Preserver (Elfquest)

Elfquest
Elfquest #5, 1979. Cover art by Wendy Pini.
Publication information
Publisher	WaRP Graphics, 1978–2003 Marvel Comics, 1985–1988 DC Comics, 2003–2007 Dark Horse Comics, 2013–present
Publication date	1978 – present
Creative team
Created by	Wendy and Richard Pini
Written by	Wendy and Richard Pini
Artist(s)	Wendy Pini
Collected editions
Elfquest Archives vol. 1	ISBN
Elfquest Archives vol. 2	ISBN
Elfquest Archives vol. 3	ISBN
Elfquest Archives vol. 4	ISBN

Elfquest (or ElfQuest) is a cult hit comic book property created by Wendy and Richard Pini in 1978. It is a fantasy story about a community of elves and other fictional species who struggle to survive and coexist on a primitive Earth-like planet with two moons. Several published volumes of prose fiction also share the same setting. Elfquest was one of the first comic book series to have a planned conclusion. Over the years Elfquest has been self-published by the Pinis through their own company Warp Graphics, then Marvel Comics, then the Pinis again, more recently DC Comics and presently Dark Horse Comics. All issues of Elfquest published prior to 2013 are available online for free.

The first Elfquest story was published in February 1978, in the underground comic book Fantasy Quarterly, published by Lansing, Michigan-based IPS (Independent Publishers Syndicate). That company folded after publishing the first issue of Elfquest. (Sandwiched between Elfquest's "Fire and Flight" parts one and two was a brief story written by T. Casey Brennan and illustrated by Cerebus the Aardvark creator Dave Sim titled "Doorway to the Gods".) The quality of the publication was disappointing to Wendy and Richard Pini. The cover paper stock was only slightly thicker and whiter than newsprint (the exterior was printed unglossed with a very limited color palette) and the paper used inside of the comic book was newsprint.

The poor quality of this publication convinced the Pinis that they could produce a higher quality publication on their own. After borrowing money in order to start WaRP Graphics, the Pinis started publishing with Elfquest #2 (published magazine size with glossy full color covers and a character portrait print on the back cover by Wendy; a format that would continue throughout the series' entire run). This story continued the Elfquest tale started in Fantasy Quarterly. Later, the Pinis' company WaRP Graphics would reprint the story from Fantasy Quarterly as Elfquest #1 with a new front cover and full color portrait print for the rear cover.