Customer Reviews

Elfquest Archives Vol. 1

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

UPDATE 2011: The Pinis decided to let their partnership with DC die in 2007. So if you want this book, grab it while you can. Wendy went on to a webcomic that tanked, its site is out of business. She spent 4 years on that, and meanwhile, DC moved on and gave them the boot.

So, this and other newer EQ books are out of print along with the rest of the canon. What is odd, is that they are now offering it all for free on the website. That's ok, but they don't seem to be interested in making any money.

They are still working on the movie after 28 years. Still. But no books, webcomics, cd's or anything else. Just the same few fans writing the same banal garbage on the EQ forums to keep us all going. Yeah, right. And of course Richard will throw out a teaser every so often about 'getting into gear' to write the Final Quest while the same 4 or 5 fans write about Norwegian versions of EQ and the rest just write every few years or so. And Wendy will travel to comic cons (for a comic that died 10 years ago) and is STILL working on the movie. Elfquest is dead, and that is the Pinis fault.

About the book:
This is the definitive EQ book 1. You probably want to know why the 2 other editions of this book aren't good enough,and for some of you, they might be.
Two considerations:
1. This book contains a georgeous extra chapter exclusively drawn by Wendy that features Skywise! That and all the rest of it is re-colored by Wendy herself, not Chelsea animation or Donning. This is the way she wants us to see the story. And the colors, while bright, are so crystalline clear and add so much depth to the expressions - even leaf dapple patterns on elven faces in some panels- that the other books seem bland and pale in comparison.
2. The production value on this is astounding. Most DC hardcovers, like the Sandman series, are ok but the qulality of paper used is like that in the original throw-away comics, kind of like colored magazines. This book is printed on super lush quality paper like the kind used in large art books, museum quality. This book, barring misfortune, disaster, cigarette smoke- will last for many years, truly archival quality.
The only tiny criticism I have is that the book should have been in the larger format like the Donning and Warp graphic version, but I guess they chose to make it bookshelf sized. It's normal comic book size. However, the clarity of the art is such that it's really no eye strain, just a minor 'oh well' .
So, hope that wrap it up. Enjoy! :)

I've been an ElfQuest fan for years (since I was six years old, in fact), and so I've already come to expect the best from EQ. But this new DC edition of book one far exceeded even my expectations and completely blew me away! The new coloring is so rich and fantastic that when I finally closed it, I was a bit disappointed to see the rather drab colors or real life again. Wendy Pini's artwork is so stunning on its own that simple black-and-white would be beautiful, and so when you add in the new colors you end up with dazzelingly brilliant art. And quite besides the pictures, the story is a strong, meaningful, and enduring one that I have loved for as long as I can remember, and which I find a new reason to admire every time I re-read it. If you're an old ElfQuest fan hesitating to buy material you may already have in another edition, I strongly urge you to go for it. This new edition is worth every penny. If you're new to ElfQuest, you couldn't ask for a better introduction.

This IS the definitive edition of the Elfquest comics. The color is perfect, and this beautiful hardcover book contains many bonus images and interviews/bios with the creators of the comic. A must have for fans and a great way to introduce someone new to the world of Elfquest.

I can't wait for volume 2!

I started reading EQ as a teenager 1979-1980 have been a fan ever since, and I have to say I found most of the reveiews spot on but there were a few I was very confused by.
Some folks found the coloring used amaturish and unapealing? What?! I have owned every prior color volume of this series and I have got to say those folks do not know at all know what they are talking about! These new editions are stunning, a lovely picture of the true colors and vibrancy long missing from such vibrant stories!
Another review claims to be surprised buy the adult themes and the questionable sexual behaviour of the elves and not remembering those existing before.
Well that is also incorrect from almost the very begining the Pini's have made it clear that the elves sexuality was much more open and free than humans, that they did not share the negativity that many in the real world feel for certain types of pairings.
It's there, always has been there and I have always found it to be done in such a tasteful and beautiful way that when I have children I DO plan on sharing EQ with if only to avoid some of the negative attitude so much of our country has towards sex and sexuality.
These books are worth every "Pini" buy them!

Whether you're a longtime reader of this amazing Pan-Ethnic Fantasy, or a curiosity seeker looking for something
a little different, ELFQUEST ARCHIVES v. 1 is something very special. Those who've followed the Wendy & Richard Pini epic of Sword & Sorcery turned inside out will find this edition of the Quest's beginning quite outstanding.
Gone are the earlier coloring jobs of the Donning Press edition, striking for the time, but felt by many to be a bit garish. For this new edition, marking a fresh partnership between WaRP Graphics and DC Comics, Mdme. Pini has brought her intense aesthetic discipline to bear through the use of computer coloring on her now-famous opening chapters of the saga from the late 1970s.

