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A review by joshgauthier
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Eric Shanower
4.0
I picked up this book solely for Skottie Young's art, and I was not disappointed.
Having never actually read the Oz novels, I can't speak how this adaptation compares to the source material--though I get the impression it is pretty close. I don't have strong feelings on the story itself. There's a lot of childhood nostalgia associated with the film, but the books are their own thing in a lot of ways--darker, wilder, sillier. I had not problems with the story overall, and it was interesting to encounter pieces of it that have been largely forgotten by popular culture.
But the real triumph of this adaptation is in the art. I am a huge fan of Young's work. His illustrations here are cartoonish and whimsical in perfect accompaniment to the story, but with a definite creepiness at times that is also well suited to the content. Young brings the tale to life with excellent flair and detail, bringing his own flavor to the characters in a way that also feels true the basics of who they are.
This book is a visual delight, especially for those who enjoy Young's artistic style.
Having never actually read the Oz novels, I can't speak how this adaptation compares to the source material--though I get the impression it is pretty close. I don't have strong feelings on the story itself. There's a lot of childhood nostalgia associated with the film, but the books are their own thing in a lot of ways--darker, wilder, sillier. I had not problems with the story overall, and it was interesting to encounter pieces of it that have been largely forgotten by popular culture.
But the real triumph of this adaptation is in the art. I am a huge fan of Young's work. His illustrations here are cartoonish and whimsical in perfect accompaniment to the story, but with a definite creepiness at times that is also well suited to the content. Young brings the tale to life with excellent flair and detail, bringing his own flavor to the characters in a way that also feels true the basics of who they are.
This book is a visual delight, especially for those who enjoy Young's artistic style.