Customer Reviews

Elfquest - Archives, Volume 3 (Elfquest Graphic Novels (DC Comics))

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Wendy Pini is indeed a great artist, and the story represented in the four Archives-series is beautiful and original. I have grown up with these stories, and will probably never get bored with the simple, yet original, sweet and exiting story, together with the lovely drawings of a seldomly talented hand. I recomend this series to people who like beauty and fantasy, together with simplicity and stories that captures you. It is also recomendable to children.

Cutter is determined to find the rest of his tribe, and save them from whoever has taken them. However, when he finds that the wolfriders have been taken by flying elves, he is very surprised. These powerful elves claim to be the long-lost High Ones, and their powers seem to confirm that. But, there is something strange going on, something unseen, something strange and sinister.

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 third five issues of Elfquest (11-15), 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.

Overall, I found this to be a fun and very entertaining read, and I give it two thumbs up!

I read parts of this comic when I was a kid, but being as I was a kid, I couldn't really buy it because my parents didn't give me an allowance :( So I'm really glad they're releasing all volumes of it in hardcover copies. Even my friends who are fans want to borrow them!

The third in a collection of 4 (as of the time of this writing) this hardbound collection is a must have for all fans of the Elfquest comic series. Reprinted in its original full size and in full color, the hard bound binding makes this particular collection a must have for collectors who wish to share the Elfquest story with future generations.

Elfquest is a comic originally created in 1879 which focused on a tribe of fierce and strong elves called the Wolfriders. Richard Pini crafts an amazing story focusing on Cutter, the Chief of the Wolfriders as he and his tribe are forced to flee their ancient home and in doing so discovers more about himself and his race that he ever dreamed possible. Wendy Pini draws for us a unique world filled with elves, trolls, faeries, and humans and breaths life and novelty into them still unseen in most of the fantasy genre since.

Elfquest - Archives, Volume 3 focuses once again upon Cutter on his quest to find more Elfkind. But does Cutter and his tribe of Wolfriders find more than he can handle when they come across the elves who call themselves The Gliders? Are these the new elves the ancient High Ones of old who brought their race here, or is there something dark and sinister lurking in the depths of the Blue Mountain?

Other volumes in the series include:
Elfquest Archives Vol. 1
Elfquest: Archives, Volume 2
Elfquest - Archives, Volume 4 (Archive Editions (Graphic Novels))

Elfquest Archives: Vol. 3 / 1-4012-0412-0

The quest continues as Cutter and his tribe and loved ones search for the High Ones. As I noted in my review for the first volume, these archives are massively colorful and detailed - with artistic drawings that draw the reader in and a sensitive and intelligent handling of all subject matter. Volume 3 takes off immediately after Volume 2, as Cutter and his people are forced into a confrontation with the powerful "Bird Tribe" of elves.

The Wolfriders, as we have seen, are close kith and kin to their wolves, and these Bird Riders present an interesting contrast. Similarly to the Wolfriders, they are deeply distressed when their mounts are wounded or killed; and in an interesting twist, we meet an elf who so wanted to be a bird that he was willing to give up much of his lovely form in order to gain wings. Yet these Bird Riders are cold and cruel, headed by a villainess who tortures the Wolfriders for pleasure and seeks to undermine her lord at every possible turn.

Interestingly, the point is made that the Wolfrider elves are related closely to the Bird Riders, despite their differences, and - like the recognition between Cutter and Leetah that symbolized the relationship between the tribes of the Wolfriders and the Sun People - there is a newly recognized couple that will similarly symbolize the interactions between Wolfriders and this new Bird Rider tribe. The Pinis shy away from easy answers and happy endings, though, as the strained relationship between the two tribes demonstrate over the course of this novel.

I've noted before that it's hard to know how to classify ElfQuest within a genre. Although Volume 3 doesn't lack for tense action, notably in the tribulations of the captured riders and in the skirmishes between the two tribes, there is a greater focus on philosophy and emotion. The villainess of the novel is particularly fascinating, and she is used to great effect to explore the origins of the Wolfriders, and Leetah's earlier reservations towards her lifemate. The new recognition romance is beautifully done, in such a way that handles prejudice and differences in culture neatly. Both of the participants come to understand that they have something meaningful to offer to one another, while never losing sight of those supportive loved ones who have been there behind the scenes all this time. And, once again, there will be differences of opinion on whether this volume is appropriate for non-adults, but I still believe that you'll likely not find a more thoughtful approach to the subject matter.

Because I'm a new fan, I can't speak to how this archive compares to the original old issues. Snippets of the old issues are included in the beginning and ending of each archive; sometimes in black-and-white panels, others in full color portraits and covers. I believe, however, that the spirit of the original was perfectly preserved, and I'm grateful for this availability of this issue.

~ Ana Mardoll