Date: Thu, 26 May 1994 23:33:13 EDT
From: Shadowthorn Elfhealer
<EJSHEROO@UKCC.UKY.EDU>
Subject: New Blood 17
Go to Red Alert, Mr. Skywise... We got spoilers ahead...
Okay, one of the previous posts from today questioned whether or not any of the jackalwolf riders wolves survived. I was just glancing through NEWBLOOD 17, and lo and behold, what do I see on pages 22 and 23. In the background, running around on the beach and at the edge of scenes are (*surprise surprise*) the jackalwolves. So all you lupine lovers can rest assured that several of our canine friends did survive, although our one dear friend on page 10 (pant pant whine) did indeed become sea serpent food. Other comments: Was the sea serpent caused by another pool of bad magic? It does seem that the serpent triggered Suntop's Magic Feeling. See page 2 Suntop: "I... I don't know. There's something... more than the storm!"
Relurking...
Shadowthorn Elfhealer
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 23:51:02 +0100
From: Yngvar Foelling <Yngvar@BBB.NO>
Dorinda wrote:
*And, as Susanne mentioned, Jethel's eyes are back to bright green. HOORAY! THANK YOU!
Yes, but I thought you swore that you weren't going to mention that if they were. 8-) Anyway, I still don't think they've got quite the bright emerald green colour they had in NB #15.
Okay, I've got a couple of other things I noticed concerning eyes in NB #17. First, the preserver, Willowsnap. It's got white eyeballs, brown retinas and black pupils.
What happened to the usual preserver multi-coloured eyes?
Also, in a couple of panels it's got its mouth wide open, and I remember Ember's comment from some time back: "Silly! Preservers don't have teeth!" For the rest, spoilers and speculations.
Everybody seems to rave about that "cool" sea monster. Hmm. I didn't care much about Madcoil, and I didn't care much about this. Particularly the way it seemed to serve no purpose whatsoever. It wrecked the boat and killed a wolf. What? Wasn't the storm sufficient to do that?
I'm not really that fond of monsters at all. When I read Richard's little take on "Row, row, row your boat" in the last issue -- "Pray the monsters lurking there don't eat you while you sleep" -- I wondered if he was speaking metaphorically. The moment Suntop said that "There's something more than the storm" I realized that he wasn't.
However, as long as it was there, it made a nice appearance. Strategically put on a full page which we didn't see until we turned the page. And one of the complaints I had about Madcoil was that the page with *its* first appearance was littered with far too much text, in *big*, *bold*, SCREAMING letters.
"Bawooosh"? At least it didn't distract that much from the panel itself, but actually I think it would do quite well without any text at all.
The last page. Chot tries to order everybody to go in one direction. And everybody naturally walks in the opposite direction. But judging from some *other* tracks I can see near the trees, I wonder if Chot will soon once again say "I told you so!"
I certainly noticed that woman (girl? Her age wasn't quite clear to me) together with Door. I *suppose* she's the one we saw next to him in the last issue, too, but I needed that dark setting to notice:
Her EYES! They're BIG! Is it just part of the drawing style? She seems to have round ears and five-fingered hands, but there *are* traces of elfin features in her face. She wouldn't need that makeup some of the others wore. Not to mention that even though Door talked about an *elfin* woman, she still seemed to believe that he was talking about her.
And the way she slept with her head in his lap... Geez, I know that people will immediately point at the genetic problems, and the troubles seen in an earlier attempt at an elfin-human joining (with the genders reversed), but I still have to wonder now:
Has Door and some human woman spawned a daughter???
Bawooosh! The List Monster strikes again!
Yngvar
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 1994 00:30:31 +0200
From: K Hultland <dixie@LUDD.LUTH.SE>
Yngvar wrote:
The last page ... I wonder if Chot will soon once again say "I told you so!"
My very thought, those tracks leading the other way made me think that Chot might have been up to something, unless that is the tracks of Suntop and Jethel coming back, or tracks left as they were gathering supplies washed ashore.
Another thing that caught my eye was Shenshen whining (as she has been doing the last couple of issues) and Suntop actually calling Chot a friend. That should have been something of a shock to 'poor' Shenshen.
I certainly noticed that woman (girl? Her age wasn't quite clear to me) together with Door...Not to mention that even though Door talked about an *elfin* woman, she still seemed to believe that he was talking about her.
Yeah... or she just might BELIEVE that she is elfin... I mean the cleansing ceremony where they cut off a finger might have made her think of herself as an elf...
And the way she slept with her head in his lap... Has Door and some human woman spawned a daughter???
*Chuckle* It's possible, humans and elves are quite similar, after all Leetah could heal humans (even if it took her a long time). We might actually see several interesting new crossbreeds in the future... Too bad that preservers are sexless, I would just LOVE to see a preserver-troll crossbreed... A 2 foot flying troll that loves to sing and collects brightmetal.
Karl (StormWave, Flameshadow@TM)
Karl-Gunnar Hultland
dixie@mother.ludd.luth.se
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 20:39:28 -0400
From: Susanne N Mclaughlin
<snmstl4+@PITT.EDU>
On Fri, 3 Jun 1994, Yngvar Foelling wrote:
Her EYES! They're BIG! ... Has Door and some human woman spawned a daughter???
So after all those turns in Blue Mountain, doing one thing. Door breaks out and becomes the bold adventurer? Actually, we may be reading too much into this. People used to complain that Blair's elves looked to human, maybe his humans are starting to look too elfin. It would be more fun if the resemblance isn't just the superficial.
Susanne, who still wishes the issue had been a little less predictable.
Elf-human hybrids are like Rule #6. And as we all know, there is no Rule #6. - RP
I sensed it a few issues back. In NEW BLOOD
#16 it became very clear to me.
Dart is very much the "Dark Knight."
He is everything that Strongbow could expect from his son. Dart is a true warrior! And who better to be Dart's right hand elf than Chot? What a great team!
Dart looks and acts more like a Navy Seal than little ol' Dart from the Sun Village. Please consider changing Dart's name to a more fitting one.
Winford Enox
<<street address removed from archive>>
Well, we were thinking of making it "Poison Dart," but that might tarnish our image. (Inside joke, that. Sorry.) What do you all think his name should be changed to? Or should it at all? And remember, the decision of the High Ones is final. - RP
One question. Have humans and elves
finally interbred? It would certainly appear so. However,
looks can be deceiving.
Shenshen is much too protective of Suntop. You don't see people being so protective of Ember. I find it incredibly hard to believe they are twins, even if I did "witness" their births. Although with the magic that is the Forevergreen it seems he may be coming into his own. Speaking of which I hope that something good will come from Chot being a part of this team.
Poor Windkin! He just looks soooo sad. Barry's work is just incredible! You can sense the emotion just looking at the pages.
I do not know why you bothered to even mention Ms. Robinson. Anyone who loses themselves on the World of Two Moons can tell you she's gone off the deep end. Wendy merely started building a foundation upon which others continue to expand. All of the ELFQUEST books continue to grow and reach new horizons. So my advice is simply to forget about her.
Congratulations on the animated movie deal. We're reeeeaaal pleased too!
Steven C. Leitman
<<street address removed from archive>>
I think it was Bette Davis who said, of fans and critics, something to the effect that when everyone loves you, you're dead. For two eights of years we've welcomed criticism as long as it is constructive, and that's not about to stop. I don't happen to agree with Ms. Robinson's assessment of what's happening to Elfquest, but I believe that the presentation of different points of view is a Good Thing. So put those guessing caps on, keep those cards and letters coming, and see you in 30! - RP