All-Action Classics: The Wizard of Oz

All-Action Classics #4

by Ben Caldwell (Adapter), L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum's classic fantasy looks fabulous in this vivid, high-octane graphic-novel rendition, filled with kid-grabbing details.
 
In this action-filled graphic adaptation of the visionary children's classic, the Yellow Brick Road has never seemed brighter, the Wicked Witch more evil, or the Land of Oz more magical. When a tornado snaps up young Dorothy, dumping her in Oz, she knows she’s not in Kansas anymore. And when her only way home is with the help of an irate Wizard, Dorothy and her misfit friends embark on an unforgettable—and dangerous—journey.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Classics, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the art and I didn't think the little changes here and there added anything to the story. Ben changed quite a bit and I don't see how that is adding to the story. I feel it's just being different for different sake.

I do think the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland are new classics in our fairy tale literature. I think Harry Potter is also added to that, but time will tell.

I'm not impressed by this, but others might really enjoy it. Try it out and see for yourself. It's not for me.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Nice illustrations and a good story. I think I will read the original by Baum during next year.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this not expecting very much because I have read many books thus far on Oz. This was fun though in a quirky way that I have seen in other places, but this felt like its own little slice of the Oz world. I appreciated it overall for it telling the classic oz story, but also creating elements that made it unique enough for those of us that been inundated with Oz (even if by choice). One of the elements that makes this book quirky is the art style. Caldwell does a masterful job of creating what each character looks like and makes them individuals. This helps to create the familiar world of Oz, but makes them uniquely his own as well. I was very pleased with this book and recommend it to Oz fans new and old.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read since as it's been forever since I've even seen the VeggieTale of this.. 3.5 stars, although I'm leaning a bit more towards a 4. So funny. Scarecrow: love him <3

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a unique adaption of the Wizard of Oz and I have to say, that this graphic novel moves quickly. I thought that the frames were easy to follow and I liked the bright and bold colors that were used in the illustrations. I was disappointed that some of the classic features of the novel were left out but the author added some his own adaptions that I think younger children will enjoy. I found a few illustrations hard to decipher, the chaos inside them overlapping and the features hard to distinguish from one another, I decided that bedlam was taking place and I moved on to the next frame. Some of the characters had some interesting characteristics to make them stand out while other characters I wasn’t too fond of. This mix of characters created a fun and entertaining read.

The graphic novel opened up just like the classic novel that we all love with Dorothy and her beloved dog touching down in the Land of Oz. Finding out that she has just killed the Wicked Witch of the East, the munchkins inform her just how wicked the witch was including how the witch had cut the library funding. Dorothy doesn’t immediately find herself in the ruby slippers in this adaption, the munchkins tell Dorothy that she can remove the magical slippers from the witch and she then become the new Witch from the East. Dorothy is not sure if she wants to be a witch but the shoes are rather tempting and after explaining to them that she wants to go back home to Kansas, she puts on the sparkling shoes. The munchkins explain to Dorothy her best option to get back to Kansas and send her and her dog on her way with the golden bricks under her feet, the picnic basket swinging from her arm and her dog running beside her. With new adaptions to this classic, I found that this novel would be entertaining to younger children.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leaning towards a 3.5 on this one. While not the most faithful adaptation, it's charming and the artwork has a vibrant & sweet quality that lends itself well to this fantastical world. An introduction to this work would have been lovely and including the art notes in the text instead of having to go online would have improved the rating; the map should be in the beginning to help the reader follow Dorothy. There are some sequences Caldwell jumps over quickly that deserved more explanation for those unfamiliar with the original tale, such as the poppies, the origin of the flying monkeys & how they work.

I'm a fan of Baum, so am familiar with the original work. Caldwell's adaptation opens the doorway for new generations to experience Oz. For example, he selects to keep Baum's silver slippers and readers used to the classic film's ruby slippers will notice this. This and other scenes may lead them to seek out Baum's tale and the other Oz books. I do love that Caldwell chooses to imagine the characters outside of the film and Dorothy is not a cookie cutter image of Judy Garland. It is refreshing to see the witches, munchkins & others in a new light - and one that honors their spirits.

The work as a whole is seamless and Caldwell's subtle color palette changing between Kansas & Oz helps define the story. There's a more dreamlike aspect to the characters & costumes in Oz, and the colors are more vibrant. The sly jokes thrown in help modernize the tale & provide something new for those of us familiar with the story.

Overall, I recommend this book & the All-Action Classic series (this is #4). It was a quick & enjoyable read.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

When young Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are taken to the Land of Oz by a cyclone, Dorothy is regaled as a powerful sorcerer for having killed the Wicked Witch of the East. But Dorothy never meant to kill anyone; it was just bad luck for the witch that Dorothy’s house happened to fall on her. With the help of some munchkins and a Good Witch, Dorothy sets out to follow the yellow brick road to seek the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, who will surely be able to send her back to Kansas, her home. On the way, Dorothy and Toto meet a scarecrow looking for a brain, a tin man looking for a heart and a cowardly lion in need of courage. This graphic novel adaption gives new life to a classic story.

