L. Frank BaumThe Wizard of Oz (Puffin Classics)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower, and illustrated by Skottie YoungEdition reviewed: Marvel hardcover edition, 2009.Why I Picked it Up:I actually wasn’t looking for a comic book at all. I wasn’t even looking at Wizard of Oz related things. I was reading a list of gift ideas for girls, and saw the Marvel version of the Wizard of Oz! Not to say that this is a girly book – it feels very gender neutral to me, which is probably one of the reasons that it was on the list. Anyway, I was intrigued, and looked it up. As soon as I saw the whimsical cover, and that it was a 200+ page hardcover collected the 8 comic book issues, I purchased it right away.My Overall Opinion:This book is not at all what I’m usually into. Perhaps I was inspired by Darth Vader and Son, which I found adorable. But this book absolutely blew me away.Of course, I watched the Wizard of Oz movie starring Judy Garland as a kid. So I knew the basic storyline, but I hadn’t known that the movie had changed so much of the original book. To my delight (in my world, books > movies), this Marvel edition was a direct, visual transformation of the original.Shanower does a great job of adapting the story. It’s easy to read, the plot is clear and concise, and the dialogue fits in perfectly. Another review states that this book is text heavy for a graphic novel. However, I didn’t notice this, so I assume this is only a problem for very young children. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable amount of text to me. I’d like to think that this book transcends all age groups.But where this book really shines lies in the visual aspects. Artist Skottie Young and colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu have made this book an absolute masterpiece. The art is truly wonderful, and the vibrant colors enhance the storyline more than I would have thought possible. I would buy this book just to stare all the beautiful artwork because it really is outstanding. I never knew how much colors could alter the tone of a scene, and Beaulieu is clearly an expert here. Young’s incredibly talented as well, and the bonus material in the back shows his character building process, with various sketches and prototypes. I really appreciated this section, because it really demonstrates Young’s versatility and creativity – I had no idea how much work it took to develop original artwork for characters that readers had already cast in their heads.After reading this, the 1939 movie is no longer the “standard” Wizard of Oz tale to me. If I ever hear of the Cowardly Lion, Skottie Young’s illustration is the one that I will think of. I will think of silver shoes instead of ruby red shoes, and I will see the Tinman with a (awesome) moustache forever.This book is timeless and beautiful, and I would highly recommend for anyone with even the slightest inkling of interest in the Wizard of Oz. I had enjoyed the Judy Garland movie, but it was never one of my favorites. This Marvel edition, however, is now a book that I will recommend to everyone with children. On top of that, this version is just as likeable for adults and teens!So just hurry up and get a copy of this book. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is waiting!

As a long time Oz fan and a bit of a purist, my vision of L. Frank Baum's Oz is tied to the illustrations of W. W. Denslow, John R. Neill, and Eric Shanower, whose style honors the content of the original Oz illustrators yet manages to feel fresh and contemporary at the same time. Frankly, I could not have imagined a different Oz aesthetic that would satisfy as much as the original or a faithful adaptation thereof, like Shanower's Adventures in Oz. This collaboration between Shanower and Young, however, blew me away.Quite simply, this book is gorgeous and although it breaks the mold, it is a completely convincing new vision of Oz. The script by Eric Shanower does a beautiful job of distilling Baum's prose into the economical form needed for the comic book/graphic novel genre. Yet episodes and details unique to Baum's original text - crossing a river on a raft, meetings with the stork, the Kalidahs, the Hammerheads, the China Country, the Witch's golden cap, are all there. Most importantly Baum's tone, humor, and kindly philosophy shine through.Skottie Young's artwork is extraordinary. I especially like his Dorothy. Denslow's Dorothy always seemed a bit pudgy and humorless. Neill's is too often insipid and girly. This Dorothy is cute as a button with lots of spunk and emotional range - wonder, awe, fear and rage as appropriate, it's all there. She practically leaps off the page. And she is so winsome that it's easy to imagine why her companions take to her and become her devoted friends. The Tin Woodman has a wonderful mustache reminiscent of either W. W. Denslow or Baum himself. The Scarecrow has a vaguely zombie aesthetic, especially after he gets his pins and needles brains. The Lion looks like a cuddly stuffed toy - until he roars and then watch out! The good witch of the North is a delightful bubble head and the Wicked Witch of the West is truly terrifying. The Wizard looks a simultaneously malevolent and mischievous grandpa with his too short trousers belted high over the bulge of his belly and his glasses that are unfashionably large. Relatively minor characters like the Munchkin with the injured leg and the field mice get a fresh new spin.The color palette is also a delight to the eye. Baum's color scheme as Dorothy moves through the different regions of Oz is retained but in a subtle way.If you have any affection for Oz at all, run to your nearest bookseller and buy this book. You will not be disappointed. I'd give it six stars if I could.I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Marvelous Land of Oz, by this talented team.

After many years of loving the movie I decided to read the book…so glad I did! An eye opening read!

I read a lot of the series as a kid. As an adult, I was curious about the adaptation since I'm a writer. The book is very episodic, unlike the film, where the wicked witch is the central villian. The movie adds scenes like Dorothy falling in the pig pen, which is a danger lost on some modern audiences. I have a pig pen scene in one of my books and wanted to see how the book did it only to realize it wasn't there. The additional scenes at the beginning raises the meaning of home. Some iconic lines like there is no place like home are also movie creations. The two are very different and the movie version is obviously much more modern.

História simples, agradável e interessante até para um adulto. Não foi previsível. Recomendo o clássico para quem, assim como eu, está buscando fluência no inglês.

Es de pasta blanda, tipo tamaño carta. Pero es súper bonito el trabajo de julia sardá y además los detalles en dorado de la portada están chulos

This book is beautifully illustrated. The colours are so vibrant. I can only complain that there aren’t enough illustrations in the book. I wish the illustrator would do the other books in the series so that I could continue reading it. I never knew this story to be so beautiful. The Hollywood version is garbage compared to the book.It’s a story about the consequences of not knowing ones own power and gift! What happens when one does not know their true potential. I’ve already read the whole book to my daughter three times. Now I’m going to buy another copy for my niece.

different to the movie but this is the originals story and such beautiful sentiments. so easy and quick to read. so engaging for a child.

Satıcı çok hızlı. Kitap 24 saat geçmeden elime ulaştı. Kitaplığımızdaki en güzel kitap. 6 aylık çocuğumun ilerde okuyacağını hayal ederek almıştım. Eminim çok sevecek. Arkadaşlarıma da önerdim onlar da aldılar. Robert Sabuda farkı