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Marvel's Oz Comics #1-6
Oz Omnibus
L. Frank Baum's magical world of Oz comes to life like never before, courtesy of the Eisner Award-winning team of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young! Join Kansas farmgirl Dorothy (and her little dog Toto), Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion, Glinda the Good Witch, young Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, Sawhorse, Queen Ozma, Butt on-Bright and more - and don't forget the Wonderful Wizard of Oz himself - as they explore the marvelous land of Oz, travel the Yellow Brick Road, and defend the Emerald City against the Wicked Witch of the West, Mombi, Jinjur, the evil Nome King and more! COLLECTING: THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ 1-8, THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ 1-8, OZMA OF OZ 1-8, DOROTHY & THE WIZARD IN OZ 1-8, ROAD TO OZ 1-6, THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ 1-5, MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: WIZARD OF OZ SKETCHBOOK, OZ PRIMER
1096 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2014
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344 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 2, 2016
One of my friends on Goodreads decided to read the entirety of the Oz book series. This is quite an undertaking. This reminded me that I have long-since wanted to read the Marvel Oz Omnibus. However, it was a massive undertaking. Many months, and a few separate times checking this out from the Library, and I got through it. It was completely worth it.
Overall, Shanower and Young stay incredibly close to the original. I appreciate the adapatation from that perspective. Each book preludes with a two-page introduction by Shanower. He explains the historical context and origin of the original book, as well as critical points to the adaptation. It was important to him, as a child who grew up with the Oz-verse, to stay true to the original. I can certainly respect that! However, there were a few times (particularly in The Road of Oz) where I would have appreciated some creative license-- at least by omitting some content. But I am not one to judge the author.
Young's illustration, inking, and coloring are amazing. When I started reading, it was a bit jarring to me. However, I quickly adjusted and found that I loved these characters more as how Young views them rather than how I viewed them in my head. Particularly, the animal companions made me SQUEE! I adore how Toto, Billina, and the piglets are all illustrated. In fact, in the later books, Young changed Toto's look, and I was sad. I'm certain that this is a reflection of Toto growing older. However, it was still a bit heart breaking that he wasn't a cute puppy any longer….
All in all, I'm really glad I read this in Omnibus form. I adore these adaptions. Honestly, they make the entire series more endearing to me than just with the Baum books stand-alone. Baum is great at creating literally fantastic worlds-- but I'm not great at envisioning them. I am thankful to Shanower and Young for sharing their journey with me.
Overall, Shanower and Young stay incredibly close to the original. I appreciate the adapatation from that perspective. Each book preludes with a two-page introduction by Shanower. He explains the historical context and origin of the original book, as well as critical points to the adaptation. It was important to him, as a child who grew up with the Oz-verse, to stay true to the original. I can certainly respect that! However, there were a few times (particularly in The Road of Oz) where I would have appreciated some creative license-- at least by omitting some content. But I am not one to judge the author.
Young's illustration, inking, and coloring are amazing. When I started reading, it was a bit jarring to me. However, I quickly adjusted and found that I loved these characters more as how Young views them rather than how I viewed them in my head. Particularly, the animal companions made me SQUEE! I adore how Toto, Billina, and the piglets are all illustrated. In fact, in the later books, Young changed Toto's look, and I was sad. I'm certain that this is a reflection of Toto growing older. However, it was still a bit heart breaking that he wasn't a cute puppy any longer….
All in all, I'm really glad I read this in Omnibus form. I adore these adaptions. Honestly, they make the entire series more endearing to me than just with the Baum books stand-alone. Baum is great at creating literally fantastic worlds-- but I'm not great at envisioning them. I am thankful to Shanower and Young for sharing their journey with me.
October 7, 2022
(Zero spoiler review)
At this stage, I've reviewed every individual arc in this omnibus, with the exception of the last one, and the tedium of essentially writing the same thing over and over again has well and truly taken its toll. I finished this a week ago and am only now getting round to putting something down for it. So if you missed every other review I wrote for it, let me give you the greatest hits. Excellent art thanks to Scottie Young. A sweet and wholesome concept, let down by an unnecessarily faithful (way too long) adaptation of the original novels. The same-ness of the stories eventually wore me down, with some of the characters being interesting and unique, and others being the epitome of boring. All this could have been avoided with shorter, snappier renditions. Don't get me wrong, what ew got wasn't terrible by any means, and in a way, it was refreshing to have a recent incarnation of Marvel allowing for such a faithful adaption of a beloved franchise, because we all know what their modus operandi is now hen it comes to such things. God only knows how they would have destroyed Dorothy (who is the heart and soul of this series). Thank god for small mercies then, perhaps.
