CrosSignals

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Zine
Title: CrosSignals
Publisher:
Editor(s): Sharon Palmer, 'Nea Dodson & L.C. Wells
Date(s): 1989-1992
Series?:
Medium: print zine
Size:
Genre: gen
Fandom: multimedia
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

CrosSignals is a gen multifandom crossover zine series.

cover of issue #1

Issue 1

CrosSignals 1 was published in 1989 and contains 121 pages.

The art is by Linda Baer, 'Nea Dodson, Sharon M. Palmer, and L.C. Wells.

Regarding the play, "Time Trek":

This play has never been preformed. It was submitted to us by Carol Salemi whose brother Michael was a member of this class. As far as the editors of "CrosSignals" can determine, the stage is set-up with the Time Tunnel Complex in the foreground and the view through the tunnel in the background. Scene changes can be accomplished through lighting effects. We have even taken the liberty of creating a character list.

  • Table of Contents (1)
  • Cross Words, editorial by Sharon M. Palmer (2)
  • Cross Fire, editorial by L.C. Wells (3)
  • Crossed Fingers, editorial by 'Nea Dodson (4)
  • Friends in Low Places by L. C. Wells and 'Nea Dodson (The Equalizer/Beauty and the Beast) ((6)
  • Time Trek by Mrs. Hoffman's 5th Grade Class of 1968, a play in script form (Time Tunnel/Star Trek: TOS) (33)
  • A Blake By Any Other Name by Eric Blackburn (Blake's 7/Beauty and the Beast) (43)
  • Jupiter 2, Enterprise 0 by Cheap Treks, a con skit by Paul Balze, David Keefer, Lance Woods, and Tom Chafin, performed once at Shore Leave #10 on July 10, 1988. "Con goers had been told that the play was entitled "Mudd Ado About Nothing.") (Lost in Space/Star Trek TOS) (49)
  • Thy Fearful Symmetry" by Eric Blackburn (Kolchak: The Night Stalker/Beauty and the Beast) (74)
  • F=Ma by Patrick Sponaugle (Star Wars???) (91)
  • Choices by Catherine Edwards (Star Trek: TNG/Beauty and the Beast) (94)
  • Differing Wavelengths by Patrick Sponaugle (Star Wars/???) (112)
  • Blake and the Beast, vignette by Nea Dodson (Beauty and the Beast/Blake's 7) ("For all the fans who see a parallel with the last episode of another unexpectedly cancelled show.") (116)
  • Reader's Guide to the Universe(s) (117)
  • from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Equalizer)

    from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Equalizer)

  • from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Blake's 7/Beauty and the Beast)

    from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Blake's 7/Beauty and the Beast)

  • from issue #1, first page of the script of the Star Trek: TNG con skit

    from issue #1, first page of the script of the Star Trek: TNG con skit

  • from issue #1, the cast of the Star Trek: TNG con skit, artist is Sharon M. Palmer

    from issue #1, the cast of the Star Trek: TNG con skit, artist is Sharon M. Palmer

  • from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Kolchak: The Night Stalker)

    from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Kolchak: The Night Stalker)

  • from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Beauty and the Beast/Star Trek: TNG)

    from issue #1, Sharon M. Palmer (Beauty and the Beast/Star Trek: TNG)

  • from issue #1, first page of the Time Tunnel play script

    from issue #1, first page of the Time Tunnel play script

Issue 2

cover issue #2

CrosSignals 2 was published in 1990 and is 169 pages long.

The art is by by Linda Baer, Andrew Culhane, 'Nea Dodson, T.J. Glenn, Kathryn Mayer, Sharon M. Palmer, and L.C. Wells.

Issue 3

front cover of issue #3, Kathryn L. Mayer - from the editorial: "Our cover doesn't go with any story in CrosSignals 3. The artist would like to see someone write the story where Sam Beckett leaps into Jean-Luc Picard. So would we. If you get inspired to write it, send it to us."
back cover of issue #3, not credited

CrosSignals 3 was published in 1990 and contains 164 pages.

