Review - Oz: Kingdom Of The Lost #1
New this week from Zenescope Entertainment
A new mini-series this week from Zenescope Entertainment. Oz: Kingdom Of The Lost #1 is out now in print and digitally.
Dorothy and her team must venture far from the Emerald City in search of the missing Tin Man. What they uncover along the way will unlock mysteries that have been hidden from the citizens of Oz for generations and will change everything they believe about the so-called Wonderful Land they call home.
Story Dave Franchini & David Wohl
Writer David Wohl
Artwork Guillermo Fajardo 1-25 Eduardo Garcia 26-32
Colors Walter Pereyra 1-25 Maxflan Araujo 26-30 Robby Bevard 31 & 32
Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios)
Editor David Wohl Production & Design Christopher Cote
This first issue works well on two counts. I can happily say that new readers to the series should be able to jump straight into the story. Most of us know the story of the Wizard of Oz, and with a few changes, that is where we are at this point. Dorothy’s father is King of Oz, The Lion has settled down with his family, the Scarecrow is still about, and the Tin Man…
Well, the Tin Man had a different fate, which is the story of what happened next.
This issue is an introduction to both the characters and the story. That’s not to say there isn’t much going on in this story. There is action, magic and mystery. The action and the magic go hand in hand, with battles against monstrous beasts beneath the ground and something more going on. That moves us nicely onto the mystery. Some of that is solved with the backup story - I think it is something different to give an origin as a backup story rather than a monologue. It can’t be done all the time, but it works here.
The team looking into the mysterious disappearance is well-rounded, but I did enjoy the additions to the team later on. It was obvious where that aspect was leading, and it’s good to see a quick payoff.
The art works well, and the lettering, there is a good use of magic and action in this issue, and that is shown well. I especially like the splashes of colour to go with the dark of the underground scenes. The backup story makes use of some excellent washed tones too.
The finish leaves us with more to learn, and I expect a lot more action and battles in the second issue of this three-part mini-series.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this first issue to both new and seasoned series fans. It's an engaging mix of familiar characters, unexpected twists, striking artwork, and compelling storytelling. So grab your copy, buckle up for the journey, and let's see where the yellow brick road takes us in the next issue.
