Getting Ahead in Dunkiton

The third issue of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's picturesque and picaresque adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Road to Oz has just come out.

The Road to Oz is one of my favorites of Baum's Oz books - though that is generally for sentimental reasons. Another reason is John R. Neill's sumptuous artwork.

However, I am in awe of Skottie's ability to reimagine Baum's Oz books and be both so totally original and yet feel so faithful.

This cover of this new issue features the Shaggy Man after he's acquired his gift-head from King Kick-a-bray in Dunkiton. I can't help but see a subtle connection to the original Reilly and Britton first printing of The Road to Oz from 1909. Both show Shaggy with his donkey-head and both have a green background. I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence, but I like the coincidence just the same.

Remember that all four hardcover collections of the Marvel Comics Oz books are available at our on-line store - and each can be autographed by Eric Shanower! Here's a link to Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. The other three titles will be found at the bottom of that webpage. They make GREAT holiday gifts, too!

The Earth Moved!

I just sat down and read  the newly released Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz from Marvel Comics. Eric Shanower and Skottie Young have made one of their best efforts yet. I'd read a lot of it as it was being serialized but really prefer to wait for the collection to come out.

I enjoyed "seeing" so much of the Mangaboo country - I'd never imagined the gang walking thru the air in low-gravity the whole time they are there. I also found I liked Zeb a lot more than I do in the original - and Eureka is just the best!

The graphic novel is actually a much stronger book than Baum's original as Eric has Dorothy explain how Ozma keeps watch over her via the Magic Picture and that if the gang can just stay alive until Friday at 2:00 PM they'll be OK. With this ticking clock started it adds suspense and deflects from the Deus ex machina quality of Baum's original.

I am also glad to report that we have copies in stock at our on-line store! Why not come by one today! If you order from us your book will be autographed by Eric Shanower and he'll even do a little Oz sketch in it for you!During checkout just let us know how you'd like the book signed in the "Special Instructions" field.

Click here to order

So come order a copy for yourself and maybe even pick one up for a friend! We have copies of Marvel's Wonderful Wizard, Marvelous Land and Ozma of Oz as well as all our usual Oz and Baum titles.

On the Road Again

Marvel Comics's adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fifth Oz book, The Road to Oz, begins September 5, 2012, with Road to Oz #1. Marvel has just released a peek at Eric Shanower's variant cover to issue #1. Shanower has obviously returned to using Skottie Young's designs for the characters in this series. The color is by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.

Readers of Baum's original book should be able to easily identify this scene where the Shaggy Man first reveals the Love Magnet to Dorothy and Toto.

All the previous entries in this Marvel Comics series - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz - have been adapted before into other media - stage, screen, recordings, comics. There have been translations of The Road to Oz with new illustrations, and Golden Books published an abridgement, but I believe this is the first time that The Road to Oz has been adapted into another medium, at least for widespread release. I suspect the picaresque nature of the plot and the load of crossover characters at the end have something to do with this lack. But if Shanower and Young's track record is anything to go on, if anyone can make The Road to Oz work in the comics medium, they can.

Ease on Down the ROAD

The final issue of Marvel's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz - issue #8 - just came out, so if you missed it, get to your local comic store for a copy to find out what happens when Eureka the kitten is accused of eating Ozma's pet piglet.

And, still on a roll, Marvel's next Oz book has been announced - you guessed it - The Road to Oz. The award-winning creative team of Eric Shanower (script), Skottie Young (art), and Jean-Francois Beaulieu (color) will be back on September 5, 2012, with the first issue of Marvel Comics's adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fifth Oz book, The Road to Oz. See Skottie's cover for issue #1 above. Here's how Marvel describes the contents:

When dusty Kansas roads suddenly turn into magic highways, it's a safe bet that one of them is the road to Oz, but which one? Dorothy's off on another fantastic adventure, and Toto is back, too. This time their companions are strange - an old homeless guy with a magic magnet and a mentally-challenged child named Button-Bright.

Local Yokel

This month, the San Diego Public Library will host the 46th annual Local Author's exhibit. And last night they held the exhibit reception and local author awards ceremony. The exhibit is limited to books published in 2011. Local authors are greeted, treated to some drinks and food, and then each presented with a nice medal on a blue ribbon.

One of the local authors was, of course, Eric Shanower, whose adaptation of L. Frank Baum's Ozma of Oz from Marvel Comics was prominently on display. Eric looks quite pleased, doesn't he!

Photo by Rachel TenWolde

  
The Local Authors Exhibit is now open at the downtown San Diego Central Library, located at 820 E. Street, San Diego, CA 92101-6416.

Gargoyles!

I thought you might like an advance look at the super cover for issue #5 of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz from Marvel Comics. The wooden gargoyles were one of the few things in the Oz books that scared me when I was little.

Not too long after I read Dorothy and the Wizard for the first time, I saw a TV movie called Gargoyles (1972) which scared the bejeezus out of me. It was a pretty scary movie - and not badly made for a TV film in the early seventies - but much of the film was set in New Mexico and some of the location-shots were filmed in Albuquerque where I was living at the time, which added a lot of verisimilitude to the movie.

The Wooden Gargoyles still make me think of that movie - so scary!

Go Fish!

Well, in a couple weeks issue No. 4 of Marvel Comics's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz will be out and Dorothy and her friends will be walking on water in the incredible Valley of Voe.

As you may remember, Eureka thinks this trick is a nifty way to possibly catch a fish, but Skottie Young may have given Eureka more than she bargained for!

You'll have to go buy the issue to see what happens!

The Comical Land of Oz

We’re off to see the Wizard! The Cartoon Art Museum celebrates The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with an exhibition featuring vintage newspaper tearsheets and original artwork spanning over 100 years of classic comics. The exhibit runs from November 12 - April 25, 2012. Click here for details.

At the dawn of the 20th century,  L. Frank Baum created a world of wonders that was to hold a permanent place in the culture of America: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . Then in 1904, to promote his second book, Baum, along with master cartoonist Walt McDougall, brought his famed characters to Earth in a new medium, the comic strip.

Famed Oz illustrators W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill also launched their own syndicated comic strips in the early 20th Century.  The Cartoon Art Museum’s exhibition will include a selection of tearsheets from these talented artists: McDougall’s Queer Visitors from Marvelous Land of Oz, Denslow’s Father Goose and Billy Bounce, and Neill’s Nip and Tuck, courtesy of historian and publisher Peter Maresca of Sunday Press.

Acclaimed writer and artist Eric Shanower’s first Oz comic, The Enchanted Apples of Oz, was published in 1986, beginning his 25-year (and counting!) association with Baum’s characters.  This exhibition will feature highlights from five of Shanower’s Oz graphic novels, as well as a selection of art from his latest series of Eisner Award-winning Oz adaptations for Marvel Comics illustrated by Skottie Young.  Additional collaborators include Anna-Maria Cool and the legendary Ramona Fradon.

Presentations and booksignings featuring publisher Peter Maresca and writer/artist Eric Shanower are in the planning stages. Information on these and other Oz-related events will be available soon.

Good TIMES for Ozma!

I'm happy to report that Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's Ozma of Oz graphic novel from Marvel Comics has just made The New York Times Bestseller list for Graphic Novels (Hardcover).

Click here to see for yourself!

In the Psych Ward with O. Z. Diggs

No one is perfect - not even the little old Wizard of Oz. If you'd been involved in a kidnapping and coup, hidden all by yourself for decades in the back rooms of a palace, been asked for the impossible by Scarecrows and Lions, fled back to America for a little relaxation and retirement, then all of a sudden your balloon is swallowed by the earth and you're trapped in a land of talking vegetables - and all those piglets! - everyone has a breaking point.

But fear not! Oscar Diggs (the Wizard of Oz himself) has gotten some help over on the Marvel Comics website in Tim Stevens' Psych Ward. Mr. Diggs said it was OK to share this, so go on over and sit in on the next therapy session. Click here

Tim Stevens has seen Dorothy Gale on occasion, and you can read about her session on the couch here.

The first issue of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz went on sale at comic stores yesterday. It's really terrific and may just be the best series yet from Eric Shanower and Skottie Young. And don't forget that the just-released Ozma of Oz hardcover collection is now available at our Hungry Tiger Press on-line store.

All copies of the Marvel Oz books sold thru Hungry Tiger Press will be autographed by writer Eric Shanower!

If you'd like your book personalized, just let us know how you'd like your book signed, and to whom, when you "check out."

Of course we have copies of Marvel's Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz, too! If you'd like them signed just let us know.

Dorothy and the MARVELous Wizard in Oz!

If you're ready for an in depth sneak-peek at Marvel Comics' great new adaptation of L. Frank Baum's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, then head over to Newsarama to read an interview with both Eric Shanower and Skottie Young and check out a preview of the first few pages of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. As a bit of a teaser, here is an advance look at Eric Shanower's "alternate" cover for the first issue.

And don't forget that the just released Ozma of Oz hardcover collection is now available at our Hungry Tiger Press on-line store.

All copies of the Marvel Oz books sold thru Hungry Tiger Press will be autographed by writer Eric Shanower!

If you'd like your book personalized, just let us know how you'd like your book signed, and to whom, when you "check out."

Of course we have copies of Marvel's Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz, too! If you'd like them signed just let us know.

An Ozma Original

Since everyone is so excited that Marvel Comics' Ozma of Oz is finally out in hardcover, I thought I'd finally share my favorite acquisition from this year's San Diego Comic Con - this page of original Ozma art by Skottie Young.

I really adore this page! I love the long shot of the Nome King's throne room, I love the expressions on Dorothy and Ozma's faces, and I love the panel showing Roquat. He seems so exactly how I always imagine the Nome King - sorta like a manipulative, spoiled, sort of charmingly rotten version of Santa Claus. And there's so much story communicated in these three panels - even with the word balloons missing!

If you don't yet have a copy of the hardcover collection of Ozma of Oz, we have copies (autographed by writer Eric Shanower) available at our on-line store. Click here to check it out!

It's Ozma Time!

I'm delighted to announce that the hardcover collection of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's Ozma of Oz from Marvel Comics arrived in stores today!

The book has also just been added to our Hungry Tiger Press on-line store!  

All copies sold thru Hungry Tiger Press will be autographed by writer Eric Shanower.

If you'd like your book personalized, just let us know how you'd like your book signed, and to whom, when you "check out."

Of course we have copies of Marvel's Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz, too! If you'd like them signed just let us know.

Please do note that our copies will not ship out to customers until early next week. But if you want a signed one - now's the time to order, since we may have a limited supply for a while.

The Cat is a Hat!

Time for a sneak peek at Skottie Young's cover for Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz No. 3. Not much else to say except that I can hardly wait! Issue one will hit the stands on September 28th.

Dorothy and the Wizard - PREVIEW TIME!

Well, despite a heads up that this PREVIEW would be appearing, the ever resourceful Eric Gjovaag beat me to the punch over on The Wonderful Blog of Oz. It just goes to show how on top of all things Oz he really is!

Anyway ... Wow! Here's the first preview of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's incredible new adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fourth Oz book Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. From what I've seen and heard from Eric and Skottie I think this may just be the best of their adaptations yet!

You can see the cover and several more pages by clicking here.

Skottie and Jack

At Comic Con I got the chance to have Skottie Young sign my copy of The Marvelous Land of Oz. I like the way he signed it.

Eureka!

Wow, two blogs in one day! That's quite a change from the last two weeks, huh!

I simply couldn't wait to share Skottie Young's cover for the first issue of Marvel Comics's adaptation of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz which will be hitting the stands in October.

So congratulations to Eric Shanower and Skottie Young on their continued success!

Eisner Nominations!

We are happy to be able to announce that Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's adaptation of The Marvelous Land of Oz has received two 2011 Eisner Award nominations! Eric and Skottie are nominated under "Best Adaptation from Another Work" and Skottie is nominated as "Best Penciller/Inker".

Woo Hoo! Congratulations to all concerned!

Nice Hat, Mister!

It's always fun when I can give you a sneak-peek at an upcoming issue of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's Ozma of Oz from Marvel Comics.

So here is Skottie's cover for issue seven!

Remember that you can order signed copies of both The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz  at our on-line store. It's easy! In the "Special Instructions" box simply let us know that you'd like your books signed and if you'd like them personalized to someone in particular.

Ozma in Japan

This weekend I bring you another post focusing on L. Frank Baum's third Oz book, Ozma of Oz. Many of you are following Eric Shanower and Skottie Young's adaptation of that book from Marvel Comics and I thought you might like a look at Ozma through foreign eyes.

This weekend's Ozma post focuses on a charming Japanese picture book published by Popura Shabunko, of Tokyo, in 1987. The book's title is a bit unusual, Ozu no Mahoutsukai to Ozuma Hime which translates as "the Wizard of Oz and Princess Ozma". Other Japanese editions of Ozma translate the title more traditionally as Ozu no Ozuma Hime "Princess Ozma of Oz". There are picture book editions of The Wizard of Oz and The Land of Oz as well. I suspect that the popularity of Disney's Return to Oz film that motivated the publication of these three titles. There is similar set with different illustrations by another Japanese publisher, also published in 1987.

The edition was published in hardcover with a dustjacket and has 44 pages. Below you can see several of the more interesting illustrations. At right, Dorothy gale enjoys a meal from the Lunch Pail Tree while Billina looks on. The way these lunches grow you can sort of see what you're getting - they're more like cafeteria trees - you just pick a couple sandwiches, a piece of fruit, and a doughnut and you're all set!

I think the design for Tik-Tok is pretty cute.I'd love a toy version! The wind-up key at the front is a bit odd as it seems like Tik-Tok might be able to wind himself. I've always assumed Tik-Tok's manufacturers placed his wind-up keys on his back and under his two arms so that Tik-Tok couldn't be self-winding, thus preventing their robot from attaining true autonomy. The inability of the traditional Tik-Tok to wind himself is one of the things that helps define him as "non-living."

The Japanese illustrator did follow Baum's text and hang Tik-Tok's "operating instructions" from a clunky cardboard sign around Tik-Tok's neck. It seems like it could easily get lost, IMHO. Below you can see Tik-Tok giving the Wheelers a hard time.

The arrival at the entrance to the Nome King's caverns is striking and very different. We also get a nice view of the Nomes slaving away in the jewel mines. Click on any of the images to see them enlarged.

 

Every spread of the picture book contains one full page color illustration and one page of text with a small illustration echoing the larger image. Below you can see a sample showing Dorothy giving the Nome King what-for. The book is really cute!