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Elfquest #5
Elfquest Reader's Collection #5: Siege at Blue Mountain
The Wolfriders have settled into their new Holt in the Forbidden Grove. The tumult of the Quest is behind them, and new life has come to the tribe. All is peaceful until a Wolfrider child is kidnapped. The elves must once again confront Winnowill and her schemes -- but first they must get through the humans who worship the evil temptress!
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Pini
613 books389 followersWendy Pini is one-half of a husband and wife team with Richard Pini that created, most notably, the Elfquest series.
Wendy was born in California and adopted into the Fletcher Family in Santa Clara County. Early on, she developed as an artist and was the illustrator of her high school year book. She submitted samples of her artwork to Marvel Comics at 17 that were rejected.
Pini attended Pitzer College and received her B.A. in the Arts and joined the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society.
In 1972, she married Richard Pini and began illustrating science fiction magazines, including Galaxy, Galileo, and Worlds of If. In 1977, Richard and Wendy established a publishing company called Warp Graphics to publish their first Elfquest comic. Elfquest was self-published for 25 years and in 2003, licensed to DC Comics. The comic series has won several awards, including the Ed Aprill Award for Best Independent Comic, two Alley Awards, the Fantasy Festival Comic Book Awards for Best Alternative Comic, and the Golden Pen Award.
Wendy has illustrated other works, including Jonny Quest in 1986, Law and Chaos in 1987, and in 1989, two graphic novels of Beauty and the Beast. Recently in 2007, she completed a graphic novel entitled The Masque of Red Death.
Wendy has received several awards over the last four decades, including the San Diego Comic Convention Inkpot Award, the New York State Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Balrog Award for Best Artist, and was inducted into the Friends of Lulu Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame in 2002.
Wendy and her husband currently reside in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Wendy was born in California and adopted into the Fletcher Family in Santa Clara County. Early on, she developed as an artist and was the illustrator of her high school year book. She submitted samples of her artwork to Marvel Comics at 17 that were rejected.
Pini attended Pitzer College and received her B.A. in the Arts and joined the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society.
In 1972, she married Richard Pini and began illustrating science fiction magazines, including Galaxy, Galileo, and Worlds of If. In 1977, Richard and Wendy established a publishing company called Warp Graphics to publish their first Elfquest comic. Elfquest was self-published for 25 years and in 2003, licensed to DC Comics. The comic series has won several awards, including the Ed Aprill Award for Best Independent Comic, two Alley Awards, the Fantasy Festival Comic Book Awards for Best Alternative Comic, and the Golden Pen Award.
Wendy has illustrated other works, including Jonny Quest in 1986, Law and Chaos in 1987, and in 1989, two graphic novels of Beauty and the Beast. Recently in 2007, she completed a graphic novel entitled The Masque of Red Death.
Wendy has received several awards over the last four decades, including the San Diego Comic Convention Inkpot Award, the New York State Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Balrog Award for Best Artist, and was inducted into the Friends of Lulu Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame in 2002.
Wendy and her husband currently reside in Poughkeepsie, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 5, 2019
Rereading this after so many years from it brings back all the excitement, all the wonder, all the love for it all over again.
October 22, 2018
DISCLAIMER TIME: This is NOT the place you want to begin if you are new to the “Elfquest” universe. Go back and read the first run of the series. That sets up everything that happens going forward…..you have been warned. Now off with you. SHOO, or I’ll have a Preserver come over to your house and cocoon your favorite pet in wrapstuff…….
Continuing forward with my “Elfquest” read-through now brings me to the first sequel to the initial 20-issue run of the series, “Siege at Blue Mountain.” This was a 4-issue run that would serve notice that Cutter and his little band of Wolfriders would not be allowed to rest in their newly gained Holt for very long. A few seasons have passed, and the elves seem happy with the new arrangements, even making a strong alliance with the Preservers who originally populated the Forbidden Grove.