I found this book by chance when I was sorting books in my library. The illustrations are beautiful and unique and I thought this was a really great adaptation of a story everyone knows. It mainly kept closer to a shortened version of the original, although there were times when some things were more like the movie, such as there being one good witch and the gifts from the Wizard. There was a lot of humour, such as when the munchkins are describing the terrors under the reign of the Wicked Witch and include that she closed libraries. The pacing was a little off with their being so much action, but I wonder if that is a common trait of graphic novels. Ben Caldwell’s illustrations were so fabulous and I loved his new take on the characters. This very quick read is definitely worthwhile and full of humour. A great take on the original, this action packed graphic novel is a wonderful adaptation.

5/5

[A. Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm stuck between 3.5 and 4 on this one but edging towards 4. Very cute, it made me laugh out loud in a number of places with their one liners and "commemorative soaps"! Very fun. I've never read the original story (just saw the movie when I was a kid) but this graphic novel makes me want to. It's got hints of the story that I remember but some elements that make it new as well. All together, a great introduction to the Wizard of Oz (I think) and a fun read for those of you who know the story already.

I found some of the lettering to be a bit confusing but I did adore the art style (the munchkins were so cute!). There is enough danger and scary elements that I think boys would also enjoy this story. It makes it much more of an action-packed adventure which, given the series title, shouldn't be that surprising.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and colourful adaptation of the classic. While I found that the pace of the story went a little quickly I get why it was done. If they hadn't I can only imagine this graphic novel being four hundred pages. Scarecrow was my favourite character. He was so goofy and I loved his ending. Of course I enjoyed the lion too and the Tin Man. Toto on the other hand not so much. Not sure why but I found him a bit annoying. Dorothy was portrayed very well.
The illustrations were very well done and adorable and I look forward to diving into more of these All-Action Classics.

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Wizard of Oz graphic novel I read, and I guess I'm comparing between it and the first one. This was nice, the drawing style was nifty, and the dialogue was more humorous, but I still enjoyed the other one a lot more, with its beautiful art and more elaborate storytelling, and that's why I gave this one three stars instead of five.

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up in a time when watching "The Wizard of Oz" was an annual event. So I picture Oz as a world of technicolor glory. The color palette in this version is so muted, there's not much difference between Oz and Kansas. But I did enjoy the addition of some snarky humor that gave a treasured classic some 21st century punch.

[Marie Polega · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the basic story, but I preferred the illustrations in the edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that I read. I liked that there were a few funny moments in this version not in the original.

[Sarah Schanze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute adaptation, full of Ben Caldwell's usual gorgeous art and designs.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and FUNNY - if not entirely faithful - adaptation. Ben Caldwell is hilarious and a wonderfully creative artist, and he's in top form here.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good adaption. It does not measure up to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz(one of my favorite books). Still very good.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a new twist on this classic story.

[Bookworm007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! Hope they make the other books in The Wizard of Oz series.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting graphic novel adaptation of the Wizard of OZ. Suffers in comparison to the Marvel offerings by Shanower and Young, but is well worth the small time investment to read on its own.

[Julianna Adjei]

It was amazing and I got to admit I love the wizard of oz but sometime I like the manga books better. I also watched the movie but it was a little (a lot) boring

[Litwithlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very surprising four star for me. I have had this book on my shelf forever, literal years, after buying it for super cheap somewhere. I'm pretty sure that the art is what put me off of reading this for so long. Because, honestly, the art had to very slowly grow on me. It is kind of.....ugly. It's ugly. The art is ugly. BUT , and this is a BIG BUT. Sometimes ugly or off putting art can grow on you if you enjoy the actual meat of the story enough. It acquires a charm and , like a crush, that can blossom into really loving something for exactly what it is. ( *In this case, ugly.) That's exactly what happened here, for me. My favorite character, hands down, is the Cowardly Lion. He has oversized bulging eyes , a massive head with disproportionately large body ( Think of an L.O.L doll or Bratz) and the dumbest dollop whip of a mane that I have ever seen. This book reimagines Oz and its characters in a creative enough way that this tale as old as time is worth "rereading" in this version.
Highlights ; the dry humor, the lovingly fugly art, funky character redesigns.

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique and quirky adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Quite a few changes were made to the story, making it different than the movie and the original book series. I think that the changes that were made helped to make this particular edition stand out from the many others I’ve come across. With that being said, it was still a fast and enjoyable take on this classic tale.

The artwork in this book is definitely one of a kind as it is bold and colorful. My only complaint is that Dorothy didn’t really look like the typical Dorothy we know and love. The way she was portrayed reminded me more of Cinderella before the ball.

What I liked:
🔹The frames are easy to follow
🔹The story moves along quickly
🔹Important elements of the story stayed true to the original

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just didn't work for me. It's an extremely rushed adaptation, and ends up cribbing the ending from the movie instead of from the book. There are a lot of little changes here and there, and they don't really add to the story. And I just didn't like the character designs, particularly for Dorothy.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this adapter isn't responsible for the original storyline, but this interpretation is bad. The artwork is chaotic and unattractive. It's hard to parse, which makes the entire story confusing. The language choices are weird. Very disappointing adaptation.

[Alexis]

i liked it

[Beki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I didn't like this, it felt like I rushed through the story

[Aishwarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for kids. A very short book but with wonderful illustrations.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this graphic book for the art. I loved the whimsical style. The adaption of the novel was pretty good and flowed well.

[Charles Fortune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice adaptation of the classic.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great graphic novel of The Wizard Of Oz with super unique and stylized artwork

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't compare this graphic novel to the books or the movie.