ElfQuest: Stargazer’s Hunt vol. 1

The main story of “ElfQuest” wrapped up in the final volume of “The Final Quest.”  As you would expect from a storyline with that title.  However, you can’t keep a good franchise down for long and so here we are with the first post-”Final Quest” storyline.  Joking aside, “Stargazer’s Hunt” actually has a pretty good setup to explore as the title character realizes that he has some unfinished business regarding his brother “In All but Blood.”  While Skywise is living happily in the Starhome with his teleporting daughter Jink and lifemate Timmain, something still gnaws at him.  What did Timmain show to Cutter that one night, and caused him to lose his mind as a result?

The drama from “Stargazer’s Hunt” doesn’t come from any deliberation on Timmain’s part regarding this issue.  No, the drama comes from her lack of hesitation and decision to lay it all out at once.  This turns Stargazer into an emotional wreck as it’s all too much for him to deal with.  Which is where Jink comes in as her magic isn’t just limited to teleportation.  No, she can mess around with memories as well…

This is actually part of the problem for this series as Jink’s decision has the unintended consequence of splitting the narrative between her and her father.  While it’s nice to see how everyone’s doing after “The Final Quest,” and everyone’s looking good thanks to Sonny Strait’s art, the story in the four issues contained doesn’t really do justice to the story’s premise.  It leaves me both unsatisfied, and a little annoyed honestly.  That’s because “Stargazer’s Hunt” isn’t a complete story and ends with “To Be Continued…”  All this makes the story one for the most devoted of “ElfQuest” fans who really can’t bear to let the World of Two Moons go just yet.