Richard Pini

Wendy Pini

In 1978, Richard and Wendy Pini self-published Elfquest #1 and introduced audiences around the world to the elfin Wolfriders, trolls, and superstitious humans, all trying to co-exist on the World of Two Moons. Since that first story appeared, millions of copies of Elfquest have been sold around the world. Inspired by sources ranging from classic literature to Japanese manga, the Pinis created a unique universe filled with myth, danger, and the promise of hope. The beginning of that saga can be found in the previous volume, with the introduction of the Wolfriders and their leader, Cutter, as they are driven from their homeland by encroaching humans. At the end of that story, the elves found sanctuary -- but in this new volume, again their peace is threatened, not only by men once more, but also by the twin mysteries of the Forbidden Grove and Blue Mountain. Included with this archive is a bonus, long out-of-print short story from Epic Illustrated, an introduction by comic creator James A. Owen and an afterword by the Pinis.

Journey to Sorrow's End

Elfquest, the Novel!

Lorien O'Brien

When I learned that this book existed I knew I wanted to have it. When I learned of a nicely priced hardcover that's signed? HAD TO GET. Now it's mine, all mine!


  


*AHEM*

As someone who's read the first volume of ElfQuest a million times, and knows it so well that I didn't read the words as much as saw the comic in my head, this was surprising good. There are LOTS of little scenes that are in between panels and pages, things that won't work for a graphic novel or comic, but are needed for a novel to work. These scenes were full of hidden gems, flashbacks to things revealed much later, as well as things that just aren't there, but don't take away from the original material. After all, this  is  written by Richard and Wendy Pini, who did the original series. This isn't some random person taking the story and adding whatever they feel like. This is WARP doing every little detail of the story. Some changes are made, and one of my favorite scenes right at the end was cut, probably due to space limit and flowing issues. But on the whole it's the same story, just more of it.

This has a very large prologue, covering more of what happened on the first few pages of the comic about the High One's first landing on World of Two Moons (aka labeled Abode later), and then follows Cutter and his tribe from the moment they rescue Redlance, to them losing everything to fire and humans, to their insane journey to Sorrow's End, and what Cutter found there.

I think the best thing this novel did for me was it showed just how close to death the Wolfriders really were when they found Sorrow's End. They weren't just hungry, thirsty, and sunburned. They were dying. You feel the pain, how much they each went through, and how terrified they all were. You can understand the sore throats, and bodies so pushed past their limits that getting up each night to keep trekking on, because if they didn't get up, they weren't going to live. They did the exact wrong thing to do with limited water - rationing it until everyone is dehydrated for a much longer period of time. You should gorge yourself on water, then deal with dehydration when it comes because they felt it the first half day in the blocked exit of the Tunnel of Light, and weren't okay until the feast their first night in Sorrow's End.

While the journey is just a blip in the graphic novel, this is the heart of the story, taking up so much, and pretty much it's the catalyst of everything that comes after. They lose two wolves, and everyone is close to death. They all don't eat and barely drink the entire 3 day journey. Small sentences in the GN can't cover just what they endure during these days, and how terrified and exhausted everyone is. And even until the end the Wolfriders don't really recover from the sunburns, which while not stated, were on the level of white blisters (trust me those hurt for weeks).

While the romance between Cutter and Leetah is over half of the GN it's the second half and proves just how bad it really is for both of them. We feel how dangerous denying Recognition is, which drives both characters past their limits, even more so than the trek did for Cutter.

One thing I really dislike is more than once they say how Recognition is a reason for Cutter to basically rape Leetah. It's mentioned in passing the GN which always upset me, but the novel states it several times. I don't think it should have been mentioned as an option at all, like if the other hesitates it's okay to force them. I'm just glad that for Cutter and Leetah it wasn't okay, and it isn't even close to happening.

For that reason, while it's a great story, well told, and covers more than the comic could, this is just as 4.5 out of 5 stars. That's a big deal and it's not treated like it would be.

Elfquest, the Novel! Journey to Sorrow's End

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