As far as books go, if you’re an Illidan fan then I recommend checking out the War of the Ancients trilogy by Richard A. Knaak. There are three books, but you can get them bound together as one archive here: http://amzn.to/ar51uO

…Anyway which Wow book does describe Illidan the most and did you like them…

I know this post is old but I just “found” your blog and I agree Illidan isn’t dead. I just have a different theory.

1) He wasn’t a bad guy. The mortal races and Illidan had a common enemy The Legion. Illidan’s methods were a bit on the coo coo side but the enemy of my enemy is my friend. He was in Outland using Magtheron’s blood to build his own army of fel orcs to use against the legion. Keal’thas even tells us that Illidan can’t stop him from summoning Kil’jaeden and yet we try to stop Illidan anyway. Through out WC the mortal races were never the brightest bulbs in the box. It was also just stupid. Superman doesn’t kill batman cause his methods are different.

2) He’s smart and sneaky. He says he knew that Keal’thas would betray him and he had a feeling Akuma wasn’t all he appeared to be. Through out his life all his plans were interrupted by people poking around his business and the events in outland are no different. He would know the only way to finish his work in peace would be to disappear.

3) Faked death. Ok follow me on this. Illidan knew Keal’thas would betray him. One can assume he knew about Akama’s plans. He was still wanted dead by the legion and now the mortal races want his legendary weapons. One cna assume while he had Maive captive he struck a deal. She appears to kill him where everyone can see, he’ll come with her as her prisoner (the one thing Maive wants most) as long as she lets him plot revenge on the legion. Maive gets what she wants, Illidan gets what he wants…win win. What better way to be left alone if everyone, friends and enemies either witness or hear about your downfall and eventual death.

4) No proof of his death. Every major raid boss has SOMETHING you loot off of them that is proof they’re dead. Be it a phylactery, essence, tooth, vial of blood, scales, tentacle, eyeball, magic glowing ball, head, hand, foot, finger…something that says “yeah they’re dead” Illidan…nothing. Sure you can get his Warglaves but he can live without them, he even throws them into the ground during the fight. Rag doesn’t count cause as long as there are people to summon him he’ll just keep coming back.

5) His story isn’t finished. Blizzard spent a good deal of time to make MalFurion Illidan’s rival. MalFurion and Illidan are the Sabertooth and Wolverine, Batman and Joker, Ryu and Ken of the Warcraft universe…two sides of the same coin. There’s no way that they would let Illidan die and leave MalFurion out of it. Hell Tyrande wasn’t even involved. It’s too much of a cheap ass ending to a story. I may not like some of the lore decisions and WC has more retcons then the entire DC universe but I have SOME faith in them. The way it ended in TBC it was like the final showdown between Bats and the Joker. But Bats is taking a long nap and robin is in the bat cave bouncing up and down so Batmite comes and stops the joker. Really lame. Not to mention it was totally out of character for MalFurion to think illidan needed to be stopped after how the sentinel campaign ended in WC3TFT or…and I really hate to use this example. How he reacted when the Night Elves wanted to put illidan to death in one of those stupid WoW books.

6) Where is he? Well Blizzard has said that in outland there are many portals to many different worlds, he could be on one of them. Maybe Akama was in on it. His part of the bargain? He gets his temple back as long as Illidan can hide there with Maive watching over him. The emerald dream. The smart people in the WC universe know all too well that Illidan is a powerful ally to have when they decide to put an end to the legion. The Legion, who still wants Illidan dead, hide him in a place where they can’t get to. Based on some of the quests in WoW any of the mortal races can get into the emerald dream. The Aspects are hiding him. MalFurion and the Aspects have a good relationship, it’s possible that from the emerald dream MalFurion requested the Aspects hide Illidan and let Maive keep him in check until he’s needed.

7) NONSENSE POOPIE PANTS! Look is Keal’thas, Ony (twice), Nef, Baron Rivendale, and Van Cleef can all come back all but Keal came back from being beheaded there no chance in hell that one of the major lore characts such as Illidan is going to go out like that.

1. As Malfurion killed the Archimonde ( druid-druid ) , Illidan will kill Kil’jaedan ( demon-demon) …now I am saying druid and demon couse that is how Arch. and KIl’j. are seen in the game.
2. Illidan=Lich in terms of hunger for power…I wont talk about LIch couse he will play role in Killing Kil’jaedan and going back to Drenor=Outland.
Fight between Arthas and Illidan was simulated( just Immagine fitst time they met they were fighting longer then in the second one, even Illidan consumed Eye of Sargeras-so he can see how Arthas is really powerful, and Guil’dan’s memories and powers-knowledge) .
3. 10000 years in prison and yet he forgived his brother ( that is hard-he knew that he did wrong for using lake as Well and bringing doom to his nation Nightelfs so he sentenced him self to stay and not to complain) . Other side of story, Why he should stop using magic, he was the only one born with Golden eyes ( great magic potencial ) . Also he has ewery right to hate Furion ( for taking his love, forbiting the magic use, inprisonning him, not supporting when he needed him the most ) . Illidan did what was good at…Folowing His Dream.
…I wont talk about Furion couse he is Great caracter and would’t like to blure his fame…He was the patien one , the shan’do and Had to take responsability for the nation ( but sometimes nice words do not work and you need Illidan)
4. Illadan took Naga=qursed Nightelfs who were not bad, and never asked for revenge to help them as he knew they share the same passion.
5. With Eye of Sargeras he could see that he can’t defeat Kil’jaedan as he become close “ally” to him, so he had to play both sides…the story had to finish with removing Illidan from the lore because of second failure to destroy LIch ( now don’t tell me that he could’t do it, and who survived Frostbourne…what matter is what would Happen if he would defeat Lich, he would really betrey Tirenide and his brother for who He has Great respect ) …So He had to play bad in outland and let 5th grade heroes “kill him” …
6. You Are Not Prepered…the famous words. 90% of players don’t know what is he talking about, not about himself for sure…

For lore I finish here…

Personal Wiew…Illidan as Master magician could go to emerald dream for 10000 years, and could escape any time he wanted. He can use Image to run away. He can mana Burn any hero and make him a regular unit with extra armour. He can avoid attacks. He can walk leaving firemarks( cool) . He can fly. He can love but not Be loved( not cool) . He can see magic. He has memories and powers of the most powerfull warlock ever ( gul’dan-who thought he can clame Sargeras powers from the tomb for himself) He survived Openning the Tomb Of Sargeras and Frostbourne. He saved Tiranide. He fought with his brother in First war after seeing coruption of his people. He is Badass.

He is Demon-Hunter true and only Illidan Stormrage Shan’do.

For those who liked this don’t worry there will be Illidan and dozens movies about Him…

I think he’s exactly the same as Ner’zhul, Sargaras would have great pleasure in keeping him encased in his tortured existence.

Though I could see his return coinciding with the revenge promised by the nathrezim Mal’Ganis .. (possibly ‘using him’ as their weapon, as Mal’Ganis is too cowardly)

A character that GREAT like Illdan deserves a better ending

I am certain that Blizzard now regrets the way they handled Illidan in the Burning Crusade. They are certainly taking more time now with Arthas in Lich King, and I hope that they don’t make the same mistake again. If the final death of Arthas will come, then let it be a memorable and remarkable one. As of now, Illidan’s end is truly unsatisfactory though. And I feel like a comeback either in an expansion to WoW, or perhaps in a later installment of this franchise, would be great. Seeing him meet his end in a colossal battle with Kiljaedan and the Burning Legion would be most satisfactory!