In case you don't know the story, here it goes: Josh published three issues of Elk's Run under his own company, Hoarse & Buggy Productions. We ran out of money, so Speakeasy Comics republished issues 1-3 and then issue 4. Speakeasy ran out of money, so Random House published the whole story - what was originally intended to be Elk's Run 1-8.

Now...we had six issues in the can before Speakeasy went under. Issue 5 was print ready. However, it was never printed as a single issue. Cleaning out my files today, I came across the letter page for issue five. Being that I loved putting together the letter pages and this one was never used, I figured I'd share it with you all. I'm taking out some text for spoiler reasons - go buy Elk's Run if you want to know what I deleted.

Welcome back to issue 5, we’re in the second half now – only three issues to go before you all start crying for “Elk’s Run: Season Two” or whatever the trend will be next March. Elk’s Run Classified. The New Elk’s Run. Ultimate Elk’s Run. All-star Elk’s Run.

“What are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I’m the goddamn John Kohler!” I think it works.

Josh had this issue planed for some time. It was supposed to be the montage of sorts, the story of how the events at Elk’s Ridge have been affecting the lives of the people not directly tied to the action. There were several characters planned for this issue at different stages of the project’s development but by the time it got to scripting it made sense to have Jim, Alysha and Shane be the three focal characters.

I was honestly expecting a nice little collection of scenes to advance the plot, none of them really being much more than a bridge to the big events we have planned. I was almost expecting an anthology – a collection of unrelated stories taking place in Elk’s Ridge. What was actually written, as you can see, was much different.

As you all know, Josh is focusing in on a different character with each issue and playing around with how their lives are influenced by the decisions of other people. When the script for issue five came in I realized Josh’s true intentions, to have that same sort of “outside influence” theme that we have for the whole series and do it within a single issue. [DELETED] It was a good idea, well executed – and I loved watching this one come together. I hope you all feel the same.

And on that note, letters…

__________________

Hey Joshua,

I received my Bumper today. Thanks a lot! I really enjoyed it and am definitely adding Elk's Run to my pull list. I also plan to pass the Bumper onto a friend of mine.

Again, thanks. This book had a lot of positive press to live up to, and did. I'm really looking forward to the rest of it.

-Sleep

Sleep? I didn’t realize hippies read Elk’s Run. What’s your friend’s name? The one you passed the book on to? Sky Blue?

Either way, I’m glad you and your friend Sky Blue liked the Bumper Edition and thank you for adding us to your “pull list”, which I assume is something in the commune you and Sky Blue live in.

Hey Josh,

I'm ashamed to say that I was one of those uninformed comic fans who had never heard of Elk's Run in my life. But after repeated recommendations from the Bendis Boarders, my co-workers at Midtown Comics and some of my customers, I decided to give it a try and purchased the Bumper Edition.

Needless to say I was amazed at the quality of the work. The story was enthralling and constantly kept me second-guessing what was going to happen next. I loved the dialogue and the art was perfect for the story.

Keep up the good work and I wish the whole crew of Elk's Run the best of luck.

-Jesse Chin-

So, the Bendis Board, your co-workers and Midtown Comics were all harassing you to get this book and you just, what, assumed they were lying? I mean, I’m seriously glad you checked it out and dug it but what were you waiting for? Jesus Christ to rise again to judge the living and the dead to take a five-second break from The Rapture to tell you that you really should get Elk’s Run?

I mean, if you can’t trust the Bendis Board to never steer you wrong, who can you trust?

Josh, I love Elk's Run. It is damn fine funnybook making. That is all.

-Scott Ziolko

I think people should end every statement with “That is all.” That is all.

Dear Joshua Honey

I just found out I'm pregnant and I don't know who the father is. Would you mind taking a test to find out if it's you? Also how are we supposed to talk about what will most likely be another great issue of Elk's Run if we haven't even read it yet?

Maybe you should have a letter page devoted to the back up stories this time? Well I thought Nate Bellagarde was fantastic and you really played on his strengths when doing this story (insert joke about how well he can draw poo or something). Also how did you come up with these back up stories? Were they when you were pooing? Wow that last sentence was most definitely poo. I would love to hear some of the back story and if you researched werewolves or maybe office life or maybe a little of both.

Well Elk's run is great and there should really be more discussion on it out there but it won't be me ‘cause I'm smart enough to read it but too dumb to get down to the psychological and social commentary in the book but that doesn't mean I don't want to hear others opinions on it. Oh and how about wearing socks to bed next time your feet are cold

Yours forever snokoms wov wov
Stephen

I was going to answer this one but instead Bobby Bollis, Hoarse & Buggy’s esteemed lawyer, decided he should handle it. Bobby:

Greetings Mr. Stephen –
On the eleventh of October, 2005 – my client, Mr. Joshua Hale Fialkov, received a letter from you in which you notified him of your pregnancy and asked him if he would willingly take part in a paternity test in order to determine whether or not my client is the father of your child.

Without even getting into the fact that my client denies ever having sexual relations with you nor does he even recall ever meeting a Stephen, I feel it is my obligation as a lawyer, father, and man of God to educate you a little bit on the “birds and the bees”, as it were.

