Marvel's Oz Comic Series: Volumes 1-5

From Goodreads:    The premier American fantasy adventure gets the Merry Marvel treatment! Eisner Award-winning writer/artist Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) teams up with fan-favorite artist Skottie Young (New X-Men) to bring L. Frank Baum's beloved classic to life! When Kansas farm girl Dorothy flies away to the magical Land of Oz, she fatally flattens a Wicket Witch, liberates a Scarecrow and is hailed by the Munchkin people as a great sorceress...but all she really wants to know is: how does she get home? 

COLLECTING:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #1-8 

My Thoughts:

-    This was a great adaptation of the book. It has been a while since I read this, but from what I remember the story was very accurate.

-    I loved the illustrations! The style was perfect for the story. I felt like there was a little Tim Burton influence in certain characters and scenery.

-    Reading this made me want to read the book again. It is such a classic tale that just never gets old!

Goodreads Says:    The epic continues! Fresh off their landmark THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ, superstars ERIC SHANOWER (Age of Bronze) and SKOTTIE YOUNG (X-MEN) return with L. Frank Baum's MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ. Join new characters Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead as they're whisked to Oz, and meet foes and friends! You've NEVER seen L. Frank Baum's masterpiece like this before... 

COLLECTING: The Marvelous Land of Oz #1-8

My Thoughts:

-    I have only read the first Oz book, so I wasn't familiar with this story, but I loved it! I want to read all the original Oz books now.

-    Again, the illustrations are perfect and amazing!

-    I loved the introduction of new characters. They were all endearing and wonderful. I was surprised Dorothy didn't make an appearance. 

-    The ending is surprising yet predictable. That isn't an easy accomplishment.

Goodreads Synopsis:    Dorothy is back, and she's not in Kansas anymore. But she's not in Oz, either! L. Frank Baum's magical world comes to life once again as our beloved Dorothy Gale takes yet another unexpected trip to a mystical, faraway land. This time, Dorothy winds up in the land of Ev; she meets new friends such as Tik-Tok the mechanical man and Billina, perhaps the cleverest chicken you'll ever encounter. Dorothy will also have to face the wicked Nome King, who's imprisoned the royal family of Ev. Lucky for her, she'll get help from her Oz friends such as the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow - along with the new Queen of Oz, the lovely Ozma! But can even their combined might win the day and see Dorothy back home?

COLLECTING: Ozma of Oz 1-8

My Thoughts:

-    Hooray! Dorothy is back! Sadly Toto did not return to Oz with her, but she did bring a chicken.

-    The wheelers were creepy looking. Dang!

-    I loved all of Dorothy's new companions, especially Billina. She was hilarious!

-    This is my favorite of the series so far. I loved the ending. 

Goodreads Says:    When an earthquake swallows Dorothy, her kitten Eureka and cousin Zeb, and Zeb's horse Jim, they're captured by the Mangaboos! The Wizard of Oz must save them by winning a magic contest - using only his wits and nine tiny piglets. Then: watch out for the savage Invisible Bears, who devour anyone they catch! Dorothy and her friends race across the Invisible Valley, trying to reach the spiral staircase inside Pyramid Mountain. But halfway up the mountain lives the strange Braided Man! Plus: Dorothy meets her old friends - the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion and more! And Eureka is charged with murder for eating one of the Wizard's piglets! The Wizard of Oz has a secret plan to save Eureka, but can it possibly work? Don't miss this thrilling installment in the critically acclaimed Oz adaptations! 

COLLECTING: Dorothy & the Wizard in Oz 1-8

My Thoughts:

-    Dorothy and the wizard are back! No Toto still, but Dorothy brings a cat. Dorothy has a lot of pets. How come the chicken and the cat can talk but Toto doesn't?

-    Frank L. Baum had an extraordinary imagination. Each book is more bizarre than the last. Dorothy and her companions visit some very strange places in this story.

-    Tim Burton should make movies out of all the Oz books. They are right up his alley, and they would be creepy, weird, and awesome!

-    The cat is very onry. I wish it had been more of a playful cat. 

-    I love how we get to see new characters and old characters in each of these. 

From Goodreads:    Dorothy and Toto are off on another fantastic adventure! When dusty Kansas roads suddenly turn into magic highways, it's a safe bet that one of them is the road to Oz! This time Dorothy's companions are strange - an old homeless guy with a magic magnet, and a mentally-challenged child named Button-Bright, transformed magically by the king of the talking foxes! Who will get an invitation to the most lavish celebration ever known, the birthday party of Ozma of Oz? And how will Dorothy and the Shaggy Man get through the Deadly Desert? Johnny Dooit may have an idea! Eric Shanower and Skottie Young deliver another Oz adaptation that's an instant classic!

COLLECTING: Road To Oz 1-6

My Thoughts:

-    I felt like this story moved at a much faster pace than the previous books. 

-    The Oz books are so visually imaginative. I wonder how everything is described in the original books. I need to read them.

-    Why was Button Bright even in the story? He didn't do anything! He was useless character.

-    I'm still wondering why Toto can't talk. It seems unfair that he doesn't get to say anything.

-    This was the least favorite book of the series for me. I didn't enjoy the characters as much. The old homeless man was crazy!

-    I can't wait to read the last book! My library doesn't have it, so I'll have to find a different way to get it. 

Reading Habits Tag

I was tagged by Jenni Elyse! 

Thanks Jenni!

1.  Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Not really. I read at the kitchen table, at the bar in the kitchen, on any couch, in bed, at the computer while I wait for it to unfreeze, or anywhere else. 

2.  Do you use a bookmark or a random piece of paper?

BOOKMARK! As a geek, I'm a collector of cards, so I use my Marvel cards and Pokemon cards as bookmarks. If I get a bookmark from an event that goes with a specific book, I'll use that while reading that book. My daughter has started collecting the My Little Pony cards so she could use them as bookmarks. I love it!

3.  Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain amount of pages?

I can stop reading anywhere, but I usually like to stop at chapters. I'm one of those people who read at red lights in the car, so I can stop anytime anywhere as well as read anytime anywhere.

4.  Do you eat or drink while reading?

I'm usually not a fan of food around my books, but I will occasionally eat popcorn while reading, but I try to not touch my book with the hand that is touching the popcorn. It gets tricky. 

5.  Do you watch TV or listen to music while reading?

Well, I'm not watching or listening, because I get so immersed when I read, but my I'll read while my daughter is watching Netflix or a movie. I also read while my husband plays a video game.

6.  Do you read one book at a time or several at once?

I'm always reading scriptures and another book. Sometimes I read a third for a read along. If you don't count scripture reading, I'm a one book at a time person. 

7.  Do you prefer to read at home or anywhere?

Like I said, I can read anywhere at anytime, but I prefer to be home on the couch with a blanket.

8.  Do you read out loud or silently?

Does anyone read out loud to themselves? I read silently to myself, but if I'm reading with my daughter, I read out loud of course. 

9.  Do you read ahead or skip pages?

Heck no! That is sinful! My dad always reads the first chapter and then the last chapter before reading the entire book, and it drives me CRAZY! I DO NOT READ AHEAD! Sometimes I'll place my bookmark over the text below where I'm reading so I don't accidentally glance at something ahead. 

10.  Do you break the spine or keep it like new?

Break the spine? That just sounds evil! I always keep my books open at a 90 degree angle. I do not like weak spines! My husband has been caught opening books too far, and the loose spine really bugs me! He has been warned and trained to not do that anymore.

11.  Do you write in your books?

Like Jenni, I write in and underline in my scriptures, but that is the only exception. I have a very meticulous color code when highlighting/underlining scriptures. I do not write or mark any other books. That is sinful, and I have to buy a new book after that. Any writing tool near my books shall be shot on sight. Unless you are an author signing my book, then by all means, write away!!

That was fun!

I would like to tag the following:

Bookmark Dragon

Flowers of Quiet Happiness

Angela's Anxious Life

Top Ten Tuesday: Fellow Book Geeks

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Ten Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds Geeks

I prefer the word geek. There IS a difference!

 
Anne will always be #1

 
Liesel Meminger will always be a very very close #2. Anne and Liesel have forever stolen my heart as kindred spirits.

 
I will be surprised if someone doesn't have Hermione on their list today!


I love how Kyra finds solace and escape from the bookmobile.


I love Josie! She is a book lover AND works in a bookstore. This bookstore saved her!

 
Matilda was such an inspiration when I was kid.


Cath not only loves to read, but she writes fanfiction of her favorite series!


Celaena is a kick butt, amazing, wild chick, and she loves to read!

I know these are movie characters and not literature characters, but I have to spotlight them anyway! Today's prompt only says "Ten Characters" so I think it is legit.


Belle is my favorite Disney princess!! Everyone knows she fell in love with the beast because he gave her a freakin' awesome library!


You've Got Mail is one of the few chick flicks I love, and I adore Meg Ryan's character, Kathleen Kelly. Books are a part of who she is, and she has so much love for her bookstore.

The X-Men: Volume 8

My Thoughts:

-    Like the previous volume, this was a compilation of other Marvel comics, including Avengers, Hulk, Daredevil, and Fantastic Four.

-    I'm glad The X-Men were kept alive by having appearances in other comics. I can't imagine the Marvel universe without The X-Men. 

-    I only got bits and pieces of a larger story, and I really want to read the Avengers and Daredevil now! I need to know what is going on with Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Daredevil.

-    The Hulk issues were bit slower. I'm not as interested in his story, and the military stuff bores me. 

-    I was also intrigued with Captain America's story. I want read his older stuff too.

-    Since this was a compilation of other comics, the stories were all disjointed. Sometimes there was an overall story, but most of the time it was an issue from some other story line.

-    I LOVED the Wolverine debut!! I didn't now he debuted in a the Hulk. When he appeared, I was geeking out!

-    The issue with Beast and Spiderman was fun. I miss Beast, and I can't wait til he rejoins The X-Men. 

-    I finally collected all the Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men!!!! Wahoo!! I'm so excited to start reading The Uncanny X-Men series. It has been so much fun reading these older comics. This is were these iconic characters started! 

Previous X-Men Volumes

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  
  

Fan Art Friday: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Prepare for an Oz overload! I found SO MANY AWESOME fan art pictures that I just couldn't leave any of these out! They are all so unique and amazing!

ENJOY!

Aren't these amazing!?!? I love them all! It was tough to pick a favorite, but the last one is most favorite. I love this part in the book, and the picture captures it perfectly. The scarecrow is meeting Oz, and he even has the Emerald City glasses on. I love the colors and ominous feel. Great picture! I kinda want to frame it and put it in my house (when I get one).

Kudos for the girl that drew Jack Skellington, Bender, and Simba as her iconic companions! That picture is hilarious! Love it!

Also a shout out for the one who upgraded the Tin Woodsman to C3PO.

Which is your favorite?

If you liked any of these artists, please click on the picture and check out more of their stuff. All the pictures are linked. These people are SO talented! I wish I could draw.