The Emerald City of Oz #1 Review

L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has seen more than its fair share of adaptations over the years. Though a few of Baum's other Oz books have been translated into other media, few receive the same attention that particular installment does -- and that's why writer Eric Shanower and artist Skottie Young's The Emerald City of Oz is such a refreshing spin. We return to the glimmering green city, but the story has, thankfully, not gone stale. Considering the relative lack of kid-friendly titles on the market, The Emerald City of Oz is a welcome addition to Marvel's lineup.

The mini-series' opening stays true to Baum's original work. Dorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry have hit hard times -- the tornado that started it all has devastated their farm and poverty looms on the horizon. Wholly unperturbed, young Dorothy concocts a solution to all their problems: pick up and move to Oz, of course. Her aunt and uncle are, understandably, dubious of this plan, but they humor their niece. To their surprise, they find themselves whisked away by the power of Princess Ozma and her magical belt -- unfortunately, the belt's previous owner, the dastardly Nome King, has an evil plan to get it back.

Shanower's script is meant for kids, and that's not a bad thing. One needn't look far to find a parent bemoaning the limited selection of child-appropriate comics, so Shanower is filling a very important void. That being said, there are a few points where the dialogue begins to feel a little forced and repetitive.

Readers of all ages are bound to fall in love with Skottie Young's whimsical art. His style -- marked by exaggerated proportions and energetic lines -- is a perfect fit for the city of Oz. Likewise, Jean-François Beaulieu's colors bring the Nome King's earth-toned subterranean lair and the jewel-toned Oz to vibrant life. Overall, the creative team behind The Emerald City of Oz has crafted a book for kids that is both fun and sophisticated, with just enough menace to keep things interesting.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, comics, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.

Source : ign[dot]com