An old love revisited

Saturday night I spent a great time with a friend who reminded me that just hanging out can be fun. He brought up Invader Zim, a cartoon I was not familiar that was created by Jhonen Vasquez, a name I was very familiar. There was a time where I worshipped at the altar of "Jonny, the Homicidal Maniac." Not having cable cause me to miss out on Invader Zim, but it is available on DVD.

This friend also informed me that Mr. Vasquez has a blog on livejournal: http://chancrescolex.livejournal.com/

Read and...be translated.

Lea Hernandez

Lea Hernandez is a comic artist that more people should know about. I learned about her during the 'New Blood' series that Elfquest published in the 90s. She did a beautiful two-part story that focused on the character of Moonshade that took place in the early days of the Wolfriders' sojourn at Sorrow's End.

She's done quite a bit since including I found out recently at least an issue of Marvel's 'The Punisher.'

She can be found here:

http://divalea.livejournal.com/

Unfortunately, she suffered a fire and is in need of money. More details can be found out at her livejournal. I know it will all work out.

Elfquest

I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of Elfquest. Ever since I picked up the hardcover graphic novel collection of the stories from the Forbidden Forest and the Blue Mountain period, I had been a fan. I was even coverted to the cause of wolves. When I recall the comics I collected over the years, after GI Joe, Elfquest was the only non-manga title I had.

The elves and I enjoyed a good 20 years together. I was with them when they found the Palace, lost some good people like Skot and One-Eye and even saw the littlest ones (Ember and Suntop-excuse me, Sunstream) grow up and come into their own (Ember becomes a chieftess of a band of elves in her own right and gets a soulmate while Sunstream not only becomes an avatar for the Palace, but gets his own soulmate and becomes a father).

Elfquest has really been going places lately. For a few years, DC comics have published new and older tales, which has gotten them exposure to more audiences. In addition to having a website, they have online forums and have set about digitizing their back issues of the 'Quest.' They also have moved on the whole 'Elfquest movie' thing, which I may or may not ever see. There are very few film/animated adaptations I will ever see, much less highly recommend. 'The Last Unicorn' is an example of the few that live in this category. I trust the Pinis and their decision making skills, even when I was not thrilled about DC comics partnership though I saw the big picture.

Besides cool, quality storytelling, Elfquest is notable because it is drawn by a woman, Wendy Pini, which in the US was something of a rarity when this title debuted. She also contributed to the story. Lest anyone think that this story much be so sugary that it is diabetic because it is drawn by a woman, I direct them to some of the scenes in the war for the Palace against the Trolls. Some of that stuff is still disturbing, though it was necessary to the plot.

Warp (Wendy and Richard Pini) Graphics also is working on other titles such as Wendy's cool futuristic, cyberpunkish take on Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of Red Death.

2008 marks thirty years of Elfquest. I can't wait to see where the next thrity years will bring us.