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The Complete ElfQuest #6
The Complete ElfQuest, Volume Six
The classic high fantasy series featuring elves battling humans, protecting their forest home, testing friendships, and time traveling adventures.
This new treasury of the classic fantasy series by Wendy and Richard Pini collects deeper cuts of canonical backstories and Wolfrider essentials. Discover how humans, looking to escape their own barren lands, invade Bearclaw's forest and cause unseen disaster for the elves. Also collected are stories showcasing the deep bond of brotherhood between Cutter and Skywise. Whether hatching a plan to steal treasure from the Troll King, or dealing with magical madness that reverts one of them to feral wolf-mind, adventure is never far away from these two!
This sixth volume of the New York Times best-selling series weighs in at over 500 pages. It collects short stories and full series including Wolfrider, Homespun, Troll Games and Soul Names, The Heart's Way, Jury, Wolfshadow, Full Circle, Searcher and The Sword, and The Discovery.
This new treasury of the classic fantasy series by Wendy and Richard Pini collects deeper cuts of canonical backstories and Wolfrider essentials. Discover how humans, looking to escape their own barren lands, invade Bearclaw's forest and cause unseen disaster for the elves. Also collected are stories showcasing the deep bond of brotherhood between Cutter and Skywise. Whether hatching a plan to steal treasure from the Troll King, or dealing with magical madness that reverts one of them to feral wolf-mind, adventure is never far away from these two!
This sixth volume of the New York Times best-selling series weighs in at over 500 pages. It collects short stories and full series including Wolfrider, Homespun, Troll Games and Soul Names, The Heart's Way, Jury, Wolfshadow, Full Circle, Searcher and The Sword, and The Discovery.
580 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
15 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Pini
614 books392 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 1, 2021
So I'd already read most of this book when I first started my reread, through the Elfquest mangas - Ulverytter (Alvefolket, #1). - and so I skipped the stories about Bearclaw and Cutter's youth, and the new scenes also added in the Archives - Elfquest Archives, Vol. 1 - but I did stop at the stories added from after the Broken Circle ARC, which I really enjoyed. It was fun to see how the elves continued their lives in their new Holt, and to see how Sunstream grew into his name as well as his own personality and character.
All in all, those few stories were very entertaining, and the art was by the original artists, which I love!
The last 3rd of this book is the story of the Wavedancers, but considering this book is in black and white, and I have Elfquest: The Discovery - which is in color - I'll be rereading this and reviewing it separately.
I really do wish they'd make a collection of the rest of the stories as well. Suntop's adventures in the Forever Green, and the Kahvi miniseries. Guess I'll just look them up online if there's no news on them soon.
All in all, those few stories were very entertaining, and the art was by the original artists, which I love!
The last 3rd of this book is the story of the Wavedancers, but considering this book is in black and white, and I have Elfquest: The Discovery - which is in color - I'll be rereading this and reviewing it separately.
I really do wish they'd make a collection of the rest of the stories as well. Suntop's adventures in the Forever Green, and the Kahvi miniseries. Guess I'll just look them up online if there's no news on them soon.
March 8, 2025
Read this as part of a book group grand read. The back off was a bit blah, a bit boring.
The front half was unmemorable, but a bit better. These were some stories set in the days when Cutter was young and just a bit earlier. The art in the book was uneven, some of it was pretty good, about up to Elfquest standard, though I've always preferred this in color. Skimming through the earlier stories to remind myself what was there - there was a lot of random death and violence. And some of the characters, especially Bearclaw, did not come off as especially likable. Joyleaf got a little time on stage. And the early Cutter stories were nice-ish. Some of the art was definitely not as good. There was a relatively unnecessary Madcoil retelling.
Not horrible, but most of this was not up to the Elfquest standard.
The front half was unmemorable, but a bit better. These were some stories set in the days when Cutter was young and just a bit earlier. The art in the book was uneven, some of it was pretty good, about up to Elfquest standard, though I've always preferred this in color. Skimming through the earlier stories to remind myself what was there - there was a lot of random death and violence. And some of the characters, especially Bearclaw, did not come off as especially likable. Joyleaf got a little time on stage. And the early Cutter stories were nice-ish. Some of the art was definitely not as good. There was a relatively unnecessary Madcoil retelling.
