[b:Tales from Oz|20691794|Tales from Oz|Dan Wickline|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392029106s/20691794.jpg|40010025] is essentially attempting to do what [b:Wicked|305234|Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)|Melissa Marr|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327814035s/305234.jpg|296240] did better - update the Oz stories to a more adult, and thus realistic, view of what the land would be like. Whereas [b:Wicked|305234|Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1)|Melissa Marr|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327814035s/305234.jpg|296240] handled this with a certain political adroitness and maturity, [b:Tales from Oz|20691794|Tales from Oz|Dan Wickline|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392029106s/20691794.jpg|40010025] does so by adding breasts and violence into the mix and little else.

Also. For some reason Toto is a wolf that may or may not be a werewolf and is seemingly in love with Dorothy.

The cowardly lion is in a vaguely Native American/African society and might be gay.

I'm confused. ( )

Hadn't heard of or known anything of Zenescope, the publisher of this; just got the TPB as a birthday present without knowing their interpretation of "dark and grim Oz tales" would be overly sexualized and far and away the worst interpretation I've ever seen of Oz.

Cannot recommend at all, despite some solid storytelling in the "Cowardly Lion's" story arc, undermined by the fact that every woman in this book is drawn as a fetishistic sex object.

Shaking my head sadly ( )

This ain't no Musical...

For their next series, the good people at Grimm Fairy Tales have decided to present a bold, powerful and much more adult reimagining of the land of Oz.

This particular book tells the backstories of four of the main heroes, with a good grounding in the witches and the changed land itself. As an added bonus, we also get an extended introduction to the main story, with a Dorothy that doesn't look like she's about to burst into song any time soon!

Following a slightly weak first story, the reminder of this book settles down into a solid run of serious yarns that provide a real insight into why the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow a) are who they are and b) why they need their respective body parts. However, with the emotional baggage they now carry, it remains to be seen how they will actually cope with the adventures they will undoubtedly be facing in upcoming books.
After we get these main three, we are introduced to the giant wolfhound that is Toto, no longer a happy ball of fur, more a giant killing machine that could probably bring down a horse. Significantly, he too has a particular backstory and the reason and nature of his appearance at Dorothy's home is a significant plot point.
And then we get the extended introduction to the main story itself. This is worthwhile, as it provides a real flavour of what to expect in the future books and leaves us on a frustrating cliffhanger.

The artwork on display is consistently strong, rich and detailed, with beautifully presented characters and backgrounds, coupled with strong storytelling keeping you wanting more. Significantly, the stories don't get so embroiled with their own cleverness that you need any prior knowledge of either the original Oz or the Grimm Fairy Tales catalogue. Characters manage to be both new and familiar, with just enough of the L Frank Baum's originals to make this all a little familiar to anyone who knows his work, while presenting a whole new approach that excites and entertains.
Perhaps the biggest changes though are of Dorthy and Toto. More Daisy Duke than Judy Garland, the new Dorothy fits the modern comic mould of feisty, busty and able to handle herself in a fight. As usual, what little clothing she wears appears to be permanently on the verge of bursting her out in all directions, which will undoubtedly keep the teen demographic racing back for more, but the character itself seems to be well written, regardless of appearances.
Toto himself has had a major makeover, appearing as an intelligent and independant wolf of an animal that I suspect will figure large in the battles to come. Despite the fact that she could probably lift a lumberjack, I don't think we'll see Dorothy putting Toto under her arm in this version of the story!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to future editions. ( )