Still well worth a look, and as mentioned previously, would be significantly improved by sharing with a young son or daughter, but it just dragged to much for me to be anything more than Ok. 3/5
OmniBen.
At this stage, I've reviewed every individual arc in this omnibus, with the exception of the last one, and the tedium of essentially writing the same thing over and over again has well and truly taken its toll. I finished this a week ago and am only now getting round to putting something down for it. So if you missed every other review I wrote for it, let me give you the greatest hits. Excellent art thanks to Scottie Young. A sweet and wholesome concept, let down by an unnecessarily faithful (way too long) adaptation of the original novels. The same-ness of the stories eventually wore me down, with some of the characters being interesting and unique, and others being the epitome of boring. All this could have been avoided with shorter, snappier renditions. Don't get me wrong, what ew got wasn't terrible by any means, and in a way, it was refreshing to have a recent incarnation of Marvel allowing for such a faithful adaption of a beloved franchise, because we all know what their modus operandi is now hen it comes to such things. God only knows how they would have destroyed Dorothy (who is the heart and soul of this series). Thank god for small mercies then, perhaps.
Still well worth a look, and as mentioned previously, would be significantly improved by sharing with a young son or daughter, but it just dragged to much for me to be anything more than Ok. 3/5
OmniBen.
March 13, 2025
What wonderful adventures!!
It was splendid.
It was splendid.
November 20, 2019
What a beautiful way to tell the stories of Oz! I love it!
I’m sadly adding this book to my abandoned list, too, because I just can’t finish it with the other stack of books growing like weeds. In six months, I read four of the six books. Maybe I’ll come back to it to read the final two if my stack of books gets dangerously low... (LOL!)
I’m sadly adding this book to my abandoned list, too, because I just can’t finish it with the other stack of books growing like weeds. In six months, I read four of the six books. Maybe I’ll come back to it to read the final two if my stack of books gets dangerously low... (LOL!)
February 9, 2017
I'm a huge fan of all things Oz! I love the original books by Frank L. Baum as well as The Wizard Of Oz movie and Return To Oz.
I must admit Oz Omnibus was a much more fantastical than reading some of Baum's books. (It was only meant to be one story.)
The characters stayed true and the story structure the same. This is a wonderful series and nice to know Baum's work will live on, in a much easier form to read. :)
A must have for any Oz Fan.
I must admit Oz Omnibus was a much more fantastical than reading some of Baum's books. (It was only meant to be one story.)
The characters stayed true and the story structure the same. This is a wonderful series and nice to know Baum's work will live on, in a much easier form to read. :)
A must have for any Oz Fan.
June 19, 2016
Such an amazing art style and story :)
February 24, 2024
I enjoyed reading L. Frank Baum’s first book, and have had the whole Oz series on my to-read list forever, so when I found out that there was a comic adaptation I thought it'd be the perfect shortcut to reading them... I was right!
Eric Shanower and Skottie Young do a fantastic job of bringing new life to a faithful retelling of the classic American fairytale... if you enjoy the movies (Oz The Great And Powerful, Wicked, The Wizard Of Oz, and Return To Oz) you'll love discovering new details, settings, and characters, and you'll especially love being able to talk about them with fellow Oz fans! I especially enjoyed reading about Princess Ozma, who was born a girl but was magically transformed into a boy named Tip, then back into a princess!
It's one of the most treasured books in my library!!!
Eric Shanower and Skottie Young do a fantastic job of bringing new life to a faithful retelling of the classic American fairytale... if you enjoy the movies (Oz The Great And Powerful, Wicked, The Wizard Of Oz, and Return To Oz) you'll love discovering new details, settings, and characters, and you'll especially love being able to talk about them with fellow Oz fans! I especially enjoyed reading about Princess Ozma, who was born a girl but was magically transformed into a boy named Tip, then back into a princess!
It's one of the most treasured books in my library!!!
July 27, 2019
I discovered Skottie Young when I picked up I Hate Fairyland #1, and from the get go I loved his art. What was funny to me reading this was that his art style is pretty much the same in IHF and Oz, and yet they could not be more different. It's like seeing Wade Wilson next to Peter Parker.
This is a wonderful adaptation of the first 6 Baum books, and stays faithful to the source material. I'm impressed how well Shanower did this keeping each book to 8 issues max, while never skimping on characters, setting, or story. Every book, every issue was paced perfectly, and it was just a splendid read.
