ElfQuest Creators Wendy and Richard Pini Create Landmark Endowment for Future Comics, Collections, and More

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Wendy and Richard Pini, creators of the popular ElfQuest comic series, have partnered with Columbia University again, contributing $500,000 to establish the Wendy and Richard Pini Comics and Cartoon Endowment. This fund will expand the university’s collection and archive, providing more opportunities for comic creators and their works to be displayed and conserved. In an interview with ComicBook, the Pinis discussed the creation of this endowment, its origins at Comic-Con, and the significance of preserving media for future generations.

2012 at San Diego Comic-Con, a spirited, captivating lady named Karen Green approached our table and introduced herself. She revealed she was the archivist at Columbia University Library’s archives. With a direct, inquisitive tone, she asked if we would consider donating our collection of architectural artwork, documents, and other related items to the Columbia Archives.

Wendy expressed her astonishment at this unique request, stating that no one had approached them with anything similar before. She added that it brought great relief to them because they’d been caring for the artwork for so long and were worried about its future. But then, almost like a blessing from the universe, Karen presented an outstanding opportunity that was perfect for them.

Richard expressed his concerns, stating that all the stored artworks were in their home, office, and the basement of their house. Even though they had comprehensive insurance, if their house were to burn down, it wouldn’t bring back the artwork. This worry was persistent, he noted, as Wendy also mentioned.

In 2012, Karen Green approached them at Comic Con and shared that they were constructing an archive for comic books and graphic novels. They had already obtained Chris Claremont’s papers and scripts, making the first donation to this growing archive. Richard and his partner would be the second contributors. The feeling of relief was noticeable, he recalled. It was time to move the artwork out of their house. Columbia University offered a greater sense of security and preservation compared to their basement, so over the next few years, most of the material was transferred there.

Excited to see his work housed at a prestigious institution like Columbia University, he also aimed to secure a lasting home for ElfQuest. This included ensuring that future generations could discover the franchise. As a result, he took initial steps towards a significant donation, ultimately establishing the Wendy and Richard Pini Comics and Cartoon Endowment.

In my enthusiasm for ElfQuest, I find myself with a deep-rooted desire to ensure its continuity even beyond our lifetimes. This captivating tale has been reprinted numerous times, and we’re overjoyed with our current publisher, Dark Horse Comics. They are set to release a new edition of the original Quest, which drew so many fans in, and we aim to keep attracting more people to this enchanting story.

It struck me that since Columbia houses all of Wendy’s work and our written material, and given that students were regularly visiting to learn from it, I wanted the archive’s purpose to persist, as well as the preservation of these precious stories. This was something I observed during my visits, and it’s a dream I wish to see realized.

Richard mentioned that he asked Karen Green for advice on making their project sustainable. She provided several ideas, one of which was a donation. Intrigued by the prospect, Richard agreed, and they followed through with the necessary paperwork and funds in April of last year. However, due to Columbia University experiencing significant political upheaval, they were unable to announce this until now. They are thrilled to finally make this announcement.

Absolutely, today is an extraordinary day for us. For several months, we’ve been eager to share this news, and the sense of pride and happiness that we felt when we made the donation in April has only grown stronger as time passes, Wendy explained.

As a passionate movie buff, I’m constantly thrilled to see ElfQuest captivating a fresh wave of admirers. Yet, it’s not just about the love for this particular series; it’s also about carving out a platform and shining the limelight on other captivating collections. Moreover, ensuring the archival preservation of these treasured works is paramount, to safeguard their longevity and continued enjoyment for future generations.

Richard stated, “Absolutely! For years, ElfQuest has been generous to us and thrived, allowing us to do something in return. A, we’ve managed to preserve the original artwork, and B, we’ve accumulated a significant amount of savings over time, which we haven’t specified the exact amount. When we proposed this idea to Columbia, part of our agreement is that these funds will generate returns and can be used for any purpose deemed necessary by the archive. This could include purchasing new equipment like a scanner or hiring an assistant.

Wendy mentioned that they’re also responsible for maintaining other properties they acquire,” Richard explained further. “Everything serves the archive’s purpose, as we currently have Chris Claremont, us, Al Jaffee, and many more creators in their archives. This donation will aid in preserving all these and future additions chosen by Karen or her successor as deserving. So, in essence, we are taking care of works and individuals that we haven’t even met yet.

For Wendy and Richard, preservation holds immense significance, encompassing not just their industry and media, but also the realm of art as a whole. As Wendy put it, “Indeed, digital preservation is incredibly important, but nothing, absolutely nothing, matches the importance of preserving existing artwork.

Richard mentioned that it’s great Columbia is considering two approaches. They possess the actual artwork which allows them to present one of Wendy’s paintings to an art class, gaining insights from it. Additionally, they are creating a digital archive for everything we’ve donated to them.

Richard expressed that the central theme is “The L Word” and “The L Word” refers to a lasting impact or legacy. He, with significant contributions from Wendy, have crafted an engaging tale that echoes across generations of readers. As a joint creator and sometimes publisher, he desires this story to be perpetually accessible for reading pleasure and as a resource for students, scholars, and anyone else who might wish to study it.

Richard expressed that our aim is for ElfQuest’s influence to continue long after we’re gone, and he believes this is the heart of our work. Essentially, everything we’ve done—our choices regarding publishing, collaborations, ownership or licensing—it’s all aimed at ensuring the tale of ElfQuest remains accessible.

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2025-03-06 03:44