You see, Stephen, when a man and a woman are in love they get married and on the night of their wedding they have consensual unprotected sex for the first time (not counting college, that San Diego “accident,” and the night before the wedding when the bride and groom-to-be had way too many Captain & Cokes). When this magical event happens, the penis meets the vagina and nine-months later an often-healthy baby is born.

The key word here is vagina, Stephen.

Sincerely,

Mr. Robert B. Bollis

So, there you have it, straight from the lawyer’s mouth. You can’t have a baby unless you have a vagina. And if you have a vagina, are you single? Because I like vagina.

Dear Elk's Run Crew,

I'm going to steal something from the webcomic "Joe and Monkey." I think it applies here:

Please stop hogging all the Awesome. Other people want some too.

Thank you,

John Sitton

Goddamn it. Again I hand it over to our lawyer, Mr. Bobby Bollis.

Dear Mr. John Sitton –

Joshua Hale Fialkov, my client, and I wanted to inform you that we are not hogging all the Awesome. We, as upstanding capitalist citizens, do not condone any monopolies and any attempts to publicly accuse us again will result in us taking legal action against you.

Sincerely,
Mr. Robert J. Bollis

Dear Josh,

I think it's far past time that we gang up and bludgeon Dan Taylor. Now that he's got his hoity-toity editor job at IDW he thinks he's SO cool.

Oh, congrats on the book and stuff.

lwk

Jesus. What’s wrong with you people?

Dear Mr. lwk –

I am writing to inform you that my client, Mr. Dan Taylor, will not stand for being bludgeoned and we will press charges at any attempts and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are currently processing the papers necessary to get a restraining order against you and I would appreciate your cooperation in not even thinking about my client until said papers are in place.

Sincerely,
Mr. Robert J. Bollis.


So I received my copy of Elk's Run Bumper in the mail the other day and I have since read it.

It's good.

At first the art put me off a bit. It's hard to get used to the sketchier style, but as I read it – it seems that the art fits the feel of the town and the story. Sometimes it's difficult to tell who is who and what's going on. But overall I think it's good and it fits the atmosphere very well.

The story itself: obviously, you know what you're doing. The premise of the town reminds me very much of the short story 'The Lottery' or M.Night Shyamalan's “The Village”. A group of people, to escape some evil in the world, establish a place of their own to live by their own agreements. Also- the changing perspective in each issue gives a great feel for the book. I am interested in reading further, to see why John wants the guns, the war he wants to start (because, to this point, there's been no conflict with the outside world other than the police officers).

Very nice work. Keep it up.

-jason

“A group of people, to escape some evil in the world, establish a place of their own to live by their own agreements…”

…and make up a myth about monsters to keep the people scared and in place and believing that it’s the turn of the century. And they both have Ron Howard’s surprisingly attractive daughter in them.

Yeah, I know, we get that all the time. Seriously, I’m glad the book grew on you like a rash, that’s all we really want.

Dear Elk’s Run –

You should try to play the WWJD game except make the “J” stand for “John SR”. So, let’s say you’re on-line at the movie and some guy cuts in front of you. Right off the bat you probably want to slam his face through the glass candy-case but instead, just pause and say “WWJD?” Then you go into your truck, grab your shotgun, a tank of gasoline and a match, blow the bastard’s rectum off with the 12-gaugse and then burn the movie theater down.

You can use WWJD for many things. McDonald’s won’t serve you breakfast even though your watch says 9:55AM? Pull the clerks head off and deep-fry it! Guy cuts you off on the highway? Use your Camry-mounted rocket launcher to fry him and make his kids bastards!

This is the new way to run your life – WWJD?

Reggie Grey

I play the WWJD game but instead use “What Would Josh Do?” I complain a lot. Procrastinate. Get really excited over TV shows that no-one else watches. I repeat what I just said as if I’m the person who had the idea. It’s a fun game. I wish I got laid more, though. Maybe Stephen’s free this weekend.

_______________

And that concludes this issue’s edition of the letter page. Please check us out in two months for Elk’s Run #6 where we get a little peek at what life was like for the boys years ago, a relaxing stroll down memory lane that ends in the shit truly hitting the fan like you’ve yet to see in this book. Don’t forget to tell your retailers to order you up a copy and feel free to send us some email and let us know what you think. At the very least I can get all smart-assed with you on the letter page.

Before I go I’d like to thank all of the usual suspects. Josh, Noel, Scott, Datsun, Jaco, Chris, and Bobby Bollis for making this book possible, our family and friends, everyone out there who keeps promoting this book and talking it up, there’s an unavoidable buzz in the air and hopefully that buzz will turn to some serious orders. All the message boards, blogs and comic sites that are showing us love – we thank you. All of the comic shops that are continuing to take a chance on us and ordering strong, pushing the book on your customers. And of course you, right now, with the book in your hand. Without you, well, we’d probably be in a lot more debt.

See you in two months.

Labels: elksrun, material

This entry was posted by Jason, on Monday, July 2, 2007. You can leave your response.