This isn't how I envisioned the characters when I read these books as a kid, but nonetheless I love this version of them.
This is a wonderful adaptation of the first 6 Baum books, and stays faithful to the source material. I'm impressed how well Shanower did this keeping each book to 8 issues max, while never skimping on characters, setting, or story. Every book, every issue was paced perfectly, and it was just a splendid read.
This isn't how I envisioned the characters when I read these books as a kid, but nonetheless I love this version of them.
December 30, 2021
These stories were meant to be cartoons all along; I appreciate how much effort went into illustrating six books, and there's really nothing in a review to complain about (I'm not sure why some reviewers are complaining about the original writing in this comic edition). 5 stars for the hard work of illustrating these books in a very appealing art style!!! I always liked the one with the chicken and the lady who had different heads best, and it's exciting to see it illustrated.
January 31, 2019
From Baum's original stories to the colors to the lettering to the drawings and everything in between, this adaptation is simply perfect. At over 1000 pages, it may seem daughting for a comic, but it is simply amazing.
June 1, 2019
I was a big fan of the Oz books as a child so reading these comics was a delight. Theyre incredibly faithful, sometimes to a fault. But its easy to fall under the charm of the stories and the amazing artwork. I would one hundred percent recommend this
April 24, 2020
I love Wizard of Oz retellings, and this one was excellent.
The story stays pretty true to the original book, with some new, fresh additions. My favorite part though is the artwork. It's so fun and different.
I'm sad that this series is over, but it's a great read.
The story stays pretty true to the original book, with some new, fresh additions. My favorite part though is the artwork. It's so fun and different.
I'm sad that this series is over, but it's a great read.
May 31, 2020
I would give this omnibus 6 stars if I could. Smart and very thoughtful adaptation of the popular classic tales. Astonishing and colourful art of Scottie Young. And of course amazing quality of omnibus itself. That’s very decent addition to every comics collection no matter what you specialize on.
November 30, 2018
Some of the Oz stories that are a bit weaker in prose regain their intended soul in this format 😍
January 3, 2019
Fantastycznie narysowana cegła, trzymająca się dosyć kurczowo oryginału. Warto, choć głównie dla młodszego czytelnika.
January 31, 2019
Oz introduces far too much content that fails to add relevant to an already captivating story resulting in a drawn narrative.
September 7, 2023
This is beautiful and fun, I was really enjoying it. The omnibus is just too much for me to read right now, so I'm turning it back into the library :)
March 6, 2025
Makes me want to explore the original books with my daughter as she grows up! Fun read.
March 9, 2017
I had some idea that Frank Baum had other stories, but had never explored them. So this collection of Shanower's graphic novel versions of the stories was a great way to learn them. I finished the first three books before returning it to the library.
The omnibus is very heavy - you don't want to travel with it.
The omnibus is very heavy - you don't want to travel with it.
February 18, 2017
Oz novels adapted by the perfect duo of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young. Shanower has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Oz world and Young's famous cartoonish fairly land art is perfect for this collection. A must read for any Oz fan even if you do not usually read comic books. Happy to have this collection on my shelf which is packed full of extras such as the the covers of each single issue, the forwards from Shanower from each original trade, an interview with Shanower and Young's sketchbook preparing for the series.
December 28, 2016
As an adaptation of the first six Oz books, this is damn near perfect. It's incredibly faithful to the source material, and the occasional deviations from the original are completely justified (fixing and/or acknowledging continuity errors, rearranging the order of plot points to straighten the storyline, etc.). The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because the art style just isn't quite to my taste, although it certainly fits well with the wacky, whimsical, wonderful, and occasionally twisted world of Oz.
If you're an Oz fan, read this, and walk down the yellow brick road like you've never seen it before. If you're not an Oz fan, read this, because you just might become one.
If you're an Oz fan, read this, and walk down the yellow brick road like you've never seen it before. If you're not an Oz fan, read this, because you just might become one.
November 22, 2016
I would give this collection 5 stars for the art alone. Skottie Young is insanely good, and his style just works for this type of story. Check out his other work like I HATE FAIRYLAND --- great stuff. The story by L. Frank Baum is rather repetitive - loses its luster after the first two or three story arcs. I think Eric Shanower did the best he can to adapt the books into comic form, and it shows. There are no verbose panels. Eric lets Skottie's art breathes.
April 7, 2017
Perfect way to get a kid into Oz world . Amazing storytelling + amazing art = incredible book !
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews