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THE O.Z. is back on Kickstarter, and it’s bringing the war Home to Oz one last time

The O.Z. is back for one last comic book issue which will round out the entire story arc.
THE O.Z. is back on Kickstarter, and it’s bringing the war Home to Oz one last time

Table of Contents

The O.Z. is Returning to the Land of OZ

Picture this: The Hurt Locker, but depict it in the Land of Oz. That’s the pitch for THE O.Z., and somehow it works even better than it has any right to.

Writer David Pepose (Savage Avengers, Space Ghost, Speed Racer) and artist Ruben Rojas (Proton, Rogues!, Leviathan Labs) are heading back to Kickstarter for the Ringo Award-winning series’ giant-sized, 44-page finale — issue #3, and it’s live now.

If you’ve been following along, you know the deal: Dorothy Gale’s granddaughter (also named Dorothy, naturally) is a burned-out Iraq vet who gets swept up by a tornado and dumped into a version of Oz that’s been completely wrecked by war. Now she’s running the Resistance against the Scarecrow’s regime, teaming up with the Tin Soldier, the Prince of Lions, and Jack Pumpkinhead to track down the Silver Slippers before the whole Occupied Zone — “The O.Z.” to locals — falls apart for good.

If Mad Max: Fury Road, The Old Guard, and Fables are your thing, this one’s been built for you.

Pepose said it best himself:

The first two campaigns pulled in over 1,500 backers (the “Yellow Brick Road Warriors,” if you’re nasty), and this finale is shaping up to be the biggest swing yet — a send-off Baum fans should genuinely love.

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The O.Z. #3 (Ruben Rojas Main Cover)
The O.Z. #3 – Main Cover by Ruben

What’s in it for Backers

  • Raw behind-the-scenes goods — Pepose’s script, Rojas’ inks, and Whitney Cogar’s colors before the polish
  • Four covers from Rojas, Maan House, Joshua Hood, and Serg Acuña
  • Catch-up bundles (print and digital) for anyone who missed the first two issues, plus a tier with all fourteen covers from the whole run
  • TPB tiers digging into Pepose’s other work — Savage Avengers, Moon Knight: City of the Dead, Space Ghost, Speed Racer, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Spencer & Locke, The Devil That Wears My Face, Scout’s Honor, and more
  • Retailer-exclusive discount tiers
  • A store signing with Pepose anywhere in the continental US
  • Stretch goals including a hand-drawn map of The O.Z. by Kenneth Wagnon, a Ruben Mocho bookmark, exclusive pins and stickers, and probably more surprises as the campaign heats up

Comics Pros Weigh In

The praise has been rolling in too — Scott Snyder calls it “terrific,” Mark Russell calls it a meditation on carrying trauma whether the world inflicting it is real or not, and outlets from CBR to Syfy to The Comics Beat have all been singing its praises as one of the indie comics events of the year.

“Terrific! Such a clever concept and so well done… definitely don’t miss out!” – Scott Snyder (Absolute Batman, Justice League)

“A clever twist on an old story, but more than that… a meditation on how deeply we carry trauma the world inflicts on us, whether that world is real or not.” – Mark Russell (Superman: Space Age, Fantastic Four: Life Story)

“It’s the high-octane, take-no-prisoners Oz that comic lovers always wanted… [THE O.Z.] promises to be one of the hottest kickstarter comics of the year.” – Zack Kaplan (Only The Savage Are Left, Kill All Immortals) 

“Emotional and engrossing… [The O.Z.] really does leave its readers wanting to see just how far the war-torn rabbit hole goes.” – Comic Book Resources

“An unflinching tale about the punishing consequences of war, the search for noble leadership, and legacy… this is one Kickstarter you do not want to miss.” – Syfy

“A giant success of an indie comic… [The O.Z.] is a sensation.” – The Comics Beat

THE O.Z. #1-3 is funding now on Kickstarter — go grab your slippers.

The O.Z. Preview Pages

The O.Z. #3 - Page 1
The O.Z. #3 – Page 1. Dorothy is shackled in chains – waiting in a cell – surrounded by darkness and the screams of her friends being tortured. Her jailer, Scarecow, opens the door to her cell, asking if she’s ready to come to an arrangement.
The O.Z. #3 Page 2
The O.Z. #3 – Page 2. A full page shows Dorothy and her friends (Jack and the Tin Soldier) in chains. Dorothy is as stubborn as ever, telling Scarecrow the only arrangement she’s ready to make is when she sends him straight to hell.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 3
The O.Z. #3 – Page 3. Jack pleads with Scarecrow saying he’s on his side, saying that if it’s the slippers he truly wants then cut off Dorothy’s feet and be done with it. Scarecrow replies by saying it’s not that simple. The ruby slippers are enchanted by Glinda and so can only be removed by the wearer. Scarecrow turns to Dorothy saying that some time at the Nome King’s Forge will change her mind.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 4
The O.Z. #3 – Page 4. At the Nome King’s Forge, Scarecrow gives Dorothy one last opportunity to give up the slippers but she refuses. One of the nome’s strikes her with a rod, thus beginning her torture. She screams in agony.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 5
The O.Z. #3 – Page 5. As Dorothy is tortured she begins to think of her hard life in the armed forces – including the things she’s seen and done.

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The O.Z. #3 - Page 7
The O.Z. #3 – Page 7. Back in her cell, Dorothy wakes up. Scarecrow gives her one last chance to give up the slippers. But she refuses by spitting in his face. Tin Soldier roars in laughter.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 8
The O.Z. #3 – Page 8. Tin Soldier’s laughter causes a grave insult to Scarecrow. He goes further by saying that he’s the dumbest genius in Oz. Scarecrow lashes out, striking Tin Soldier. Dorothy, Jack and Lion look on in horror.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 9
The O.Z. #3 – Page 9. Scarecrow keeps striking Tin Soldier until he’s left in a greasy mess. Sobbing, Dorothy gives in and gives Scarecrow the slipper.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 10
The O.Z. #3 – Page 10. With the slipper now in his possession, Scarecrow orders his guards to take Tin Soldier to the forge to be melted down. As Dorothy pleads with him, Scarecrow tells her that he stole a nuclear warhead from Dorothy’s world and that, one way or another, Oz will be united.
The O.Z. #3 - Page 11
The O.Z. #3 – Page 11. Left in their cell, Dorothy and her friends make a plan to escape and save the Land of Oz.

Will you be picking up a copy of The O.Z. #3?

Did this news item convince you to pick up a copy? Who’s your favourite Wizard of Oz character?

Let me know in the comments.

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