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DC COMICS KICKS OFF A 25TH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION WITH: Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Saga Coming In April

Star Trek: The Modala Imperative Coming In May

Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Modala Imperative Coming In July

And In The Fall ...

The Best of Star Trek Trade Paperback , Star Trek VI Movie Adaptation ·, Star Trek Graphic Novel .{:/~-·~l~ii;k:~;,:~~l~ ~~~~{~i ·.: :f.':. ·. .:· 11 ~:::. (·':

DC COMICS INC. 666 Fifth Avenue. New York, NY 10103

JENETIE KAHN, President & Editor-I n-Chief DICK GIORDANO, VP-Edltorlol Director MIKE GOLD, Editor KATlE MAIN, Assoclata Editor JIM CHADWICK, Director-Design Services JOE ORLANDO, VP·Creotlve Director OOD PAUL LEVITZ, Executive VP & Publisher BRUCE BRISTOW, VP·Solos & Morketlng PATRICK CALDON, VP & Controller TERRI CUNNINGHAM, Dlr.·Edltorlal Administration CHANTAL D' AULNIS, VP·Buslness Affairs LILLIAN LASERSON, VP-Legal Affairs MATTHEW RAGONE, Clrculotlon Director ~ BOB ROZAKIS. Production Director Dear Mikes, Dear Sherwood Forum (or can I call Thank you for this issue. Every I read so many comics that are you Woody), now and then I think we all require a mired in unchanging-ness, wherein In the past, this forum has dealt spirit quest, the editors and artists are afraid of with the complex issues of life. The Melissa Page allowing the characters to take a First Amendment, rape, violence, sex 236 New Salem Loop chance in their lives or change natu­ in comics, sex in real life, comics in Nortonville, KY 42442 rally with time. This has never been a real life, politics, left-wing comics writ­ problem with your version of Oliver ers, right-wing comics writers, trick ••••• Queen, and thus issue #40 was but arrows (an important issue), and my another turn of that particular wheel. personal favorite-Mike's knowledge People, This issue, however, stands out from or lack of knowledge about the men­ GREEN ARROW #40 was the per­ the rest. What a thing of beauty you strual cycle. fect "middle-age issue." Spiritual in have made. I was transfixed from first Until now, you have avoided the nature and natural in spirit. to last by the incredible artwork, the most controversial and shameful topic Heck, Ollie looks pretty darn good provocative poetry and the otherworld­ in comics-male pattern baldness. buck naked at his age (forty some­ ly feel of the issue as a whole. If this is Statistics say a blonde male in his for­ thing... ); such forte. what Oliver's self-quest is going to be ties should have noticeably thinning Loo Wolf like, I hope he never finds what it is hair. (Have you seen Jimmy Buffett in 2118 Ryan's Run East he's looking for, although I do already concert lately?). Maple Shade, NJ 08052 miss Dinah. Something that few in any media I have been witness to the mass cap­ choose to do is do without. I can think This very month, Ollie and italization upon t he traditions a nd of a dozen bald villains without working GREEN ARROW are both ... 46. beliefs of Native Americans, so it was hard. But, I will look like the Machine Give or take. with some trepidation that I got past Smith or Lex Luthor baby before I can the cover, however beautiful it was. think of even one thinning hero. Oliver melded well with the images Let's put realism into comics. I want • •••• put forth by his spiritual guide, and is to see how much hair is in Ollie's drain probably the DC character that lends after he showers. Dear Mike, himself most to this kind of treatment. F. Scott Key I understand why Oliver left Seattle I myself have always seen him as the St. Clair, MI but I'm not quite sure if I know why human embodiment of the Hunter he left Dinah. In Seattle (and probably that is represented in the mythos of so Let's put more realism into let­ any populated region of the U.S.) peo­ many cultures. ters of comment, F. Scott Key. ple will recognize Ollie as a traitor and Surely there have been other spiri­ I guess that's why Ollie couldn't bear tual views (Wiccan and Zen, to name * * * *. it. Am I to assume that Dinah stayed two) that have been expressed in the Dear Mr. Gold, behind to run the store? pages of GREEN ARROW before, Thank you for GREEN ARROW #40. After that crap that the President a lways with a well-informed and I'm a 54-year-old female attracted to was shoveling, I'd