The Wolfriders travel north in pursuit of Lord Voll, who has kidnapped Cutter and his family. There, they encounter another tribe of elves who call themselves the Go-Backs. The Go-Backs are committed to regaining the lost Palace of the High Ones, which is now revealed to be in the hands of the sinister mountain trolls.

This is the second-last volume in the original Elfquest story arc, and it does a very nice job of setting everything up for the grand finale. We have all the requisite elements: the goal is close at hand, powerful new allies have joined the fray, and a formidable enemy stands in the way.

And, as always, the Wolfriders are forced to adapt to a new situation that brings them into contact with a different way of life. This time around, it's war; the Wolfriders and Go-Backs take the offensive against the trolls, and must reconcile this new approach with their old way of life. As Cutter says, his tribe are hunters rather than murderers; this perspective is new to them, but they're willing to change if it means regaining their ancestral home. The Pinis continue to handle this important, ongoing theme very well indeed.

Very good stuff. I highly recommend this entire series, but urge you to read the books in order so they have maximum impact. The Pinis wrote the comics as part of a larger story; each individual issue isn't meant to stand alone. ( )