Greetings all and happy Independence Day from the states! This month, we are focusing on two villains that come from our world but have been connected to Oz stories. These characters are not in any books, but solely created for the films. We will be discussing Ms. Almira Gulch from the '39 film, The Wizard of Oz, and Dr. J.B. Worley from the '85 film, Return to Oz. These two characters were as vile as they come with Ms. Gulch being the epitome of a privileged white woman, who used her family connections to terrorize, and Dr. Worley, who used science as a smoke screen for experimenting on children. So, we will discuss each character, their origin (if any is known), their appearance in media adaptations and how you can experience these villains in your neck of the wood. Let's begin with the villain that appeared first, Miss Almira Gulch. This character is introduced in the '39 film and is a movie-only character. She is prominent citizen of an unnamed county in Kansas, has known Aunt Em for over 23 years, and has had trouble with Toto for a while now. Additionally, Em reveals that Almire owns half the county that they live in, which means she is half-owner. Her reign of villainy is constrained to this brief interaction as she e desires to have Toto destroyed. But why? Furthermore, when she arrives at the Gale farm, Almira gives them an order from the Sheriff to collect the dog. What a shame! Now, let's explore why Almira tried to hurt the dog as I don't believe for a second that someone would do this unprovoked. Apparently, the reason she is upset is because the dog frequently gets onto her property and chases her cat around. Then, out of sheer frustration, Miss Gulch tried to hit Toto with a rake this time. Once she arrives at the Gale farm, Almira tells them that the dog bit her. Is that a lie or did that really happen? Now, we don't actually know what happened and how this actually went down as it happened before the story opens; but it is wild that this woman feels the dire need "to destroy" the dog instead of maybe getting a restraining order against him. Additionally, if she didn't get the dog, she was going to pursue a "damage suit" against the Gales. Oh dang! She is wicked! But I want to know what you think about who is right. Comment below. Next up, Dr. J. B. Worley from Disney's Return to Oz (1985). Another movie-only character, he is introduced initally in a newspaper advertisement that helped people with "electric healing" (Vinge, 5). His office, where this process takes place, is located in a town called Cottonwood Falls. He has various people employed at this establishment including Nurse Wilson and various attendants. His clinical attitude makes him incredibly unrelatable and viciously uncomfortable, especially with his desire to use electricity to "heal" people. Ugh! So despicable! There is nothing describing his origin story or any other defining elements about how he is the way he is except the interaction between him, Dorothy, and Aunt Em. The scene where she is about to have the procedure done can be seen above and it will give you an idea about how haunting this doctor and his office is. Of course, since these are only movie characters, the adaptations that you can see them in are their respective movies. However, Ms. Gulch does make an appearance in Tom & Jerry & The Wizard of Oz, an animated feature that was shown earlier. Be sure to check it out in its entirety along with the other ones, even if you have seen them. There is always something new to see. Of course, when it comes to books, you can always check out these comic book adaptations of the movies, which feature both Dr. Worley (in the Return to Oz comic) and Ms. Gulch (in the Marvel MGM comic). Return to Oz also published a novelization of the film, which features more information about Dr. Worley's interactions with Dorothy and a script was published of the MGM film, which features a closer look at the words said in the film. They are all very fascinating additions to your Ozzy collections. In addition to watching the movies and checking out the books, another way you can bring these heinous villains to your neck of the wood is buying various memorabilia that is contantly being released. Check out this colorized version of Ms. Gulch with Toto in basket ornament or the Return to Oz soundtrack with the instrumental song, "The Ride to Dr. Worley's". So, however you wish to experience these villains is entirely up to you; and until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere in the Oz-verse.