think t hey'd both respectful tone. This was no different. classic comics, opera comics and espe­ be ready to find a new nation to call "Spirit Quest" really did speak to my cially comics with artistic covers, so I their own. spirit. In our comics world of dirge-like can understand if not many GREEN The Presidential crap being shov­ meta-human soap operas, I have been ARROWs of this caliber capture what elled right now in reality makes me refreshed and renewed. Thank you. the mass market wants. What a pleas­ consider leaving America almost daily. Mike Grell, I wish you'd draw more ant surprise to find the storyline also (I don't want to support a war over fos­ often. Whoa! beautifully done. sil fuels; I ride a bicycle). I'd better not Grant Thornley Oh, sure, I buy into THE coming get started on that. 1426 W. Thome Ave., #3A wedding and Robin's new comics, but Mike Grell's a r t sure has under­ Chicago, IL 60660 the beautifully done comics that uplift gone some drastic changes since the whole medium are not often LONGBOW HUNTERS! I'm not com­ Thanks for your kind words, seen... not this well, anyway. plaining (although I follow his writing Grant. Always r eady to lea p on Tell Mr. Grell it was good for the more than his art). A nice, relaxed a n opportunity to hype some­ soul-we need that; it's important in and introspective story. I wouldn't be thing that won't be published for a today's mixed-up world. surprised to learn that Mr. Grell is long, long time, let me take this S. H. Mclnnes a follower of t h e incredible Puma opportunity to say that, as of this 210 Del Mar Ave. Blues series. writing, Mike is seven months Indialantic, FL 32903 Charlie Harris ahead of schedule on GREEN 2944 N. Euclid Ave. ARROW scripts in order to clear ***** Tucson, AZ 85719-2526 the decks for his upcoming three­ Dear Mike, part Prestige Format miniseries, THE PHANTOM was a book of such ••••• which he will be writing and quality that I read it each month in drawing. And before you ask, this silence. GREEN ARROW has always Dear Mike, one isn't Green Arrow-related. been a special book, but #40, "Spirit GREEN ARROW #40 has got my With luck, we'll have it in the next Quest," was an extra-special gift from vote for the Best Story of 1990 in the twelve months. Mike Grell and the crew. I enjoyed it Comics Buyers Guide fan awards. Not in blissful, natural silence. Anyhow, only was the artwork outrageous (and there was sound enough reflected in believe me, it was), but the story was ****** the story. also very well done. The search for self. I guess that the Before I take leave of you, I have a When is the Shado miniseries we've topic is nothing new in literature, but request. Mer forty issues of pressing h eard so much about going to be the way in which it was handled current social issues and intense soul­ released? The last I read, it was sup­ is definitely new. Oliver Queen has searching by our protagonists, not to posed to be out this summer, but I left the confinement of the city, he has mention government stooges and ninja didn't see it anywhere. Oh, well, I sup­ left the confinement of civilization and masters, I don't think I'm alone in pose if it's been delayed this long that has turned back to nature. The wanting to see even a single issue it's going to be a killer. guardian of the streets of Seattle has of Oliver acknowledging his past I have a response to the letter writ­ turned into a natural predator in the and beating the bejeezus out of a ten by Charlie Harris that you people wild, and I'm glad to see it. This only super-villain for old times' sake. It publislted. In this letter, h e asked gives the character new life, and doesn't have to be Darkseid; even "how can the state expect to teach peo­ renewed interest. Major Disaster'll do. ple not to murder when t hey do it?" "The world above me is restored FAM and then he went on to state that he in beauty." I can't think of very 216 Riverside Drive thought heroes should never kill. many things more beautiful than Toronto, Ont. M6S 4A9 While I agree that our "system" isn't Mike Grell's own artwork. I hope that CANADA working, I disagree with his point. Ollie's ascent means something in his I think that if we put more people on new life. I'll be honest with you: that's death row instead of giving them life David S. Gallacher probably not in these pages, for sentences with no