Right off the bat, I was blown away by Wendy Pini who is an absolutely phenomenal artist. The entire thing is rich with color and a distinctive flair that I came to appreciate as Wendy's signature style. Another reviewer said that this series is born more of the heart than of the mind and I totally agree with them. [A/N: If you're looking for a cerebral sci-fi then you have made a wrong turn and need to look at your directions a little more closely.] Pini has created a true fantasy epic that is about the people just as much (maybe more so) than the journey they undertake.

Volume 1 introduces us to the Wolfriders, a tribe of forest elves, who are led by their young chief, Cutter, who is brave, strong, and dedicated to his people. At the start of the first volume (after we're introduced to quite a few of the Wolfriders and their wolf allies (actual wolves that they ride)) we discover that there has been a longstanding rivalry (and much bloodshed) between the elves and the humans that live nearby. This is partially why they've developed such a close relationship with the wolves and why they've developed into such powerful warriors. A determined human decides that the only way to win against their fierce adversaries is to burn down their forest home...and as a result the Wolfriders begin their quest to find a new home in lands unknown. #backstory ( )

Book 1 in the Complete Elfquest series, follows the story of Cutter and his clan of elves after they are burnt out of their forest home by humans.

The Bad stuff: In my humble opinion, there ain't no bad stuff in this little Gem.

The Good stuff: Elfquest covers the issues of race hate, mateship, family bonds, love and overcoming adversity using characters such as Elves, Trolls and Humans in a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. It will transition you through a variety of emotional experiences as it deals with conflicting views while trying to give readers an insight into the reasons behind them.

What can I say? I love Elfquest. It is one the first graphic novel series I ever read. I read this series when I was in my mid teens and I enjoyed it immensely. So much so that as an adult, I read it to my 3 daughters every night when they were little. Guess what, they loved it too. I give it 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks. ( )

This classic was one of the first to define "graphic novel." I started with the original B&W comics; to see them in glorious color makes my heart sing. In this book we meet the Wolfriders and the elves living in the Sun Village.

Part of why I fell in love with the book is the acceptance of different choices in how the elves live. From Rainfall, the ultimate mother, to Dewshine, the young Wolfrider, to Leetah, a proud and independent Healer, each has a purpose and role.

If you enjoy well-written fantasy or graphic novels, give this one a whirl. I don't think you will regret it. ( )

Wonderful story, wonderful and superb art, but the best part is the characters: you come to know and love them, or hate them, and want to know what else they will be facing in their lives.

Don't mistake these for cute 'elf' books, they're not. These graphic novels are not for children, but they're not overly graphic with violence or sex or nudity, either.

Originally published as comics in the late 1970s, I have enjoyed and reread them many times since I discovered them over twenty years ago. ( )

The start of the ElfQuest saga. This is a fantastic, fun, gripping fantasy series with some of the most gorgeous art you'll ever see. Reinvented elves in a refreshing way and overturned fantasy cliches.

On the prehistoric World Of Two Moons, elves don't resemble their D&D brethren: they're fierce, they ride wolves, they hunt in packs, and humans hate their guts. After the humans burn down their forest home, this tribe of elves, led by their young, idealistic leader, Cutter, escape into the desert... and for the first time, discover another group of elves with a wildly different culture. They hang out during the day! They cook their meat instead of eating it raw! Gross! When Cutter and the desert-dwelling Leetah get hit with Recognition -- less love-at-first-sight, more Pon Farr -- they, and their communities, aren't quite ready for the aftershocks. An adventure/romance that's something of a prequel to the rest of the series.

While this book is fun and beloved by fans the world over, I personally recommend starting with the following book, "The Forbidden Grove." The Pinis are still finding their feet here, both in terms of art and writing; the Cutter/Leetah romance story feels a bit dated in places (though it overturns a lot of romance cliches in interesting ways). Plus, this edition (Father Tree Press) has some coloring errors. If you've gotta start your stories at the beginning, start here, but if you don't mind being dropped in the middle, Book 2 is not a bad place at all to start, and it's where the titular quest gets underway.

http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics/OQ/OQ01/DisplayOQ01.html?page=1 ( )