Title

Warrior #25 (M)

Type

Fan letter

Description

Fan letter written to Warrior #25.

Transcribed text:

Dear Dez and Co.,

I’ve just finished reading issues 14–16 and I guess the first thing I should say is that your foreign distribution hasn’t improved, at least not around here anyway. Warrior is still not carried by my local comics shop (I’ve asked and they say that their distributor doesn’t carry it), thus I must seek it out elsewhere (which is why I end up getting several issues at once). Also, as far as timing goes, the issues seem to appear about three months after the cover date here (however that compares to UK distribution). However, you continue to produce a publication that makes these inconveniences inconsequential in comparison.

I was pleased to read in issue 16 that here is the possibility of releasing reprint series of Warrior features in the American market, as this will increase your exposure (and, presumably, revenues—which do come in handy at times). However, I was interested at your phrasing: ‘... the plan is to produce both the black and white Warrior for the discerning reader, and colour comic reprints for the U.S. fans.’ Does this mean that US fans aren't discerning? (Gosh, this is one of those times I’m glad I’m not an American; I might be offended.) But seriously, I think the relative lack of success of black and white publications can also be attributed to other factors. For instance, distribution is not as good (witness your own case) and because the market is geared to the standard format, the dealers can’t or won’t display the magazines effectively. It’s sort of a case of Catch-22 critical mass: Black and white isn’t successful as a rule because it’s not the standard (i.e., because it’s not successful). I must also disagree, in part, with your contention that non-standard publications don’t ‘register’ with the ‘Fan’. Cerebus and Elfquest, both black and white with the latter even being magazine-size, have been considerable fan successes, though not in the casual-reader market (largely, again, due to lack of distribution there).

The strip showing the biggest improvement in the most recent three issues has been Shandor. These stories showed his courage and commitment but, even more, they gave a good appreciation of the nature of his enemies. Too often, supernatural stories portray demons as just another variety of Bad Guy, that have magical powers, but here we saw they are indeed in a class by themselves. Their power and treachery were very well portrayed, as were the peculiar restraints under which the ‘game’ is played. And the demons play the game like all people of ill will do: They obey the letter of the law as required and enforced but try at every turn to avoid the spirit of the law. That they were just toying with Shandor was a shocking revelation, but perhaps this is just one small learning experience for him in his struggle.

The best strips have continued to be Marvelman and V, about which I am momentarily bereft of suitable laudatory words. Laser Eraser and Pressbutton seem to be on a bit of a sabbatical, with only one new story in the three issues, but it was a promising one. Twilight World is a welcome addition to the regular lineup. The key aspect that I would like further developed in it is the nature of the relationship between the alien and the human. It was called a symbiotic relationship in issue 14, but the exact nature of the benefits received by each partner have not really been explained.

The behind-the-scenes text pieces have been both informative and enjoyable, if perhaps a little too ‘cutesy’ at times.

Weston, Ontario, Canada

Language

English

Place

Weston, Ontario, Canada

-79.516838

43.701401

Publisher

Quality Communications