World Watch One

World Watch One is a Buckaroo Banzai newsletter. It was first published by The Blue Blaze Irregulars, an Official Buckaroo Banzai Fan Club, in 1985. At its height, it had over 7000 members.
The founding B.B.I. Directors were Denise "Catnip" Tathwell, Lori "Illinois Kate" Oberscheven, Diane "Hollywood" Wickes, Terry "Silver Fox" Erdmann, Fern "Sunshine" Marder, and Carol "D.J." Walske. These people were employed by or associated with the film's production company, 20th Century Fox, and had the company's blessing, though they produced the newsletter in their own time - in the office on Sunday afternoons.
When the rights to the film reverted from 20th Century Fox to Sherwood Productions, the demise of the newsletter was announced - this was, however, premature. The newsletter went through a number of changes over the years, and almost as many editors. The complex history is detailed on the fan-run FAQ site, on a page titled "Was there an official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?" Was there an official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?
==Issue 1==
The inaugural issue of World Watch One was published in August 1985.
The Letter from the Directors began thus:
Contributors as listed on the front page:
* Hikita, Lectroids, Sidney & Peggy [illustrations] (p. 4, 8, 10 & 12) by Earl Mac Rauch
* Lectroid Cartoons (p. 5, 6, 12, 14 & 16) by Cory Edwards
* Jet Car Spec Drawings (p. 7) from Perfect Tommy, Buckaroo Banzai
* Tour Bus Cartoon (p. 9) by Hollywood
* Lectroid (p. 11) from Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems Files
* Trivia Quiz (p. 15, 16 & 17) by Doreen Hughes
* All other illustrations courtesy Banzai Institute Graphics Group and W.D. Richter
Other content:
* Letter from the Directors
* Letter to the Blue Blaze Irregulars from W.D. Richter
* Various updates on the cast and creatives involved with the "documentary/dramatization", as well as "news" on the film's characters
* Info on related merchandise and the novel
* Bulletin Board ("KITTENS - All colors. Just ask. Please - Perfect Tommy")
* The Blue Blaze Irregulars - Member Questionnaire ("Remember, your response is a vote for Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League!")
==Issue 1.5==
A supplementary issue of World Watch One was published in December 1985.
Contents included:
* Letter from the Directors
* Updates on cast and creatives
* Bulletin Board, including a listing for the fanzine The Penny Paradox
* A listing form for the BBI Directory, to enable fans to contact each other
The lengthy "Letter from the Directors" included the following support for independent fanworks and fan contributions to the newsletter:
==Issue 2==
The second full issue of World Watch One was published in April 1986.
From the editorial: 
Contributors:
* Team Banzai Illo, Uniform Illo by Jeff "Hudd" Huddleston (p. 4, 9)
* Lectroid Cartoon by Theodor "Birdy Feel" Schwartz (p. 5)
* Lectroid Cartoons by Cory "Johnny Fedora" Edwards (p. 6, 16, 17)
* Team Banzai March Tune Graphic by Sunshine and D.J. (p. 5, 8, 19)
* Team Banzai Cartoon by Hollywood (p. 11)
* Crossword Puzzle by Pat "Cincinnati Kid" Grant (p. 12)
* Buckaroo Banana Cartoon by Jim "Judge" Emelander (p. 13)
* Yoyodyne Complaint Form, Ben Hanoi Xan Graphic by Steve "Clyde Von Drake" Lee (p. 20, 22)
* Sting Concert Report by Faryl "English Beat" Reingold (p. 20)
* Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems Logos, "Reel Sune" Graphic from Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems Files (p. 7, 20)
* All other illustrations courtesy Banzai Institute Graphics Group, W.D. Richter
Other content includes how to tie a bow tie, and a number of possible answers to the age-old question "Why is there a watermelon there?"
Towards the end is a full-page listing for the fanzine The Cavalier, which was independently and unofficially created by some of the B.B.I. Directors, including Fern "Sunshine" Marder and Carol "D.J." Walske.
==Halted in June 1986==
The official fan club that published this newsletter announced it would close down due to a change in ownership at the highest level. The founding directors anticipated that "World Watch One" would cease after three issues, and made the following statement.
From issue two:
==Issue 3==
The third issue of World Watch One was published in November 1986 and contains 28 pages.
This issue announced that the newsletter would continue, though with a change in funding: costs of printing and postage would be borne by the company Starland which had exclusive rights to sell Banzai merchandise.
The Letter from the Directors included more support for fanworks:
This issue contains a fan directory: 
From the editorial: 
Also from the editorial, join the roster: 
Image:worldwatch3-1.jpg|from issue #3 
Image:worldwatch3-2.jpg|from issue #3 
Image:worldwatch3-3.jpg|from issue #3 
Image:worldwatch3-4.jpg|from issue #3 
Image:worldwatch3-5.jpg|from issue #3 
==Later Issues==
Issue #4 was published in Fall 1987. The editors were Dianne "Hollywood" Wickes and Steve "Clyde Von Drake" Lee.
Issue #5 was published in Winter 1988-89. The founding Directors had all moved on by now, and the new editors were Alan "Dragon" Smith and Nancy "Abacus" Smith.
Issue #6 was published in Spring 1990, and edited by Alan "Dragon" Smith and Nancy "Abacus" Smith. Honourable mention goes to the BBI activity Down Under in Australia, including the newsletter The Banzai Bulletin published by Geoff "Downtown" Tilley.
Issue #7 was a Twentieth Anniversary Edition published in Fall 2004, edited by Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger and Alan "Dragon" Smith. The two editors unfortunately parted ways, with each of them going on to develop separate editions of the newsletter.
Issue #8, the Chicago Bureau Edition, was published in April 2006. It was edited by Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger, with support from Sean "Figment" Murphy, Amber "The Ice Queen" Richter, and Scott "Camelot" Tate.
Issue #9, the Underground Edition, was published in Spring 2006, and edited by Alan "Dragon" Smith and Nancy "Abacus" Smith.
Issue #10, the Underground Edition, was published in Spring 2008, edited by Alan "Dragon" Smith and Nancy "Abacus" Smith. This was the first issue to make the shift from paper to pixels.
Issue #11 was the 25.75th Anniversary Issue, published in June 2010, with two parts developed in collaboration. The Chicago Bureau Edition was edited by Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger, Steve "Rainbow Kitty" Mattsson, Sean "Figment" Murphy, and Scott "Camelot" Tate. The Underground Edition was edited by Alan "Dragon" Smith and his team. Mention is made of Sean "Figment" Murphy's wonderful Buckaroo Banzai FAQ site.
Issue #12 was published in October 2016, by the Chicago Bureau, edited by Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger and his team.
Issue #13 was published in September 2018, by the Chicago Bureau. It was edited by Dan "Big Shoulders" Berger and his team, now including DeWayne "Buckaroo Trooper" Todd.
Issue #14 was published in March 2019, by the Chicago Bureau. The cover featured a new sketch of Buckaroo Banzai by Mark Texeria, the artist for the original Marvel Comics adaptation of TABB.
Issue #15 was a bumper 35th anniversary issue published in August 2019, by the Chicago Bureau. The editing team has expanded again to include Steven "Green Town" Silver and Charley "Mrs Trooper" Todd. Content includes an interview with Bev Beej Larkin about the fanzine The Penny Paradox (p. 14-15).
Issue #16 was published in August 2020, by the Chicago Bureau - homebound due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
==References==
Category:Buckaroo Banzai
Category:1985 Zines
Category:1980s Zines
Category:1990s Zines
Category:2000s Zines
Category:2010s Zines
Category:2020s Zines