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Greetings all and welcome to another #Pride month in the Land of Oz. This month's "villain" is the one who wore all the colors of Oz in her outfit and hat while leading an all-female army with outfits matching hers. Her villainy is questionable since she is not fully trying to harm people but trying to give equality to all. She just seems to do in a way that is not helpful to her. Who is this equality denizen? Of course, I am referring to General Jinjur, who a surprise villain of Baum's second book, The Marvelous Land of Oz, as she was not expected. In this post, we will be showcasing her reign of villainy, her media legacy, and how you can experience this colorful crusader in her neck of the woods. General Jinjur first appeared in Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz. After experiencing too much inequality at home and hearing that another male figure was ruling Oz, she gathered an army of women around Oz to overthrow the Emerald City. Her army appeared quite intimidating (as one can see below) and the soldiers of the Emerald City did not expect it because no one is Oz apparently has problems like these. The army was armed with knitting needles instead of guns and they were able to overthrow the Scarecrow and his friends as they had abandoned their posts to go get help from the Tin Man, who was now an Emperor for the Vinkus "Winkie" Country. Her reign of "villainy" begins with her putting her army together, known as the Army of. Revolt. She is upset at how she and all women in Oz are treated as secondary citizens. Of course, her cause is incredibly noble but the way that she went about it seemed very questionable. I mean why didn't you just go talk to the Scarecrow? I'm absolutely convinced that he would have heard you out and done something about it. So, it begs the question, why did she feel she had to go to the extreme that she did to get her point across? Anyways, she storms the Emerald City with her army and overtakes the city. When everyone clears out the palace, she makes decrees that women and men have to swap roles and the men do all the work of the women. while the women took over the men's obligations. She crowns herself ruler of Oz and begins her temporary rule as "Queen of Oz". Her villainy continues when she refuses to give up her crown when she is approached by the Scarecrow and his compatriots. They are thrown out and discover that Jinjur is working with Mombi. This ends up not so good for Jinjur and Mombi as the heroes connect with Glinda to ask for help, who swoops in and settles everything in a very "deus ex machina" way. Mombi is stripped of her powers, restricted to use any magic in the future, and banished back to her home indefinitely. Jinjur is eventually overthrown but is given what she wants to have a female ruler of Oz when everyone figures out where the rightful ruler is. She is then asked to return to her life in Munchkin Country and never return. Much of Jinjur's overthrow can be seen in this video from Cinar's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz saga (episode 29). Let me know what you think in the comments. Jinjur's media legacy has been shown in a number of adaptations (including the ones discussed already). Jinjur made her first appearance on screen in the 1914 film, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. She is played by Marie Wayne and is the reason Ojo gets thrown in jail for stealing a 6-leaved clover. It would be over 45 years before Jinjur would be seen in a different form on screen again in Shirley Temple's The Marvelous Land of Oz, played by Johnathan Winters. Some other notable representations of Jinjur can be seen below. Wow, what a legacy! Even an international legacy! How wonderfully Ozzy! So, how can you bring this rainbow-colored general to your neck of the woods? Well, aside from reading the comics or watching any of the adaptations above, there is some merchandise that you can purchase; however, it is up to you how much you want to spend and if you want to include these items in your collection. Below is just a sampling of items you can get. Check them out by clicking on the item you want to explore more. Additionally, you can always find yourself a great picture and craft it into a wall decoration for your Ozzy collections. Furthermore, here are some other options for adaptations you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home that feature General Jinjur in radio theatre form. Click on each image to find out more information about each. However you want to connect with this hardcore general, it is up to you. Let me know in the comments which version you life the best; and until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere in the Oz-verse.
Happy Spring from Oz! May is a lovely month to begin growing your own flowers, fruits, and vegetables. However, in Oz, there is a kingdom that is made up of vegetation that is not friendly at all and puts whole new meaning to "cold as a cucumber". The Vegetable Kingdom is first discovered in Baum's fourth book, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. In this post, we shall discuss the Vegetable Kingdom, its denizens, its reign of terror on Dorothy and her companions, as well as how you bring this farming nightmare to your neck of the woods. Dorothy and her cousin Jeb along with Jim, Jeb's horse, and Eureka, Dorothy's companion cat, first came across the Vegetable Kingdom after surviving an earthquake and falling through the earth. Mystically, they floated through the air toward the Mangaboo Palace below (see above). The kingdom under the Land of Oz, which magically grew everything underground, consisted of many types of vegetable denizens, who call themselves Mangaboos. It contains six different colored suns as well as multiple buildings made of glass. After coming down to the floor of the kingdom, they were met by a ruler of the Mangaboos. The denizens were definitely not happy about Dorothy and her companions' arrival because the rocks that fell through with them from the earthquake broke many of the buildings within the kingdom. They even called it the "rain of stones". The trouble with the Mangaboos definitely started when Dorothy and her confidants crashed through into the city; however, it definitely got worse when the Wizard arrived soon after. Once the Wizard arrived and introductions were made, he met the sorcerer of the Mangaboos, Gwig (see above), and the two seemed to have a "grumpy, old men" fight about who was the better sorcerer. This argument led to the Wizard "killing" the Gwig by slicing him in half with a sword; however, the denizens were so shocked by this and took Gwig to be replanted so that he may once again be born whole. As to be expected, once this happened, the Mangaboos were weary of the "intruders"; but, continued to let them tour their fine city of glass. It had gardens, a palace, and a community gathering hall. In the gardens, the group came upon a section that housed the royal bush of the Mangaboos. Here is where the rulers are plucked to be the ruler. When it was discovered that there was a princess who was meant to be plucked and still has not due to the current ruler not wanting to give up his title, Dorothy took it upon herself to get the princess and make her the rightful ruler of the Mangaboos. This aggravated the current ruler and insisted that they be destroyed as he did not want more "meat" people to grow in their beautiful city. After the princess got her rightful place, the previous prince exiled and shunned, and the "strangers" sleeping in the Gwig's house, all seemed right! You would be wrong. Once the princess was caught up on everything, she decided to continue the prince's punishment and destroy them. They surrounded them in Gwig's house intent on throwing them into a black pit. They were forced into the pit, which turned out to be a tunnel and that is the end of the reign of terror from these cold and heartless glass city citizens. Whoo! That was a close call. They are absolutely terrifying. Once you think you are safe, you are not! Just like a horror movie. Well, now that we have discussed the horrid experience that Dorothy and her friends experienced, let us discuss some of the media adaptations that have shown this kingdom and its shady community. Of course, the original text has some illustrations of the kingdom, as seen in the post. There is also a comic series from Marvel that shows much more of the story through more rigid and terrifying illustrations. Check it out for yourself here. You can read the entire story at that link. Another adaptation was done with The Oz Kids back in the '90s in an episode called "The Underground Adventure". In this adaptation, young Frank, who is the son of the Wizard of Oz, ends up falling through the ground with other kids who are on a field trip in a bus. Once there, they meet up first with the Mangaboos and how cold and cringey they are. You can see the entire story below. That is all there is in regard to media adaptations. So, how can you bring this kingdom to your neck of the woods? Well, you can always watch or read any of the adaptations mentioned above, which is a great way to experience the cold-hearted vegetation. Another way that many Oz fans get into bringing Oz to their homes is to have gardens filled with different kinds of flowers like roses from the Rose Kingdom or Oz-themed flowers like those found in the Munchkin Country. For the Mangaboos, one will need to have a place to plant different types of vegetables in a garden plot with a greenhouse cover as well as a sign on the outside that says, "Welcome to the Home of the Mangaboos!" Also, feel free to check out this reading of the Vegetable Kingdom from Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (below). However, you would like to add a touch of the Mangaboos to your domain, it is up to you. We always welcome difference and diversity in the Land of Oz unlike the denizens of this villainous domain; and, with that, that will close out another visit to the sinister and malicious denizens of Oz. Until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse. Welcome all back to the Oz-verse! This rainy, watery month, we will be diving into the waters of the Nonestic Ocean, where the terrifying and sinister villain Zog resides. In this post, we will discuss origins and looks, his horrifying reign, his media legacy, and how you can experience Zog at your home. Zog origins align with many of the immortals that have been around since the beginning of Oz-verse. One distinction is to his origin story that was disclosed in Baum's The Sea Fairies was how he came to be, which was through scientific experimentation. He was made in a laboratory by a scientist who merged five beings together to create the individual personae that he is. Ugh....gross! Talk about the epitome of animal cruelty. Whoever this scientist was is the real monster! Zog’s reign of villainy began eons ago when he was first dropped into the Nonestic Ocean. He attempted to overthrow King Anko but failed miserably. He was banished to a hidden palace that no one knew that place of; until a young girl, Mayre “Trot” Griffiths and a family friend, Captain Bill, discovered his palace by accident. Accompanied by Queen Aquarieine, Zog captured the group and held them “captive” in his palace. He attempted to get her to spill her secrets by casting various spells on them like freezing their rooms or amplifying the heat around them. He even sent a pinching monster on them, which does not sound enjoyable at all. The group was able to escape the clutches of Zog right when King Anko arrived to assist their escape. King Anko defeated Zog again by killing him into a gelatinous mess. Gross! In terms of media adaptations featuring this monstrosity, there are only a few options. Zog appears in a culmination episode of The Oz Kids called “Journey Beneath the Sea”, released in 1990. Then, almost thirty years later, he appears in an episode of Boomerang’s Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz called “The Emerald of Zog”. Check out this animatic featuring behind the scenes drawings of that episode. Zog only appears in the 1911 book, The Sea Fairies, in an illustrated format, see picture at top of post. So, you can definitely check out any of those adaptations and read the book. There is a comic adaptation of The Sea Fairies but Zog is not illustrated in that book. Have you seen any of the adaptations featuring Zog? What is your impression of this villain? Let me know in the comments. This character should also not be confused with the flying dragon named Zog as that is a different universe. Well, we have come to end of another villain’s reign of terror. Do you think that that this underwater monster turned villain was really a bad being or were they put into a bad situation? Let me know in the comments your thoughts and I’ll be seeing you next time somewhere into the Oz-verse.
