This is a charming book by J.K. Rowling that it’s kinda mix of Alice in Wonderland and the Island of Misfit Toys fromMerry Xmas!
SAVING DUR PIG
This is a charming book by J.K. Rowling that it’s kinda mix of Alice in Wonderland and the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Jack is a child that while dealing with a new combined family, specially a new stepsister who is having troubles to accept the new family, he meets a magical pig who will help him to find his old pig toy in a magical realms made of several places where all lost things went.
I liked it a lot, since it’s told from the perspective of the kid and it’s quite realistic his way of analizing things and seeing life.
I believe that this story could make a wonderful stop-motion xmas TV special like those of 70s, even a movie since you got a lot of strange and cool places inside of the magical realm, therefore there is enough material to make a whole film, and while CGI is kinda the most usual way to make animated movies nowadays, I still think that a stop-motion option could be a wonderful way to present it.
Gertrude thought that she was coming back to her reality but...
...she has to do one more thing before leaving Fairyland...
...It's bad to be queen!
Gertrude thought that she was coming back to her reality but...
...she has to do one more thing before leaving Fairyland...
...and that thing has terrible consequences, well, terrible for Gertrude since now she is queen, but far from being a good thing, she is overwhelmed with duties that she never wanted and worst of all (worst for the people in Fairyland), it seems that she can't attend an official presentation to any event without...
...causing an explosion...
...really!
...even if it's not logical of having an explosion!
Will the people of Fairyland able to survive to Gertrude's reign?
This is the annotated edition, collecting both novels in the Alice book series: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”Curiouser and curiouser edition!
This is the annotated edition, collecting both novels in the Alice book series: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice found There”.
WE’RE ALL MAD HERE
Begin at the beginning…
This was technically a re-reading since I’ve already read both novels previously, the key difference here was that this is an “annotated” edition, which includes a comprehensive section, at the end of each chapter, with tons of notes revealing “behind-the-scenes” detailing moments in the life of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), the “real” meaning of scenes, the “real” inspirations for several of the characters in both novels, historic meaning (in the Victorian England) of casual expressions that got outdated nowadays, studies in the metrics of the poems included in the novels, etc…
I don’t think…
Then you shouldn’t talk…
It was a curiouser and curiouser reading experience since this was my first “annotated edition” of any book, and I believe that if you want to engage into this sort of books, it’s advisable having read the regular version of the novel first, since reading all those annotations after each chapter, it’s a kinda of “braking” effect, since depending the chapter, you’ll invest almost the same time reading the explanations than the chapter itself, so you lose a great deal of the rhythm of your reading, therefore, if you haven’t read the story before, you may not enjoying as much as it was supposed to be.
It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.
Of course, almost all the information was made by scholars in the Lewis Carroll’s works, doing assumptions and best guesses, since the author was already gone when this annotated edition began to be conceived. Therefore, it’s a priceless access to get a better understanding of the novels at the era when they were published, BUT…
…sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
…you can’t fully take without a doubt the exposed explanations, since you can’t ask the author anymore to validate if their interpretations are truly accurate. So, as many things in life, it’s up to you if you wish to believe them.
I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.
And as those scholars mentioned at some momento of the annotations, that sometimes we are so obssessed to find a secret meaning behind any single quote, any single character, any single scene, etc… and while it’s evident that some quotes, characters and scenes have indeed a double significance, some of them are merely things needed to keep flowing the narrative, as simply as that, without any conspiration or secret plot,…
I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, my reality is just different from yours.
…so don’t get too deep into the annotations section and simply enjoy this wonderfully mad tale about a little girl who fell down into a rabbit’s hole and she kept finding curiouser and curiouser things, even through the looking-glass.
…and go on till you come to the end: then stop....more
This single comic book is part of the Free Comic Book Day event in 2017.
Creative Team:
Creator, WrAn insanely funny journey through Image universe!
This single comic book is part of the Free Comic Book Day event in 2017.
Creative Team:
Creator, Writer & Illustrator: Skottie Young
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
IMAGE UNIVERSE DIDN’T HAD A CHANCE AGAINST HER!
In case you’re not familiar with the title, let me give you a brief orientation.
