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ElfQuest: Stargazer's Hunt Volume 2
The adventure of Stargazer’s Hunt concludes!
Skywise, astronomer and sky-reader to the Wolfrider tribe of elves, has gone missing from the Starhome since the death of his brother-in-all-but-blood, Cutter Kinseeker. Literally lost in space, he desperately seeks the reason for the haunting gaps in his memories. His star-spanning quest reveals interstellar majesty and the desolation of ruined worlds, but no answers. Meanwhile Jink, the elf-daughter he left behind, returns to the World of Two Moons, ancestral home of the Wolfriders, in the hope of finding a way to heal Skywise’s soul. Who she discovers there (we’ve met them before) will help propel the saga to its heartwrenching, triumphant finish.
Stargazer’s Hunt has story by ElfQuest co-creators Wendy and Richard Pini, with script and layouts by Wendy Pini. Veteran Elfquest alumnus Sonny Strait continues at warp speed as the artist and colorist for the new series.
Skywise, astronomer and sky-reader to the Wolfrider tribe of elves, has gone missing from the Starhome since the death of his brother-in-all-but-blood, Cutter Kinseeker. Literally lost in space, he desperately seeks the reason for the haunting gaps in his memories. His star-spanning quest reveals interstellar majesty and the desolation of ruined worlds, but no answers. Meanwhile Jink, the elf-daughter he left behind, returns to the World of Two Moons, ancestral home of the Wolfriders, in the hope of finding a way to heal Skywise’s soul. Who she discovers there (we’ve met them before) will help propel the saga to its heartwrenching, triumphant finish.
Stargazer’s Hunt has story by ElfQuest co-creators Wendy and Richard Pini, with script and layouts by Wendy Pini. Veteran Elfquest alumnus Sonny Strait continues at warp speed as the artist and colorist for the new series.
104 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2022
4 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Pini
614 books391 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
July 16, 2022
So for my 45th b-day I bought Stargazer's Hunt Volume 2 as a gift to myself. I've been waiting for it for a while and couldn't wait to read it. Elfquest has been a huge part of my life, ever since I discovered it when I was 7 or 8 years old. Instantly making me a huge fan and reading it over and over again. After the completion of the entire Quest of Cutter it was Skywise's turn to go on a quest of his own. Volume 1 was already amazing, but Volume 2 gave me even more. To be honest, I did feel some parts were rushed, there was too much to tell in the amount of pages and I wished more was told about things going on in the mean time. Maybe, hopefully, we will get to know a lot more. Like Dre-Ahn's heritage (tough he's too much looking like Teir to not be related imo) and much more.
But then, at some point, the story takes a turn and had me sobbing like I didn't even do when I discovered what happened to Cutter in the end. The writing was poetic, the art work better than ever. Wendy, Richard and Sonny have made this a masterpiece and made me wish I could give this more than 5 stars.
If you are not known to Elfquest, do yourself a favor and start reading it, but start it from the beginning. Get the heritage done. It is such a gift to yourself. For 45 years Elfquest has been going strong and it's amazing on so many levels. I will reread this over and over again, maybe starting the first quest again soon. And now I'm going to sit back and let this all sink in. What a ride.
But then, at some point, the story takes a turn and had me sobbing like I didn't even do when I discovered what happened to Cutter in the end. The writing was poetic, the art work better than ever. Wendy, Richard and Sonny have made this a masterpiece and made me wish I could give this more than 5 stars.
If you are not known to Elfquest, do yourself a favor and start reading it, but start it from the beginning. Get the heritage done. It is such a gift to yourself. For 45 years Elfquest has been going strong and it's amazing on so many levels. I will reread this over and over again, maybe starting the first quest again soon. And now I'm going to sit back and let this all sink in. What a ride.
July 13, 2022
To begin with, I now understand why they did as they did when it came to emotions in the last volume. That doesn't mean I'll change my rating, however, as it was authentic to the story I was reading at the time, with the information I had.
And on the note of emotion; I bawled my eyes out in this volume! I had to put it down, because I couldn't read through the tears! Honestly, this range of emotion doesn't make sense for me, because I know I can just go back and read Cutter's story again and again, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry. It's fascinating.
Onto the story in this volume.
I'm glad we got to see what happened with others of the High Ones, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more stories about that in the future, because I'm sure we'll be getting more stories. Not just about other worlds, but also about the Wolfriders. For there is that one scene when Goldruff sends to Skywise what's happened with the tribe in a span of hundred of years, and Skywise reacts the way he did. Not letting us know what happened in that time would just be cruel! And I'm also extremely invested in Ember and her future. I NEED TO KNOW!
I did like how the humans of the World of Two Moons have evolved, and that we got to see what happened to Shuna as well.
Otherwise, this volume wrapped things up nicely. I will admit that I still have some trouble understanding the soul-thing, but I do accept it, and the way Skywise handled it in the end here made a lot of sense to me. Way more than what we've seen about it before.
I just have to touch on one thing with the art, and that is the fact that I don't like Timmain's Wolfrider form. It's not well proportioned, and it's an issue I've had ever since we saw it the first time, and it really throws me out of the story.
Oh well, guess it's back to waiting a few more years for another story in the world of two Moons - now known as Abode.
And on the note of emotion; I bawled my eyes out in this volume! I had to put it down, because I couldn't read through the tears! Honestly, this range of emotion doesn't make sense for me, because I know I can just go back and read Cutter's story again and again, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry. It's fascinating.
Onto the story in this volume.
I'm glad we got to see what happened with others of the High Ones, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more stories about that in the future, because I'm sure we'll be getting more stories. Not just about other worlds, but also about the Wolfriders. For there is that one scene when Goldruff sends to Skywise what's happened with the tribe in a span of hundred of years, and Skywise reacts the way he did. Not letting us know what happened in that time would just be cruel! And I'm also extremely invested in Ember and her future. I NEED TO KNOW!
I did like how the humans of the World of Two Moons have evolved, and that we got to see what happened to Shuna as well.
Otherwise, this volume wrapped things up nicely. I will admit that I still have some trouble understanding the soul-thing, but I do accept it, and the way Skywise handled it in the end here made a lot of sense to me. Way more than what we've seen about it before.
I just have to touch on one thing with the art, and that is the fact that I don't like Timmain's Wolfrider form. It's not well proportioned, and it's an issue I've had ever since we saw it the first time, and it really throws me out of the story.
Oh well, guess it's back to waiting a few more years for another story in the world of two Moons - now known as Abode.
August 8, 2022
A coda to the Final Quest. Skywise travels the cosmos on the worldship and due to his stupidity is lost among the stars. We see various incarnations of other worldships landing on other planets. We see what is happening on Abode - The World of Two Moons - where technology had advanced rapidly and the wolf-riders are on the run. Of course to ese the ultimate end of Elfquest you may want to consult the Jink issues of Elfquest from the 90s. Ones which are noticeably absent from the complete Elfquest compendiums.
While the art soars above everything else on the market, proving why you should still buy Elfquest, the pacing is off here. It all feels rushed. These issues could have easily have been doubled. But that may be just wishful thinking on my part. I can never have enough Elfquest.
While the art soars above everything else on the market, proving why you should still buy Elfquest, the pacing is off here. It all feels rushed. These issues could have easily have been doubled. But that may be just wishful thinking on my part. I can never have enough Elfquest.
June 12, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This collects the final comics into one volume and concludes the Stargazer's Hunt story. The art is solid and stays true to Elfquest creator Wendy Pini, who worked closely with her husband/storyteller Richard and assistant Sonny Strait. We get long stretches of time and can see characters grow, mature, and even have children.Story: With his memory of Cutter gone, Skywise knows only that something is missing and that he must find it. While gone, his daughter Jink grows up and is ready to learn more about her father's and Cutter's relationship - as then venture out to find where he went. But Skywise also has a surprise in store: he is awoken from a deep hibernation to find that he has found another planet seeded by his people. But what he finds on the surface is horrifying.
In the forward, Wendy Pini noted that Cutter was her and she modeled him on her own experiences and behaviors. But for Skywise and telling his story, her husband Richard was the model since Skywise was always based on how he thinks. So she owed a lot to Richard for keeping Skywise true to character throughout the series.
The story is mostly about Skywise and Jink. Skywise has to go through some soul searching before he feels comfortable reaching out to Cutter's spirit; in addition, he has to grapple with the concept that his lifemate is the same person as his 'brother in all but blood.' Jink, meanwhile, will grow up and when the time is right, learn about her father and Cutter.
There is quite a bit of time dilation here so we get to see several characters grow up, have children, and eventually die. This includes Cutter and Leetah's third child, Vehnka's daughter, a very adult Sunstream and Ember, and of course Leetah taking over the Mother of Memory role in the tribe. At the same time, technology is progressing to where we have a '1920s' type of civilization (very Indiana Jones) trying to discover more about a mysterious area housing a giant tree and protected by a band of humans called the Insect Tribe (and led by Shuna's descendant).
There are the usual indulgences here as the Pinis draw from personal experiences and try to pigeonhole the characters into fitting a model of themselves. It's just something you get used to but creates odd and uncomfortable tangents (as with the Cutter/Timmain situation). As well, how many people really want to follow MORE human stories as with the Insect Tribes in this volume. Finally, there is a statement about nuclear annihilation that Skywise must deal with in his travels.
The art is beautiful and the coloring even more so. Those of us who grew up with black and white Elfquest (at least until the first Starblaze graphic novel) can't help but appreciate that we get these in color now. This series is clearly a labor of love that hasn't been pushed down to other artists or assistants who only have the Pini's supervision. Stargazer's Hunt feels like classic Elfquest in every way (sometimes very dated ways, admittedly).
In all, this was a pleasure to read and expanded the Elfquest road even more. Thankfully, there were hints that more is likely to come, likely in terms of exploring other characters.. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
August 25, 2022
Awwwwww, I'm done already?
Skywise has always been one of my favorite elves. Seeing him mated to Timmain is so perfect. His quest is quite interesting, and I hope there will be more stories ahead...as well as stories about what Leetah's quest is...and what will happen with Trinket and the Sculptors.
Skywise has always been one of my favorite elves. Seeing him mated to Timmain is so perfect. His quest is quite interesting, and I hope there will be more stories ahead...as well as stories about what Leetah's quest is...and what will happen with Trinket and the Sculptors.
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January 20, 2023Recommended for: those who have read thousands of pages of Elfquest and for whom it's too late to turn back now
July 16, 2022
The conclusion to Skywise's quest is neatly done. I mentioned before that Elfquest no longer resonates with me as it used to.
But the artwork is still great and the story has good flow and pacing.
There are various things in this world view I disagree with. But only one that truly bugged me.
The way they gloss over his abandonement of his family. Having grown up in a single parent household, the phrase "I didn't abandon you" struck all the wrong chords. And Jink's reaction seemed to me fully unrealistic.
But I suppose digging into the emotional scarring that comes from being abandoned by a parent (for whatever reason) would've taken this story in a whole different direction that wouldn't have fit in 8 issues.
But the artwork is still great and the story has good flow and pacing.
There are various things in this world view I disagree with. But only one that truly bugged me.
The way they gloss over his abandonement of his family. Having grown up in a single parent household, the phrase "I didn't abandon you" struck all the wrong chords. And Jink's reaction seemed to me fully unrealistic.
But I suppose digging into the emotional scarring that comes from being abandoned by a parent (for whatever reason) would've taken this story in a whole different direction that wouldn't have fit in 8 issues.
April 18, 2024
And so I’ve read the, possibly, last of Elfquest. And the last of Stargazers Hunt.
Was the ending satisfying? Debatable. But I will say Wendy Pini and Sonny Strait did some of their FINEST work here! I’ll get to that.
I love Love LOVE Cutter’s last child! Cutter and Leetha have been busy with their recognition! Having three elf-kids! Unheard of! (Almost, looking at you Woodlock and Rainsong…)
But I will say, I rather like Goldruff. He never got to meet Cutter, sadly, but he is very much like Cutter in many ways, and in many ways a young Leetha too! Easy for us to see for us that have read the series for long. He’s a pretty neat character. I would have liked to get to know him more for sure!
Jink, Skywise daughter, has grown up to young adulthood here, and she is ever questing for her father to restore his memories of Cutter that she stole in an innocent way to try and make him stop being so sad.
Well. Here’s where the one absolutely shining brilliant part in this comes in.
Because she and her friends that help her DO find Skywise. On another planet no less where there’s traces of another group of High One settlers and trolls. Once they find him, they bring him back. To Leetha and to The Father Tree. To be healed.
And do they heal him.
Skywise get his memories of Cutter back. And finally, after… more than 500 years or so, who is counting?... finally get to mourn Cutter properly.
And it’s SO BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN! I mean… I lost my father quite early, and I can recognize parts of the grief that just punch you in the face on those pages! It’s just SO GOOD!!! I just wish my father had a spirit that could ‘send’ to me like Cutter's spirit can send to Skywise, but alas…
Then there’s humans that want to destroy the elves (when isn’t there?), fighting… a hint of the future of this world (that one can read in FutureQuest, the scifi version of Elfquest), and just… It’s just so good!
Not the best of the Elfquest stories and not the best ending, but it is tying a lot of knots. And it does tie those knots quite neatly. I did enjoy this greatly!
Was the ending satisfying? Debatable. But I will say Wendy Pini and Sonny Strait did some of their FINEST work here! I’ll get to that.
I love Love LOVE Cutter’s last child! Cutter and Leetha have been busy with their recognition! Having three elf-kids! Unheard of! (Almost, looking at you Woodlock and Rainsong…)
But I will say, I rather like Goldruff. He never got to meet Cutter, sadly, but he is very much like Cutter in many ways, and in many ways a young Leetha too! Easy for us to see for us that have read the series for long. He’s a pretty neat character. I would have liked to get to know him more for sure!
Jink, Skywise daughter, has grown up to young adulthood here, and she is ever questing for her father to restore his memories of Cutter that she stole in an innocent way to try and make him stop being so sad.
Well. Here’s where the one absolutely shining brilliant part in this comes in.
Because she and her friends that help her DO find Skywise. On another planet no less where there’s traces of another group of High One settlers and trolls. Once they find him, they bring him back. To Leetha and to The Father Tree. To be healed.
And do they heal him.
Skywise get his memories of Cutter back. And finally, after… more than 500 years or so, who is counting?... finally get to mourn Cutter properly.
And it’s SO BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN! I mean… I lost my father quite early, and I can recognize parts of the grief that just punch you in the face on those pages! It’s just SO GOOD!!! I just wish my father had a spirit that could ‘send’ to me like Cutter's spirit can send to Skywise, but alas…
Then there’s humans that want to destroy the elves (when isn’t there?), fighting… a hint of the future of this world (that one can read in FutureQuest, the scifi version of Elfquest), and just… It’s just so good!
Not the best of the Elfquest stories and not the best ending, but it is tying a lot of knots. And it does tie those knots quite neatly. I did enjoy this greatly!
September 21, 2023
I am only giving this three stars because this is Wendy and Richard's work and their iconic characters were with me as I became an adult. Their wonderful comic was and is a masterpiece and always will be to me. But having said this and having read these last comics they have done, I am completely beside myself with sadness over what has been done to Elfquest. I feel these stories have been rushed and they have lost the direction and feeling they once had. The very special relationship that Cutter and Skywise had has been completely gutted and turned into something I don't even recognize. Having been a fan of this comic since I was 18 and collected every single issue from the original quest, I can easily say that all of the heart and soul that was Elfquest is lost completely within the pages of these last comics they have created. The characters seem wooden as they rush around trying to quickly explain stories that were too detailed for any comic to fully address. There are too many new characters, too many side stories and so much going on that the main characters and the way they really were and reacted have been lost somewhere along the way. And so I will be sticking with the original quest, the original characters and the original soul that was Elfquest. Which is where the heart of this masterpiece will always remain.
March 12, 2023
Loved it! If you are new to Elfquest then this is not the place for you. To fully appreciate this you have to have a good foundation in Elfquest i.e. that showed the exceptionally close relationship between Cutter and Skywise.
It was better than the first volume of this 2 graphic novel series. It was really exciting to read and see it unfold. Granted, I don't quite understand the whole Timmain/Skywise/Cutter relationship or how an elf can die yet not die, or what they do when they are spirit only. I think this item is something I'll have to read again to see if it sinks in any clearer. Having said that, I still really enjoyed it and feel you really should get Stargazer's Hunt if you are a fan of Elfquest.
It was better than the first volume of this 2 graphic novel series. It was really exciting to read and see it unfold. Granted, I don't quite understand the whole Timmain/Skywise/Cutter relationship or how an elf can die yet not die, or what they do when they are spirit only. I think this item is something I'll have to read again to see if it sinks in any clearer. Having said that, I still really enjoyed it and feel you really should get Stargazer's Hunt if you are a fan of Elfquest.
September 6, 2022
I've been a fan of Elfquest since I was 13 years old. I can still remember buying the second collection- the one put out by Starblaze Graphics- at a Walden Books back in the day. I will always give Elfquest a try.
The Stargazer's Hunt story has interesting pieces, and it's a nice exploration of Skywise's character, but it takes too long to get where it's going and there are digressions that aren't overly interesting. Especially the stuff with the humans.
Still, there is a solid emotional core to the story and it's good to see the characters I've grown to love changing as the seasons pass.
The Stargazer's Hunt story has interesting pieces, and it's a nice exploration of Skywise's character, but it takes too long to get where it's going and there are digressions that aren't overly interesting. Especially the stuff with the humans.
Still, there is a solid emotional core to the story and it's good to see the characters I've grown to love changing as the seasons pass.
July 16, 2025
The elves are finally in the stars. Skywise's not-a-quest takes him to meet descendants of trolls on another world and then back to the World of Two Moons, where he meets the son of Cutter and gets some closure.
A lot of subplot elements which feel like setup for more possible stories.
A lot of subplot elements which feel like setup for more possible stories.
July 6, 2022
Live this as always, my heart is full!
July 10, 2022
I was sobbing by the end of this one.
abandoned-and-samples
November 18, 2022I received an eSample courtesy of Dark Horse Books.
June 9, 2023
Didn't hit nearly as hard as I was expecting it to unfortunately. All three of these stars are for the few pages of Skywise x Cutter content in issue 3. Obviously.
May 3, 2025
Elfquest has once proved to be such a treasure.
September 19, 2023
I love the original Elfquest stories, the older ones, I mean. This was good, but the time jumps were a little strange, and while I love Skywise, I would've preferred more time with the Wolfriders.
July 6, 2022
Is this it?
No it is , most definitely,not! That is the lesson, this finale, gifts us with.. A new tale, in a truly epic story. So much worth the read,. I cannot stress enough, how amazing Skywise's journey is! I envy the, newcomers, to Elfquest. Reading it all for the first time, you're in for one hell of a ride! I can sum it up in one word, "Perfect!"
No it is , most definitely,not! That is the lesson, this finale, gifts us with.. A new tale, in a truly epic story. So much worth the read,. I cannot stress enough, how amazing Skywise's journey is! I envy the, newcomers, to Elfquest. Reading it all for the first time, you're in for one hell of a ride! I can sum it up in one word, "Perfect!"
July 7, 2022
So much magic!
Loved it, always want more. May the Pini's be forever blessed for sharing the joy and pain of characters we have over for decades. Their stories and art never disappoint.
Loved it, always want more. May the Pini's be forever blessed for sharing the joy and pain of characters we have over for decades. Their stories and art never disappoint.
August 6, 2023
Whitewashed Ember, nonsense story, highly recommended to avoid unless you like pain.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews