Xanth Graphic Novel, Vol 1 - Return to Centaur

Xanth Graphic Novel #1

by Richard Pini (adaptation), Dennis Fujitake (Illustrator), Gary Kato (Illustrator)

box RR

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels

80 pages, Graphic Novel

First published August 1, 1990

About the author

Richard Pini is one-half of a husband and wife team with Wendy Pini that created, most notably, the Elfquest series.

He was raised in Orange, Connecticut with his three siblings. Richard began writing science fiction stories early in his childhood.

In 1972, Richard and Wendy were married after a courtship of four years. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 with a degree in Astrophysics. He worked at the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Science in Boston until 1975 and Taunton High School until 1979 when he began his career at IBM.

In 1977, Richard and Wendy established a publishing company called Warp Graphics to publish their first Elfquest comic. Richard is credited as co-writer and editor on Elfquest, as well as handling all of the publishing and business aspects of Warp Graphics.

Elfquest was self-published for 25 years and in 2003, licensed to DC Comics. The comic series has won several awards, including the Ed Aprill Award for Best Independent Comic, two Alley Awards, the Fantasy Festival Comic Book Awards for Best Alternative Comic, and the Golden Pen Award.

Richard has also contributed writing for Worldpool, Futurequest, Rogue's Curse, and two Windkin stories.

He has received the Small Press Writers and Artists Organization Award for Best Editor, the San Diego Comic Convention Inkpot Award, and the New York State Jaycees Distinguished Service Award.

Richard and his wife currently reside in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Reviews

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hands down one of the weirdest things I have ever read. Like Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz in an ostensibly "classic" fantasy setting, full of puns and weird humor. Digging around the concept of Xanth to better understand what I was reading, I decided that the broader work of Piers Anthony is not for me.

However, this (never to be continued beyond volume 1) story is gorgeously illustrated without being stuffed with tiresome details and the style would be at home in any Sandman or Dreaming setting.

Furthermore, the story of the real Jenny Elf, then a paralyzed 12-year-old girl due to being hit by a drunk driver, as well as her interaction with the writer is very moving.

An interesting curio, if nothing else.

[Jewels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only does this graphic novel combine two of my favorite fandoms -- Xanth and ElfQuest -- but it's also a story that came about to help a little girl named Jenny who was hit by a drunk driver. The drawing and coloring is okay, but I really enjoyed the little puns and jokes scattered throughout. It's definitely worth a look if you enjoy these universes.

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love Xanth as a kid and this volume took out some of the more scandalous elements leaving a cute fun adventure without the squirm-inducing bits. I’d have rated it higher but there are a few confusing parts where I felt I’d missed an illustration in between

[StrictlySequential · Rating 2 out of 5]

STUPID.

and wincingly nerdy.

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Var inte så intressant

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember liking this when it came out. Not so much now, but that's cool. Was worth the re-read just for the memories.