Customer Reviews

Adventures in Oz

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From 1986-92, Eric Shanower made 5 Graphic Oz Novels (comic-like books) that told the fascinating stories of 'the Enchanted Apples', 'the Secret Island', 'the Ice King', 'the Forgotten Forest' and 'the Blue Witch' of Oz, all of which followed the adventures of Dorothy and Scarecrow with their friends, saving good people (sometimes one of them being misguided into doing bad things) from even worse people. Here, 'Adventures in Oz' is not a new story book by Eric Shanower, but a COLLECTION of ALL 5 Stories. Both the black-and-white and colour artwork for the graphic novels and other books have been rescanned by the publisher IDW Publishing, and Eric made sure that printing mistakes from the original editions would not be repeated (i.e. bits of a picture without colour) and did some minor revisions to the artwork, so therefore this book looks better than the orginal printings. The advances in the past 20 years makes the colours look far closer to what Eric Shanower originally painted than in the original printings of his Oz graphic novels - also his artwork changes from nearly good in 'Enchanted Apples' to Incredibly Fantastic and Lavish in 'Blue Witch'.
"Adventures in Oz" is actually published/printed in 2 different editions: a restored all-5-stories PAPERBACK (normal, currently still available) and a Deluxe LIMITED Signed Edition (which I am the lucky owner of!! Now Sold Out, Sorry!), which not only contains the original 5 stories in one volume but also includes some new, little seen and never-before-published material, such as Character Designs, Sketches, Colour Studies, Advertising Art, Abandoned Concepts and other things (just like the final Issue "9/Epilogue" of 'Oz: the Manga') not seen in the paperback version. The section for the extra material is more than 30 pgs and Eric was very keen on adding these special bonuses. Unfortunately it does not include the Introduction to 'Enchanted Apples' by Harlan Ellison.
BOTH Books have (in the following order) the same front and back cover design, Ozma & her tiny piglette on "This book belongs to", 2 red-dressed trolls, Scraps the Patchwork Girl with Toto and the Saw-Horse and tiny Flicker on the Book-Title pg, a re-scanning of the front & back cover for 'Enchanted Apples' but with 'Adventures' instead of the original title, Abatha the Blue Witch on a publishing pg, Nelanthe the Wood-Nymph with the Chapters, Eric Shanower's portrait of Ozma, "Just a word before you start", a Map of Oz (which again has the Blue East and Yellow West switching places!), Acknowledgements, 'the Enchanted Apples of Oz' story, 'the Secret Island of Oz' story, 'the Ice King of Oz' story, 'the Forgotten Forest of Oz' story, 'the Blue Witch of Oz' story (all 5 dedicated to someone special) and a colourful panel strip with the Oz characters. There are also ENDPAPERS, but both editions have different designs: the PAPERBACK has originally colourful yet b&w scanned pictures of the Famous 5 of Oz on the Yellow Brick Road (front) and the Forbidden Fountain of the Water of Oblivian (back), while the DLSE has new artwork of Eric's characters with 3 Denslow characters and two 'OZ' emblems. Also, in the DLSE after the 'colour-Oz-panel' comes the following: Eric's writing on him & Oz (throughout most of the book's ex. material), childhoods drawings (among them a history of the magic land), "General Jinjur of Oz" Pt. 1 in colour & Pt. 2 in design, design sketches for characters and books and location/places etc., Thanksgiving in Oz, Original opening for 'Forbidden Fruit of Oz' which became 'Enchanted Apples', rescanning of Eric's original