The result is that the visuals are even more dynamic, her renowned cinematic flair and tonal dexterity given full,
breathtaking rein. From explosive, searing tension to a hearty laugh, or the flicker of subtle desires finally shared,
the very chormatic texture of each panel shifts and blends as the mood of her text, and each character, requires. Thus, the great tale of Cutter and Leetah, their chaotic meeting, and the enusing looks into race,
community, tolerance, and romantic impulse become even more compelling than ever before.
Anyone reading this book of personal trial and prevailing truths is experiencing a proven masterwork by one of
the greatest teams to grace the Sequential Arts. Heartily alternative, straight-on to the bone, the Pinis aptly reflect American Culture and, in their saga's enacted questions, delve to the heart of human nature itself. Cultural exchange, a viable topic especially in these times, has rarely been afforded such an attractively dramatic stage.

DC is currently publishing and marketing the complete ELQUEST saga, so anticipate all past books of the Quest to receive the same royal treatment as full-color, hardcover Archive editions. (each featuring an all-new chapter, as this one does). Newcomers also have the choice of inexpensive B&W paperbacks nicely collecting this long-running adventure.
Want more? Read THE SEARCHER AND THE SWORD fresh from DC, the newest chapter in the Quest. Its looks into individual drive, societal need, and ultimate responsibility offer solid evidence that Wendy and Richard Pini still have the narrative groove.

Storytelling spoken here. Come on in.

I was lucky to own all the original books of elfquest in color; however, they are more than 15 years old and I was too young to take great care of them. As of now, they are stained with drinks and food, and pages fell out of binding. But it is still a joy to read over and over. When they came out with new reprint at cheaper cost I was ready to order them only to stop when I realized it was going to be in b&w prints. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the comics with b&w prints. I just feel it won't do elfquest that has already been colored any justice. Then they finally came out with a new makeover in colors and the graphic's work screams out beautifully. It blew the originals away. Plus, it contains extra stories, which it's a bonus. I am definitely going to collect each and every one of them. One Truly Happy Elfquest Fan!

When friends ask me to recommend fantasy, I recommend - among novels by Guy Gavriel Kay, Ursula LeGuin and other great writers - Elfquest. 'But that is a comic book,' they protest. Yes, it is. And it is still one of the most engaging fantasy stories I have ever read. It deals with very human themes: love, fear, betrayal, tolerance, clash of cultures, jealousy, prejudice (a major theme), and - of course - good and evil. But contrary to most fantasy (and in accordance with most of the best) there is hardly any absolutes. Most characters are three-dimensional, and as the series progresses, we see how and why the different elves, humans and trolls react as they do in the 'World of Two Moons'. All the classic elements are here: A quest (of course), a fantastic and yet recognizable world, magic, courage and fighting - but surprisingly little violence in this book and the rest. And a playful sense of humour throughout, with the trolls very often acting the part of comic relief.

This book is the first and, probably, the least subtle and most straightforward. This is still the beginning of what turned into a tremendous achievement of intervowen stories of love and loss. In some parts the story telling is sketchy, while the drawings, while beautiful, are a bit too elaborate. So the five stars really is for this as the start for the whole package, while the volume itself should probably receive four stars. But it is quite essential for the rest and extremely enjoyable in it's own right.

Fantasy is frequently a very conservative genre, with authors depicting a world of old fashioned values: damsels in distress, knights on white chargers, easily recognized villains. But the Pinis have challenged this right from the beginning. Females are just as active as males, love - also in it's physical aspects - can be shared, good and evil is mixed in all of us. Even the humans, who in this volume are seen as only evil, later turn out to be ... human.

Wendy Pini, the artist behind the drawings, also was one of the very first Western cartoonists to be influenced by Japanese manga, her skill increasing steadily in the course of the series. And while all the elfgirls are pretty enough to be pin-ups and the male elves would do well in 'Bay Watch', it is part of the overall appeal - the World of Two Moons simply is beautiful. And this edition does it full justice. The reproduction is stunning, which cannot be said for many of the uncountable editions and reproductions of this series.

I have to say I was tentative when I opened this book up today. I have all the orginal 10th Aniversary color editions of this series from back in the late 80's, and after reading some reviews (and even seeing the samples on the Elfquest website) regarding the re-coloring, I wasn't sure if I'd like what I saw. The truth is, the re-coloring is amazing. There is a new brightness about it, but the subtlty of the originals is still intact, and overall it's an improvement. The old ones just look bland and washed-out in comparison. It's truly a definitive version of this series, and I plan to get every one. Highly recommended!!!

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!

I discovered the Elfquest novels in highschool. They were like doors to me, ones that helped me understand not only who i was in a small part but what others are as well. A world of humans Threatend ,in their minds, by elves. Yet through all the hatred that the humans tossed at them for being different they still looked to peace and a place in the world. It walked me in shoes that were different than what we consider normal and/or average. It showed me that everyone looks for a place in the world and difference makes this world as fantastic as that of the two moons. They not only celebrated their differences, but they wore them proudly as thier names. I do recommend this book for both adult and child. If i would have discovered it earlier my pain would have been relived much sooner. lol its a great series that shows acceptance and the dangers of hate.