parole, it would 4151 Monarch Way reasons we've mentioned many scare more people into not committing 'Salt Lake City, UT 84124 times in the past; however, our old crimes, because then t hey find out buddy Denny O'Neil has written a that if they kill, they'll be killed. Plus, ***** Batman-Green Arrow crossover it costs less money than it does to keep Dear Mike; for editor Archie Goodwin, so if them alive. There are no guarantees that Green you're looking for a GA story with Now, about the hero thing. I, too, Arrow will return to either Seattle or more of a super-hero orientation, agree that heroes shouldn't kill, but Dinah (Amazing Heroes preview). I can't think of a better writer/edi­ what he fails to realize is that there I would not mind an extended stay tor team. \vill be certain times when it's "kill or from both Seattle or Dinah, but I do be killed" and they have no choice. want to see him come back! ***** Mike Marcella Mer the Shado miniseries I would Mr. Grell and Company, P.O. Box 56974 like to see her in one more major story Let me start off by saying that I love North Pole, AK 99705 in GREEN ARROW, then have her your comic. I started collecting it last leave for good. year and it hasn't let me down since. SHADO's fully written-all four Please have Dina h play a bigger I can't wait to see what kind of physi­ Prestige Format volumes of part in this series. cal and psychological hell you put Ollie it-and the first issue has been I would like to see Trevor von Eeden through now that he's left Seattle and pencilled and is being p ainted do some art on GREEN ARROW. doesn't have Dinah to fall back on. even as I type. .We're shooting for EdHoma,Jr. Maybe you could have him run into a late summer release; we'll give 9 N. Avon Dr. Hal Jordan during his little journey. you exact details as soon as Claymont, DE 19703 Now, concerning this trick arrow they're confirmed. issue--leave them out and don't ever I'd love to see TrevQr pay a bring them back. I agree that it would return visit to GREEN ARROW as be neat to see ol' Green Arrow walking ***** well {he drew the top-notch mini­ around the attic (if he has one) and series written by Mike Barr about rummaging through some of his old NEXT ISSUE: Ollie sics the six years back). Trevor's been stuff, just for old times' sake, but I Poachers, part two. busy on a LEGENDS OF THE don't think he should use any of it. -Mike Gold DARK KNIGHT arc, and he's presently involved in a six-month project with editor Andy Heifer. ***** Dear Editor: About GREEN ARROW #40: the front cover art (like all the artwork in the GREEN ARROW title) is wonderful. Also, the story in #40 came out just in time for the western movie. John Rohlfing 13802 Gunther St. Garden Grove, CA 92643 **** Dear Mike, I just wanted to tell you that after several months of being, frankly, quite bored with GREEN ARROW, and buy­ ing it just out of habit, I was impressed with #40. This was mostly due to the art of Mike Grell, beginning with the arresting cover and continu­ AN EPIC TALE OF GODS AND MEN ing throughout the book, although it did seem somewhat rushed at times. The old Indian was apparently ADAPTED BY ROY THOMAS & G1l KANE Ollie's guardian angel, or something similar, and was actually quite a like­ A 208 -page Graphic Novel with an introduction able character, one whom I wouldn't mind seeing again. And let's hope that by Brian Kellow, Managing Editor of Opera News with this issue, all the self-doubt that Mr. Queen has been feeling lately has Coming soon from DC Comics • Suggested for Mature Readers been dealt with to his satisfaction. It e was starting to become tiresome. « TM DC ComiCS Inc. C 1991 All Righ1S ReservOd . <81 ] THIS IS ONE Tl E BILLCOSBY DOESN'T WANT HIGH RATINGS.

Bill Cosby is a man who aims high. them. After all, this is one time when a But not when it comes to his blood low score wins. To learn more, contact pressure. That's because Bill Cosby the American Heart Association, 7320 knows high blood pressure increases Greenville Ave., Box 25, Dallas, TX risks of heart attack and stroke. Which 75231. is why it's important to have your blood You can help prevent heart disease. pressure checked regularly, exercise, We can tell you how. cut down on salt and take your blood t pressure pills if the doctor prescribes American Heart Association 0

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