Poison Elves

Poison Elves
Publication information
Publisher	Mulehide Graphics Sirius Entertainment Ape Entertainment
Schedule	Monthly, Bimonthly, varied
Format	Ongoing
Genre	Fantasy and sword and sorcery
Publication date	December, 1991 – September, 2004
No. of issues	88
Main character(s)	Lusiphur Jace Parintachin
Creative team
Created by	Drew Hayes
Written by	Drew Hayes
Artist(s)	Drew Hayes

Poison Elves is a black-and-white comic book by the late artist/writer Drew Hayes, concerning the life and times of an elf named Lusiphur.

Publication history

Origins and influences

Drew Hayes' work was influenced by Dungeons & Dragons, Elfquest, and Cerebus. Lusiphur was originally one of Hayes' Dungeons & Dragons characters. The book version of the character was based on Lux Interior of The Cramps, Glenn Danzig of The Misfits, and Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy.

Mulehide Graphics

I, Lusiphur (December 1991-December 1992) - Poison Elves (February 1993-February 1995) Hayes originally self-published the series during the early 90s under his company Mulehide Graphics under the title of I, Lusiphur for the first seven issues before switching over to Poison Elves. The first ten issues of the Mulehide series were published in a larger magazine size format.

Early name change

Drew Hayes is rumored to have renamed I, Lusiphur to Poison Elves because the similarity of Lusiphur to Lucifer led to him constantly being asked if the series was about Satanic themes. Sales were reported to have increased significantly after the name change. Drew claimed in one of his Starting Notes that the name change was prompted by a letter from a teen-aged fan whose mother had thrown out his comics after finding I, Lusiphur comics amongst his collection.

Sirius Entertainment

In 1995, Drew Hayes signed on with Sirius Entertainment, a move that increased his exposure, fan base, and publishing rate. Poison Elves has contained explicit content for mature readers. To date, ten trade paperbacks have been released, but the last issue of the main series published by Sirius was #79. A commemorative issue #80 was released to give fans a look at sketches and plans Drew Hayes had for the future of the series before his death.

Ape Entertainment

An ongoing continuation of the original series. Drew Hayes Poison Elves #1 picks up almost precisely at the cliffhanger point where Drew [Hayes] left it at the end of issue #79 from Sirius. (March 2013)

Spin-offs

There have been a number of miniseries and ongoing title spin-offs from the core Poison Elves book, and they have generally been written by other creative teams.

(From Sirius Entertainment)

• Poison Elves: Lost Tales, 11-issues series, January 2006-April 2007. Written and drawn by Aaron Bordner. Self-contained stories about various characters from the Poison Elves universe.
• Poison Elves: Dominion, 6-issues mini-series, September 2005-September 2006. Written by Keith Davidsen/Art by Scott Lewis. About Lusiphur's adventures prior to the Poison Elves series.
• Poison Elves: Ventures, 4-issues mini-series, May 2005-April 2006. Written by Keith Davidsen/Art by Aaron Bordner. Each issue dedicated to a different character: Cassandra, Lynn, The Purple Marauder and Jace.
• Poison Elves: Hyena, 4-issues mini-series, October 2004-February 2005. Written by Keith Davidsen/Art by Scott Lewis.
• Poison Elves: Parintachin, 3-issues mini-series, October 2001-March 2002. Written and drawn by the Fillbach Brothers.
• Poison Elves: Lusiphur & Lirilith, 4-issues mini-series, January-April 2001. Written by Drew Hayes/Art by Jason Alexander.

Background and setting

The world of Poison Elves

Amrahly'nn, the world of Poison Elves, is one where magic and technology meet. An example of this is Lusiphur's magical semi-automatic handgun that never runs out of bullets. Hayes had described the world as "...a mix of Tolkien's Middle Earth and the Neo-Romantic world seen in the Adam and the Ants video for 'Stand and Deliver'".

Characters

Lusiphur

Lusiphur, originally named Luis Amerillis Malaché, was found by a married Elvin couple in the Carpathian forest in 1380. He grew up in their inn in Port Sarnwog. However, his childhood was an unhappy one after a drunken patron set fire to their establishment leaving his adoptive parents desperate for money. His father sank into depression and was later killed in one of the city's violent class wars. With nowhere left to turn, his mother was forced to enter into the only profession she could, prostitution.

