ElfQuest: Hidden Years Gallery Edition

Part of ElfQuest

Illustrated by Wendy Pini
$149.99 US
Dark Horse Comics | Dark Horse Books
12 per carton
On sale Jul 14, 2026 | 9781506748542
Sales rights: World

A color art collection of exquisitely-illustrated, standalone short stories from the world of ElfQuest.

ElfQuest premiered in 1978 as a black-and-white independent comic—with an engaging tale, diverse cast of characters, and alluring art by Wendy Pini—and the title quickly took fandom by storm.

In 1990, co-creators Wendy and Richard Pini made a leap into full-color publishing, with the series ElfQuest: Hidden Years. The first five issues contained standalone stories that could be enjoyed by anyone. Wendy Pini created those iconic pages in vibrant watercolor, with each brush stroke, line, and tint now presented in a unique gallery edition hardcover to present the full effect of her original art pages, which are now permanently housed at Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library for preservation and study.

Each of the five color issues within the ElfQuest: Hidden Years Gallery Edition hardcover are standalone stories, unlettered to offer an unprecedented look at Wendy Pini’s lush artwork, complete with her margin notes, color tests, and behind-the-scenes material. This volume is a powerful example of the incredible world-building and visual storytelling in ElfQuest that has set the standard in fantasy comics for decades.
"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

About

A color art collection of exquisitely-illustrated, standalone short stories from the world of ElfQuest.

ElfQuest premiered in 1978 as a black-and-white independent comic—with an engaging tale, diverse cast of characters, and alluring art by Wendy Pini—and the title quickly took fandom by storm.

In 1990, co-creators Wendy and Richard Pini made a leap into full-color publishing, with the series ElfQuest: Hidden Years. The first five issues contained standalone stories that could be enjoyed by anyone. Wendy Pini created those iconic pages in vibrant watercolor, with each brush stroke, line, and tint now presented in a unique gallery edition hardcover to present the full effect of her original art pages, which are now permanently housed at Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library for preservation and study.

Each of the five color issues within the ElfQuest: Hidden Years Gallery Edition hardcover are standalone stories, unlettered to offer an unprecedented look at Wendy Pini’s lush artwork, complete with her margin notes, color tests, and behind-the-scenes material. This volume is a powerful example of the incredible world-building and visual storytelling in ElfQuest that has set the standard in fantasy comics for decades.

Praise

"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