Greeting all! This month, in celebration of powerful women, we look to maniacal Madame Morrible, the "unofficial Wicked Witch of the Emerald City". Not only is Madame Morrible an excellent candidate for this women's history month, she also dominates with the month's signature color: emerald green! In this post, we will discuss her origins, her media legacy (and future legacies), as well as how you can celebrate this gangrene beauty in your neck of the wood.
Headmistress Morrible, or more commonly known as Madame Morrible, is first introduced in Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Her origin is not divulged in the books; however, we do learn a lot about her throughout the novels like:
In the book, she kills Dr. Dillamond with her Grommetik assistant as well as Glinda's nanny, Ama Clutch, who witnessed her doing it. Then, she drugged Elphaba, Glinda, and Nessarose with some kind of magical potion to convince them to become leaders in different regions of Oz and work for the Wizard. When none of them consented, this put them on her hit list. Morrible was behind Elphaba's love, Fiyero being killed by the Wizard's army, Glinda not getting into the Sorcery program, and Nessarose dying by Dorothy's house. Pretty diabolical for a headmistress, who you don't suspect to be that focused on three students in her college. Eventually, Morrible died in the end from old age, even though Elphaba told everyone she came across that she killed her.
Now, in the play, similar events seem to transpire, but with a lighter touch like her not killing Dr. Dillamond but getting him kicked out of his position. Fiyero was not killed by a militant group but instead was swept away in a tornado. She also spread lies that Elphaba was a thread that needed to be eradicated. The event that did stay the same was Nessarose having a house landing on her and Morrible was the reason why the tornado came to Oz. Her end in the play was not that she died but that she was dismantled from her position and outcast from the Emerald City.
With all that information about Madame Morrible, you may ask well, what is her media legacy? Well, it is just limited to the play currently; however, in 2024, the musical comes to the big screen with Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. You can check out more from The Hollywood Reporter above. Additionally, Madame Morrible has been seen is a wide variety of different countries like the United Kingdom & Ireland, South Korea, and Australia. Which country's production would you like to see in person?
So, how you can you bring some Madame Morrible to your neck of the woods? Well, you can always purchase something from the Wicked The Musical store like some Shiz University gear or follow Wicked on various social media platforms. You can always check out my posts on Madame Morrible on my Wicked Years blog like this one where I showcase a vlog series from the first African-American actress to play Madame Morrible, Sheryl Lee Ralph. There is a lot out there like the Wicked: The Musical Grimmerie or the Wicked: the Musical programs as a wide variety of merchandise like puzzles that were made featuring the different characters from the musical. All of these I have shown on my Wicked Years blog. So, get out there and check it out for yourself and have yourself a wonderfully Morrible time with the vast inspirations out there like this fun video made by a Wicked fan and artist: BagamCadet. Share your stories and inspirations below and until next time, I'll be seeing somewhere into the Oz-verse.
