WaRP Graphics

WaRP Graphics, later Warp Graphics, is an alternative comics publisher best known for creating and being the original publisher of the '' Elfquest'' comic book series. It was created and incorporated in 1977 by Wendy and Richard Pini. The company title is an acronym formed from the founding couple's name: Wendy and Richard Pini (in later years the capitalization was changed from WaRP to Warp, a mostly aesthetic move).

In addition to ''Elfquest'', Warp also published several other comic book series, including '' MythAdventures'' and related titles by Robert Asprin, and '' Thunder Bunny'', created by Martin Greim.

Warp was also the original publisher of ''A Distant Soil'' by Colleen Doran, until Doran left under acrimonious circumstances, alleging that WaRP attempted to claim copyright on her work, which WaRP denied. Warp sued licensee publisher Starblaze Graphics for, among other issues, publication of unauthorized ''Elfquest'' reprints, inaccurate reporting of royalties, but primarily for tortious interference in Warp's contract with Doran (who was also named in the Donning lawsuit), by attempting to assume the rights to ''A Distant Soil''. Starblaze countersued; the dispute was settled out of court by Donning and Doran in 1988. All rights previously licensed to Donning in ''Elfquest'' reverted to Warp; Warp reverted all rights in ''A Distant Soil'' to Doran.

History

Apple Comics

From 1978 through 1984, Warp Graphics published the 20-issue original ''Elfquest'' series. When Elfquest subsequently went on hiatus to allow artist Wendy Pini to recuperate from hip replacement surgery, publisher Richard Pini began to contract the work of other writers and artists, to establish a line of generally fantasy-oriented comics titles. In 1986, Pini turned Warp's publishing and marketing duties over to Michael Catron's