I Hate Fairyland is a comic book title from Image Comics, creation by the talented and popular artist Skottie Young, where the main character, Gertrude, got into the Fairyland when she was a sweet and kind ten-years old girl, BUT…
…she never was able to get out from there and 27 years after of looking for the infamous key to escape from Fairyland, well, she became a psychotic killer, but still in the body of a ten-year old girl (imagine the girl from Interview with the Vampire but Gertrude is really able to defend herself). So, after being trapped for almost three decades in Fairyland, Gertrude now is a fearsome menace killing anything alive that cross her path, with the only companion of a talking insect named Larry.
I got hooked with Skottie Young’s work when I got his comic book saga of graphic adaptations of the classic stories of Oz (which I highly recommend to you!), so I didn’t hesitate to pick this comic book on the 2017 Free Comic Book Day event.
This tale is set in the middle of Gertrude’s quest for the key to get out of Fairyland, where she is informed that there are other “lands” beyond Fairyland and where it’s possible to find “the Partners” that they may be have the power to get her back to her own reality, so Gertrude engages into the lands of…
…Image Comics Universe!
This is where the fun begins!
Gertrude,along with Larry, gets into the “lands” of…
…The Walking Dead, East of West, Black Science, Southern Bastards, Paper Girls, Invincible, Chew, The Wicked + The Divine, plus an all-out rumble with characters from Youngblood, Witchblade, The Darkness, Savage Dragon and many others! …
…and of course…
…wait for it…
…wait a little more…
…Spawn!!!
Oh, yeah!!!
If you’re fan of Skottie Young and/or fan in general of Image Comics universe, definitely this a comic book to get!
This is the sixth comic book adaptation of the original works by L. Frank Baum.
I was lucky to getThe last journey to Oz, at least in this editions
This is the sixth comic book adaptation of the original works by L. Frank Baum.
I was lucky to get it on the 5 single issues, but I will do the review on the collected edition to be able to do an overall review.
Creative Team:
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
FAMILY TRIP
This time Dorothy won't be on Kansas anymore, but her uncles neither.
Finally, Uncle Henry and Aunt Em travel to the marvelous land of Oz and they will be able to confirm that those all wonderful adventures of Dorothy were true.
Meanwhile, the evil Nome King wants revenge on Ozma and Dorothy and getting back his magic belt. For this, he finds the perfect general for his Nome army, Guph, who will contact other evil groups to invade Oz.
WONDERFUL STORY
This is a wonderful book where you will get glimpses of almost all major characters whom appeared on the previous books. And also, you will get to meet even more totally new characters here.
In this book you will be able to realize how powerful really is Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and how much she has impacted in the land of Oz.
Ozma is totally great here, since she is rational, open to advices and ideas, and also she doesn't compromise her principles.
And the Scarecrow shows yet again why he is the smartest being in all Oz.
A HUMBUG SHOULD REMAIN HUMBUG
Something that I didn't like is that now the Wizard of Oz is able to perform real magic (learned from Glinda). The whole concept that he is a humbug is what makes truly great this character. Definitely that was a bad development to this character on this book.
ALL GOOD THINGS...
The sad thing is that it seems that the creative team of Eric Shanower and Scottie Young will do a pause in the graphic adaptations of the original works by L. Frank Baum.
There is a similar "closure" on the original book, however, still there are several books written by Baum.
I really hope that Marvel Comics would continue with Shanower and Young as the creative team.
--O--
To check my reviews of the previous five graphic adaptations:
I was able to get the 5 single issues of this storyline but I chose this edition to make a better overall review.
WHO IS REALLY WILWillow rules!
I was able to get the 5 single issues of this storyline but I chose this edition to make a better overall review.
WHO IS REALLY WILLOW ROSENBERG?
This is an adventure of Willow Rosenberg that it's part of the canonical "Season 9" in comic book format of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
Willow Rosenberg is easily the most popular character from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, even more than the very Buffy Summers.
Not only because she was a brainy hacker, at the beginning of the TV series, or a powerful witch, later in advanced seasons, not even because it was one of the first TV characters making a surprising turn to be lesbian after many time being concepted as a heterosexual character.
All that helps, no question in that,...
...but it's because she is the one with the biggest heart.
And in this storyline, you will realize how big, the heart of Willow, is.
Willow, the Red
Rosenberg, the Enchantress
The Slayer´s Hex Mistress
Supreme Witch of Terra Firma
Certainly it's cool watching Willow flying in the air or walking in the water, but this story is more than just about power over magic.
It's about the magic in our hearts.
