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| Industry | Comics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Wendy andRichard Pini |
| Headquarters | Poughkeepsie, New York |
Key people | Wendy and Richard Pini |
| Divisions | Apple Comics Father Tree Press |
| Website | www.elfquest.com |
WaRP Graphics, laterWarp Graphics, is analternative comics publisher best known for creating and being the original publisher of theElfquestcomic book series. It was created and incorporated in 1977 byWendy andRichard Pini. The company title is an acronym formed from the founding couple's name:WendyandRichardPini (in later years the capitalization was changed from WaRP to Warp, a mostly aesthetic move).
In addition toElfquest, Warp also published several other comic book series, includingMythAdventures and related titles byRobert Asprin, andThunder Bunny, created byMartin Greim.
Warp was also the original publisher ofA Distant Soil byColleen Doran, until Doran left under acrimonious circumstances, alleging that WaRP attempted to claim copyright on her work, which WaRP denied.[1][2] Warp sued licensee publisherStarblaze Graphics for, among other issues, publication of unauthorizedElfquest reprints, inaccurate reporting of royalties, but primarily for tortious interference in Warp's contract with Doran (who was also named in the Donning lawsuit), by attempting to assume the rights toA Distant Soil.[3] Starblaze countersued; the dispute was settled out of court by Donning and Doran in 1988.[4][5] All rights previously licensed to Donning inElfquest reverted to Warp; Warp reverted all rights inA Distant Soil to Doran.
From 1978 through 1984, Warp Graphics published the 20-issue originalElfquest series. When Elfquest subsequently went on hiatus to allow artist Wendy Pini to recuperate from hip replacement surgery, publisher Richard Pini began to contract the work of other writers and artists, to establish a line of generally fantasy-oriented comics titles. In 1986, Pini turned Warp's publishing and marketing duties over toMichael Catron'sApple Comics so that Warp could concentrate on editing its comics titles.[6] Titles packaged by Warp for Apple included theanthology seriesFantaSci,Vietnam Journal, andLee Marrs'sUnicorn Isle (which ran to #5 of a projected 12 issues).
In 1987, Apple Comics took over editing duties on all the other titles, and Warp concentrated solely on producing newElfquest series. In 1990 Warp and Apple parted ways. In 1992 Warp launched the first of several new Elfquest spin-off series (Hidden Years). Shortly thereafter, Warp for the first time invited other writers and artists to join in the creation of newElfquest material.[7] Beginning in 1997, WaRP also published a fewElflord comics byBarry Blair andColin Chan, who had also written forElfquest. From 1992 to 2002 Warp Graphics worked with a number of free-lance artists and writers to produce and publish severalElfquest related titles. In 2002, the company downsized to its original owners, Wendy and Richard Pini in order to concentrate solely on producing canonicalElfquest material.
Warp also launched a book publishing imprint,Father Tree Press (named after theWolfriders' original tree-home inElfquest), primarily reprintingElfquest stories. The imprint also appeared onChroma, a book on the artwork ofAlex Schomburg, andLaw and Chaos, a chronicle ofWendy Pini's early attempt to adaptMichael Moorcock'sStormbringer saga into an animated film. Warp and Father Tree Press still exist; while they are not currently publishing new Elfquest books in printed comic or book format, they continue to publish both existing and new Elfquest material digitally online. They also published, from 2007 to 2010, both in print and digitally, Wendy Pini's non-Elfquest graphic novelMasque of the Red Death, a futuristic reimagining of the Edgar Allan Poe short story.
In 2003 the Pinis licensed the worldwide publication and media rights inElfquest toDC Comics.[8] DC put out two series of "manga-style"digest reprints (now complete), the first four volumes of an archive reprint series, one new graphic novel, and a four-part comic series entitledDiscovery, which has since been collected. DC and Warp parted ways in 2007, when Warp opted not to renew the DC contract.
In 2008, Warp Graphics licensed the media rights inElfquest toWarner Bros.[9] with the aim of turning the comic book series into a motion picture. A director and screenwriter,Rawson Thurber, were attached to the project and several versions of a script, as well as some production artwork, were completed. The option expired in 2009.
In 2012, Warp licensed worldwide publication rights inElfquest toDark Horse Comics[10] making the title the only independent comic to have been published by all of the "Big Three" comics companies in the US. To date, Dark Horse has published the completeFinal Quest story arc, as well as several volumes in theComplete Elfquest collection. More volumes are planned at least into 2020.
Titles published include:
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