graphic novel covers (without the writing), advertising art for the books, pictures made for magazines etc., origin of 'the Ice King', a try-out for Roger S. Baum's "Dorothy of Oz", original 'Story of Nebelle' before becoming Oz - which would've been out of place for Oz, alternate/cut-out endings, colour studies, cards & pin-ups, b&w pictures from Oz books illustrated by Eric Shanowers such as 'Wicked Witch' along with 2 Colour-Plates not in the book, 'Giant Garden', 'Runaway', 'Third Book', 'Invisible Inzi', 'Paradox' (which illustrates such films like 'Return', 'Journey Back', 'Cinar', silent films, etc.!), 'Oz-Story 6', 'Salt Sorcerer & Other Stories', another Ozma portrait, 'Oz-Story 3', 'Rundelstone', the annual Munchkin Convention and Winkie Convention of the International Wizard of Oz Club, 'the Living House' (which is seen on the 3-Disk MGM DVD!) and finally "If 6 Great Cartoonists had drawn Oz Characters'!
For me, I saw (and quickly scimmed through) "Forgotten Forest" and "Enchanted Apples" in 'Comic Kingdom' (which is also where I ordered copies of "Oz: the Manga") and I've always wanted to get 'the Blue Witch' which of course is out of print, but now that they are altogether in one brand-new collection, it doesn't hurt to get the one story I've always wanted with the other 4 stories and some extra delights (So Worth Looking at the Others!). Since I have never actually looked through or owned the orginal 5 books, I can't specify what has been changed or improved, but Eric did mention fixing the way he drew some of Dorothy's faces and the skin colour for the (human) characters, but unfortunately Dorothy still looks a bit too skinny and Ozma's hair isn't really tidy in 'Enchanted Apples'. Since I got 'Wicked Witch' long before 'Adventures' I often wondered at the drawing of "Who is that tiny little man with fire for hair?" Well, thanks to this book, I found out that it was Flicker from "Ice King (Oz)" and learned everything about him, so now I am no longer in the 'Not Know'.
I am VERY pleased to know that something OTHER than MGM is given a 'Special Anniversary Restored Edition' (it has been 20 years since the first publishing), and because of all the hard work that went into making this an 'Excellent Extended Edition' is why it took so long for its release. And I am REALLY GLAD to finally have my copy.
Eric Shanower also illustrated Rachel Cosgrove Payes' "the Wicked Witch of Oz" (which is not as scary or dark as it sounds, and can be bought through 'Hungry Tiger Press'), and even both written/illustrated other Oz books (Giant Garden, etc.). Although I never really liked his idea of giving Dorothy, Betsy and Trot modern-day clothes (shirts, shorts/pants, sneakers and socks that look suited for Summer) and copying John R. Neil's idea of all 3 girls having short hair (which can be confusing), his art is wonderful (ESPECIALLY in 'Blue Witch') and unlike John R. Neil, actually drew Betsy older than Dorothy and Trot younger than Dorothy, as originally written by L. Frank Baum in 'Lost Princess'. In 'Blue Witch', however, Eric redraws Denslow's Long-Haired Dorothy.
Once again, I am proud of some Classic Oz Books being restored for a Brand-New-Collection-Edition, especially since this saga was originally started by someone as talented as Eric Shanower, one of the greatest Oz Illustrators to ever live and draw!
Wouldn't it be GREAT if Eric did a Graphic Novel of L. Frank Baum's 'the Wonderful Wizard of Oz'?
P.S. On the MGM Oz - 3 Disk DVD, we actually see ERIC SHANOWER and some of his art in the 'Because of the Wonderful Things It Does: The Legacy of Oz' featurette, along with Willard Carroll! - but what about William Stout?