In 1390, things took a turn for the worse when an abusive client battered Luse's mother. She escaped without being beaten to death, but in her hurry, she stepped on a nail. The wound became infected and gangrene soon spread, crippling her and leaving her bedridden indefinitely. Her Elvin immune system prevented her from dying, prolonging her suffering until she begged a young Luse to end her suffering. With no money for a doctor or medicine, the young Elf had little choice. He slit her wrists with a razor blade to set her free from the suffering. The image of her death would haunt Luse for the rest of his life.

The orphaned Luse learned to survive on the streets alone where he adopted a new identity which he uses today, Lusiphur Malaché. He spent his younger years working for a crime lord called The Nick, where he was involved in risky heists. During this tumultuous time in his life, he met and fell in love with the beautiful priestess Elf, Lirilith. However, he was unable to leave the gang and the continuing life of crime drove the young lovers apart. (This part of Lusiphur's life is chronicled in the mini series, Lusiphur and Lirilith written by Drew Hayes and illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander).

Supporting characters

• Jace san Lanargaith

Lusiphur's companion

• Parintachin

the Imp that lives in Lusiphur's head, whose name no-one can pronounce

• Cassandra

Lusiphur's third serious love who kills herself rather than be captured by Jace

• Morachi

head of Sanctuary together with Talon

• Talon

head of Sanctuary together with Morachi

• Vido

Head of the blood guard of mandratha, archnemesis of Sanctuary

• Hyena

Lusiphur's sorceress ex-wife

• Tenth

the second-greatest Sorcerer in Ammrahl'ynn

• Fleece

Lusiphur's friend from Sanctuary

• Cleah

Friend to Lusiphur and Jace

• Wisp

Psychokinetic boy

• Mogre'Ur

head of the Elvin High council and most powerful sorcerer in Ammrahl'ynn

Quotes regarding character creation

"(...), the first Elfquest series is one of the most amazing comic book runs ever. Period. You can blame the length of my Elves' ears on Wendy Pini."

"Dave Sim and Cerebus influenced me in every other way."

"No one impedes us...no one denies us....and if need be....no one survives us...," said Dominion. "My hands, my hands," says the man with no hands...

Storylines

Desert Of the Third Sin

The beginning sees Lusiphur left to die in a desert. He stumbles upon a lamp, with the subsequent genie. After a failed attempt to ask for a million wishes, he settles on three: A powerful Elven sword named Cinlach, super speed to get out of the desert, and the "well of souls," an assassin tool.

Genie gives him the wishes. But to give them, she has to take them from somewhere. Cinlach comes from an Elven Warduke named Ailwon Sann Fenlach, who quickly notices it missing. He is a veteran of many long-ago wars against the Orcs even if age and time have worn down his fighting acumen. Sann Fenlach has his mage transport him to Lusiphur's location in the desert where he challenges the elf to a duel for stealing his property. At first the Fenlach is winning, due in part to his mage immediately fixing any wounds Lusiphur can inflict.

The turning point comes when a magician named Tenth steps in. Tenth was quietly reading in his study when he felt a temporary shock. The genie drained his power to accommodate Lusiphur's request for super speed. Tenth also pinpoints where Lusiphur is located and sees that he is currently fighting Sann Fenlach. He also sees the disparity in the fight. Lusiphur is a young but experienced assassin, having to fight for everything he ever had. The High Lord is sedentary, fighting his last significant battle hundreds of years ago. In the meantime he has been sitting on his throne recounting past battles. Tenth sees that he is relying too much on the magical connection and severs it.

After Lushiphur defeats the High Lord when the odds are more even, he starts burying the body. Tenth then arrives to take back the small sliver of power that Lusiphur took from him. Tenth wants it to be a fair contest however. Lusiphur could best Tenth in a physical contest and Tenth could destroy Lusiphur quickly if he chose. The wizard has not had a challenge in a while, and so decides to make a sport of it.