Not horrible, but most of this was not up to the Elfquest standard.
February 3, 2020
This book contains some of the very best background and future stories of the series. Unfortunately, the Wavedancer chapters are all in black and white, like the rest of the volume. Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal, but they were originally published online (I think) and the digital color doesn't translate as well in black and white, especially when so many scenes are underwater with shading all around, obscuring the gorgeous drawings.
December 27, 2020
Oh, how lovely! After the last book contained many stories not drawn by Pini, and some of them downright ugly and completely stripped of Elfquest magic, it was with some trepidation I cracked the back of this one. Fortunately the vast majority of the pages are covered with Pini's beautiful artwork, and I even came across some stories I haven't read before. After the last book mostly concerned Amber's story, I was happy to see more of Suntop and his adventures.
March 10, 2021
The sixth collection of the Elfquest stories, this one has the same magic and tragedy that made the earlier stories great. Here, we see how Bearclaw and the humans came into conflict, revisit why Cutter and Skywise have the bond they do, pick up Shuna's story for some much needed character development, and meet another tribe of elves. Along the way, we also see some of the oldest characters take on their own quests and responsibilities.
March 21, 2020
I had never read many of these stories. I especially enjoyed the first encounter with the Wavedancers!
June 19, 2020
I hadn't realized just how much Elfquest has been published. Still working on it all!
October 18, 2021
A little uneven in places and also feels like it's retreading old ground in places BUUUUT it's still ElfQuest and the majority of the art is up to the highest of standards in the series, plus the whole Enchantment Under the Sea storyline that concludes the volumes is great.
On to the next Quest!
On to the next Quest!
August 3, 2021
Dark Horse is continuing their rendition of publishing the Complete Elfquest series. This is the penultimate volume before they collect The Final Quest into one complete volume. Now while it claims to be “the complete” edition, I’ve noticed that there are a lot of Elfquest titles and issues which have been left out of these books. The original Wave Dancers series and the extra pages which the Pini’s created for the Marvel/Epic reprint of their first series - though there are issues of rights attached to these, I believe. But also missing is the Jink and Rebels storyline, the 6 issue Kahvi series, The Blood of Ten Chiefs series, the Two-Spear series, several of the Worldpool stories, the two issue King’s Cross series, and maybe one or two issues from Hidden Years as well - Plus the newly written Stargazer’s Hunt, published after the Final Quest.
So this series is more a collection of what the Pini’s have put their official stamp on and called “cannon”. The ones they are most proud of. So to be accurate, this is really the Best of Elfquest, rather than the whole of it reprinted. What you do have here is the entire Wolfrider story, which retells the conception of Cutter and his eventual rise to chief. This story was first told in the original Elfquest series, but is retold in greater depth and feeling. This is added to by various short stories from across the time frame - and while not very important tales continuity wise, they art is amazing and they are fun to read. Also included are reprints of The Discovery and The Searcher and the Stone- which are both well worth reading.
While this is a great collection of material, most of which needed to be reprinted, there are several stories here which were originally published in color and the art reflects that decision. Specifically I’m talking about The Discovery, The Searcher and the Stone, Homespun and possibly The Jury. All the rest were originally printed in black and white and are perfectly reprinted here. But for these tales some of the magic is lost. This is compounded by the fact that The Discovery and The Searcher and the Stone are both easily available on Amazon and eBay.
So this series is more a collection of what the Pini’s have put their official stamp on and called “cannon”. The ones they are most proud of. So to be accurate, this is really the Best of Elfquest, rather than the whole of it reprinted. What you do have here is the entire Wolfrider story, which retells the conception of Cutter and his eventual rise to chief. This story was first told in the original Elfquest series, but is retold in greater depth and feeling. This is added to by various short stories from across the time frame - and while not very important tales continuity wise, they art is amazing and they are fun to read. Also included are reprints of The Discovery and The Searcher and the Stone- which are both well worth reading.
While this is a great collection of material, most of which needed to be reprinted, there are several stories here which were originally published in color and the art reflects that decision. Specifically I’m talking about The Discovery, The Searcher and the Stone, Homespun and possibly The Jury. All the rest were originally printed in black and white and are perfectly reprinted here. But for these tales some of the magic is lost. This is compounded by the fact that The Discovery and The Searcher and the Stone are both easily available on Amazon and eBay.