L. Frank Baum's delightful Oz books have entertained every generation of readers, young and old alike, since they first appeared more than half a century ago. Indeed, so popular was the world of Oz and its myriad of colorful characters, that after his death other writers took up the task of creating more stories set in that colorful land over the rainbow. Now Eric Shanower has imaginatively written and beautifully illustrated five more stories that are combined in a large format graphic novel called "Adventures In Oz". The stories include 'The Enchanted Apples of Oz', 'The Secret Island of Oz', 'The Ice King of Oz', 'The forgotten Forest of Oz', and 'The Blue Witch of Oz'. Carrying and expanding the mythology, legendary, and fairy-tale fantasy first established by Frank Baum and enthusiastically recommended reading for ages 8 to 80, "Adventures In Oz" does full homage and credit to the growing library of Oz books, - and this time with the added visual and storytelling benefits of the graphic novel format. For school and community libraries (and dedicated Oz fans) it should be noted that IDW Publishing plans to release a hardcover edition next year that will have 70 additional pages of behind-the-scenes materials, including material from Eric Shanower's sketchbook, character designs, an essay by Eric about his experiences creating Oz comic stories, a variety of illustrations he has created for other Oz publications, short Oz comic stories, and more.

This book far exceeded my expectations. I like comics that have brilliant, bright, beautiful artwork and I have to say out of any comics I have ever read, this is by far the best. The illustrations in this book are more like book illustrations that comics. The story lines are wonderful and "fit" with the other Oz stories. The book is a high quality paperback with thick glossy pages. It is well worth the price.

I grew up on the original Oz series by L. Frank Baum but was never terribly impressed with attempts to continue the adventures of these beloved characters -- until Eric Shanower.

Shanower's artwork is evocative of the original art in Baum's volumes but even more important, Shanower captures the spirit of the books and characters beautifully. There is not a single false note in any of his portrayals. Adventures in Oz collects all of his standalone Oz graphic novels into one volume and it is long overdue. My favorite is the Blue Witch of Oz, but all of the stories are told with great love and imagination.

I've long been frustrated that few studios have tried to adapt the other Oz books into movies and the few times they did we ended up with atrocities like Return to Oz. From a storytelling standpoint, I understand the dilemma -- Dorothy's not in the second boo, Land of Oz, yet it's essential to introduce key characters like Ozma. If some studio ever does solve the problem -- or just take the chance on an Oz movie without Dorothy -- their next purchase should be the rights to Shanower's Oz stories. After filming the rest of Baum's books, Shanower's stories are the next most logical and satisfying candidates.

Before his bigtime stint of adapting Marvel Comics' Oz comics, Eric Shanower did five one-shot graphic novels through First Comics and later on Dark Horse Comics. These were recently released in an album-sized graphic novel titled Adventures In Oz from IDW Publishing. The first story is Enchanted Apples Of Oz where a sorceress named Valynn comes out of a hundred year siesta to reveal a tree holding magic apples which hold all the magic in the land of Oz, and the long-hidden Wicked Witch of the South and her overenthusiastic suitor try to steal them. Next in Secret Island Of Oz, Dorothy and Scarecrow try to find a special fish for the Royal Gardener which exists only in a special part of Oz. After running into Eureka, they come across an underground island, and try to save a bratty princess and her living wooden-boy from giant reptiles. In Ice King Of Oz, Ozma is kidnapped by an icy tyrant, so Dorothy and friends head south to try and rescue her, along with their new friend Flicker, a living candlestick man that was cursed by the Wicked Witch of the West. Following that is Forgotten Forest Of Oz where the wood nymph Nelanthe is banished from the forest of Burzee by Queen Zurline, and becomes the bride of the Goblin King to lead an invasion on the forest for revenge. After realizing she's made a mistake, Nelanthe tries to steal some of the Water of Oblivion from Oz so she can forget her misdeeds, but Dorothy stops her and manages to have the goblins get entangled with some rowdy dragons instead. Finally in Blue Witch Of Oz, Dorothy's quest to find out if there ever was a "Good" Witch of the East leads to a discovery by Glinda about the tragic past of a sorceress who lost her husband and then her son. This collection features some great storytelling and artwork by Shanower, and you can tell you how his style developed from the first one in 1986 to the last in 1992. There are two versions of this graphic novel from IDW. One is the standard paperback, while the hardcover edition has an additional material to it including the comic story General Jinjur Of Oz, alternate endings to Blue Witch and Forgotten Forest, a prelude to Ice King, and several other short Oz comics and illustrations. IDW is planning on reprinting this into a series of smaller graphic novels titled Little Adventures In Oz coming out in 2010. Definately pick up this if you love Oz or appreciate good family literature.