In "Tenth's Game," the Elf is given a fighting chance: Make it across 50 meters through an arch. If he does he will survive. His only weapon is a temporary power of shape-changing into animals given to him by Tenth. The wizard promises to only use his shape-changing powers in return.

The two play a cat-and-mouse game, Lusiphur at one point turning into panther-like creature to fend off Tenth who had become a hawk. Tenth turns to a fly, so Lusiphur turns to a rattle snake, but he cannot figure out how to move a rattlesnake. This was when Tenth turns to a Unicorn, causing Lusiphur to panic and he chose a Nightmare (A black batwinged unicorn that bleeds acid and breathes fire.) Tenth becomes a Drake, where as Lusiphur turns to a black Dragon, knocking Tenth into a mountain. After recovering Tenth becomes a gold dragon, the two fight. Lusiphur gets his teeth on Tenth's throat. Up to this point in his existence Tenth has thoroughly beaten any competitor. Lusiphur has made the wizard fear for his life for the first time in many years. The dragon battle drags on, until Lusiphur disappears. Tenth assumes he is dead and scans the ground for his body. As Tenth searches for Lusiphur's body, he tries to go through the gate as a dragon, but he finds he can't fit. So Tenth becomes a Hell hound and gose through the gate, the moment he crosses it, Lusiphur appears out of nowhere and nearly carves Tenth's heart out. Lusiphur had become a flea and net Tenth carry him through the gate.

Collections

• Volume 1: Requiem For An Elf (published June 1, 1996) (I, Lusiphur 1–6)
• Volume 2: Traumatic Dogs (published June 1, 1996) (I, Lusiphur 7, Poison Elves V. 1 8–12)
• Volume 3: Desert of the Third Sin (published March 1, 1997) (Poison Elves V. 1 13–18)
• Volume 4: Patrons (published January 1, 1998) (Poison Elves V. 1 19–20)
  • The Mulehide Years ISBN 1-57989-044-X (September 26, 2001) (I, Lusiphur 1–7, Poison Elves V. 1 8–20)
  • This volume is a collection of the first four trade paperbacks. "The Mulehide Years" contains full reprints of issues 1 and 2, whereas Volume 1 had only a text recap of those issues.
• Volume 5: Sanctuary ISBN 1-57989-054-7 (published November 1, 1998) (Poison Elves V. 2 1–12)
  • Sanctuary Book 1: Deathmonks
  • Sanctuary Book 2: Vivisection
• Volume 6: Guild War ISBN 1-57989-055-5 (published June 27, 2000) (Poison Elves V. 2 13–25)
  • Sanctuary Book 3: Guild War
  • Sanctuary Book 4: Strange Days
• Volume 7: Salvation ISBN 1-57989-041-5 (published August 13, 2001) (Poison Elves V. 2 26–39)
  • Sanctuary Book 5: The Wolf
  • Sanctuary Book 6: Cat and Mouse
  • Sanctuary Book 7: End
• Volume 8: Rogues ISBN 1-57989-051-2 (published July 26, 2002) (Poison Elves V. 2 40–47)
• Volume 9: Baptism By Fire ISBN 1-57989-058-X (published August 15, 2003) (Poison Elves V. 2 48–59)
• Volume 10: Dark Wars ISBN 1-57989-074-1 (published March 30, 2005) (Poison Elves V. 2 60–68)
  • Dark Wars Volume One: Heaven's Devils
• Volume 11: Alliances ISBN 1-57989-089-X (published September 12, 2007) (Poison Elves V. 2 69–80)
  • Dark Wars Volume Two: Alliances

External links

• Resurrecting Lusiphur: An Interview and Preview of the All-New POISON ELVES, interview with artist Montos, by Matt Rawson, 2 March 2013, on ComicCritique.
• Exclusive first look at Ape Entertainment’s Poison Elves revival, interview with Ape Entertainment CEO David Hedgecock, by Brigid Alverson, December 10, on Comic Book Ressources.
• Back For The Attack: The Return of Poison Elves, interview with writer Robb Horan, by Vince Brusio on PREVIEWSworld.