The final convention I went to, if memory serves, was San Diego Comic Fest…

Meeting Wendy and Richard Pini was nice. I’d first met Richard Pini when the original ElfQuest was out – I think they’d just done the “filler/post comic” issue #21 of the black and white magazine. I don’t think the new series had started yet (I could be wrong). But that had been eons ago at San Diego Comic Con (long before it was at its current location). And Richard Pini had a cast on one leg. I remember talking to him during some presentation (I was young and stupid) – and he said something snappy (I can’t remember what he said, but I clearly remember sulking back to my friend Chuck and saying he wasn’t doing autographs).

A few years later, I would see them both again at San Diego Comic Con, and I got a few things signed by them. I remember someone showing Wendy their art – and I was blown away – but Wendy was tearing it apart (not physically, just critiquing where they needed to improve – rest assured, I trust her opinion – I don’t have a trained eye for art – it looked “cool” to me back then is all I remember).

Then back in… 2009? ElfQuest’s website was hacked. Brought back up within a week. Then hacked again – and down for a considerable time. So I created a temporary forum and contacted a few of the posters who I had email addresses for. Meanwhile in the background, ElfQuest folks were working on getting their site back up and did a test post to a forum – which then sent one of the people a link to the tested forum since they’d been subscribed to the forum. Richard got word of this and contacted me calling me the “lightning rod” of trouble (I think he thought I somehow provided a link to the official forum… but I hadn’t, and nor was the link ever posted on my temp forum – I even forwarded him the email from the person who reached out to me about the link they’d gotten… apparently they did a test on an existing thread that had been imported to the new forum and anyone subscribed to that thread got a notification email that a thread they were subscribed to had a new post in it… revealing the link to the new forum). He told me I had to take down any and all ElfQuest images I was using – and had been revoked from using them. We exchanged emails back and forth – and eventually called peace to part ways.

He wrote me another email a little later, and – I think he had a better understanding of what had happened with that whole forum ordeal. But the wheel of time ever churns and it had all become water under the bridge to me anyway.

When I went to go see them, I was pleased to see both Wendy and Richard Pini. They were a pleasure to speak with and signed quite a few ElfQuest books I’d brought, since they were the ones I’d hoped to see and get autographs for. I think they charged for their autographs, but I get it, they need to pay for their travels, room, food, etc. Wasn’t a big deal.

Their celebration of 40 years with Pointed Ears was nice and personal at San Diego Comic Fest. Had front seat. And got to see Wendy talk after as well.

And here’s the video I recorded…