Anime Weekend Atlanta 5 - Star Blazers
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 Before Macross
became a fan favorite in the mid-1980's, there was another space opera
that was imported to the U.S. Space Cruiser Yamato became Star Blazers,
and the kids who saw the show had an experience that stayed with them for
decades. At Anime Weekend Atlanta, these grown-up fans talked about their
experiences: (left to right) Bruce Lewis, who drew Star Blazers comics;
Dave Wilson, a long-time Star Blazers fan; Amy Howard, the first voice
of Nova in the English-language series; Steve Harrison, who wrote a Star
Blazers fanzine; and Tim Eldred, who also worked n the Star Blazers comics. |
 There was a
link between two of these fans, even though they never knew about it for
years. Harrison created the fanzine called Space Fanzine Yamato. In the
days before graphics-intensive computer operating systems, this fanzine
was not a polished effort, but it was full of genuine expression for Star
Blazers... |
 ...and one
of those fanzines got to Tim Eldred, who lived in Michigan at the time.
The fanzine focused Eldred's attention on Star Blazers and the possibilities
of story telling and art. "Just like Star Wars, this inspired me. From
moment one, I was transfixed. It (Star Blazers) had this magic element
that inspired creativity," he said. Eldred went on to work with Lewis on
Star Blazers comics for two years. |
 Wilson's love
of Star Blazers led to another kind of love - and the ultimate souvenir
for a fan of the series: one of the voice cast members. Wilson met Howard
at the 1998 AWA, and proposed to her a few months later. Now the couple
is engaged (but Howard swears it will not be a Star Blazers or anime convention
wedding). |
