It occurred to me, as I was meeting my friend David to get my badge for entry into NYCC, that I was in a way stepping into the birthplace of comics: New York City. Almost every comic I read as a kid featured New York in some way.

Back then, both Marvel and DC were headquartered in New York. The Avengers, Spider-Man, the X-Men…all of them fought glorious four-colour battles in New York. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Bob Kane, Joe Kubert…and of course more…were from there.

And here I was, about to become part of the massive throng of people that made up the beating, energetic heart of that city’s celebration of comics and pop culture.

At first blush, it was utterly overwheming; people were everywhere, shoulder-to-shoulder, lines at every available kiosk and table. Madding crowds at the big booths upstairs: Dark Horse, Marvel, Viz Comics and the like. (Even, to my delight, Scholastic Books!)

But I spent most of my con where the creativity truly lives: Artist’s Alley. And let me tell you about another part of New York state: Poughkeepsie. There are two people there whose names are Wendy and Richard Pini who have created an epic comic-and-novels-and-audio-movie legacy adventure that is about to celebrate FIFTY YEARS in production.

I’m speaking, of course, about ElfQuest. Started in 1978, this tale of elves—and I don’t mean cute Santa’s helpers or lofty wispy Tolkien types—has been part of my journey through stories since I was fourteen.

You know someone, probably, who is a soap opera fan who has been following their favourite characters (and their descendants!) for decades on television; ElfQuest has that same longevity, and its readers have that same passion to travel alongside individuals, families, and to soak up the history and lore of the story with dedication and affection.

Not that ElfQuest is a soap opera—no. It is an epic, and I use the term “epic” in its precise definition of “noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style—” an absolute feast for the eyes and mind.

I hung out with Wendy and Richard for most of the con and I have to say, 2028 is the Year of Elf Celebration, folks. If you haven’t read ElfQuest, you can binge-read it for free on ElfQuest.com.

If you think ElfQuest is “four graphic novels and then done,” think again! Maybe you read it in high school or whatever and though it was done after the first four books (which are called the “Original Quest.”), but it’s not. There is such a rich, fulsome buffet of story and art waiting for you to continue (or engender) your obsession with the Pinis’ world.

Now’s the time to get on board. NOW is the time to (re-) discover this series. Now’s the time to don your pointed ears in anticipation of the blowout 50th anniversary of one of the longest-running series in comicdom! You can start by subscribing to “The Howl,” the EQ newsletter, at https://elfquest.com/join-the-quest/

But now that I’ve gushed pro-fannishly about ElfQuest, let me close by saying that the New York Comic Con is a whirlwind four days of comics, toys, culture and celebrities thrown into a mix where people show their love by wearing costumes, getting sketches from fave artists, socializing and exulting in their fandoms—in the things they love. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate comics, or this culture.

If you haven’t read a comic in a while, what’s stopping you?

—Michael