A WORLD WITHOUT MAGIC
In the climax of "Season 8" of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer canonical comic books, Buffy Summers had to take a drastic decision and the world was left without magic.
That could be seen like something no big deal if you are not a warlock or witch, but it's awesome how Willow starting to realize that magic is shown in more ways around the world than anyone thinks.
Magic wasn't just a tool for sorcerers and such...
...magic is an integral part of why human race deals each of their days.
People is recurring more to suicides. Artists are losing their inspiration. Rainbows have less colors...
...Hey, even Coca-Cola doesn't taste the same anymore!
So, Willow takes the Slayer's Scythe, the last bastion of magic in the world to break into some dimension with magic and finding a way to bring the magic again into our world.
IF THIS WONDERLAND, WHERE THE HECK IS THE HATTER AND THE CAT?
The title Wonderland can be deceiving, since it's not like Willow would go to Alice's Wonderland, but still, you get to meet the "original" caterpillar that claims was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll ;) 'Nuff to me!
While this seems to be a quest about magic...
...Willow will realize that it's a quest to know herself.
The art is nothing sensational but it's effective.
The story is well crafted.
Certainly a "must-have" for any Willow Rosenberg's fan.
Since I decided to read this book, I knew that it won't be any liEnjoyable enough, but it could be better
IN EVERY GENERATION THERE IS AN...ALICE?!
Since I decided to read this book, I knew that it won't be any literature wonder (pun intended) but I didn't regret my decision.
Indeed it wasn0t any reading masterpiece, but enjoyable enough.
It was a quick fun reading.
The story gave me just what I was expecting, a retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland but with a vampire oriented angle.
I think that the author did a fair job merging the original storyline with the new vampire approach.
CURIOUSER AND BLOODIER
Something that I quite enjoyed is that here, the Cheshire Cat got a status way over the Caterpillar.
I don't hate the Caterpillar but I always liked better the Cheshire Cat.
And lately in various retellings like Zenescope's Wonderland and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, I felt that the Caterpillar was presented more powerful and/or wiser.
But here, in this retelling, the Cheshire Cat seems without a doubt with more experience than the Caterpillar.
However, I would expected a little more of character development on Alice, taking in account that she is definitely not the regular Alice that you may being acquainted. Oh, you get the whole picture of how was her life since she was younger (in the story she is 16 years old) and how her family has a long line of slayers.
In that, the author not only got elements from Alice in Wonderland as the core setting but also got elements from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer stating that Alice thinks that only women can be slayers.
Still, a little more to define a tridimentional character could be appreciated and not just being the basically expected result from merging "Wonderland's Alice" with "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer".
You will get some twists and surprises, especially on the climax of the plot. (Easy, no spoiler! Hehehe)
So, while it's not a spectacular book, if you are fan of "Wonderland" related stuff and/or vampire related stuff, well, this an acceptable option, after all, you only invest like 2 hours at most to read it.
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie YounA fair adaptation from a pointless book
Creative Team:
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
NOT SO EASY TO RATE
My rating to this particular graphic novel is an average between the great presentation by Eric Shanower (writer) and Scottie Young (artist) and the original source material by L. Frank Baum.
If I think on the graphic novel per se, easily I could give it easily a full 5 stars rating, but the story that it's an adaptation of the original book by L. Frank Baum barely can reach a 3 stars rating.
So, I think quite fair to give a 4 stars rating overall.
Eric Shanower did his best to work out the book, but after all, he had kinda tied his hands due of having to work based on what L. Frank Baum did on the original prose book, that I feel it wasn't as good as his previous engagaments with the world of Oz.
IN CASE YOU ARE NEW TO THIS VERSIONS
In case you don't about those adaptations and/or you didn't read my previous reviews about the other OZ graphic novels, I can assure you that the formidable teamwork of Shanower and Young is a delight and you won't find a better graphic adaption around from the original work by L. Frank Baum.
Due the classic film "The Wizard of Oz", that I love, I was interested to read this graphic adaptations, that while I am reading them, I did research and I can assure that they are quite faithful to the original source material.
Of course, the best option always will be just to read the original books (that I will do, hopefully in a near future) but if you want to read the OZ stories in a graphic format, never doubt that getting these ones is a great option...
...because they truly are.
COOL NEW CHARACTERS BUT NO PLOT OR CLIMAX
Okay, about the story in this particular adventure...
Sure, there are cool things like having back Toto in the story, and the new characters are real interesting, the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright and Polychrome.