May 2, 2020
This.
This is what I wish all fantasy comics were -- beautiful, tragic, unafraid, original, dreamy, inspiring...
This gave me the feels something awful. I had to stop after each section because it was so heartwarming and I had to go and cry. This is what made me fall on love with this comic on the first place: all the emotions it has evoked from me. Writing that gets me so invested in the characters and their stories that I feel angry and heartbroken and excited and tender amd curious amd horrified is the best kind of writing. I haven't even mentioned the artwork yet and I'm longing to be a part of this world.
And you know what else? My favorite character is still Skywise after all this time. He's such a player, which is not the usual type I'm drawn to, but honestly that's just the way he is and yeah I pretty much love him. #timeforsomefanfiction
5/5
Lamppost you can take me to Narnia and you can take me to Middle-earth, but please please don't forget to stop at Two Moons along the way.
This is what I wish all fantasy comics were -- beautiful, tragic, unafraid, original, dreamy, inspiring...
This gave me the feels something awful. I had to stop after each section because it was so heartwarming and I had to go and cry. This is what made me fall on love with this comic on the first place: all the emotions it has evoked from me. Writing that gets me so invested in the characters and their stories that I feel angry and heartbroken and excited and tender amd curious amd horrified is the best kind of writing. I haven't even mentioned the artwork yet and I'm longing to be a part of this world.
And you know what else? My favorite character is still Skywise after all this time. He's such a player, which is not the usual type I'm drawn to, but honestly that's just the way he is and yeah I pretty much love him. #timeforsomefanfiction
5/5
Lamppost you can take me to Narnia and you can take me to Middle-earth, but please please don't forget to stop at Two Moons along the way.
March 6, 2025
Stories from the past and the present. The original publication format is not clear.
First, the collected Wolfrider miniseries, which focuses on Bearclaw from early in his reign as chief, to Cutter being born, to his final encounter with Madcoil. Bearclaw lives for hundreds of years, but he doesn't mature until near the end. The art collected here is interesting because sometimes it looks like pencils and sometimes it's inked. On the same page.
Then we get some short stories from throughout Elfquest history. The preservers encounter humans before their encounter with the elves. As a child, Cutter spends some time with the trolls. In Sorrow's End, ladies hope for recognition with Skywise. The elves and a human family disagree on what to do about a half-dog-half-wolf. After the palace has jumped forward in time, Skywise questions his place with the Wolfriders. Suntop also tries to find his place with the Wolfriders.
Then we finally get back to the present and start moving forward. A 100 page story follows Shuna and Treestump. Shuna is having trouble fitting in with the Wolfriders. She spies a human hunting party and decides to make contact. Treestump misses troll-made weapons and decides to try forging his own.
Then a four issue story where the Wolfriders meet the Wavedancers. Of course, the Wavedancers series is not collected in the Complete Elfquest collections, so we're missing a lot of context.
When the art is black-and-white inks only, I like it. The stories where they've reduced the colors to gray tones, I'm not a big fan of. And some of the computer art in the Wavedancers arc is unreadable.
First, the collected Wolfrider miniseries, which focuses on Bearclaw from early in his reign as chief, to Cutter being born, to his final encounter with Madcoil. Bearclaw lives for hundreds of years, but he doesn't mature until near the end. The art collected here is interesting because sometimes it looks like pencils and sometimes it's inked. On the same page.
Then we get some short stories from throughout Elfquest history. The preservers encounter humans before their encounter with the elves. As a child, Cutter spends some time with the trolls. In Sorrow's End, ladies hope for recognition with Skywise. The elves and a human family disagree on what to do about a half-dog-half-wolf. After the palace has jumped forward in time, Skywise questions his place with the Wolfriders. Suntop also tries to find his place with the Wolfriders.
Then we finally get back to the present and start moving forward. A 100 page story follows Shuna and Treestump. Shuna is having trouble fitting in with the Wolfriders. She spies a human hunting party and decides to make contact. Treestump misses troll-made weapons and decides to try forging his own.
Then a four issue story where the Wolfriders meet the Wavedancers. Of course, the Wavedancers series is not collected in the Complete Elfquest collections, so we're missing a lot of context.