Greetings all and welcome to that lovely red month of February. This month, we will be venturing to the scarlet south, wherein lies the fourth and final Wicked Witch of Oz. This crimson-colored mysterious wicked witch has eluded media adaptations and has changed her name multiple times throughout different literary canon; however, she is probably the most villainous in her anonymity and her secretive nature. In this post, we will discuss this evil witch’s various origins, names, etc., along with her various reigns of terror, notable books she has appeared in, and different ways you can bring this carmine character to your neck of the woods. To begin with, The Wicked Witch of the South, known by many names over various sources, was first introduced by Baum in his first book when Dorothy first arrived in Oz. She was told that each country in Oz had a good witch and a wicked witch. The Wicked Witches of the East and West were the current witches in Oz and have been the most popularized in media. The Wicked Witch of the North was revealed in the second book, unofficially, as Mombi. She has appeared in not as much but has definitely been seen out there. Check out my previous post all about her. The Wicked Witch of the South was never really identified with a name until Baum's later book, The Scarecrow of Oz, in which he called her Blinkie. She lived in a southern area of the Quadling Country called Jinxland and even identified herself as the Wicked Witch of the South. Blinkie made an appearance in Boomerang's Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz in the third season episode, "North meets West" (see below). After her introduction in Baum's book, the Wicked Witch of the South did not reemerge until years later where she would not only change appearance but also her name. Rachel Cosgrove Payes, who is another Royal Historian of Oz, wrote a whole book about her and renamed her Singra (see picture at top of post). Here she had been asleep for a century and when her magical alarm clock woke her up, she arose to discover her cousins have been "killed" and vowed revenge on Dorothy and the Land of Oz. Check out the full story by getting your own copy from a library or from The International Wizard of Oz Club. If you get it from the Oz Club, you can get a discount on it if you are a member. Other books that mention her include Gabriel Gale's book, The Ages of Oz: A Fiery Friendship, the Wicked Witch of the South's origin story is detailed in a different way but definitely aligns with the Oz universe and timeline. In this book, she owns a girl's boarding school and is adept at plant magic. Her name is Aphidina, like an Aphid, and she is definitely a power to go up against, as a young Glinda and Locasta learned. Let me know if you have had a chance to read this story yet? It is available in audiobook, e-book, and hard copy. Since this villain has different reigns and different paths, it is up to you to decide which path you enjoy the most and run with it. Be inspired to do something with it to the best of your skills. Moving into media adaptations outside of books, she has made her mark on a comic book, a TV show episode (mentioned previously), and a podcast/audio drama. She appeared Marvel's Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (2011) com (see picture above lef), and she appeared in Hit the Bricks, a podcast/audio drama with a very parallel story to Ages of Oz: A Fiery Friendship with major changes like the name, looks, and magical ability (see picture above right). Other than that, she has unfortunately not been visually adapted as much as her villainous relations. So, how can you bring this Southern Sorceress to your neck of the woods? Well, you can always start by checking out of the adaptations mentioned above to get your fix; however, there is always some other book options for you (see covers above). As you may know, there are tons of spin-offs and fan-fiction type stories out there in all fandoms and Oz is no exception. Two books featuring the Witch of the South include The Enchanted Apples of Oz and The Magic Book of Oz (cover above, left). The former is a comic book story that features a magician who is trying to awaken The Wicked Witch of the South (see above) while the latter showcases an alternate version of Oz with an alternate version of the Witch of the South where her name in this universe becomes Kragmagda. You can purchase both books online or you can try to find them at your local library.
Well, that will do it for our exploration all about this quiet Quadling. What was your favorite part of her story? Let me know in the comments below. To check out Part 1 and Part 2, click each name respectively. Until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse. Snowy greetings all! This month, we are heading to the frozen tundra of Northern Oz to learn all about that Wicked ol' Witch of the North, Mombi. In this post, we will learn about Mombi's origin story, her villainous period, her legacy in media, and how you can experience the villainy yourself. So, let us begin our descent into terror and madness as we attempt to explore Mombi's reign of terror. Mombi is first introduced in Baum's second book, The Marvelous Land of Oz, as a sorceress who practices magic but is not magic. She also has a young boy servant/assistant, whom she is very disrespectful. She is mentioned again in Baum's fourth book, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, and after her defeat at the end of book 2. In Baum's sixth book, Emerald City of Oz, it is mentioned that Ozma would take care of Mombi as she aged out without magic. Fascinatingly, Mombi is revisited in Ruth Plumly Thompson's books, The Giant Horse of Oz and The Lost King of Oz. In the former, Mombi's earlier life and her feud with Tattypoo, The Good Witch of the North, are discussed, while the latter offers an alternative take on Mombi's end, for which it mentions Mombi getting punishment for all her past discretions through the Waters of Oblivion. Lastly, Mombi also makes an appearance in Maguire's second book, in which Liir comes across Mombi and Tip in the Vinkus, but nothing happens except an exchange of words. Mombi's reign of terror began during Ozma's early years after she was transformed by Mombi and renamed Tip. As Tip grew up, Mombi became fed up with the relentless tricks that Tip played and decided that she was going to put an end to it all. She gathered her ingredients from the Crooked Wizard and began potioneering them into a petrification potion to use on Tip and turn him into a garden statue. Upon hearing this, Tip made a dash out of the house and ran away. When Mombi discovered this, she took it upon herself to go after Tip and teamed up with General Jinjur along the way. The two of them overthrew the Emerald City with their own mission ensured. At the end of it all, the two of them were conquered by Glinda and Ozma was restored to her former self and crowned Queen. Mombi ended up working a kitchen maid and watched over by Ozma; thus, ending her reign of villainy. Mombi's media legacy started in 1910 in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where