However the whole story is quite pointless and without any real danger (sure we have the Scoodlers but not nearly a threat comparing to previous adventures.
The "climax" of the story is the Birthday Party of Ozma and it's only that, a birthday party, there isn't any secret plot or the intrusion of some nasty villain trying to spoil the party, no, they have a real nice and appeased party...
...so much for a "climax", geez!!!
Also, you get a huge bunch of "guest appearances" that they are characters from other Baum's book unrelated with Oz, that one can think that a "crossover" is not a bad idea, however they didn't do anything useful or relevant on the story but to attend to...
...the dang nice and appeased birthday party!!! Geez!!!
So, while any excuse to return to the marvelous land of Oz is good, well, I was expecting some insightful moral lesson or some perilous and daring challenge against a powerful villain, but no, nothing relevant happens in this story.
Still, having to read the book with the ready-witted adaptation for the dialogues by Eric Shanower, along with the truly wonderful illustrations by the great artist Scottie Young, was a wondrous treat, so I have no regrets of having bought this book.
I love my physical edition of this novel...while the reading experience wasn't as good as always thought that it would be.
MANY SHADES OF GREENI love my physical edition of this novel...while the reading experience wasn't as good as always thought that it would be.
MANY SHADES OF GREEN
A thing that I got amazed when I started to "label" this book, in the process of my review, in my virtual shelves of Goodreads was how many different genres the novel touches... Politics, Religion, Romance, Humor, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery and even Espionage.
And I was very tempted to select Military too but I opted not.
And certainly the mood and themes of the story embraces all those genres and maybe more.
I knew about this book series some years ago while I was researching about the topic of Oz in general and since then I thought that it could be good to read it.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT... FOR A BOOK'S EDITION
Some months ago (2013), by chance, I found this edition in a shelf of a local bookstore. I recognized the title of the book and I took it by impulse. The cover was gorgeous with the poster of the musical version BUT what stunned me was the detail that this particular edition has the edges of the pages colored in green...
GREEN!!!
Ah?! Honestly I can't think in something cooler to make irresistible this edition.
Those marvelous green edges on the pages of the book sold me the novel right away and I couldn't took back the book on the shelf. Thanks goodness the wicked magic of the credit card allowed me to go out of the bookstore with the novel.
THIS IS NOT KANSAS!
Certainly when I started to read the book, I knew that I wasn't in Kansas anymore! Geez! The Cowardly Lion and the Tin Woodman kiss their mothers with those filthy mouths?! The introduction of the book is like a slap to the readers to make them understand quick and hard that this is indeed an adult book.
You know? I am not a prude, not in the least, but I think that Maguire made a hard effort to make sure that this will be an adult novel since I think that many of the issues touched here could work just the same without the need of some big words and sex scenes, while the drugs had to stay, hehehe, since indeed here the drugs played an important purpose on key moments.
It was like: "well since we have sex, drugs and rock n' roll (well no, no rock n' roll, really, not even on the musical version) this is a story for only we, the adults, sorry kids, you will have to keep busy with the Baum's cute books meanwhile you grow up some years."
Well, C.S. Lewis said that any children's tale that it can't be enjoyed by adults just the same, it's a poor children's tale.
So, facts of life... first, kids aren't dumb, they can understand heavy topics, even more the new generations that grow up with internet as nanny, and second, adults don't need sex, drugs and r... (you got it) to enjoy an intelligent story.
IT'S NOT EASY TO BE GREEN
Since this is a really smart tale, but maybe I had some expectations that affect my final rating of the book.
First, there are really big "jumps" between the chapters and while there some unexpected turns and twists (that one can think that it's something good) but some of those twists were... ah? With him? Really? Geez! And romance left the building!
Later, I really expected an explanation of how a person can turn to be evil or be seen as evil, but Elphaba turned out to be wicked not as evil but as crazy and for reasons really odd.
Also, since the beginning there is something that I don't understand. Elphaba born with green skin, okay, HERE, in our beloved Kansas and the rest of the Earth around, it could be a real trouble but hey, they aren't in Kansas anymore, that's Oz, a land where animals can talk and people can do magic!
How odd really can be a person with green skin over there?
Honestly I could be more freak out for a talking goat or lion than watching a person with green skin.
Also, the green skin resulted an odd issue again at some point, you see, Elphaba is in hiding, but hey, she is walking around the city... how good can be in hiding for "several" years if she is supposed to be the only woman with green skin in all Oz?!
