I've read WaveDancers, issues one and two, and thoroughly enjoyed them. The art, the art, where do I begin with my compliments... just breathtaking. I really mean it. A cross between "The Little Mermaid" and "FernGully." Where do you find these wonderful people. But, whatever you do, don't lose them. Ask them to illustrate a few issues of Blood of Ten Chiefs or even New Blood. Pleeeeeze don't lose them.
About issue #3. Huh? I'm completely confused. What happened to Barmek and Sleia after they left the ruins of Blue Mountain? After Sleia was bitten by a snake Barmek tried to help her. When the two of them were walking deeper into the woods, why did they attack one another? I've read it three times and still don't get it.
One last thought. I'm not seeing things, am I? Did you say that WaveDancers are only to be a six issue series? Please, pray that I am wrong. I'd love to see WaveDancers continue for a very, very, very long time.
Leonora F. Radovcic
<<street address removed from archive>>
Gee, I thought the business in the woods was pretty clear, myself. You've got a couple of people, tired, bitten by snakes, haven't eaten, haven't slept, climbing all over logs and mountains and rocks... and they get snorky at each other. That's nothing. You should see me when I don't get my coffee in the morning...
"Search For The True Crown" is a six-issue series. When JuBruJo proposed the WaveDancers to us, they did so in four six-issue chunks. Each chunk is a complete tale, even though the chunks are connected. Dealing with the first segment as a mini-series gives us a chance to see how well the series will do, how well Warp and Black Mermaid (their company) work together, how well we all could stick to the schedule, and so on. (And also if a big meteorite falls on them after issue #6, at least one story's been finished.) (Inside joke, there.) But I have the suspicion that you'll see issue #7, and #8, and...
WaveDancers... Wow! It's the best word I can
think of. Wonderful artwork! The expressions on the
characters' faces are priceless. The coloring is so
smooth, so... pure. I love it! Somebody give Jozef a big
award or a lot of money so he's never tempted to quit
drawing to sell shoes or something.
The story is quite interesting. But please, get rid of Sydor. What a sneak! He's more of a snake than Winnowill herself! So far, Korilia, Sleia, Paffa, Rhialdor and Hyfus have caught my eye. My apologies to Wendy, but Hyfus definitely wins the first prize for The Most Gorgeous Elf ever put on paper. (Maybe I should apologize to Cutter, Strongbow and Rayek?)
Anyway, did I read correctly that there's a possibility of WaveDancers coming out oftener than bimonthly? Oh yes, please! I'll write a letter a day telling you how great this comic is if that's what it takes to bring it about! Thank you for giving us your vision.
Ann Decker
<<street address removed from archive>>
The folks down under know that we'd love to have a greater than bimonthly frequency for WaveDancers, and we've talked about how to achieve that without sacrificing any of the quality story and art. For the time, as Downunder Team EQ continues to get up to speed, we'll keep to the current schedule. But the moment we all feel we can crank up the throttle, look out!
Being as I am (for a short while longer) in
Germany, I'm probably late with the commentary, but
let me first thank you for bringing the elves of the
ocean to life! The story is beautiful and has many
fascinating dangle-ends. Wheres, whos and whys! I
can't wait to see what our surprise guest (Winnowill)
is doing there, and who exactly hides behind the name
of Sydor. (Is it Egg? Aurek? he was blond... ah well.
All in good time, I know.)
I have a lot of nonspecific "good vibes," one or two specific compliments, a serious request and a naughty request. In that order:
1) Wonderful! The colors are rich and vibrant, and the art is graceful and flexible. Please continue!
2) I love the fact that you gave Irralli one brown and one green eye. I like that when it happens in humans, and it's neat to see it on an elf. Also, it is very hard to tell, with just one centerfold poster to go on, but are we going to get to see some same-sex love bonds among this colony of elves? Paffa and Maron? I hope so.
