Neverwhere question

I’m two-thirds through Neverwhere (The Author’s Preferred Text) and came to Goodreads to see if anyone noticed the similarity of the story to (not Alice in Wonderland as touted on the jacket sleeve but) The Wizard of Oz. Instead of Dorothy, there’s a grown-up Rickard Mayhew. Instead of munchkins there are rat-speakers (and rats). Like Dorothy, Richard has three fellow travelers. The scarecrow becomes Door, a young woman who can open any door without touching it. The Lion is Hunter, their bodyguard. The Tinman is the Marquis. The Good Witch of the East is now an Angel. The Wicked Witch of the West is Varney, who too meets his demise early. The Golden Brick Road is the London Underground.

The travelers each seek something. In Richard’s case it’s a return to Kansas – I mean London Above. I haven’t read far enough to decide who is the Wizard.

It’s not all Wizard of Oz influenced. The two despicable characters of Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar remind me of far evil versions of the brothers, Cain and Abel, from the old comic books, The House of Secrets and the House of Mystery.

I’ve just reached the part where Richard begins “The Ordeal.” I’ll try to supplement these initial thoughts after I finish the book.