FAN PANEL #1: FANZINES

The panel consisted of eight publishers (5 mel, 3 fem) of hardcopy
fanzines. Like 3H, these people do it as a labor of love, and even
with the seemingly-steep cover prices they often publish at a loss.
Several of them seek to heal the rift between hardcopy/snailmail
and 'net fandom (netsplit!)

Mel (Tony? Tim?), _Transmasters_ (6th year) and _Teletran_ (50pp
story zine). $1 us, $1.25 ca, $1.75 else. Communicated with Hasbro
in 1991 about copyright permissions, which they were happy to grant
because he's nonprofit; however, recent contacts indicate whoever's
in Legal now hasn't heard of him or the issue. Related to the UK
Transmasters group, which has its own post-G2 continuity.

Fem (Jettara? Marg Davis?) from Ontario: "Silicon Graphics," a
nonprofit org dedicated to saving Transformers. _Silicon_ -- no,
wait, it's spelled _Cillacon_ -- has been published since 1992 from
a *typewriter*. _Cillacon #15_ was published 6 months ago. Contains
stories from all continuities. $6 with B&W cover, $8 with color.
Also published _Beastwars Bloodlines_, a timeline for BW. Spoke
with Venus Terzo, who agreed the series needed more fem characters.
See www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/2487/.

Mel: Third editor of _Balance of Power_, fanfic set subsequent to
the US comic continuity. Free copies in dealers' room; otherwise
bimonthly $3.25 us, $4.00 else. Also tries to track all the TF-
related print media, past and present.

Heather Feldman -- produces a B&W comic based on a 3000-page, 3-
megayear plotline that is her attempt to resolve the plotholes of
the G1 cartoon (post-"Return of Optimus Prime", sans "Rebirth").
The fixes often require graphic violence, so it's an "18+" title.
Some examples in the display room. Price varies with size of issue.

Austin Welch of southern California, for 7-8 years publishing
_Somewhere in Time_, a "Back to the Future"/TF crossover featuring
the DeLorean as a TF. Continuity is cartoon, post-"Rebirth", but
with elemnts of the comic plus own innovations. Is assembling a
comic version now (B&W, maybe some comic inserts). He writes the
story, and two Texan fems help; one as copyeditor, the other as
artist (Sarah Tannenbaum, now at artschool and rapidly improving).
He tries for the feel of the early episodes and metal toys, but has
added various *masters. The tone is lighter than other zines; he
looks for the humor amidst the violence of war. Has taken the
advice of H.Feldman, so his comic layout is rather like hers. Plans
to eventually have a website and perhaps an interactive forum. Has
planned a 2-hour soundtrack, is working on lyrics.  First/teaser
issue is free+postage, but future issues will be $3-4.

Matt Swenson, _TransNet_. Collects/summarizes info from the 'net
for the 'netless. Bimonthly. $1.50 us, $1.75 ca, $1.95 else. Also
_TransSpoof_, a $2 B&W comic published annually for BotCon.

Sharon and Darren. _Voices of Cybertron_, a one-shot >60pp (30 as
graphic novel) full of interviews and details. Interviewed Robert
Stack (now >80y old) and reproduced his signature. Got Leonard
Nimoy to admit at a Trek convention his TFTM role. 4pp interview
with Ed Fruge, music supervisor for TFTM, who's still in contact
with Vince DiCola; he thinks BotCon is neat but has never had the
time to attend, and approves of S&D's work. Complete voicelist for
TFTM. Should be available around 1 September, $13-$16 including
postage.