The Elves of 'ElfQuest'

Wendy and Richard Pini's ElfQuest, which we got when we were in high school, is another favourite of ours. Rather than depicting elves as the ethereal sort found in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (another favourite) or going with the legendary, dual-natured type of fey, the Pinis took an altogether different route. They based the culture of their elves in American Indian tradition, giving them names like Dewshine, Cutter, and Skywise; the elves have a tribal culture, as well, and a deep connexion to nature.

That connexion is so deep that they are bonded to their riding animals, the wolves of the elfin Wolfrider 'pack.' Other tribes of elves, encountered later in the series, also have a connexion to animals; there are the deer-riding 'Go-backs' and the giant eagle-riding 'mountain folk.' However, the Wolfriders take it a step further; their culture is centered around the wolves (they refer to spouses as 'mates' and have a ritual wherein a young Wolfrider gets his or her first wolf). They would kill for their wolves. Only the Sunfolk don't have riding animals, nor is there any indication that they are particularly connected to nature at all. 

The Wolfriders usually find mates through Recognition, during which the two mates-to-be learn each other's 'soul names' (names which describe all that they are) and become permanently bonded. All Wolfriders can 'send' thoughts to each other, and we learn that some elves can do even more. 

This is a detailed series with complex characters and three-dimensional cultures. We're drawn to this version of elves because we relate to the Wolfriders' earthy quality and their passion for nature and freedom. The Wolfriders aren't as magical as legend maintains, but that doesn't matter. They also don't have quite the dualistic nature the legends portray, though the Pinis have hinted that they do, in fact, have a darker side. 

We would rank this as one of the best versions of elves found in fiction.