Just finished NEW BLOOD #19 and I've got to say that the Forevergreen story arc is really panning out well. I'm glad you're finished with the "worldpool" tales and have moved on to a more continuous story- line. The entire idea of the Elfquest "universe" is very exciting considering the possibilities for tie-ins and crossovers. The future is looking bright for the entire EQ line.
By the way, Barry Blair is turning out some stunning art, even if his humans look a little off.
Keith Huening
<<street address removed from archive>>
Hey, you should be here on a Monday morning. It's not just the humans that look a little off.
While we're very pleased with the idea of continuous story arcs in all of our titles, we haven't abandoned the Worldpool. We've received proposals for many "probably couldn't happen but they're good anyway" stories. The plan is for these to see publication in a quarterly magazine titled, appropriately enough, WORLDPOOL. Watch for it next year.
And just a couple of words about tie-ins and crossovers. I've already expressed reservations about overdoing that sort of thing, and my feelings haven't changed. Where such things would happen naturally, in the course of the story, they will happen. After all, I do believe that there are only six degrees of separation between a person and anyone else in the world. On the other hand, the world doesn't come trooping through my door every day. Chance encounters are bound to happen, but the story comes first. - RP
Re: NEW BLOOD #19. Nice cover! Barry Blair
and company draw some great art. The terrified expressions
on the elves' faces seem so real. What are
some other projects Barry has worked on? Also, who is
this Colin Chan?
As for the interior art, I especially enjoyed page seven, right-hand illustration, where the human bears a resemblance to Wolverine. The detail in these panels is just wonderful. I feel sorry for Aramak but he ought to realize all that he has to be thankful for. Well, I will be waiting eagerly for the next issue.
Kenneth C. Walls
<<street address removed from archive>>
Barry has been publishing comics about as long as Warp Graphics. He started way back when with a title called ELFLORD, and his line grew to include a number of titles including SAMURAI and DRAGON RING. About a year ago, he expressed to us the desire to work on ELFQUEST (he wrote about this in NEW BLOOD #3) and we realized we'd been offered a real opportunity. We jumped at it, and have not regretted that we did. (Well, except when he does strange things with photos of us for the Warp bulletin board, but that's another story.)
Colin Chan is a friend and coworker of Barry's. One day, when we were behind on a deadline (that sort of thing only happens on days that end in the letter "y") Colin, who was visiting, said, "Oh, can I help with that?" and lo and behold, did a fine job. We hope to use more of his talents; you saw his first major job for Warp as the colorist on HIDDEN YEARS #16. - RP
I am writing with nothing but praise for your
title NEW BLOOD and Barry Blair. That said, here I go: The
covers are excellent and intriguing - you know what
you are doing by printing the covers to the next issue
to whet the appetites of the readers. The titles have
come out on time and each month I can get NEW
BLOOD - right away. I was used to getting many Barry
Blair titles (which is no longer possible, for some
reason) so I am really wanting and you have eased
that somewhat. The story and the characters have
come alive for me, unlike some of the other newer
ELFQUEST titles. Mind you, I am only referring to the
NEW BLOODs done by Barry. A few of the earlier ones
were not done by him and therefore were not very
good. Sorry, but that is how I feel.
I am tired of people seeing Suntop as a pain. He is so innocent and charming and pretty - and that scene of the snakes crawling on him as he awoke is splendid. He is obviously liked by all life forms, mammal and reptile. I think he should stay innocent for a time but maybe some time in the future he should have to do something that he doesn't want to - such as kill someone or something else unpleasant. But for now, keep him warm and humane and moral. He is a breath of fresh air.
All the others are very good too. I like Dart a lot - he is very cool and mysterious and moody. Keep him that way but show some more softness to him at times. His relationship to Kimo is quite good and the contrast is fun. Kimo is a fun character - don't dare kill him off. The character that really grew is Chot, who has become what Dr. Smith was to the Robinsons in "Lost in Space" - and that is a compliment; I really like that TV series. Chot is not one-dimensional and it seems as if he really wants to do something good for the group. Let him, once or twice, but not just yet. Keep Blair and these characters!
Charles Mento
<<street address removed from archive>>
First off I would like to say that I have been
a loyal ELFQUEST reader for eight years. I truly enjoy
and breathlessly await every issue of each ELFQUEST
title. The NEW BLOOD issues are no exception. Mr. Blair
does the Elfquest universe honor and justice with his
artwork and story. I just have one tiny problem with it
- Suntop is drawn as a ten year old. This just does not
fit. Yes, I have read the editorial comment in the
letters column of NEW BLOOD #18 but to me it sounds
like an excuse.
Believe me, I know how hard it is to age Suntop (I've tried!). Especially since there is hardly any "Wendy art" to go by. But if you will please refer to HIDDEN YEARS #4 there are about ten pictures of Suntop as a teenager - the age he is supposed to be in the current NEW BLOOD issues. There is even a picture of him standing next to Dart and they are nearly the same size. Please take note. I'm sorry, I just don't like excuses about who has how much of what blood when I believe that this very little problem can be fixed with a little effort.
Sharon Siemann
<<street address removed from archive>>
Well, methinks there's a wee bit of difference between physiology and excuses, but Suntop is catching up to his sister - we hope you've noticed this in recent issues. And just because that's the kind of company we are, we thought you might like a look at Suntop as he might be looking, oh, after another year or so. Just turn the page, and see you in 30! - RP
[ NOTE: The last page of the comic features a more 'teenage'-looking version of Suntop as drawn by Barry Blair. This art is not included in these archives. --MK ]