Eric Shanower is the best contemporary narrator of Oz and a worthy heir to authorship in the body of works started and defined by L. Frank Baum and John R. Neil. In this 1993 series of graphic novels now back in print in a single volume Shanower is at his best! Others have done Oz comics with more edge and in a more contemporary style, but none have been truer to the spirit of Oz. His color illustrations bring the land and its characters to life as no other illustrator has ever done.

The Enchanted Apples of Oz introduces the Ozophile to four new enchanting inhabitants of this magical land who are truly memorable: Valynn (the Guardian of the Enchanted Apples), Bortag (the love-struck but inept Magician), Drox (Bortag's friend the flying swordfish), and the Evil Witch of the South. How these four interact with other well-known inhabitants of Oz makes for an enchanting story.

The Secret Island of Oz is an outstanding story in the classic Oz style with Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow going on an adventure. Along the way they meet Knot Boy, a living doll made of wood, and Princess Trinkarinkarina, who feels she has outgrown her childhood friend/toy. Of course there is excitement and danger as they explore under, over and through the Secret Island of Oz.

In The Ice King of Oz Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman set off on an epic adventure to the Antarctic kingdom of the Ice King. Their new friend Flicker, a human candle, saves the day and almost loses his life in the process.

In The Forgotten Forest of Oz Eric Shanower tells us the story of Nelanthe, one of the wood-nymphs of the Forest of Burzee. Burzee with its wood-nymphs is one of the most magical places ever imagined by L. Frank Baum. And Eric Shanower exceeds all his other work to bring this forest to us in all its primordial majesty. His artwork also breathes life into the underground kingdom of the trolls as the trolls and the wood-nymphs go into battle over Nelanthe. When Dorothy and the Scarecrow are drawn into the drama, they help save the day with the help of the Wooden Sawhorse. Oz doesn't get any better than this!

The Blue Witch of Oz tells the story of Abatha, the Good Witch of the East. Dorothy and the Scarecrow set off to break the enchantment that has kept Abatha imprisoned in the Great Gray Gilliken Swamp for countless years. Abatha's story and Dorothy's adventures finding her make great reading. Eric Shanower's drawings, as they are throughout this series, are superb. Eric Shanower brought Oz to life in a daring new way with this series. If you have ever loved Oz, this book is for you.

Eric Shanower is a true Oz genius. He is one of the only authors I know that not only give you a written word story that is close to the original tone and feel of the Baum classics, but he lets you really =see= the stories through his wonderful art.

These five stories, formerly available only as long out-of-print graphic novels, are collected together under one cover and one imprint. Formerly First Comics published these wonderful fully illustrated titles in a single issue graphic novel format, in a size (about 8 by 10 inches) that really lets you enjoy Shanower's wonderful art.

"Enchanted Apples of Oz," the 1st story, takes us on a journey to see the Wicked Witch of the South and what happens when someone falls in love with her (for a while anyway... :-). The story is about Bortag and his quest for the Enchanted Apples of Oz. I won't ruin it for you, but I loved them all, especially Quox the Flying Blue Marlin.

"The Secret Island of Oz," the 2nd story, takes Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Eureka on a journey to find the Crimson Tailed Quipperug and what happens to them along the way. I think you'll enjoy the story of Knotboy and Princess Trin.

"The Ice King of Oz," the 3rd story, takes us on a journey to the land of the Ice King. My favorite character was Flicker, the candle-maker, and his vital role in rescuing Ozma from a frozen fate.

"The Forgotten Forest of Oz," the 4th story, tells about Nelanthe, a wood-nymph, and how she falls under the spell of the King of the Trolls, and what Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, and the Sawhorse have to do this time to save Oz.

Finally, "the Blue Witch of Oz," easily one of the best illustrated, tells the tale of what happened to the Good Witch of the East and also what happened to her and her family.

Oz fans will find very little to quibble with here - Eric tells these tales as though he had the ear of Baum himself - and even non-Oz fanatics will find these stories easy to read and very fun.

I highly recommend buying this - especially since Shanower gives you such wonderful stories you can even read to young children while showing them what they see. A real gem to add to the crown of Oz.