you would see the first time she was combined with another character. In this version, she and the Wicked Witch of the West character joined, and she became "Momba". You can see her in the short film above. Then in 1914 film, His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, Mombi would return to the silver screen and again combined with the WWW character, but this time she would be named "Old Mombi". Her character would not resurface until over 45 years later when she would appear in a Season 2 episode of The Shirley Temple Show entitled The Land of Oz. Nine years after that, Mombi returned in a low-budget film called The Wonderful Land of Oz. The RiffTrax version of this is awesome and I highly recommend checking it out. Over a decade later, Mombi would return this time on stage and televised as performed by the Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis. It was actually one of the more faithful productions of the story to date. Of course, 1985 would be the version that many remember her as the witch who could remove her head in Disney's Return to Oz (see top of the post). Other adaptations of Mombi have graced the small screen since then as well (see below). Outside of the book illustration by John R. Neill in The Marvelous Land of Oz, Mombi has come to life in other written works. In Marvel's The Marvelous Land of Oz (1975), she makes her first comic book appearance, seen below left. Decades later, she would resurface looking just a tad different, as seen below right. So, with all that known now, how can you bring this villainous transformation witch to your neck of the woods? Well, aside from checking out the various adaptations mentioned above, you can always check out these options as well. In this audio performance of The Marvelous Land of Oz, the voice of Mombi comes Australian actor Lauren Thuys. It is quite a fascinating retelling of the story and just like in the books, it is a continuation story of the first book. So, make sure you check out all three seasons of this show including a bonus season featuring Baum's Christmas story, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. In addition to that, there is a smorgasbord of merchandise out there featuring Mombi from Disney's Return to Oz and other variations as well. So, however you choose to connect with this villainous witch from the North, let me know in the comments below. Also, be sure to let me know which adaptation of Mombi is something you really enjoy. I personally enjoy the Big Fish game's interpretation of her as she seems more intense and villainous. Well, that will do it and until next time, I'll be seeing somewhere in the Oz-verse. If you missed, part 1, check it out here. The final part of the Wicked Witches trilogy will come next month when we look at the evil and most sinister Wicked Witch of the South.
December Greetings all! We have begun a whole new year of Oz themes and this year's theme is the VILLAINS of OZ; and, in our Christmas month, we look to Baum's Life and Adventures of Santa Claus for our first villain: The Awgwas. These villains are demons who live in the mountainous area of Burzee near the end of the Laughing Valley of HoHaHo as well as have a king who leads them through their villainous journey against Santa Claus. In this post, we discuss their origins, their villainous journey, their media adaptation legacy and how you can bring them into your neck of the wood. Awgwas (pronounced ahg-wahz) are immortal beings that have been around since the beginning of this magical world. They arose after man realized their hatred for either and thus these demon beings were born. These beasts came to fruition again once Santa Claus came into the picture because he was infringing on their territory of human hatred. Santa Claus was only there for the children and not for the adults. They did not like his interference, so they attempted to get him out the way three times. First, he was kidnapped in his sleep and taken to Ethos Forest but was saved by the creatures called knooks. Then, they tried to imprison him in one of their caves but then he was saved by the fairies. In their last attempt to get him out the way. they went after the children's toys and locked them away to give Santa Claus a bad name. This led to a fight between the Awgwas and the other Immortals leaving the Awgwas dead and destroyed. Oh goodness! What drama! Next, we will showcase the media legacy of the Awgwas, which has had minuscule options but options, nonetheless. The very first time that the Awgwas appeared in media legacy was in Rankin and Bass' claymation version of the story (seen at the top of the post) in 1985. Then in 1992, the Awgwas made their first appearance in comic book form (see below), which was illustrated by Mike Ploog. You can find a copy of this through your local library or for a reasonable price online. In 1996, two adaptations came out that year. One in the Christmas Oz Kids episodes and one in Japanese anime form. The former is entitled "Who Kidnapped Santa Claus?", and is the second part of a two-parter. In this part, the protagonists realize that they they have to save a kidnapped Santa because he hasn't visited them yet. As they try to find him, they realize that he has been taken by the Awgwas (screenshot seen above). This story is also based on the book, Who Kidnapped Santa Claus? Check it out at your local library. The anime entitled, "Shōnen Santa no Daibôken" (translated into English as "The Adventures of Young Santa Claus". It consisted of 24 episodes and was released in movie format as a condensed version of the story. (Unfortunately, there is no streaming video of this except for a clip of the opening title song here). 2000 saw the latest visual adaptation of this story brought to you by Mike Young Productions. It features the nasty awgwas as rock-mud demonic (seen above) more than anything and some other very spooky scenes that may be too intense for younger viewers. It usually comes out on a streaming service like Tubi or Peacock, so be sure to check that out. Then, two years ago, Audible released an audio performance of the story on their service with Tony Hale as the main storyteller and actor. Even the terrifying Awgwas and their alliances make an appearance in this version. Be sure to check out more on that story here and how to access it or find a copy at your local library. You can also click on the picture on the left. In addition to the Audible production, there is another radio drama performance by Crossover Adventure Productions that feature the insidious Awgwas as well. Click the picture on the right to learn more. With all those wonderful options, you can now bring these awful, terrifying and villainous entities to your neck of the woods through the many adaptations out there. If you are feeling creative, you can always create your version of the Awgwas through a variety of medium of your choosing and showcase them here in the comments below. Here are some examples of fans who drew their interpretations of the malicious Awgwas; and, until next month, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse. Merry Christmas Ozians!
