here in New Blood! Express thyselves!
Once again, and hopefully for the last time,
it ain't "new" or "different" that most of us object
to. It's false advertising.
Second-rate art and mindless doodles for stories are bad enough. Putting the Elfquest name on drivel is false advertising.
Fortunately, Barry Blair's "Darkness Rising" is not. Aside from the overuse of the white airbrush - same panels, as on pages 7 and 15, just look washed out - the art was smooth and expressive, the story was thorough and involving.
Here's wishing you luck on future projects. Take chances, but take care.
Dian Hardison
<<street address removed from archive>>
But what if we wanted to launch a new title like Elfquest: True Drivel? That wouldn't be false advertising would it? All kidding aside, we like to think that, while someone may not like a given artist's writing or artwork, that does not make it "drivel." Ain't no drivel in any of our publications, nope. It's against company policy.
After reading Elfquest: New Blood, I
experienced some mixed reactions. I have
followed Elfquest from the very beginning. I love
Wendy Pini's breathtaking art. Thus I was a little
disappointed and perhaps selfishly jealous that
someone else was infringing on Wendy's territory
and corrupting the pure Elfquest journey.
On the other hand, I love Elfquest and appreciate the fact there is more on that market. I was impressed with Barry Blair's attempt to continue what Wendy and Richard have started.
New Blood has been interesting thus far but I have to admit that it is lacking something. Wendy could always (and still does) create the magical impression that Elfquest is real in a sense. I'll be curious to see if Barry Blair has the ability to do the same. Good luck!
Gerald Newman
<<street address removed from archive>>
I've never considered writing to a lettercol
but after fifteen years of reading comics, the
lettercol from New Blood #2 inspired me - or
rather, disturbed me.
I don't know why it affected me as it did; I'm very familiar with negative comments about my elven friends. Having been with the quest from the start, I've "witnessed" the protestations about the sex and violence, weathered complaints about the later quests and the regularity of the Pini output. By the same token, I shouldn't have been surprised at the vehement comments about New Blood. I suppose I thought Elfquest fans would be more receptive to a regular fix of Cutter and his kin, despite the absence of Wendy and Richard as a creative team. I know I was. While I know that a lot of mail concerning New Blood was praise, the fact that a certain portion of Elfquest readers demanded a return to form and style bothered me.
Is it in human nature to resist change? I think so. Is it in elven nature to do the same? Yes. Strongbow showed us that some time ago. His respect for tradition and The Way was a stumbling block in the evolution and education of the Wolfriders. It is one of the qualities of Elfquest that we see in the elves a reflection of ourselves. To think that only the Pinis should chronicle the lives of the Wolfriders is to ignore the earliest lessons Cutter and his kin taught us.
New Blood may be the only venue some of us have to see Elfquest stories that might not happen in normal continuity. The other writers and artists in New Blood are under the same spell about Elfquest as we are. What they are doing is neither a perversion nor a bastardization. It is done with love and respect
I must say that I can't blame the Elfquest purists. I am guilty of the same passion over the Wolfriders as they are, albeit on the other end of the spectrum. I would buy almost anything with the name Elfquest on it, but in this whorelike approach to the elves, I do understand that the original quest happened some time ago. In real life, people change. The Wolfriders are no exception. Those disapproving of New Blood should remember that the first quest is still there, in all of its glory.
Thank you for expanding the Elfquest mythology, and for keeping a watchful eye on its growth. I'm here for the entire hunt.
Michael Brady
<<street address removed from archive>>
And welcome you are! Now, just to cap this letter column off with the proper air of civility, allow us to present the following, from the pages of the November 1992 issue of Skin Art magazine. You know you've arrived when...
[TRANSCRIBER NOTE: A magazine photo of a tattoo of Skywise riding his wolf-friend appears here. --MK]
Anyone else out there got any interesting tattoos? Show us! Maybe this'll become a regular feature, High Ones help us all. See you next issue!