The art is by Linda A. Baer, Paul Balze, Sue Collins, Andrew Culnane, A. 'Nea Dodson, Kathryn L. Mayer, Sharon M. Palmer, Carol Salemi, and L.C. Wells.

From the editorial:

We were interviewed by a local paper and had a very nice article written about us and CrosSignals. One of those rare articles about fans that makes us sound like normal, intelligent people who just happen to have an unusual hobby -- rather than one where we sound like a bunch of loonies with shrines lo Mr. Spock in our basements.

[...]

I also have to take back part of my P.S. from last issue where I said not to look for any stories from me. This issue contains two very short stories by me. I now have had the experience of having my prose edited. I reacted in stereotypical fashion -- became defensive and belligerent, then went back and rewrote.

Also from the editorial:

Let's discuss 'canon'. The unwritten rules in fanfic is that what you saw on the screen is canon. It's not a hard and fast rule, no. I believe the unseen episodes of B&B are considered 'canon'. This rule starts everyone off on the same level — no one can say, "Well, you're wrong because I was sleeping with Roy Dotrice at the time and HE said..."

In crossuniverses it is easy to get away with things because the people reading will not necessarily have seen the shows you cross. If a name is misspelled it is possible the authors had no other source than the verbalization on a show. If a character seems a little off, the author might have visualized it from a fanzine — at which point the person should see some of the program that s/he is writing in. The canon is the backdrop of the story — not another fan's writing.

[...]

A note on why we write (not to be confused with why we fight — a story that comes out only under the influence of the early AM hours, Dr. Pepper and corn chips!). The production of a zine is a study in masochism. The only reward we get is your feedback. You readers have no idea of how long sane stories take to write; you get no explanation of why some stories are the way they are. What you see is the final result and on that you make your judgements. We do our best partly in the hope of getting LOCs saying the story was successful. A LOC that canes back full of cruel comments only satisfies a bitchy writer, but a LOC full of sweetness and light is great wallpaper and good ego stroke but is like a meringue — unfilling. We hope to hear from you. We beg to hear from you. A check isn't good enough, we want more.

  • Crosswords by Sharon M. Palmer (1)
  • Cross Fire by L.C. Wells (2)
  • Crossed Fingers by A 'Nea Dodson (3)
  • Unpaid Apolitical Announcement (5)
  • The Worst of Times, The Beast of Times by A. 'Nea Dodson (Beauty and the Beast/Quantum Leap) (6)
  • Princess of the Universe by Mark Ogilvie (Cheers/Fraggle Rock) (15)
  • Well Met in the Middle by Sharon M. Palmer (The Equalizer/Beauty and the Beast) (29)
  • Once Upon a Time and After Many Happy Returns, the Schizoid Man Arrives and Has a Change of Mind by Patrick Sponaugle (Quantum Leap/The Prisoner) (32)
  • No Substitute by Sue Collins (Doctor Who/Blake's 7) (47)
  • Purgatory Proposal by Sharon M. Palmer (Quantum Leap/Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series) (49)
  • Enemies in High Places by L.C. Wells (The Equalizer/Beauty and the Beast) (50)
  • Coming Attractions, part two (mixed) by Assorted Crazies (97)
  • What Once Went Wrong by Mary Anne Espenshade (Quantum Leap/??) (100)
  • Edges of Darkness by Sheila Paulson (Quantum Leap/The Master) (102)
  • Who Ya Gonna Call? by A. 'Nea Dodson (The Real Ghostbusters/??) (118)
  • Chivalry's Not Dead, It's Just Passed Out Under the Table by Catherine Edwards (Star Trek: TOS/Beauty and the Beast) (119)
  • Sheep in Wolves's Clothing by Mary Raugh (Quantum Leap/War of the Worlds) 145)
  • Secret Angel by by L.C. Wells and Candy Culhane (Airwolf/Secret Agent) (145)
  • Reader's Guide to the Universe(s) by Sharon M. Palmer (161)
  • from issue #3, Linda A. Baer