Happy November all! This month, Indigenous Heritage Month, we discuss the region of Oz that inhabits many indigenous Ozian denizens. The Quadling Country is located in the Southern region of the Land of Oz. It has been around since the beginning of Oz and the other regions, if not longer, which is around the 7th century. This region has many uninhabited areas that are desolate, mountainous, strange, and dangerous. So, let us begin our tour of the Southern region of Oz, where red is the official color! The Quadling Country is first introduced in Baum's first book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and her friends discover that they need to go South of the Emerald City toward the Quadling Country to ask Glinda the Good Witch for help. As they ventured South, Dorothy and her friends met some unique and different residents as well as new areas occupied by the strangest of citizens. Let us see who we come across and what new sights there is to see in this red region of Oz.
After identifying some notable sights and residents of this crimson country, I will showcase some of the ways that the Quadling Country has been shown in media adaptations. In Cinar's Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1985), episodes 15 & 16, we see different villages of Southern Oz like the Dainty China Country, the Hammerheads, and Glinda's palace. Below is part 1 of Episode 15, check out the rest online. In Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), we experience the Dainty China Country destroyed, which was also in the Quadling Country, as well as Quadling residents (seen above with Glinda). In Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014), we get to see it in its full glory (seen below), which is absolutely stunning! In addition to the media adaptations, there are some comics and video games that showcase the Quadling Country as well as offer up something which you can bring into your neck of the woods. These are experiences will allow you to feel like you are just one of the Quads! Of note are the Marvel comics, in which the protoganists visit Glinda's palace and other locations in the Quadling Country that are very finely illustrated as seen below. Outside of comics, there are quite a number of games that showcase the Quadling Country. In Fiction Fixers: Curse of Oz, you go through the jungle with the Giant Spider and visit a Quadling Village right outside of Glinda's palace. It is quite fun! Check it out for yourself below. In the game, Emerald City Confidential, you get to visit various locales in Quadling Country, where the buildings and roads are red. Below is one of the first locations you visit in the game, Woot's Wild Arena of the Arcane. Check it out as it's quite hilarious. In addition to that, the PC/Mac game "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", a match 3 game, features a map of Oz that shows the red Quadling Country (shown at the end of post). If you are looking for more, well, I have got you covered. In addition to the adaptations, there is a YouTube channel called The Lousisana Quadling (or the LA Quadling), hosted by David Diket, who showcases many Oz collectibles, festivities, recipes, reimagining of Oz stories, and the like on his channel for others to experience. Be sure to check out his page for it is like a having a museum experience in your home. Now, that I have showcased the 4 main regions of Oz in our year of Geography in Oz, you can always find out for yourself which Ozian region you would live in with The International Wizard of Oz sorting quiz. When you join the club, you get access to this fun and enjoyable sorting quiz as well as club discounts and tons of merchandise to show off your region's pride like the Quadling shirt above.
