Gonna start with something a little bit different this issue, since the whole skin art thing began in NEW BLOOD anyway...
I did not write to specifically sing the praises
of Richard and Wendy's twin-mooned universe. In
fact, I'm writing with regard to this tattoo thing you
seem to have been publishing.
I'm not going to start off by lecturing that tattoos are gross, disgusting and horrid. What I want to say is: Think Twice Before You Get One! Until recently, I myself was a tattoo virgin. However, I did not just run out and get one! I thought about it for an entire seven years! And I'm certainly glad I did. For some, seven years may seem like an awfully long time, and indeed it was. Yet I wanted to be absolutely sure of what I was doing. Had I not thought about it for so long, I'd probably have an evil incarnation of death stuck permanently to my forehead! I am serious! I was sixteen at the time. Since then I've settled upon a rather small dragonfly set on my right outer calf.
I also consider myself a talented artist. I've had people ask me to design them tattoos. For them to want my artwork on their bodies, has got to be the ultimate in ego boosters!
This next part is for you, Wendy. Consider it an honor that these people are placing your artwork upon their bodies. As everyone knows, it's forever. Consider it marriage, people; tattoos are 'till death do you part!
Tattoos are personal things. They express our inner selves to some extent. What better way to express who I am than through something of my own creation? (I am sure that ELFQUEST is much the same for you, right?) If someone can therefore express themselves through your work, Wendy, you have earned my utmost respect and congratulations.
Tammy Smith
<<street address removed from archive>>
One of the major threads that has run throughout ELFQUEST from the beginning is that of choice, and I bow to no one in my belief that of all the freedoms a human being can enjoy, freedom of choice is the highest. Choose freely, but remember that with choice comes decision, with decision comes consequence, and with consequence comes responsibility. (And having said all that, still send those photos!)
I just finished reading NEW BLOOD #11. What a
hell of a story! I will be counting the days until I lay my
hands on Part 2. Of all the NEW BLOOD drawers, Barry
Blair is definitely the best. What a great use of colors!
I have to admit that I didn't like NEW BLOOD at all in the
beginning, but as the different stories went by NEW
BLOOD got better all the time.
Regina Boom
<<street address removed from archive>>
Issue #11 was fantastico. The minimal cover
caught my eye immediately. Hey, here is something
different. Right from the opening panel, I knew this
was going to be good. The sixth page just blew me
away. Wow! This glows! I've never seen anything
look so three-dimensional that didn't use funny
glasses. Pages 14 and 15 are awesome. The volcano
on the top of page 16 seems to jump out at you.
Overall, I've never seen such depth using the limited
palette of colors available to comics. Let's see a lot
more of this wild Canadian, eh?
I have to comment on Melvin Pylypchuk's letter. If I understood what he was saying about continuity in a comic title, he believes it's somehow OK or even advantageous to switch artists and/or writers every issues. Au contraire, mon ami. As one who has been around for quite a few years, I have seen many comic titles come and go. The ones that have hung in there the best are the ones with the most continuity. Sure, there has to be character development, and new plot twists and new and interesting places and creatures for the main characters to interact with, but all this occurs in a matrix of continuity, a "universe," so to speak. And of course the most important continuity of all, is maintaining consistently high quality.
Many a comic has floundered trying to define its place. The longest lasting are those with a strong, clear vision of what they are and what they are trying to do. Keep up the good work, Wendy and Richard. I have the greatest admiration for your willingness to experiment with your "baby." Experiment to your hearts' delight but don't ever lose sight of what makes ELFQUEST special.
Al Brown
<<street address removed from archive>>
We are young ELFQUEST readers. We have
been following the saga of the Wolfriders and their
friends obviously not since the start but as long as
most of us can remember. We love the original
ELFQUEST and HIDDEN YEARS. We hate NEW BLOOD!
The new writers and artist probably mean no harm. This is how they see ELFQUEST - but does the meaningless killing really have to happen? All our favorite characters are not being themselves! Did Kahvi, Zey and the Go-Backs really slaughter the whole Sun Village? All the blood in "War, Part 2" really made us mad!
We realize ELFQUEST wasn't made for children, but comic books are or were, so you must've expected some kids. Now, we know tons (not tons, but some) of kids that read the old ELFQUEST who could deal with the violence that sent with the saga, and loved it. It was exciting and the characters and their way of life was so cool!
The comic store owner said to us (when we asked him) that they're not for kids.
Some of the art is OK but the stories are bad. Lighten up a bit - put the original elves into their original characters. ELVES DON'T KILL ELVES!
Kai (age 14), Jordan (10)
and the McMillans (11, 8 & 6)
<<street address removed from archive>>
We realize that all ages read ELFQUEST, and that each reader brings his or her own unique and personal spirit and experience to the reading. You've raised some good points for yourselves in your letter - though you might want to reread the issue to get a detail or two straight. Here's another look at the very same events that bothered you, from a very different viewpoint. We hope ELFQUEST will always bring out such a diversity of reactions...
NEW BLOOD issue #s 11 and 12 were most
distressful to me, but I hope that is what you had in
mind. As a Viet-vet it struck home. War is stupid,
cruel and most ugly. It is usually most brutal on the
innocent. I'm saddened, but happy that you chose to
show Shushen and Wing mercilessly cut down and
Mender losing control. For that is more like it really
is. War is for all the wrong reasons. And yes, real men
and elves grieve for their fallen brothers. Keep up the
good work, and thank you.
H.L. DeWaters
<<street address removed from archive>>
I am confused about NEW BLOOD #12. The war
is going on and everyone is pretty much dead. And
instead of healing, Mender is still killing. And I think
this is all true because in HIDDEN YEARS #4 Mender is
telling Ember about the war and about how he healed
all those people, so did everyone survive the war or
what? Oh yeah, I like the comic a lot!
Pat Cunningham (age 11)
<<street address removed from archive>>
Yeah, they did. The "War" stories in New BLOOD #11 and #12 took place after the first Go-Back raid on the Sun Village shown in HIDDEN YEARS #2, but not long after. Then a very long time passed, during which many of the events in NEW BLOOD #13 happened - that issue look us up to the same time period that the Wolfriders are in now. And by the way, have you met your fellow young Santa Cruzans a couple of letters up?
I didn't say anything when the Suntop story
was done in NEW BLOOD #2 and #3 but I've got to say
something now. To Barry Blair: Why can't you
seem to put the characters in natural poses? For
instance in issue #12, page 2, panel 3, the elf
running behind Windkin is in one of the most
ridiculous poses I've ever seen! Also, everyone
seems to have contracted a chronic case of
swayback! Come on, Barry, watch how people
really run and really stand and make it more natural.
I'd like to see more from Blair but I would like him
to consider these comments. Some of his poses are
unnatural and...goofy?
Joe Mancino
<<street address removed from archive>>
Hi. I would just like to say I loved NEW BLOOD
#s 11, 12 and 13. The art was very beautiful and the
story was great! I would never have thought that the
volcano would erupt or that the Go-Backs would
make war on the Sun Folk. You guys are geniuses!
Where do you come up with this stuff? Even my dad
(who think that comics will melt my brains into
mush) was impressed!
I also like that you have strong female characters and that this is not just a "guy thing."
Erin Leigh French
<<street address removed from archive>>
And the debate continues to heat up! One thing we're sure of, though, and that's that it was the right decision to go with a continued story than with individual vignettes. It's just so flipping much fun to do and be a part of! So, as I've said elsewhere, keep those great cards, letters, photos and wacky Space Race memorabilia coming in (especially Shuttle stuff), and we'll see you here next time! And remember, Play By The Way! - RP