Elfquest ceases monthly publication
Very recently, I made a difficult decision. As publisher and editor of
the Elfquest line of comics and books for over twenty years, I put
the brakes on the monthly anthology-style Elfquest comic book. Such
an action is certain to generate a ton of surprised and shocked
reactions, and a ton and a half of questions, so to help stave off
some of that reaction, I'm "reprinting" here two announcements that
I've made for the print media. The first is a press release sent out
to all comics press outlets; the second is the editorial that will
appear in the final issue of Elfquest comics. Do these announcements
answer every possible question? No, of course not. As I say in my
editorial, the reasons are many, varied, and - at least in some
cases - personal and private. But as Elfquest grows and changes,
that information will find its way right here to the official web
site. You won't be left in the dark.
Richard Pini
Elfquest Comic Book Series Suspended
As of issue #33, carrying a February 1999 cover date, the monthly
Elfquest comic book series will come to a halt for the indefinite
future, according to Warp Graphics publisher Richard Pini.
Citing a number of factors behind the decision, chief among which is
the years-long and continuing sluggishness in the comic book
market worldwide, Pini said that even though the monthly comic
book was on hiatus, Warp Graphics would continue to produce new
volumes in its successful Reader's Collection series of softcover
books. Artists and writers currenly producing stories that would
have appeared in the comic books will continue to turn in their
work as previously scheduled, Pini said, the difference being that
readers will now receive complete tales in a single package rather
than in monthly installments.
Since the Elfquest Reader's Collection series debuted in mid-1998, a
dozen volumes have appeared, with at least one new volume
scheduled for every month of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000.
Elfquest, the long-running fantasy series, first appearing in February
1978, was published on a triannual schedule until 1984. The
frequency of publication rose to bimonthly until 1992, and became
monthly up to the present. From 1993 to 1996 Warp Graphics
released as many as seven monthly titles, consolidating all story
lines into a single anthology title in May, 1996.
A Matter of oPINIon / Elfquest #33 / February 1999
There are about a dozen ways I could open up this month's editorial,
some of them clever, some of them mysterious, some perhaps
even glib. But I'm going to opt for none of the above, and
cut to the chase:
This is Elfquest's last issue, its last appearance in comic book form,
for the foreseeable future.
It's not a decision that I -- as both publisher and "parent" -- came to
easily or quickly or by myself. It is a decision that I've
been mulling for some time. It is based partly on a
years-long view and assessment of the comic book market and
industry, partly on a view to the future that looks like
it's going to be very busy, and partly on reasons that are
purely personal.
One of the first questions that readers will ask is, "But you're right
in the middle of several stories! What will happen to
those?!"
The answer is that they will not be lost, not be killed in
mid-telling. For even though Elfquest the comic book is
going away, Elfquest the series of Readers Collection
volumes remains, and will grow. Already there are over a
dozen collections available. Throughout 1999 and well into
2000 there will be more -- one volume per month, either of
reprinted material from past Elfquest series, or of brand
new stories that will be written and drawn specially for
book publication. "Wolfrider!" the book will see print late
this year, and it will contain the entire tale of Cutter's
father -- the installments you've read, plus all those still
to be created. You'll see the fulfillment of the current
"Wild Hunt" adventure, plus a new story that you've not
heard of yet. There's "WaveDancers" and "The Final Quest"
and probably even a couple more that I'm
forgetting. Elfquest will continue.
So where will yours truly find space to rant now that this little gray
rectangle is no more? Out in cyberspace, right on Elfquest's
official web site, www.elfquest.com. Along with a host of other
features and information, I'm sure I'll find a page to haunt
with an oPINIon or two -- just as Wendy is doing now with her new
"WendyWords" column. Check it out.
It's been a tremendous experience, these twenty one years. I've said
in past editorials that at this age, Elfquest is "grown up."
That's not quite true. What is happening, is that Elfquest is
busting loose into the next stage of its ongoing
metamorphosis. It won't be stopped.
So thank you, everyone, for all the roses and yes, even the occasional
stink bombs. Builds character -- and Elfquest is nothing if not
full of character(s)! Hunt, howl, and live free. The Quest goes
on.
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