3) The serious request: Could you maybe "talk as narrators" a little bit more, to help us understand what's happening? The device of narration is one thing I like about the Pini-written Elfquest. Some people don't care for it; I think it helps tell a story, especially at the beginning. Telling when scenes take place and who is related to whom helps me put anchors in my story-reader's landscape. You do use narration, but if you ask me, use more.
4) The naughty (or snickery) Request: Can somebody explain the seeming blithe resistance of the elf-folk these days to what we humans (at least in my grade-school days) knew as "wedgies," "snuggies" - in other words, teeny thong-things up the butt?!? I know that thongs are "in" but personally I chafe just thinking about how those sexy little straps would feel on me! Hey, bodies are beautiful, and you say the elves are not ashamed. Good. Let them wear something comfortable, or better yet, go naked! (I know, censors are one thing that keep that from happening, and sexy design of character is another.) But (butt - sorry, it is late at night) one thing about the Elfquest universe has been that it is a place of luscious costumes for luscious bodies that managed to look both sexy and possible, comfortable. Poor Barmek's' thong-thingy looks so tight and uncomfortable from the back - and even the kiddies don't escape the wedgie-wave. Can you keep the bodies but lose the wedgies? Thanks. Didn't mean to get my undies in a bunch, you know - I'm just one of those "sensitive" types!
Alice Cascorbi
<<street address removed from archive>>
Heh. At least you managed to keep the discussion to wedgies and thongs. Another letter writer simply blurted forth the cheeky question, "Hey! What's with the butt-floss?!" We're, ah, discussing it.
I've just read WaveDancers #3. And since they
come out every two months, I went back and read the
other two to refresh my memory. And on closer
inspection, I notice that these water elves age! Evidence
would be Tentus, and the late Brom. And since I'm a
fervent Elfquest fan, I know that the only way for that
to be possible is in cases where the elves somehow mix
blood with a native creature. Like the wolves with the
Wolfriders. So now I'm wondering, did someone turn
into a fish way back when? It says that they "chose to
become like their dolphin teachers." But the
WaveDancers have parts that resemble fish, not
dolphins. I'm stumped.
And also, in issue #1, page 19, panel 3, there's this fuzzy little creature that's saying "SKREEE!" Is that a treewee?
Jason Burns
<<street address removed from archive>>
Dear Stumped:
Yes, it's a treewee, but of a different species than the ones you're used to. And regarding aging, no, elves don't need "other" blood to age - only to die. Look at Savah! She's quite mature looking. She's also thousands of years old. And the secrets of the various "fishy" WaveDancer elves will be revealed in time, so hang in there!
I have some questions about WaveDancers.
How do Hyfus, Kirith, Tentus, Tilaweed, and Korilia
keep their tails? If "Ausra... Livian, Sima, and Desh
chose to become like their dolphin teachers..." with
tails, how does each passing generation keep the trait?
If Timmain and Tyldak didn't pass on their traits to
their children when they were in altered form, how do
the WaveDancers?
How long can they stay under water? I didn't notice any gills, or is that what those three lines are under their arms? Also, in the first issue, it says in the opening, "in a grotto home hidden from enemy and kin..." Does this mean there is another WaveDancer tribe that this one must seclude itself from? Are they at war... or are they taking the children of Recognition, or both? Also, are the stories of the WaveDancers going to be kept in the past, before the Palace came back, or at a certain point will you move us into the future, on the same time line as the others? I suppose you've got answers, but several issues down the way.
Jason Cox
<<street address removed from archive>>
You forget - Timmain did indeed pass along certain wolflike traits to her offspring. Otherwise, how would the Wolfriders have come to be as they are? And the "kin" referred to could as easily mean all the other tribes of elves as well as other seagoing elves.
And finally, someone else who just doesn't know how to come out and say what's on her mind...
Forgive my "french," but drown the bitch!
Those two spiders in issue #2 stand for Winnowill and
that "High One"! It's just like Winnowill and the
controlled "chosen" to decide who's pure and who's
tainted. Just a bunch of purist pigs!
Lilyan Preblick
<<street address removed from archive>>
Well! Keep writing, and sea you in 60! - RP