    from issue #3, Linda A. Baer

  • from issue #3, Andrew Culnane

    from issue #3, Andrew Culnane

  • from issue #3, Carol Salemi

    from issue #3, Carol Salemi

  • from issue #3, Sharon M. Palmer

    from issue #3, Sharon M. Palmer

  • from issue #3, Linda A. Baer

    from issue #3, Linda A. Baer

  • from issue #3, L.C. Wells

    from issue #3, L.C. Wells

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

CrosSignals prints crossover fiction, humor, and artwork (no poetry in this issue). This isn't a no-frills zines, but it also isn't loaded to the hilt with unnecessary gee-gaws; the print is clean and legible in a fine two-column layout (which means you get more words for your money), there's no wasted space, yet the zine doesn't appear cluttered, and contains some well-handled layouts, including quarter and column illustrations. If there's any quibble with the presentation, it's that the spiral binding is just a hair too small to fold the zine back on itself while reading (a major advantage to having spiral binding in the first place). Overall, it's a nice package for the money, and the fact that it's 164 pages, most of which are text, makes it a great deal. The writers know how to write and, from the looks of things, the editors are doing a more than competent job of editing (read two stories by a writer published under two different editors, and, if possible, an unedited story by that same writer and you'll get an idea of how good the editor is). None of the stories fall into the 'oh my God, that's brilliant' category, possibly because most of the writing is surface—there's no layer beneath the plot, very little thematic content, or richness of image. But they're good, solid stories, heavy on plot and with accurate characterization; a tip-off that the person knows something about what they're writing and the crossover is worth reading... CrosSignals is not an art-zine—there are no portfolios, no artwork you want to carefully cut from the zine with a razor to mat for your living room wall. The artwork is primarily illustrative. Most of the artists are doing something other than the 'portrait' work (smiling face of a character just past the chin, because shoulders are too difficult to draw) often found posing as illustrations in zines, and l applaud them for that. ... The cover is beautifully printed—a blue offset design on white, and the logo is well placed. Of the three issues, it's definitely the best cover with regard to layout, content, and choice of materials. CrosSignals 3 provides a home for some well-written crossovers and some promising, if not fine, artistic talent. The zine is most enjoyable, with many good, solid stories, a few laughs, and a few tense moments. At the price, it's certainly a bargain. For crossover fans, it's a Godsend. As a precursor of things to come from these writers and artists, it means a brighter future for fandom in years to come. [1]

CrosSignals #3, the QUANTUM LEAP issue with four long and two short stories (and even a cartoon). CS is an ALL cross universe zine, and I enjoyed the first two issues, but #3 is the best. On to the stories. I'll only discuss the long ones because the two short ones depend on unspoiled punch lines (and besides, I wrote one of them). Some of the leap out references are real killers but I won't spoil them for you.

"The Worst of Times, The Beast of Times" by 'Nea Dodson. She has a wonderful grasp of the characters of both shows - how Al reacts to seeing Sam as Vincent and now Vincent reacts to Sam's body. And Sam is there to do something as Vincent that V. himself couldn't do, using knowledge that Sam has. [I'm so tired of QL/B&B crosses that I will refrain from commenting on them, since my boredom with the whole concept would color my impressions to the point I would not enjoy even a well-done story.]

"Once Upon a Time, and Alter Many Happy Returns, the Schizoid Man Arrived and Had a Change of Mind" by Patrick Sponaugle. An amazing combination, QL- Prisoner, and the author knows both shows well enough to pull this off - Sam as Number 6. Al and Ziggy are unable to access any information on the Village, not even the year. Al’s desperation at not being able to help when Number 2 has Sam drugged and hooked up to a disorienting machine will he Kitty’s favorite part, all the smarm you could ask for.

