Oz (comics)
Encyclopedia
Oz is a comic book series created by Ralph Griffth (plotter), Stuart Kerr (scripter), and Bill Bryan, artist. The series was begun by Caliber Comics
. It ran for twenty issues, six specials, and two three-issue limited series
detailing the romance of the Scarecrow and Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, who create a child using the Powder of Life, in spite of Scraps's discomfort with the Scarecrow's new personality. Jack Pumpkinhead was possessed and destroyed in the Daemonstorm company-wide crossover
. After twenty issues, the series was revived by Arrow Comics
as Dark Oz for five issues, climaxing the story arc. Nine issues followed titled The Land of Oz which presented a more orthodox vision of Oz, which was also shown in Oz issue zero.
's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
, the tale begins with three 1990s
era twenty-somethings being swept away from our Earth to the land of Oz via tornado. There they discover that sinister forces have been at work, and the evil Nome King now rules the land with an iron fist, backed up by his army of rock-dwelling minions. Having become unwilling freedom fighters in a world not their own, Earthlings Peter, Kevin, Mary, and Kevin’s dog Max soon play a central role in ridding the once-beautiful Oz of the Nome King’s dark influence.
The trio are first separated in a battle with nomes and Mary is saved by the stick-figure Jack Pumpkinhead
. She then meets Sawhorse, Amber Ombi (Ombi Ambi
's nephew), General Jinjur, Hektor Hammerhead and Wogglebug: the Freedom Fighters of Oz. Kevin and Peter barely escape from a Kalidah, a creature half tiger and half bear. Many adventures occur before the three Earthers are reunited. They must face Witch Mombi and her Ladies Auxiliary Brigade, an army of enslaved Winged Monkeys, and giant spiders in an underground cavern. They must also find a way to defeat the Three Evil Kings of Oz: Scarecrow
, Tin Woodsman, and Lion
! And if that weren't enough, they still have to defeat the Nome King and all his magical devices, and save Queen Ozma to return Oz to its former glory! Adventure and danger are mixed with whimsy and humor in a totally unique version of a classic fairy tale land.
The three rulers were restored by issue 10. In issue 14, Princess Ozma
, who has been under a spell keeping her in a near vegetative state on the queen's throne next to Ruggedo, is restored and the Wizard found. A new artist took over with issue #16, though Bryan was back with Arrow—he had been drawing the prequel comics. The remainder of the run of Oz climaxes in Dark Oz, though Ruggedo remains around to be a villain in The Land of Oz.
Dark Oz was optioned for a movie trilogy in 2008. The movie is in development with Pearry Teo
attached to direct.
Caliber Comics
Caliber Comics or Caliber Press was an American comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, in the next decade Caliber published over 1300 comics and ranked as one of the America's leading independent publishers...
. It ran for twenty issues, six specials, and two three-issue limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
detailing the romance of the Scarecrow and Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, who create a child using the Powder of Life, in spite of Scraps's discomfort with the Scarecrow's new personality. Jack Pumpkinhead was possessed and destroyed in the Daemonstorm company-wide crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
. After twenty issues, the series was revived by Arrow Comics
Arrow Comics
Arrow Comics was one of the original independent publishers of black-and-white comics in the mid 1980s, starting out in Ypsilanti, Michigan by founders Ralph Griffith and Stuart Kerr.- Origins :...
as Dark Oz for five issues, climaxing the story arc. Nine issues followed titled The Land of Oz which presented a more orthodox vision of Oz, which was also shown in Oz issue zero.
Plot
Beginning with a tribute to the original story, L. Frank BaumL. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
, the tale begins with three 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
era twenty-somethings being swept away from our Earth to the land of Oz via tornado. There they discover that sinister forces have been at work, and the evil Nome King now rules the land with an iron fist, backed up by his army of rock-dwelling minions. Having become unwilling freedom fighters in a world not their own, Earthlings Peter, Kevin, Mary, and Kevin’s dog Max soon play a central role in ridding the once-beautiful Oz of the Nome King’s dark influence.
The trio are first separated in a battle with nomes and Mary is saved by the stick-figure Jack Pumpkinhead
Jack Pumpkinhead
Jack Pumpkinhead is a fictional character from the Oz book series by L. Frank Baum.-In Baum:Jack first appeared in The Marvelous Land of Oz. Jack's tall figure is made from tree limbs and jointed with wooden pegs...
. She then meets Sawhorse, Amber Ombi (Ombi Ambi
Soldier with the Green Whiskers
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is a major character in the Oz books of L. Frank Baum and his successors. His name is Omby Amby, but this was so obliquely stated that he also became known briefly as Wantowin Battles.-Early appearances:...
's nephew), General Jinjur, Hektor Hammerhead and Wogglebug: the Freedom Fighters of Oz. Kevin and Peter barely escape from a Kalidah, a creature half tiger and half bear. Many adventures occur before the three Earthers are reunited. They must face Witch Mombi and her Ladies Auxiliary Brigade, an army of enslaved Winged Monkeys, and giant spiders in an underground cavern. They must also find a way to defeat the Three Evil Kings of Oz: Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
, Tin Woodsman, and Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
! And if that weren't enough, they still have to defeat the Nome King and all his magical devices, and save Queen Ozma to return Oz to its former glory! Adventure and danger are mixed with whimsy and humor in a totally unique version of a classic fairy tale land.
The three rulers were restored by issue 10. In issue 14, Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma is a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by L. Frank Baum. She appears in every book of the series except the first, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz .She is the rightful ruler of Oz, and L...
, who has been under a spell keeping her in a near vegetative state on the queen's throne next to Ruggedo, is restored and the Wizard found. A new artist took over with issue #16, though Bryan was back with Arrow—he had been drawing the prequel comics. The remainder of the run of Oz climaxes in Dark Oz, though Ruggedo remains around to be a villain in The Land of Oz.
Dark Oz was optioned for a movie trilogy in 2008. The movie is in development with Pearry Teo
Pearry Teo
Pearry Reginald Teo Zhang Pingli , film director/producer, is the first Singaporean movie director to make a Hollywood film.- Biography :...
attached to direct.