Oz: the Great and Powerful

My admiration for writer/director/producer Sam Raimi is boundless...

...so, I'm going to see how he handles a prequel to the classic tale of the Wizard tonite.

Raimi has a knack for pastiche, using elements of existing stories to either re-tell tales with a twist (as in the Hercules: the Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, and the current Spartacus TV series), or do new material with "familiar" elements (Evil Dead trilogy).

See you tomorrow!

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Reading Room: WIZARD OF OZ Conclusion

Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead...

...oops, they only said (and sang) that in the Judy Garland movie!

And this definitely ain't the 1939 flick!

However, the Wicked Witch of the West is, in fact, dead!

Using the witch's magic hat, Dorothy commands the flying monkeys to carry herself and her friends back to the Wizard's Palace in the Emerald City...

While not a perfect retelling of the novel, it's a helluva lot closer to the source than any of the various movies/tv shows/cartoons from 1908 to the present!

This never-reprinted book adaptation from Dell Junior Treasury #5 (1956) was scripted by Gaylord DuBois and illustrated by Mel Crawford.
Oddly, it's not listed in the Wikipedia article about various adaptations of the novel!
The Classics Illustrated Junior version (which is totally-different) is listed!

Heck, there have even been several anime versions...

Wow!

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Reading Room: WIZARD OF OZ Part 3

When Last We Left Our Motley Ensemble...

Dorothy Gale inadvertently crushes an evil witch with her house when it (and her) are transported by a tornado to a faraway land called "Oz".

The girl from Kansas is told that she must visit the Wizard who lives in the Emerald City, for he is the only one with the power to return her home!

Following the Yellow Brick Road (which goes directly to the green metropolis), she encounters three strange (but friendly) beings who agree to accompany her.

Overcoming dangerous obstacles, the group reaches the city...and an audience with the awesome Wizard!

Proclaiming he can return Dorothy home, Oz (as the Wizard calls himself) demands that she slay the Wicked Witch of the West or he won't aid the girl from Kansas.

Tomorrow:

Return to the Emerald City...and Home?

This never-reprinted book adaptation from Dell Junior Treasury #5 (1956) was scripted by Gaylord DuBois and illustrated by Mel Crawford.

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OZ

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Reading Room: WIZARD OF OZ Part 2

When Last We Left Our Travelers...

Dorothy Gale inadvertently crushes an evil witch with her house when it (and her) are transported by a tornado to a faraway land called "Oz".

The girl from Kansas is told that she must visit the Wizard who lives in the Emerald City, for he is the only one with the power to return her home!

Following the Yellow Brick Road (which goes directly to the green metropolis), she encounters three strange (but friendly) beings who agree to accompany her...

Tomorrow:
Journey to the Castle of
the Wicked Witch of the West!

This never-reprinted book adaptation from Dell Junior Treasury #5 (1956) was scripted by Gaylord DuBois and illustrated by Mel Crawford.

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OZ

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Reading Room: WIZARD OF OZ Part 1

We're off to see the Wizard...

...in this adaptation of the original book, not the movie, so there are a number of differences between this and the better-known film (which takes a number of liberties with the story)!

The adventure continues...
Tomorrow!

This never-reprinted adaptation from Dell Junior Treasury #5 (1956) was scripted by Gaylord DuBois and illustrated by Mel Crawford.

Visit our
OZ

Collectibles Shop