THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS.... TWXN #14 07/23/96 Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR) XMR is a periodic annotated world press review of reports regarding the internationally syndicated television show XENA: Warrior Princess (1995 - ) and the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor. For a free e-mail subscription send "subscribe XMR" to ktaborn@lightspeed.net. Excerpts from the following cites will appear in future issues of XMR. [219.5] 04-01-96 STARLOG. No. 225. Page 6. Cartoon. "Xena was always a tough date." By Mike Fisher. COMMENTARY: First known mainstream media cartoon of Xena: Warrior Princess. It pictured a brave man holding flowers going "Yi!" as Xena, brandishing a swishing sword, says, "These flowers are useless decoration, and I DON'T care to go to a restaurant. For tonight,...WE HUNT WILD PIG!" The caption read: "Xena was always a tough date." [219.6] 04-01-96 STARLOG. No. 225. Page 36. "Legendary Visions. Creating the special FX for the heroics of Hercules is truly a labor of myth & magic." By Joe Nazzaro. COMMENTARY: Primarily a showcase for HTLJ use of special effects, the article mentioned in passing that XWP used the Flat Earth special effects team as well as HTLJ. [Tentative 262] 05-01-96 SCI-FI UNIVERSE. Vol 2. No. 15. Page 37. --- words. "Babes in Boyland. When it comes to science fiction, why does ERA stand for 'Exploitation Roles Always'?" By Amanda Finch. COMMENTARY: XWP was mentioned in passing as an example of the exploitation of women ("For every appropriately attired Agent Scully on The X-Files (who, lacking the traditional attributes of the TV sexpot, has watched as her co-star has gotten the lion's share of publicity), female science fiction fans face seven or eight leather-thonged 'warrior princesses' (Xena) or Pamela Anderson's cleavage fighting crime in black leather (Barb Wire)."), this article was discussed in relative detail in my introduction to XMR #03 [with emphasis on Xena: Warrior Princess] and RIF (Resistance is Futile Netzine) #55 [with emphasis on Star Trek]. These back issues are available at the web pages (for XMR): http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html; and (for RIF): http://www.startrek.in-trier.de/rif. Some issues raised in this article were discussed specifically in the XWP context in the Ms. Magazine (July/August 1996) article "Xena: She's Big, Tall,Strong--and Popular" [tentative XMR322]. The author may have been referring to the episode "Hooves and Harlots." [Tentative 295] 06-01-96 CRACKED MONSTER PARTY. Page 44. --- words. "Eczema: Wearisome Princess" Written by Greg Grabianski. Art by Walter J Brogan. Commentary: Calling it puerile, scatological and offensive would be too light an indictment for the very first mainstream satire of Xena: Warrior Princess. The running joke was various characters attempting to look up Eczema's skirt (7 separate jokes!). Blabriella (Gabrielle) was drawn wearing Xena's chakram as a hat, as Gabrielle did in "Black Wolf". Characterizing Eczema as solely motivated by the opportunity to chop up and skewer men, the satire was based primarily on the episode "Cradle of Hope". It was revealed that Eczema's decision to become a warlord was based in part on her experience at a little boy's birthday party when she was 5 years old. "I ate my slice of birthday cake really fast. I wanted more. So I took away a little boy's piece. The wimp started crying and his parents yelled at me for being so greedy. I vowed never to be pushed around by anyone again -- ever! So I slaughtered everyone at the party and ate the whole cake myself!" "Xena! Hot Warrior Babe!" on the cover with a drawn likeness of Lucy Lawless as Xena. [296] 06-01-96 SPECTRUM. Vol. 1 No. 6. Page 22. "Xena: Warrior Princess (Part 2)" COMMENTARY: Continuation of the episode guide began in the previous issue (XMR260), covering episodes 11 through 22 (does not include Deathmask #23 and Is There A Doctor in the House #24). Part two of two parts. Discussed each episode separately and included commentary about mythology. [322] 07-01-96 MS. Vol 7. No. 1. July/August 1996. Page 74. "Xena" She's Big, Tall, Strong--and Popular." By Donna Minkowitz. COMMENTARY: Continuing with a socio-psychological approach only attempted thus far by the Village Voice, Ms. Minkowitz attempted to understand why XWP had (has) such a large and loyal female demographic. Exploring the theme of the underlying inherent scariness of a feminist hero who could simultaneously be accepted as a sex symbol to men, the article touched on the issues of feminism, violence, ambiguous sexual orientation, interracial relationships, politics, and fan reaction (just to name a few). This article, along with Stacey D'Erasmo's piece in the Village Voice of 12/26/95 (XMR115), represented to date the most significant sociological analysis of XWP. On the cover: Xena with sword and text "Xena-Mania. Why Is TV's Warrior Princess A Hit With Women?"