By: Wendy Pini, Richard Pini Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 216 Publication Date: December 01, 2003 Release Date: December 01, 2003
"Practically perfect in every way" Elfquest has been my favorite literary work since I was introduced to it in 1983 at age 14 (matched only by "The Count of Monte Cristo" in my list of favorites). If you love fantasy, you will love Elfquest.
Being an artist myself, the wonderful art by Wendy Pini has always been just as important and valuable to me as the wonderful story. The Starblaze editions colored with watercolors and printed in the 1980s were my first introduction to EQ. I have always been perfectly happy with the Starblaze volumes, but I wanted to get an Archive volume out of curiosity. And I do think the coloring of the new Archives edition (done in Photoshop by Wendy Pini) is superior to that of the Starblaze edition. Everything 'pops' and often looks like it's in 3D. It also is more accessible to a modern audience which is used to Photoshop-based comics.
The lettering is also much cleaner and more elegant, and some awkward or 'amateurish' wordings were fixed. And the paper is so lush and nice-feeling it's a sensory delight as well. I am very glad I bought this edition and will be re-reading this edition of Elfquest exclusively from now on!
I only have two small complaints about the Archives. One is the size: the original EQ comics were 8.5 x 11 and these have been reduced to the 'standard' comic size of 6.5 x 10. That's a big reduction, especially for someone like me who loves just staring at Wendy Pini's beautiful artwork.
The other is that in Archives Volume 1, an extra story is inserted at the end called "The Heart's Way," an extremely minor side story which was originally published in 1998 in "Elfquest the First 20 Years." I wish this story hadn't been included in the Archives because it doesn't mesh with the rest of the volume. It was written 20 years after the original series; the story is (IMHO) just plain DUMB; and the artwork, although by Wendy, doesn't 'match' and is looser. And unlike the rest of Archives 1, it's not appropriate for children because of its heavy sexual content. The Pinis never claimed EQ was for kids in the first place, and of course it's their right to write stories that are not appropriate for kids. But it's a bit annoying that a book that is pretty much PG throughout has an "epilogue" that is NC-17. Knowing the Pinis' fierce dedication to "hippie" values (pacifism, tolerance and free love) I wonder if it was perhaps included as a way for them to say, "In your face, all you Puritan prudes!" Anyway, for all those reasons, to me the insertion of this story was not only unnecessary but annoying. So I had a simple solution: I got an Exacto blade and cut those pages out, and secured pp. 175 and 192 together with photo mounting tape. ...ah, much better! ; )
A longtime favorite that I've recently revisited. And rediscovered. I never really knew there was alot more to elfquest than those first five or so. Can't really remember the number offhand.
My original collection had somehow been lost over time, so I just rebought all of them, and then some. I got lost again in a beautifully created other world. Great art, epic story, what more can one ask for.
Elfquest Archives This newly coloured version of the original elfquest is stunning and well worth the money. Elfquest has always had that knack of catching readers attention of all ages. It is a remarkable story elegantly illustrated and written by Wendy and Richard Pini.
Though, I have to say as a collector, the original colouring done when the comics were released under the Father Tree Press name are much more satisfying. The digitally coloured Archives are stunning and beautiful but to me take away from the character of the hand coloured versions.
A plus from the archives-Contains the story "the Heart's Way". Also, contains an introduction by Mercades Lackey and an Afterword by the Pini's.
Fun and very entertaining! Arriving on a strange and primitive world, the elfin High Ones quickly find themselves set upon by the cruel and brutal humans, and driven from their home. It is now many years later, and their descendents, the Wolfriders, are still trying to survive on this deadly world. This is the story of their struggle, their joys and sorrows, their finding a new home, and all that befalls them - both good and ill.
In 1978, Wendy and Richard Pini started self-publishing the Elfquest saga in comic book form. The rest, as they say, is history! This graphic novel contains the first five issues of Elfquest, and is quite an entertaining read. I really enjoyed the story (I love stories of elves and magic!), and thought that the illustration work was quite excellent. Some people have criticized the coloring, but I thought that it was quite good, a little bright like older comics, but that is what it is.
Now, there is one thing to consider before buying this book for younger readers. The Elfquest cycle includes some sexuality, and final story in this book includes a main male character dallying with *three* females. So, you might want to bear that in mind.
But, that said, I did find this to be a fun and very entertaining read! I give this book two thumbs up!
WOW! just WOW! It's not a story. It's an Experience! Truly AMAZING work, graphicly as well. WOW
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