Elk's Run
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''Elk's Run'' is an eight-issue limited
comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
series created by writer
Joshua Hale Fialkov Joshua Hale Fialkov (born August 19, 1979) is an American comic book writer who primarily works in the horror genre. He is best known for '' Echoes'', '' The Bunker'', '' Elk's Run'', '' I, Vampire'', and the 2008 film '' Infected''. He has be ...
, artist Noel Tuazon, and colorist Scott A. Keating, featuring covers by Datsun Tran.


Publication History

The first three issues of the series were published by Joshua Fialkov's Hoarse and Buggy Productions, which had earlier begun publishing the five issue anthology series ''Western Tales of Terror'' (2004–2005). The first issue (which featured an eight-page backup story, "The Generic Monsters in: Where Werewolf?", by Fialkov and artist Nate Bellegrade) had a print run of only eight-hundred copies, making it difficult to find despite positive reviews. The series was then picked up by Canadian publisher
Speakeasy Comics Speakeasy Comics was a Canadian publishing company of comic books and graphic novels which operated from 2004–2006. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Speakeasy published monthly comics, creator-owned independent series, original graphic novels, and c ...
, which released a "Bumper Edition" in October 2005, collecting the first three issues and featuring a new cover by Darwin Cooke. This was followed by an individual fourth issue in December 2005; however, Speakeasy became defunct in February 2006, resulting in the cancellation of the remaining four issues. In June 2006, the
Villard Books Villard, also known as Villard Books, is a publishing imprint of Random House, one of the largest publishing companies in the world, owned in full by Bertelsmann since its acquisition of a final 25% stake in 2019, and grouped in Penguin Random ...
imprint of Random House announced that they would be collecting all eight chapters of the series in trade paperback form. The collection, simply titled ''Elk's Run'', was released on 27 March 2007 with an introduction by
Charlie Huston Charlie Huston is an American novelist, screenwriter and comic book writer. His twelve novels span several genres from crime to horror to science fiction. His books have been published in English by Ballentine, Del Rey, Mulholland and Orion, and ...
. In 2015, all eight issues were released digitally by
Oni Press Oni Press is an American independent comic book and graphic novel publisher based in Portland, Oregon, best known for publishing such series as '' Scott Pilgrim'' and ''Rick and Morty''. In 2019, it became an imprint label following the company's ...
on a weekly schedule, beginning 25 August 2015, leading up the release of a new hardcover collected edition on 11 November 2015, with an introduction by
Ian Rankin Sir Ian James Rankin (born 28 April 1960) is a Scottish crime writer and philanthropist, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. Early life Rankin was born in Cardenden, Fife. His father, James, owned a grocery shop, and his mother, Isobel ...
.


Reception

The series was generally reviewed positively, with the second issue "Community Bulletin" section featuring positive quotes from
Warren Ellis Warren Girard Ellis (born 16 February 1968) is an English comic book writer, novelist, and screenwriter. He is best known as the co-creator of several original comics series, including ''Transmetropolitan'' (1997–2002), ''Global Frequency'' ...
,
Brian Michael Bendis Brian Michael Bendis (; born August 18, 1967) is an Americans, American comic book writer and artist. Starting with crime fiction, crime and hardboiled, noir comics, Bendis eventually moved to mainstream superhero fiction, superhero work. While a ...
, and Brian K. Vaughan. ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the first issue a rating of "A", while ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' gave it an "A-". ''Publishers Weekly'' concluded of the trade paperback that "And although the story is sometimes marred by simplistic characterization... Fialkov builds the suspense incrementally until the cycle of violence became a wave of disasters." The horror magazine ''Rue Morgue'' gave the series a glowing review:
Elk's Run is easiest described as Steven King's '' The Body'' (a.k.a. '' Stand by Me'') crossed with M. Night Shyamalan's '' The Village'', but comic's best kept secret is actually a great deal more. Five issues deep, this series just effortlessly generates momentum — a stunning achievement.
Based on the first four issues, the series was nominated for the 2006
Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. Named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards were founded by Gary Groth in 1988, president of the publisher Fantagraphics, to be a successor to the Kirby Awards, which wer ...
in the categories of Best Writer, Best Artist, Best Letterer, Best Cover Artist, Best New Talent, and Best Continuing or Limited Series, while issue #3 was nominated for Best Single Issue or Story.


See also

*'' Echoes'' *'' I, Vampire'' *'' The Last of the Greats''


References

Comic book limited series {{comics-stub