What? The Gale Force recluted colorblind people?! Geez!
Also, I have my theories about the physical problem of Nessarose (Elphaba's sister) but since it wasn't approached beyond of being just a birth defect, I don't see the point of her problem.
Even I think that the story was evolving quite fine until Maguire tried to put together his own story with the original story when Dorothy arrives to Oz.
WICKED READING
Besides all my complaints, the book is still a smart vessel to touch sensitive topics of politics, religion and social interaction without worrying to be subjected to harsh critique since he smartly uses characters and themes in Oz and you have to deduce those allegories on your own and at the end, they will be your own ideas and not necessarily what the author wanted to say.
However, the book lacks of some action, all stuff happened in a very appeased tempo.
Nevertheless, I want to try in the future the other books by Maguire, on this Wicked series and his other stand-alone novels based on retellings of classic children's books.
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie YThe Wizard and Dorothy are together again!
Creative Team:
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
MANGABOO(GIE) TIMES
As the title clearly states, the two most famous characters from the first book are together again. Dorothy and the Wizard reunites!
And you can bet that new companions rise. Zeb, that he's Dorothy's cousin. Jim, a work horse. And Eureka, a mischief cat. As happened with Billina in the previous book, the horse and the cat can talk once they are in the realms of the fairy lands. (One must wonder what the heck is going with Toto? Is he mute? Has he nothing good to say? Dang it!)
The bunch are lost yet again in fairy terra incognita, far from the familiar territory of Oz.
Good thing that Dorothy and her friends soon enough have the support of the Wizard!
They will have to face in the strange land of the Mangaboos and the odd valley of Voe, but you can bet that a visit to Emerald City in Oz is not so farfetched to hope.
The journey is entertained, full of humor, with plenty of perils and indeed one heck of adventure!
The wonderful Oz-esome team of Eric Shanower and Scottie Young is together again to adapt the fourth book of L. Frank Baum.
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
BEWThe story is far from ending up!
Creative Team:
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
BEWARE THE WHEELERS!
Dorothy returns in another adventure but to her surprise she may not being in Kansas anymore but it's not Oz either.
Dorothy and her new companion, Billina, are now in the wonderful land of Ev!
Billina is a hen, but unlike Toto, the dog, Billina is able to talk while she is in the magical realms, making her more interesting to read in the story. And don't get me wrong, Toto is adorable, but being able to speak, indeed is a big plus to Billina as companion to Dorothy.
Soon enough, Dorothy and Billina will have the help of Tik-Tok, a likeable metallic soldier.
And that's good since this time Dorothy will need all the available help since she will face a new villain, the powerful Nome King!!!
OZMA RULES!
Now, Oz is ruled by Ozma, the real heiress to the throne of Oz.
Ozma rules! (In more than the literal way)
And as I commented that Dorothy would need all the available help, so that's good that Ozma won't hesitate to form a party (No! Not one of those where you dance and eat cake, you silly!) of the best characters in Emerald City to make a daring journey from the boundaries of Oz to reach the dangerous territories of Ev.
New challenges are ahead, so don't miss the next chapter in the magical and charming saga of Oz!!!
Eric Shanower and Scottie Young are back again to adapt in a wonderful way, this third book by L. Frank Baum.
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
BACK TO OZ
If you think OZ-esome!!!
Creative Team:
Writer: Eric Shanower (based on the original works by L. Frank Baum)
Illustrator: Scottie Young
BACK TO OZ
If you think that since Dorothy was back in Kansas, that meant that it was the end of the adventures in Oz...
...you can't be more wrong about it!
The wonderful creative team of Eric Shanower and Scottie Young return to adapt the second book by L. Frank Baum and you are able to return to the magical land of Oz with them.
Some of the popular characters of the first adventure made appearances but you get a big bunch of totally new characters in this story.
I enjoyed at the fullest since while I was quite aware of the events in the first book due the classical movie adaptation, not matter the changes in the story, you had all the essential elements and moments, however, when I read for the first time The Marvelous Land of Oz was indeed terra incognita and I think that it was like to be another member in the party discovering and getting surprises about all what was happening at Oz.
If you want to read it, don't try to research much ahead, just dive in the book! Since there is a major twist in the story that if you know about it before the reading, you will miss a lot of the fun, stun and punch!
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