Writer Profile
Christy Marx
by Ariel Wulff

One of the most interesting storytelling surprises from Warp Graphics over the past couple of years, was WOLFRIDER, by Christy Marx, Wendy Pini and Jeff Zugale. Not only were fans surprised to see a new story drawn (at least in part) by Wendy, but the subject matter, exploring certain aspects of Bearclaw’s early reign as Wolf Chief, was a good bit ‘darker’ than most Elfquest fans were used to. It is a story that forces the reader to see the war between humans and elves from a more objective perspective. Largely responsible for this compelling reassessment of the ages old conflict, is writer Christy Marx.

Christy was born and raised in Danville, Illinois, a place that she describes as “very flat.” While she says it was a nice place to run around in as a child, she states that it was a “horrible place to languish in as a weird and creative teenager.” Christy attended the Univerisity of Illinois to study jewelry making and glass blowing, but quit after a year to go to California. It was 1971, and California was all the rage. Once out west, she had absolutely no idea what to do with herself. Her mother had always encouraged her in the direction of art, and Christy agrees that she has a certain basic level of artistic ability. But when she took some of her amateur work to an advertising agency in Los Angeles, they told her that her work was awful. She has always regarded that as a positive experience, because it kept her from pursuing a false path.

Circumstances led her unexpectedly into applying for a job at a large commercial insurance company, which resulted in her being hired, and ultimately becoming a Special Risk Life Insurance Underwriter. When her knowledge of medical conditions began causing her stress over every ache and pain, she decided it was time for a life change, and she made a bold and daring move. She wrote up a resume letter about herself and sent them out to producers and prouduction companies. She included a survey asking for feedback that would help her get a job.

As luck would have it, Tom Laughlin, best known for his BILLY JACK movies, was a survey fanatic, and Christy’s letter caught his attention. He hired her, and that was her foot in the door of the entertainment industry. She spent a couple of years working in TV production, then became a script reader for various film companies, and finally was able to become a full-time writer.

Christy has a long list of writing credits, which interested fans can view online*. Some of her more high profile projects have been: Babylon 5 & Twilight Zone (live action), The Secret of Mu Lan (feature animation), Reboot, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spiderman & Fantastic Four (TV series animation), Conquest of Camelot & Conquest of the Longbow (interactive), Wolfrider and The Sisterhood of Steel (comics).

Christy was a comic book reader and collector from an early age. She read just about everything Marvel came out with plus a lot of independents, and first came to know about Elfquest during the release of the original series. She still reads Xmen, Strangers in Paradise, Usagi Yojimbo, Mage, A Distant Soil, books by the Hernandez Brothers, Leave it to Chance, Astro City, and assorted other bits and pieces. Christy first met the Pinis at the San Diego Comic Con. In that phase of her life, she played the metal-strung Celtic harp and had learned a Wolfrider song. During one particular Comic Con, she had her harp with her and played the song live for Wendy. In later years, Wendy, Richard and Christy bumped into one another on a professional basis and Christy was surprised to hear what an impression the harp-playing had made on Wendy. Their friendhip grew naturally out of becoming better acquainted.

When Warp expanded Elfquest to include other writers and artists, Wendy would ask Christy from time to time if she would like to write something. Christy would always answer “I’d love to!”, but for one reason or another, nothing quite came together. Finally, Wendy suggested the story of Bearclaw and his feud with the humans, and Christy found herself unable to resist! The combination of the chance to expand upon the mythos of the Wolfriders, to explore Bearclaw’s character, to show the futility of cycles of hatred and revenge, and to have a book-length series to do it in, was completely irresistible.

Christy enjoyed working closely with Wendy and with the characters she’s loved for so long. She says that Wendy is a dream to work with, a brilliant and creative woman. The most difficult part of writing Wolfrider was living up to Wendy’s standards. Christy was acutely aware of trying to handle Wendy’s characters in a way that was true to what she had created for them. Wendy, of course, had lots of input. The two women working together on Wolfrider would have long plotting sessions, where they sat in a room together for hours, working out major story beats, coming up with this and that cool idea, and making sure that the character’s motivations and actions remained true to Wendy’s vision. The result is a piece of compelling Elfquest canon.

Christy lives in central California, in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite with her lifemate, Randy. She enjoys hiking and martial arts and is quite the amateur photographer, often taking photos of the 15 cats whose whims she serves, and whom she refers to as “The Moggy Horde” You can see some of Christy’s great photography and read about her cats online at her website.

Sendings Issue #12, Winter 2001

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