Books like Elfquest Book #04: Quest's End

Elf orgy!!!!!!Ok, yeah….I just wanted to see that in print, just because. You know…...elf orgy!!! “Elfquest” always had a bit of a spicy side, as much as they could reasonably get away with in a comic that was aimed at a mainstream audience. Hints of eroticism were there from the early issues on, but here in Book Four…..well, let me tell ya…...all is revealed, shall we say. And there are no longer any questions of the polyamorous nature of the elves, which was a way cool thing to see back in the early to mid-’80s. But enough of that for now…...I just wanted to write the words “elf orgy” because I’m mischievous that way. So here we are at Book Four of the original “Elfquest” series. This graphic novel was the end of the original quest for Cutter and his band of Wolfriders, who had by now seen all sorts of things they never expected to see. In the real world, Wendy and Richard Pini had become legends in the independent publishing industry. “Elfquest” had opened doors for other artists and writers and even the Pinis themselves had begun to branch out, with WARP Graphics taking on another fantasy series by publishing Robert Lynn Asprin’s “Myth Adventures,” with artwork by the incomparable Phil Foglio. “Elfquest” had taken on a life of it’s own, and plans were now in the works to expand beyond the original 20-issue run that was now complete with the publication of “Elfquest, Book Four.” Subtle cracks were now beginning to manifest in the personal lives of the Pinis, but that won’t be explored here. Best to keep the focus square on the matters at hand.The sense of darkness and heightened violence that we saw in Book Three is fulfilled completely in these final issues of the series. Cutter and his band pick up the pieces after a disastrous battle with Greymung’s trolls. They are taken in by a group of elves who call themselves the “Go-Backs,” and lo and behold, Rayek reappears as an adopted member of this new tribe. War with the trolls is imminent, as the Wolfriders are pulled now by the eldritch magic of the palace home of the original High Ones, nearby but guarded and held by the vicious troll army. Two-Edge, the mysterious half-elf, half-troll son of Winnowill, has his OWN plans for the group, and all sorts of skullduggery ensues. The battle is joined…...will the elves win out and discover the secrets of the palace of the High Ones? Only after we get a glimpse of that elf orgy….eat, drink, and be…..merry? For tomorrow we die…..or not…...but I’m not giving away any more spoilers.These last few issues were a fitting end to the first series. Most, but not all, of the central plotlines get resolved satisfactorily, but there is ample room for future adventures. The Pinis did not shy away from the idea that war is ugly, and death here is depicted in visceral physical and emotional terms. There is bloodletting aplenty to be found in these pages, but there is also a sense that the original quest that Cutter forged was worth fighting and dying for. Having an identity and a space to finally call home has been the central theme of this series right from the start, and the ending surely felt good to the many fans who invested their time and passion in “Elfquest.” Coming home, wherever that may be, is a universal desire for every human, it’s baked into our DNA. There is a sense of place in “Elfquest,” yes. But there is also a message of love and belonging, a reinforcement of the idea that home is wherever we and our loved ones are at any given time. The artwork in “Book Four” is spectacular. By this point in the series Wendy Pini knew these characters inside and out, and the art reflects that. The backgrounds are fantastic, and the main characters have gained a solid continuity. And as always, there is a sense of kinetic energy in every panel….these characters were meant to MOVE, and you can see that sort of blocking and storyboarding in each frame. There is more to this idea than first meets the eye. “Elfquest” grew out of Wendy Pini’s failed attempt to animate an “Elric of Melnibone” movie, and there were plans in place to do an “Elfquest” animated flick. That effort never took flight, but you easily get the sense that Wendy Pini had that idea in mind right from the beginning. I can remember my friends crying at the end of the original “Elfquest” run. It was like closing the door on an old friend. You knew the story would end well, and you probably knew that you would see your old friend again, but as with everything, nothing is ever quite the same again. “Elfquest” would never again be that scrappy little independent publishing underdog fighting for rack space with the big boys. From here on out “Elfquest” was an established property, and expectations would be high for anything that came after. So now it’s on to the second round of “Elfquest” stories, where new adventures await our familiar elvish friends. Hindsight is always 20/20, and I’m glad that I waited until now to pick this series up. I can look at it a bit more objectively and not get QUITE so emotionally wrapped up in…..well wrapstuff. If you don’t know what I’m talking about here, then you need to read the books! Go….off with you…..shoo…...get thee to a library or a bookstore and get your elf on.