ElfQuest: Hidden Years Gallery Edition

“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

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 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 a 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.

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