Elves (Elfquest) - Physical Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

While the Original High Ones are only a headlength shorter than humans and much slenderer, the Wolfriders and the Go-Backs tribes are between 1/2 & 1/3 one half and one third of a human. The elves of Elfquest are broadly human in appearance, but are distinguished from humans by the following characteristics:

• Ears - the most obvious elfin characteristic. Much bigger than human ears, and prominently pointed. Their tips are supported by prominent bony ridges on either side of the skull.
• Eyes - larger than human eyes, with slanted eyelids.
• Cheekbones - high and prominent.
• Noses - smaller and narrower.
• Hair - much finer and silkier than human hair. (Wolfriders' hair is coarser than that of pure elves, due to their wolf blood.)
• Facial hair - none, except in the case of male Wolfriders (see below), who develop "face fur" - mutton chops, beards and moustaches - after living for several centuries (see Longevity, below).
• Fingers and toes - only four digits on each hand and foot.
• Skin color - elves generally exhibit the same range of variation as humans. The Sun Folk, adapted to desert conditions, have medium to dark brown skin. Wolfriders have adapted to cold temperate climates; they are pale pink or ruddy, but tan in hotter climates. Go-backs have a lighter complexion from living in Abode's northern mountains. Gliders—-who mostly lived inside a mountain-—are fair to palid.