CBR have a new story about Northstar

[Le Messor]

The Elf thing was way the frick too far out there.

I've always been a fantasy fan, and with their light powers and pointed ears, have always thought of the twins as a little elvish. When I toyed with the idea of writing a fantasy version of Alpha Flight, that's certainly what they were (and there was a mermaid, and a guy who'd bonded to an ogre or troll, and a knight in shining but anachronistic armour, etc..)

I only really know Bill's writing from those three books ... perhaps with pre-existing characters he didn't do well? Anyone read his Hulk?

I've read a few issues, but not enough of anybody's Hulk to judge his.

I imagine a lot of it was editorial interference to quash his homosexuality.

There's a lot of talk about that in the comments section.

~ Le Messor
"Coffee is good for talent, but genius wants prayer."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Tawmis]

I've always been a fantasy fan, and with their light powers and pointed ears, have always thought of the twins as a little elvish. When I toyed with the idea of writing a fantasy version of Alpha Flight, that's certainly what they were (and there was a mermaid, and a guy who'd bonded to an ogre or troll, and a knight in shining but anachronistic armour, etc..)

Oh, I love fantasy too - The Hobbit SHAPED my life - seriously. And in 1978, I was in love with ElfQuest (as a matter of fact, I have a thread on this forum encouraging people to read the issues of ElfQuest, which are available - legally - for free - on the ElfQuest site). However, despite the pointed ears and such, Northstar and Aurora being elves, never once crossed my mind. I guess, because Nightcrawler also had pointed ears; and he was already established as a mutant, that there was no reason to think Northstar and Aurora were anything but mutants, who had the same deformed ears, to give the elf like appearance.

[Le Messor]

I understand these may be rhetorical questions...

Um... that's for you to decide. It means the kind of question you ask to make a point, and don't expect an answer. I think you DO expect an answer, so...

So - how and perhaps - why - would making Northstar an Elf do anything with his sexuality, which by this point, had not even been officially declared? How would making him an Elf do away with the hints that alluded to his sexuality?

I think it was meant to fix his AIDS, which was parallel to his sexuality. Thereby providing an alternate explanation.

I have a thread on this forum encouraging people to read the issues of ElfQuest,

A week ago, I bought a second issue! (Which, oddly enough, was the issue before the one I have already.)

I guess, because Nightcrawler also had pointed ears;

You know his friends call him 'elf', right?

~ Le Messor
"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem. They're there every night, they see it done every night, they see how it should be done every night, but they can't do it themselves."
~ Brendan Behan--Quoted by Gyles Brandreth in Theatrical Disasters

[Tawmis]

Um... that's for you to decide. It means the kind of question you ask to make a point, and don't expect an answer. I think you DO expect an answer, so...

Hah! Since no one here (that I am aware of!) was on the Editorial staff, I actually wasn't expecting an answer... more of my rambling how they thought this was a good idea.

I think it was meant to fix his AIDS, which was parallel to his sexuality. Thereby providing an alternate explanation.

But he hadn't come out saying he had AIDS, right? It was merely being implied? It was just his constant cough (if I remember correctly?) - which could have been explained away any other thousands of ways - other than saying he was an Elf. Because how would his sickness tie to being an elf, anyway? Wouldn't Aurora have been suffering from the same cough?

A week ago, I bought a second issue! (Which, oddly enough, was the issue before the one I have already.)

Hopefully stuff from the Original Quest? Or Siege at Blue Mountain? Or Kings of the Broken Wheel?
I have ... had my issues... with the "Final Quest" story currently being published.

You know his friends call him 'elf', right?

But they don't think he's actually one.

[Le Messor]

Hah! Since no one here (that I am aware of!) was on the Editorial staff, I actually wasn't expecting an answer...

Well, we can tell you what we've heard.

But he hadn't come out saying he had AIDS, right? It was merely being implied? It was just his constant cough (if I remember correctly?) - which could have been explained away any other thousands of ways - other than saying he was an Elf. Because how would his sickness tie to being an elf, anyway? Wouldn't Aurora have been suffering from the same cough?

True! But they were (allegedly) heading towards it being AIDS - hence the explanation.
And, yes, there were other ways. Including it being just a cough. (I hate how every fictional character who gets a cough is automatically dying! I've had coughs for weeks, and I'm not dead yet!)

They explained Aurora with, it affected her psychologically - he got 'dying of a cold', she got split personality.

(ElfQuest) Hopefully stuff from the Original Quest? Or Siege at Blue Mountain? Or Kings of the Broken Wheel?
I have ... had my issues... with the "Final Quest" story currently being published.

Issues 13 and 14, Epic Comics, 1986. Definitely Richard and Wendy Pini.
I've heard bad stuff about some of the later series, and I'm not sure that's only from you.

(Nightcrawler) You know his friends call him 'elf', right?

But they don't think he's actually one.

No, but the association is there.

~ Le Messor
"Confusion not only reigns, it pours."
~ Unknown