Actually, I found it out of character and quite disappointing though that part I agree that the PRISONER aspect of the story is excellently done, but I don't buy that Al would panic in the manner the author has him doing, and the torture scene provided a fair amount of hurt but damned little comfort thus the smarm rating is far too low. I would rate it as a good story because it works quite well from the PR angle, but a disappointing QL exploration, since we learn nothing of what the experience does to or for Sam and AL.

"Edges of Darkness" by Sheila Paulson. Sam gets to be "the bad guy" again, Okasa in THE MASTER, a little known show I liked a lot Sheila has probably written more Master stories than the show's writers, it only lasted about 12 episodes and I know I have more than a dozen of her stories. For once Sam doesn't have the "skill of the week" to impersonate the leapee and has to work around others suspicious of why "Okasa" is acting so strangely.

I thought this was the best of the lot, with everyone managing to stay in character and no favoritism of one universe over the other injuring the flow of the story or the various relationships. There was even some competently handled smarm, though naturally my vote would have been to punch it up by allowing us to see Al too, rather than sticking rigidly to McAllister's POV. Fortunately, Sheila has done a number of other QL stories and I'm proud to say that two quite excellent wallows will be in "Accelerator Accidents"!

"A Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing" has a good title but I didn't like the story much, mainly because I have trouble with the premise of the show QL is crossed with here - WAR OF THE WORLDS - let alone fitting it into the same world as QL.

Agreed. Yech. Sam taking over a person as an alien? No way. Generally pointless and out of character. I rate this one a definite miss. [2]

Issue 4

cover of issue #4

CrosSignals 4 was published in 1991 and contains 178 pages.

The cover art is by T.J. Glenn; interior art is by Paul Balzé, R.L. Belyea, Andrew Culhane, T.J. Glenn, Sharon Palmer, and L.C. Wells.

Issue 5

cover of issue #5, Carol Salemi

CrosSignals 5 was published in 1991 and contains 237 pages.

The art is by Paul Balze, Andrew Culhane, T.J. Glenn, Sharon M. Palmer, Jared M. Place, Carol Salemi (front cover) and L.C. Wells.

  • Crosswords by Sharon M. Palmer (2)
  • Cross Fire by L.C. Wells (3)
  • Crossed Fingers by A 'Nea Dodson (4)
  • Cry of Angels by A. 'Nea Dodson ("Diana Bennett teams up with George Francisco and Matt Sikes to catch a child-killer.") (Alien Nation/Beauty and the Beast) (5)
  • All Hope Abandon, Ye Who Enter Here by Susan M. Asselin ("An alien ship and a time-travel anomaly send Harrison and Ironhorse to join Ripley and the Colonial Marines' assault on the xenomorphs on LV-426.") (War of the Worlds/Aliens) (17)
  • Be Careful What You Wish For by Arthur C. Adams (Quantum Leap/The Love Boat) (33)
  • Heart of Dixie by L.C. Wells ("Elliot Burch and Roger Lococco become entangled in the affairs of a New Orleans bordello.") (Beauty and the Beast/Wiseguy) (34)
  • Encounter at FarPork by Arthur C. Adams (Star Trek: TNG/Pigs in Space) (52)
  • Game Time: Blaster Corps Wants You by T. James Glenn ("When a holographic video game system goes berserk, Race Bannon and Robert McCall must make their way through the maze to determine the cause.") (Jonny Quest/The Equalizer/Real Ghostbusters) (54)
  • The Long Way Home by Louann Qualls ("After falling in love with Sam during a leap, Diana tracks him down at the Project and undertakes a leap in his place.") (Quantum Leap/Beauty and the Beast) (62)
  • Cut to the Chase by Sharon M. Palmer (mixed) (81)
  • Patient on a Halfshell by Kim McCarthy ("When Raphael suffers serious side-effects from his beating by the Foot, Splinter's friend Dr. Hikita suggests the only surgeon who can help: Buckaroo Banzai.") Reprinted from The Lieutenant's Log. (Buckaroo Banzai/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) (82)
  • Coming Attractions by Assorted Nuts (102)
  • Though Leapers Be Lost by Louann Qualls and Sylvia Colston ("Sam leaps into Gabriel just in time to save Catherine's life.") (Quantum Leap/Beauty and the Beast) (106)
  • A Bar Tale by Susan M. Garrett ("Jonathan MacKensie runs into an old reporter named Steve Martin, and he has a terrifying tale to tell.") (Godzilla/Shadow Chasers) (108)
  • TV Tarot by Can U. Sayfiller (mixed) (113)
  • Escapade by L.C. Wells (Beauty and the Beast/Quantum Leap) ("Elliot, Vincent and Sam find themselves at a science fiction convention, though probably not this Escapade.") ) (114)
  • The Night of the Magi by Sue Collins (War of the Worlds/Wild Wild West/Airwolf) (144)
  • Music Videos We'd Like to See by A. Nea Dodson (188)
  • Reader's Guide to the Universe(s) by Sharon M. Palmer (189)

