WaRP Graphics
WaRP Graphics, later Warp Graphics, was an alternative comics publisher which was most well known for being the original publisher of the Elfquest comic books. It was created in 1977 by Wendy and Richard Pini and named after their initials. In addition to Elfquest, WaRP also published the original version of A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran, until Doran left in acrimonious circumstances. WaRP also published MythAdventures by Robert Asprin and Phil Foglio, based on Asprin's novel Another Fine Myth. Foglio's version freely rewrites Asprin's plotting and dialogue, and in the view of some fans greatly improves upon them. Foglio was later replaced by Jim Valentino who illustrated an original 4-part story by Asprin, and then by Ken and Beth Mitchroney who adapted Myth Conceptions under its original title. For a time during the 1980s Richard Pini turned all publishing and marketing duties over to Michael Catron's Apple Comics so that WaRP could concentrate on editing comics. Titles packaged by the newly-uncapitalized Warp for Apple included the anthology series FantaSci, Vietnam Journal, and Unicorn Isle by Lee Marrs, which only ran to 5 of a projected 12 issues. Eventually all of the Apple Comics titles were dropped and Warp concentrated solely on publishing Elfquest titles, for the first time inviting other writers and artists to join in. In the late 1990s it also published some Elflord comics by Barry Blair and Colin Chan, who had also written for Elfquest. Warp also launched a book publishing imprint, Father Tree Press, named after the Wolfriders' original tree-home in Elfquest. Not surprisingly, most FTP titles were reprints of Elfquest stories. Warp and Father Tree Press still exist but are not currently publishing new books. In 2002 the Pinis signed the publication rights to Elfquest to DC Comics. So far, DC has put out 2 series of "manga-style" digest reprints, an archive reprint series, and one new graphic novel.
|
