ElfQuest is a long running fantasy series by Wendy and Richard Pini has been adapted to audio form! Fantasy Quarterly printed the first Elfquest in 1978. The company formed by the Pinis, WaRP Graphics continued ElfQuest for twenty-one issues, the first arc called the Original Quest, finished in 1985. There were graphic novel collections, novels, and a role-playing game. Many talented writers and artists worked on the series, anthologies, and other stories. Marvel reprinted the series in 1985 for thirty-two issues under its Epic Comics brand. There was a thirty-three issue series by WaRP Graphics and then DC reprinted the first issue, graphic novels, and Elfquest the Discovery limited series in 2006.
The website, Boing Boing, released Elfquest: The Final Quest in 2012. Dark Horse published the series with twenty four issues concluded in 2018. 40 years of Elfquest! There was also a four issue series, Elfquest: Stargazer’s Hunt, that finished in 2020. The audio movie is produced by Wolfrider Productions and the Realm. It is directed by Fred Greenhalgh and available on Apple Podcasts. Where crickets in the night as we hear a human voice, Spirit-Man (Red Porter) chanting with others in a dance to Gotara. He says they captured an “evil one.” The storyteller (Cree Summer) says that they have wolf-like ears and , an elf. We are introduced to the World of the Two Moons. In a time when the humans saw a “mountain thing” come from a stormy sky. It landed, castle-like structure, and a man appeared to watch it.
He didn’t understand the material of the “mountain thing” and Strong Man worried that this people would take over. The tiny trolls are missing from this scene. Their ambassador gives a friendly greeting, but Strong Man attacked with the other humans. They couldn’t use their magic in this world, but the elves escaped into the forests from their palace. This went on for generations until we get the current time where the humans chant, “Kill the demon”! We are introduced to the chief of the Elf tribe, the Wolfriders, Cutter (Alejandro Saab), and Skywise (Osric Chau), who are watching the humans. Skywise points out the Elf skulls and Cutter promises Redlance won’t be one of them! Cutter uses Sending, a echoing telepathy, their last powers from the High Ones. Very cool effect!
Spirit-Man, speaks about the ages when the Evil Ones landed and used their magic. Redlance (Hugo Pierre Martin) wearily speaks to the humans. The leader asks the hunter, Tabak, to kill the prisoner. Cutter coordinates with the other Wolfriders through Sending; Moonshae (Zehra Fazal), One-Eye (Jonathan Woodard) with Pike (Brennan Mulligan) and Clearbrook (Claire Kramer). Scouter (Thomas Trinh), and Dewshine (Nicole Maines). Each member of the tribe are distinctive. There is no question that the female Wolfriders are capable warriors here. They are ready and Cutter gives the order to attack. Their war cry, “Aayoah!” is perfect, just as I imagined it! The elves and their bonded great wolves fall upon the humans. Havac is struck down by Cutter! The music is tense.
Spirit-Man is knocked out by Skywise. The Wolfrider chief warns the human, he has taken Redlance, and orders a retreat to the Holt. The narrator says his soul name is Tam, that’s private!, and he has the Blood of the Ten Chiefs! This was from the comic book captions. He is thoughtful taking Redlance to the Holt and then sends Skywise ahead to Redlance’s life-mate, Nightfall. The relationships between the couples is great, there is trust to the extent that they trust the other even in danger. We hear through the Sending of the tribe, Scouter who worries about Cutter’s action, his parents Moonshade reassure him. The narrator describes the fireflies around the Grandfather tree that is part of the Holt. Skywise arrives and calls for Nightfall (Amber Benson). She feels guilty that Redlance took her place in the hunt. Cutter arrives with Redlance.
We move back to the humans mourning their dead. The leader calls the others for vengeance. The narrator explains that the Father Tree was shaped by the elves. Redlance is groaning in pain and sees Cutter. He mentions the buck he chased on the hunt and Cutter reprimands him about hunting close to the humans. Cutter adds that Redlance is his best tracker and the wounded elf has fallen asleep. Cutter is fascinating as a leader, the Wolfriders' loyalty is unquestionable, even though Cutter is young, they trust in his judgment. Nightfall Sending speaks to Cutter about worrying about all of the tribe members. Cutter goes to a glen looking at his sword, New Moon, given to him by his father, Bearclaw. He talks to his father about the human’s hate. Skywise joins him and points out in the sky, the Great Wolf chases the Hunter whom he says will trip. Cutter confides that he never killed a human. They hear the wolves howl.
Cutter sees his wolf, Nightrunner, and he Sends a warning to the tribe. Redlance wakens to do something about the humans, but Nightfall calms him. Treestump has his throwing axe ready for the humans. Cutter has all of the tribe riding towards the humans with Scouter in the lead! Cutter says Strongbow (Will Friedle) should wait seeing the humans’ torches. Spirit-Man sets his torch to the woods. Strongbow looses his arrow, but it is too late! Cutter calls for the tribe to return to the Holt. They have lost their home! The first issue ends with the meeting of Greymung, the king of the trolls. One part that seems to be missing is that the wolves are like characters in Elfquest and only Nightrunner is really identified. There are character actors that gave wolf voices. Elfquest the Audio Movie is a thrilling dip into the World of Two Moons built by Wendy and Richard Pini with a terrific audio cast and narration!
Four Sendings out of Five!
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