Issue 6

cover of issue #6

CrossSignals 6 was published in 1992 and contains 162 pages.

The art is by Paul Balze, Andrew Culhane, A. Nea Dodson, Kathryn L. Mayer, Sharon M. Palmer, Mary Robertson, and L.C. Wells.

From the editorial by Sharon Palmer:

Welcome to issue 6 of CrosSignals where the editors have learned a whole new meaning for the term burn-out. My real-life work has been increasingly demanding in the past few months, causing me to work more and more overtime.

[...]

So, CrosSignals is going on indefinite hiatus before they cart us away to a padded cell. When or if we come back, I hope we have the sense not to do a zine in the spring.

Sales of past issues have been slow but steady. Issues 1 and 2 will soon be out of print for good. Issues 3 and 4 were recently reprinted and should be available for a while yet. We still haveplentyofissue5. What feedback we get has been positive, so we like to think that we're doing a decent job at this.

Honestly, we have enjoyed doing the zine and hope to continue to enjoy the people we've met through it, but we need a break.

[...]

Thanks, last and certainly not least, to my two co-editors, Tish and 'Nea. (You're crazy if you think I'd do this alone!) Thanks especially to Tish who, along with a lot of work and layout expertise, provided the Dr Pepper and the Wild, Wild West video tapes that made doing layout so much easier.

From the editor (Sharon Palmer), an apology!:

I apologize in advance to the B&B fans for my poor likenesses of Catherine Chandler. I tried and Tried and TRIED, but I cannot do a decent drawing of that woman to save my life! So if you see a woman with shoulder length fair hair in the vicinity of Vincent, please pretend that she looks like Linda Hamilton.

from the editorial by L.C. Wells:

Welcome to my last issue of CrosSignals as a co-editor. I am resigning my position with some regret but with some relief. Life has become increasingly busy and my interests diversified since Sharon, Nea and I started this zine.

[...]

The zine has become less fun and more stress. If it reappears I'll contribute; if not, we had a good long run.

[...]

One of the reasons that we did this zine is to see how our work and others is liked out there in the "the Big World". Without feedback, even a postcard, all the editors know is that the public liked the zine because it sells. A contributor doesn't know why, you don't know if what you wrote had an effect (beyond lining the litter box). Editors, writers, artists need some response to be able to keep going. You have liked us enough that we have had to reprint #1 twice; #2, 3, and 4 once. But please drop a note about what you liked. It would help immensely.

From the editorial by A. 'Nea Dodson:

Well. It's been six issues and three years - not a bad run for a zine that was conceived in a late-night party, born of hurriedly-written requests to our friends, and grew quite unexpectedly in demand. I've always viewed CrosSignals as something of an obscure zine; we follow no particular fandom, and speak to an audience that is often considered a poor orphan of the fringe fandoms ~ the cross-universe crowd. (Hands up, folks; how many of you have heard "Oh, I never read cross-universe stories. They're dumb.")

I solidly feel that we've put an end to that misconception; certainly the requests we get for Signals prove that there is a wide and varied audience out there for a well-written cross-universe. We've sold out at conventions and received requests from as far away as England. We've even been favorably mentioned in single fandom newsletters, despite the fact that sometimes stories from that fandom may comprise less than half of the issue reviewed. Obviously, we've been doing something right.

We like to think that we've created a forum for some of the more interesting "what if" stories out there. And we hope that we may have created interest in some show or movie our readers may not have met before they found them in these pages.

  • Crosswords by Sharon M. Palmer (2)
  • Cross Fire by L.C. Wells (3)
  • Crossed Fingers by A 'Nea Dodson (4)
  • What is a Mary Sue?, essay by L.C. Wells (5)
  • Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law by A. 'Nea Dodson ("Sam Beckett leaps into London at the full moon, and finds himself face to face with a werewolf.") (She-Wolf of London/Quantum Leap, reprinted in The Manifest #4) (6)
  • The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship by Sharon M. Palmer ("When the Ninja Turtles' subway station home becomes infested with ghosts, who else would they call?") (Real Ghostbusters/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also in APAritions)
  • The Darkest Knight of All by Eileen Roy ("Sam Beckett is given the chance to save Bruce Wayne's parents -- but what will the consequences be?") (Batman/Quantum Leap) (22)
  • Material Girl by Dee Beetem and Margaret McNickle ("When Beetlejuice shows up wanting to date Janine, she's intrigued, but the budding relationship doesn't make Egon happy.") (Real Ghostbusters/Beetlejuice (25)
  • It's a Small World After All by Cicatrice du Veritas ("Catherine Chandler and Molly Dodd have a chat while waiting for their children to see the doctor.") (Days and Nights of Molly Dodd/Beauty and the Beast) (47)
  • Broken Music by Louann Qualls ("After going through murder and reincarnation with Mike Church, Grace is afraid of the intensity of their relationship. Sam Beckett gives her some perspective.") (Dead Again/Quantum Leap) (50)
  • Highways of Imagination by Mark Ogilvie ("When an amnesiac Dorothy Gale falls into Never-Never Land, Captain Hook convinces her that she is his daughter and sets her against Peter Pan and the Darlings.") (Peter Pan/Wizard of Oz) (55)
  • The Phantom of Central Park by Sheila Paulson (Real Ghostbusters/Beauty and the Beast (TV)) (64)
  • Coming Attractions, part 5 by random sources (mixed fandoms) (91)
  • Arthampton by L.C. Wells ("A trip to the Scottish town of Arthampton by Professor Ian Matheson and his student-cum-werewolf Randi Wallace ends up being a fight to the death between a sorcerous and her intended victim - Professor Indiana Jones.") (Indiana Jones/She-Wolf of London) (reprinted in The Manifest #3) (94)
  • Cross Your Heart by Can U. Sayfilker (mixed fandom) (107)
  • Pirates of Penance by Anne and Elaine Batterby (100 Lives of Black Jack Savage/Quantum Leap) (108)
  • Sins of the Past by Tammy L. Croft (Airwolf/War of Worlds/Miami Vice) (126)
  • Nouveau Theft by L.C. Wells (Equalizer/Beauty and the Beast (TV)) (140)
  • Reader's Guide to the Universe(s) (162)

References

  1. ^ from a much, MUCH longer review in Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #1. The reviewer, Susan M. Garrett, gives it "4 trees." The reviewers in "Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine?" rated zines on a 1-5 tree/star scale.
  2. ^ comments by Mary Anne Espenshade and additional comments by Kitty Woldow in The Imaging Chamber #5
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