When the art is black-and-white inks only, I like it. The stories where they've reduced the colors to gray tones, I'm not a big fan of. And some of the computer art in the Wavedancers arc is unreadable.
January 10, 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...
May 21, 2020
Much better than Vol. 5, but does not reach the quality of the earlier stories. Especially "Wolfriders!", which is the first segment in the book and a prequel to the series, is sometimes just boring and I had to push myself to finish it. The other stories are OK but often formulaic. I really don't know if the investment in the following Vol. 7 is worth it for me, I have to do some research if the formulaic storytelling continues with that one.
September 4, 2023
More kinds of elves
I certainly hope that all varieties of supernatural creatures don't get reinterpreted as variations on elves and trolls... Or poor victims of Winnowill. Still I like the wave dancers. I wonder if without the palace there can be any more flying elves?
I certainly hope that all varieties of supernatural creatures don't get reinterpreted as variations on elves and trolls... Or poor victims of Winnowill. Still I like the wave dancers. I wonder if without the palace there can be any more flying elves?
December 9, 2023
Only one more volume :(
This was a great one, had some backstory of the old clan, then proceeded to tell some other tales before starting another adventure. Bittersweet feeling with only one more volume left, I don’t want it to end.
This was a great one, had some backstory of the old clan, then proceeded to tell some other tales before starting another adventure. Bittersweet feeling with only one more volume left, I don’t want it to end.
December 7, 2020
DPL hoopla
June 7, 2023
FANtastic!
November 3, 2024
Feels largely a bit pointless. I did like "The Searcher and the Sword" though, so if I ever do a reread in the future I would just stick to that one.
June 29, 2025
Great volume! love being back in the woods with Cutter and most of the Wolfriders
October 2, 2025
The Complete ElfQuest, Volume Six is the penultimate collection of the fantasy stories begun in 1978 by Wendy and Richard Pini. This anthology edition endeavors to comprehensively collect and order all of the stories and miniseries not yet included in previous trade paperbacks by Dark Horse Books. Dark Horse usually does a good job of publishing, and thus safeguarding the industry, but they have done an exceptional job here of encapsulating the lore in seven near-perfect volumes.
Here, the stories collected are almost all multi-issue storylines. These are: Wolfrider, Homespun, Troll Games and Soul Names, The Heart's Way, Jury, Wolfshadow, Full Circle, Searcher and The Sword, and The Discovery. In all of these stories, the continuing dramas revolves around the tribe of Wolf Riders, other clans, and even the implications contingent with adoption of a human girl. Recognition is also considered in these stories.
The stories are rife with pathos, fantasy action (such as swordplay and sorcery), provocative themes, and all the great things that kept ElfQuest in print for almost 50 years. The storylines are fantastic, but Wendy's art direction and oversight of her studio talent has never been better, and the last story in Volume Seven appears to be even better. I can't wait to read ElfQuest: The Final Quest.
Here, the stories collected are almost all multi-issue storylines. These are: Wolfrider, Homespun, Troll Games and Soul Names, The Heart's Way, Jury, Wolfshadow, Full Circle, Searcher and The Sword, and The Discovery. In all of these stories, the continuing dramas revolves around the tribe of Wolf Riders, other clans, and even the implications contingent with adoption of a human girl. Recognition is also considered in these stories.
The stories are rife with pathos, fantasy action (such as swordplay and sorcery), provocative themes, and all the great things that kept ElfQuest in print for almost 50 years. The storylines are fantastic, but Wendy's art direction and oversight of her studio talent has never been better, and the last story in Volume Seven appears to be even better. I can't wait to read ElfQuest: The Final Quest.
May 11, 2025
(This review covers the complete series)
A long-running, character-driven fantasy saga that follows a tribe of elves, the Wolfriders, as they search for connection and survival in a dangerous world shared with humans and other elf clans. The story starts with fast-paced adventure and grows into something larger and more reflective, following the characters over generations as they deal with change and loss. The art is detailed and expressive, with strong emotional clarity and smooth action.
A long-running, character-driven fantasy saga that follows a tribe of elves, the Wolfriders, as they search for connection and survival in a dangerous world shared with humans and other elf clans. The story starts with fast-paced adventure and grows into something larger and more reflective, following the characters over generations as they deal with change and loss. The art is detailed and expressive, with strong emotional clarity and smooth action.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews