ElfQuest: The Original Quest: Book 4--The First War

by Wendy Pini, Richard Pini, Wendy Pini (Illustrator)

Overview

The Wolfriders face war with the Northern Troll Warriors in the fourth and final book of the original ElfQuest saga—in full color for the first time from Dark Horse Comics!

“Do you know what war is?”

With that question, Cutter and his companions are plunged into the most dangerous, life-threatening conflict they could never have imagined. In their quest for the legendary lost Palace of the High Ones, they are betrayed by the Gliders of Blue Mountain and left to perish on the snow-swept wastes of the Frozen Mountains.

Now the Wolfriders must face savage Northern Troll Warriors who stand between Cutter’s tribe and their goal. Even if they are able to join forces with the pugnacious, stag-riding Go-Back elves, can any elfin alliance survive the sheer force and brutality of the troll army? 

Collects ElfQuest: The Original Quest #16–#20

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506748535
Publisher:	Dark Horse Comics
Publication date:	11/18/2025
Series:	Elfquest Series
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200

About the Author

Wendy Pini was born Wendy Fletcher in San Francisco. Growing up on an isolated ranch in Gilroy, California, Wendy's imagination was fueled by all forms of fantasy and mythology. At an early age she began spinning her own tales of elves, monkey-gods, aliens and sorcerers. While her artistic talents were influenced by of turn-of-the-century illustrators, film and TV animation, her storytelling abilities evolved from a love of Shakespeare, Japanese history and legend, modern fantasy and the epic poetry of the Ramayana. In 1977, a deeply personal project called ELFQUEST was born. As the first continuing fantasy/adventure graphic novel series in America to be co-created, written and illustrated by a woman, ELFQUEST became a phenomenon in the comics industry. Appealing to comics and sci-fi/fantasy fans alike, it attracted a unique and unprecedented audience, an equal mix of male and female readers. Over three million copies of the collected graphic novel volumes have been sold to date.

Richard Pini was born in 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), receiving a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. Always fan of science fiction, at college he found new diversion in comic books, and it was in the letters pages of “The Silver Surfer” in 1969 that he chanced upon a letter written by one Wendy Fletcher. A correspondence began, spanning a period of four years. The two eventually married in 1972, and Wendy embarked upon a career as an illustrator for sci-fi magazines. Richard’s degree in astronomy from MIT led Richard to a position at Boston’s Hayden Planetarium as lecturer, photographer, script writer, and special effects technician. In 2019, both Wendy and Richard were inducted into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame for their lifetime achievements.

Editorial Reviews

"The comic is utterly addictive."—NPR

"One of the most important works in American fantasy."—American Library Association

"ElfQuest redefined graphic novel storytelling on an epic scale."—Barnes and Noble

"One of the most beautifully crafted, well thought out comic book fantasy epics of all time."—CBR

"Wendy and Richard [Pini] created and sustained one of the most successful independent comics of all time."—Rodney Rothman, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

"[ElfQuest] is particularly important because of its key role in the establishment of a highly visible phase of alternative, independent comic books and also its creative direction by a female artist."—Karen Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons, Columbia University

From the Publisher