Elves take Over the Internet

By John Freeman on March 20, 2008

(via BoingBoing): Every issue of Elfquest — perhaps the oldest independent US comic — is to be made available free online, part of an initiative by Wendy and Richard Pini, owners of Elfquest publishing company Warp Graphics, to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

It’s hoped that by the end of the year, every issue ever will be available online for free.

Elfquest, which has a huge fan following, was one of the first independently published comics in the world and one of the most successful. First published in 1978, this tale of wolf-riding elves from outer space – a brief synopsis which does the 30-year-old title no real justice – is currently enjoying something of a renaissance, with renewed hope of a big screen film based on the epic fantasy tale.

DC Comics acquired worldwide publishing, media, and merchandising rights to Wendy and Richard Pini’s epic-adventure fantasy comic book series Elfquest back in 2003 but ended their relationship last year. Last November, Dark Horse released a series of limited edition busts based on the three primary characters from the saga.

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.