But as fate would have it, the physically healed but still mentally scarred Winnowill would send out one of her Eight protectors in the form of Aroree to gather up a few of the Preservers for her own dastardly needs. Winnowill has gained total control of Blue Mountain with the passing of Lord Voll, and she has placed the elf population of the stronghold in a deep sleep, to better harness their magic powers and enrich her own strength. Aroree sees the offspring of Dewshine and Tyldak floating about and quickly kidnaps the child, taking him to Blue Mountain in hopes of buying her freedom from servitude to Winnowill. Meanwhile, Cutter hatches a plan to weaken Winnowill by turning her human worshippers against her. He leaves on a mission to contact Adar and Nonna, his human friends from the first Quest. He hopes that they can convince the humans in thrall to Winnowill to turn against her, but as you might guess, nothing turns out the way it should. Winnowill has figured out the plan, and has goaded the human clan to a warlike froth, providing them with metal weapons……..AND no more spoilers from me. Read the book, get in the game, it’s all the elvish melodrama you could ever hope for and more.
Ok, hmmmmmm…..where exactly do I go with all of this? It’s fun to see all the characters in a new story, but uhhhhhhhhh…..I dunno….maybe a bit of the glimmer is starting to wear off for me. The things that I loved about the first series seem to be slightly off in “Siege at Blue Mountain.” Don’t misunderstand me, it’s still a very “human” story, and it’s important to remember that the Pini elves are really a reflection of the human condition in short but sturdy anime form. But that sense of belonging that drove the first Quest forward seems to be missing here to a certain degree. Everything about the series seems amped up to epic proportions. There is more violence and heartbreak in the first installment of the new tale than there was in the first 10 issues of the original story. It’s darker, yes…..edgier, yes….more complex, yes…..but somewhat less….ENGAGING. It’s the basic equivalent of the dreaded sophomore slump, the curse of the sequel, the second-album syndrome. The book wants to be bigger and glossier and shinier than its predecessor, but in doing so it has lost a bit of the humility and underdog scale of the first run.
And hey, yanno…..kudos to the Pinis for reaching, even if they miss the mark a little bit. Doing a rehash of the original Quest was never in the offing, and it takes guts to meddle with the tried and true formula. I found it quite interesting that the foreword was written by one Len Wein, the comics writer who was best known for his work on “Swamp Thing” and the “X-Men.” And that is truly where “Elfquest” belongs, in the great canon of “outsider” literature. I’ve thought right from the beginning that the Pini elves really had a lot in common with the main themes from the “X-Men” universe. That feeling of being alone in a hostile world, of not fitting into polite society….oh, yeah….those are powerful ideas that speak to many of us who have often been bullied or labeled as “nerds” or “bookworms.” In a society where intellectualism is now seen as being synonymous with elitism, it’s something that a lot of us have had to endure at one point or another in our lives. It is an even more valid comparison given the fact that Rayek has taken his study of the eldritch elven magic to new heights, thus giving himself a set of superhero powers….flight...mind control...enhanced sight and strength. It’s almost like Rayek wants a tryout to the Xavier School or something……
I should also note that there are numerous pieces of portrait art in the back section of the book, along with a black & white short story that originally appeared in the first volume of the WARP Graphics Annual. “Courage, By Any Other Name” is a curious footnote, being the first “Elfquest” tale not directy produced by the Pinis, although they did supervise the work. It’s a quick jaunt back to the time of Bearclaw, and it adds a bit of the old flavor to the entire package.
“Elfquest” remains an incredibly powerful title. The artwork is still strong, the panels still have that kinetic sense of motion that keeps things humming along, and overall the whole thing just looks pretty damn good. The Pinis had hit the big bongos by the time this collection was released, and their fame within the comics community was taking a toll on them personally. “Siege at Blue Mountain” was collected and released by Father Tree Press, which was a new division of WARP Graphics. I give Wendy and Richard Pini a ton of credit for keeping control of their creation. A lot of writers and artists would have been content to sell-out to one of the big publishers, but “Elfquest” still FEELS like an independent comic, albeit one with a monthly distribution that would dwarf most underground comics of the era.
But I still can’t shake that feeling that it’s a bit...stale. It’s kind of like that piece of chicken that’s been in the fridge for a couple of days. It still tastes good, but you can tell that it’s right on the edge of going bad and giving you a mild case of the trots. The characters don’t all act in logical ways…..the plot seems to have a hole or two….and the entire enterprise feels like that big double-live album from your favorite rock band. You know all the songs, but it sounds a bit like the audience noise was piped in and the band might have been a bit drunk the night it was recorded. It’s got that big gatefold cover and all the cool pictures, it’s HUGE and glistening and all…….but it doesn’t have the excitement of that first album when nobody knew who those guys were. You were there at the start, a true believer……..but now that everyone knows about it….well, ok…..enough of that.
It’s still “Elfquest.” It’s still head and shoulders above most of the comic dreck that was being released in the latter part of the ‘80s. That really should be enough. On to the next volume.
Continuing forward with my “Elfquest” read-through now brings me to the first sequel to the initial 20-issue run of the series, “Siege at Blue Mountain.” This was a 4-issue run that would serve notice that Cutter and his little band of Wolfriders would not be allowed to rest in their newly gained Holt for very long. A few seasons have passed, and the elves seem happy with the new arrangements, even making a strong alliance with the Preservers who originally populated the Forbidden Grove.
But as fate would have it, the physically healed but still mentally scarred Winnowill would send out one of her Eight protectors in the form of Aroree to gather up a few of the Preservers for her own dastardly needs. Winnowill has gained total control of Blue Mountain with the passing of Lord Voll, and she has placed the elf population of the stronghold in a deep sleep, to better harness their magic powers and enrich her own strength. Aroree sees the offspring of Dewshine and Tyldak floating about and quickly kidnaps the child, taking him to Blue Mountain in hopes of buying her freedom from servitude to Winnowill. Meanwhile, Cutter hatches a plan to weaken Winnowill by turning her human worshippers against her. He leaves on a mission to contact Adar and Nonna, his human friends from the first Quest. He hopes that they can convince the humans in thrall to Winnowill to turn against her, but as you might guess, nothing turns out the way it should. Winnowill has figured out the plan, and has goaded the human clan to a warlike froth, providing them with metal weapons……..AND no more spoilers from me. Read the book, get in the game, it’s all the elvish melodrama you could ever hope for and more.
Ok, hmmmmmm…..where exactly do I go with all of this? It’s fun to see all the characters in a new story, but uhhhhhhhhh…..I dunno….maybe a bit of the glimmer is starting to wear off for me. The things that I loved about the first series seem to be slightly off in “Siege at Blue Mountain.” Don’t misunderstand me, it’s still a very “human” story, and it’s important to remember that the Pini elves are really a reflection of the human condition in short but sturdy anime form. But that sense of belonging that drove the first Quest forward seems to be missing here to a certain degree. Everything about the series seems amped up to epic proportions. There is more violence and heartbreak in the first installment of the new tale than there was in the first 10 issues of the original story. It’s darker, yes…..edgier, yes….more complex, yes…..but somewhat less….ENGAGING. It’s the basic equivalent of the dreaded sophomore slump, the curse of the sequel, the second-album syndrome. The book wants to be bigger and glossier and shinier than its predecessor, but in doing so it has lost a bit of the humility and underdog scale of the first run.
And hey, yanno…..kudos to the Pinis for reaching, even if they miss the mark a little bit. Doing a rehash of the original Quest was never in the offing, and it takes guts to meddle with the tried and true formula. I found it quite interesting that the foreword was written by one Len Wein, the comics writer who was best known for his work on “Swamp Thing” and the “X-Men.” And that is truly where “Elfquest” belongs, in the great canon of “outsider” literature. I’ve thought right from the beginning that the Pini elves really had a lot in common with the main themes from the “X-Men” universe. That feeling of being alone in a hostile world, of not fitting into polite society….oh, yeah….those are powerful ideas that speak to many of us who have often been bullied or labeled as “nerds” or “bookworms.” In a society where intellectualism is now seen as being synonymous with elitism, it’s something that a lot of us have had to endure at one point or another in our lives. It is an even more valid comparison given the fact that Rayek has taken his study of the eldritch elven magic to new heights, thus giving himself a set of superhero powers….flight...mind control...enhanced sight and strength. It’s almost like Rayek wants a tryout to the Xavier School or something……
I should also note that there are numerous pieces of portrait art in the back section of the book, along with a black & white short story that originally appeared in the first volume of the WARP Graphics Annual. “Courage, By Any Other Name” is a curious footnote, being the first “Elfquest” tale not directy produced by the Pinis, although they did supervise the work. It’s a quick jaunt back to the time of Bearclaw, and it adds a bit of the old flavor to the entire package.
“Elfquest” remains an incredibly powerful title. The artwork is still strong, the panels still have that kinetic sense of motion that keeps things humming along, and overall the whole thing just looks pretty damn good. The Pinis had hit the big bongos by the time this collection was released, and their fame within the comics community was taking a toll on them personally. “Siege at Blue Mountain” was collected and released by Father Tree Press, which was a new division of WARP Graphics. I give Wendy and Richard Pini a ton of credit for keeping control of their creation. A lot of writers and artists would have been content to sell-out to one of the big publishers, but “Elfquest” still FEELS like an independent comic, albeit one with a monthly distribution that would dwarf most underground comics of the era.
But I still can’t shake that feeling that it’s a bit...stale. It’s kind of like that piece of chicken that’s been in the fridge for a couple of days. It still tastes good, but you can tell that it’s right on the edge of going bad and giving you a mild case of the trots. The characters don’t all act in logical ways…..the plot seems to have a hole or two….and the entire enterprise feels like that big double-live album from your favorite rock band. You know all the songs, but it sounds a bit like the audience noise was piped in and the band might have been a bit drunk the night it was recorded. It’s got that big gatefold cover and all the cool pictures, it’s HUGE and glistening and all…….but it doesn’t have the excitement of that first album when nobody knew who those guys were. You were there at the start, a true believer……..but now that everyone knows about it….well, ok…..enough of that.
It’s still “Elfquest.” It’s still head and shoulders above most of the comic dreck that was being released in the latter part of the ‘80s. That really should be enough. On to the next volume.
April 3, 2016
And here's where the fit hits the shan, as various characters make selfish decisions that are going to affect everyone around them: Rayek wants to use the Gliders' magic to amp up the palace of the High Ones, while Aroree plans to buy her freedom from Winnowill, who's hatching plots of her own.
I've reread this a few times, and it's clear that Aroree is supposed to set the plot in motion by doing something that devastates others, but that she doesn't see as wrong, buying her own freedom at someone else's expense. The fact that she doesn't understand her actions are bad is supposed to keep her sympathetic. But I just don't buy it--if she hates being one of the Chosen Eight so much, and wants sympathy for that, how can she think it's okay to condemn someone else to that life? She's not conflicted, she's not misled, she's not from another culture, she's just a selfish coward. And I don't understand Skywise or anyone else justifying that or getting past that. I'm fine with the book having villains, I'm just irritated that characters I like and respect want to take them home and make them cocoa.
I've reread this a few times, and it's clear that Aroree is supposed to set the plot in motion by doing something that devastates others, but that she doesn't see as wrong, buying her own freedom at someone else's expense. The fact that she doesn't understand her actions are bad is supposed to keep her sympathetic. But I just don't buy it--if she hates being one of the Chosen Eight so much, and wants sympathy for that, how can she think it's okay to condemn someone else to that life? She's not conflicted, she's not misled, she's not from another culture, she's just a selfish coward. And I don't understand Skywise or anyone else justifying that or getting past that. I'm fine with the book having villains, I'm just irritated that characters I like and respect want to take them home and make them cocoa.
February 9, 2016
This book was a bit shorter on story (four issues), but made up for it in part with a lovely portrait gallery and a collection of B&W art that reminded me of why I first started reading the series. A lot of things go wrong in this part of the story, reminding us of the consequences of lies and deceit. A worthy successor to the original comics, I want to read the next volume. It deserves 4.5 stars because it is shorter, but I rounded up because the story was compelling.
Don't start with this volume, but if you enjoy fantasy graphic novels, then do pick up the first volume.
Don't start with this volume, but if you enjoy fantasy graphic novels, then do pick up the first volume.
January 9, 2024
ElfQuest is a beautiful exploration of people and culture in a fantasy world that started back in the 1970's and still runs to this day. On this world humans are still very much in their barbaric cavemen days while elves are the fierce hunters but also fun loving children of the forest who just want to be left alone. We meet Cutter and his clan of Wolf Riders just as they're escaping a deadly clash with the humans of their area that results in them burning down the whole forest and its through these elves' eyes that we get to explore this lush world and storytelling.
Back when I was introduced to this world in middle school by my cousin, I was immediately taken with the stunning artwork and the way these characters were portrayed. The Wolf Riders and the other elves in the story are very obviously part of the same race, but show a wide variety in every aspect of their design depending on where in the world they settled (much like actual humans in our world). From the beginning we have a large handful of characters to keep track of, elf, troll and human alike, and yet it never felt like a struggle to keep track of them because of their design and how their names just fit them so well...
Read my review on the full series at Well, Are They? A Queer Review blog
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2022...
Back when I was introduced to this world in middle school by my cousin, I was immediately taken with the stunning artwork and the way these characters were portrayed. The Wolf Riders and the other elves in the story are very obviously part of the same race, but show a wide variety in every aspect of their design depending on where in the world they settled (much like actual humans in our world). From the beginning we have a large handful of characters to keep track of, elf, troll and human alike, and yet it never felt like a struggle to keep track of them because of their design and how their names just fit them so well...
Read my review on the full series at Well, Are They? A Queer Review blog
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2022...
June 15, 2023
Joe Staton takes over the inking. Normally that would fine, Joe Staton is a good inker and the art looks good. But it's just not as well-rendered as Wendy Pini's own inking in the original volume.
Set not long after the original quest, the Wolfriders have built a new holt in the Forbidden Grove, but they can't send to Sorrows End because Winnowill is still out there and can intercept sending. Cutter decides it's time to do something about it. Meanwhile Arrorree kidnaps Windkin, the baby, and Dewshine follows. Also, Kahvi is pregnant. And Two-Edge is still out there.
A lot happens here. A lot of loose ends from the original quest are picked up. I'm wondering if any of them will actually get resolved.
Set not long after the original quest, the Wolfriders have built a new holt in the Forbidden Grove, but they can't send to Sorrows End because Winnowill is still out there and can intercept sending. Cutter decides it's time to do something about it. Meanwhile Arrorree kidnaps Windkin, the baby, and Dewshine follows. Also, Kahvi is pregnant. And Two-Edge is still out there.
A lot happens here. A lot of loose ends from the original quest are picked up. I'm wondering if any of them will actually get resolved.
June 16, 2023
A continuation of a re-read. It is not really a review when you've read this as many times as I have. It is more like visiting with an old friend. There are pieces of hints of the story to come. There is the ever growing cast. The art is not quite as good in this one, presumably Wendy Pini relinquishing some control, having an impact. This is basically half an arc, and it felt like that. But it was kind of the quest continuing. It was fairly easy to pick up and know what was going on - but I'm an unfair judge of that.
January 2, 2018
I wasn't as blown away by this as I was by the original quest, but it's still really good.
September 30, 2019
Read this series over and over again as a young teen and absolutely LOVED it, I got completely lost in the universe. Re-reading these was such at trip down memory lane <3
April 9, 2020
Note to self: Read this online. This is part 1 of Siege at Blue mountain (#1-4).
December 18, 2022
These are not silly little pictures on paper with silly little words, these are my dearest friends ever. Very happy to be rereading the old, good stuff <3
November 19, 2015
Siege at Blue Mountain takes place shortly after the end of Quest's End. Once again, Wendy and Richard Pini do an admirable job of transporting the reader back to the world of the Elves.
This time, the evil queen is back in the form of Winnowill. I enjoyed having Winnowill return, as she is a character that you love to hate. There is not one good thing about this malicious female elf, except for her looks.
The only thing I was disappointed in was that this book was only four comics long, instead of the usually five that the first three collection are and the six in the fourth collection.
Still, Siege at Blue Mountain is worth reading if you really love these characters, as many do.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
This time, the evil queen is back in the form of Winnowill. I enjoyed having Winnowill return, as she is a character that you love to hate. There is not one good thing about this malicious female elf, except for her looks.
The only thing I was disappointed in was that this book was only four comics long, instead of the usually five that the first three collection are and the six in the fourth collection.
Still, Siege at Blue Mountain is worth reading if you really love these characters, as many do.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
October 3, 2012
The subject of soul names and recognition is an interesting concept. I like the way that the Pinis show it both ways: when it is a mutual, loving relationship, but also when it is the worst possible thing that could happen. The joining of the tribes through these relationships and the offspring that connect them are fascinating to read about. The atrocity of using the elf's soul name against her shows the extent that Winnowill is willing to go to obtain and keep power. Another great adventure!
September 17, 2023
The Wolfriders have lived seven seasons in their new holt. They are enjoying their new lives. When one of the Gliders is brought to the Holt and steals Winkin, the Wolfriders are drawn back to Blue Mountain. Dewshine will not leave her baby alone. Scouter and Clearbrooke go to meet Cutter to find a way into Blue Mountain. This is one of my favorite volumes. I love the story and how the Elf clans have changed and how they have stayed the same.
August 11, 2014
These are a series of graphic novels that I first read in my tweens and hold a special place in my childhood reading. I have since come back to them and re-read them several times, and for me, they continue to stand to the test of time. This series changed drastically in plot and voice after the eighth volume, and increasingly became more and more of the saccharine sweet fantasy fluff that I can't bear to read. The first eight volumes are literary treasures that I continue to cherish.
April 15, 2025
A personal favorite.
*****************
Second review: part of ElfQuest reread in 2025.
This volume feels like not much happens.... or maybe it's just that it plants the seeds of multiple storylines and none of them get resolved here. 4 stars this time around.
*****************
Second review: part of ElfQuest reread in 2025.
This volume feels like not much happens.... or maybe it's just that it plants the seeds of multiple storylines and none of them get resolved here. 4 stars this time around.
March 9, 2011
Siege at Blue Mountain lacks the scope of the original quest, and takes the story in a darker direction.
I don't remember as much of this story as I did the original, so it was almost like a completely new reading experience.
I don't remember as much of this story as I did the original, so it was almost like a completely new reading experience.
February 4, 2008
The memories are all too fresh -- too humiliating for the proud stargazer to recount. Instead, he breathes a name...
February 29, 2008
Winnowill is the evil seductress to end all evil seductresses. Who knew that gills were so hot?
February 3, 2020
reprints/collects the first half of the 8-issue miniseries Siege at Blue Mountan.
re-read 12/15/2010
re-read 12/15/2010
Read
July 6, 2009Winnowill is such a bitch, in the Shannen Doherty tradition. I bet she doesn't even have a soul name.
November 9, 2010
Still going strong, still loving it!
April 8, 2012
All of Wendy and Richard Pini's ElfQuest books are amazingly good. ALL OF THEM.
October 20, 2013
Good to read with oatmeal. Read it only with oatmeal.
December 20, 2014
Fun, but only half as good as the brilliant original series.
January 28, 2015
Loved it!! The author now made a full book in black and white with the whole story of the Wolfriders and she is a great writer!! O love her books and how she describes the story.
February 13, 2016
Fantastic blend of fantasy and comics. Incredible characters and story line. Highly recommended
May 15, 2009
Read review for Book 1
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