Well, that will do it for our year of Geography and for next month, we will be starting our Year 4! Wow! Four Years! For Year 4, we will be showcasing the Villains of Oz! Come back next month to see which villain we will discuss first and until then, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse. Ghoulish Greetings all! In honor of the spooky season, we will be taking a darker and spookier tour of Oz and its surrounding areas to experience the scarier and more terrifying horrors in Oz. In this post, I will showcase some more notable regions in Oz and its surrounding areas that feature hostile, wicked, deadly, psychopathic, and straight-up villainous inhabitants in Oz and its surrounding areas, even the underground areas. 👻 At each stop of our spooky tour, I will showcase what I consider to be the most blood curdling version of these deadly denizens; then, at the end of the post, I will also include some honorable mentions to this listicle. So, get all your flashlights, spell books, witch repellents, and all around useful essentials for handling the most fearful entities in all of the Oz-verse. ☠️ Kalidahs Starting off in Oz, the very first and most terrifying experience we have in Baum's world is the Kalidahs. These hybrid predators of tiger, eagle, and bear found Dorothy and her compatriots in the Munchkin forests. These bellowing beasts have been featured in quite a number of adaptations, where some are comedic and some are down right spooky. Above, the Kalidahs from the game, Fiction Fixers: The Curse of Oz have the most menacing appearance to me, especially rocking those black mohawks! Which version creeped you out the most? Let me know in the comments below. Deadly Desert & The Wheelers Moving outside of Oz, we will have to carefully cross the Deadly Desert. In Baum's third book, we are introduced to this insidious area of Oz along with some very shocking residents called Wheelers. It is not really stated outright what happens to you in the books when you cross the desert, but there have been many interpretations out there that have given a glimpse into what could happen. In Disney's Return to Oz, I saw the most horrible version of what could happen to someone if they step foot onto this cursed sand as what happened to one of the Wheelers. Check it out for yourself (above). Does that mean the sand is made up of various denizens of Oz? That's just disgusting! Not feeling good about crossing that desert now? Well, we will use Ozma's magical (and ever-expanding) rug to get us across without hopefully not stepping on anyone we know. Eek! 😬 Phanfasms In the areas surrounding Oz, there are some absolutely terrifying realms other than the Nome King's realm. In the south-western side of the Deadly Desert is the realm of the Phanfasms, where the citizens are hybrid creatures of half-human and half-predator animal. These creatures first appear in Baum's sixth book, The Emerald City of Oz, as one of the Nome King's alliances. They were truly a terrifying breed and appeared in the game, Emerald City Confidential (seen above), as by far the most ruthless version of these life-destroying denizens. Run for your lives! 😱 Growleywogs Another alliance that the Nome King had was that of the Growleywogs. These monstrous beasts ate anything in sight, including people, and lived in the south-western area beyond the Deadly Desert. There have been a couple representations of these creatures, but I think Amazon's Lost in Oz, by far, did the most terrifying version of these beasts since they truly are meant to be absolutely horrifying (seen above). Underground Oz Baum's fourth book is by far the darkest book in the Dorothy saga (the first six Oz books), in my opinion, as the protagonists visit Underground Oz and its tumultuous and fear-inducing residents. They first come across incredibly hostile and cold-hearted 🍆 🥔 🥒 vegetable 🥕 🥦 🌽 people, known as the Mangaboos, that want to kill Dorothy and her companions for breaking rules that were unknown to them. (Note: that is a pattern amongst many of the villages, towns, regions, and areas in and around Oz that you will see time and time again). They also come across sound-triggered sociopathic wooden gargoyles and murderous invisible bears. Each of these are excruciating and horrendous experiences for the protagonists as well as for the reader. Underground Oz is really unlike anything in Oz but definitely makes you grateful once you get back to safer and more comfortable areas like the Emerald City. Scoodlers Hopefully, you have kept your wits about you on this life-threatening tour of Oz and its incredibly insidious inhabitants. Since all of these inhabitants live in Oz and its surrounding areas, these denizens have been around since the birth of Oz. Anyways, let's continue our tour and head back toward land. Uh-oh, we have ended up in the realm of the Scoodlers. They love their soup and will put any ingredient into it, including people. Scoodlers are the epitome of two-faced beings: their light-colored side and their-dark colored side, and will do anything to please their queen, including murder! 🔪 Dorothy and her companions come across them in Baum's fifth book, The Road to Oz. Beasts of the West (Honorable Mention) Noting a couple honorable mentions, over in the west of Oz, the protagonists of Baum's first story then come across some more terrifying predators sent to "attack" them. That moment felt more horrifying to me than the witch herself because she had the ability to control crows, wolves, bees, Winkie (or "Vinkus") soldiers and flying monkeys in a way that benefitted her. Some of those beasts could rip you apart if it suited her and that is really what she wanted. Not a truly terrifying group of animals but definitely not beasts that you want to instigate. These scenes are featured in various adaptations; however the illustrations by Greg Hildebrandt above are by those most terrifying (I mean, those wolf eyes?!?). Could you handle these angry beasts? Let me know in the comments below. Man-eating Plants (Honorable Mention) Escaping from the Scoodlers lands us on the alternate yellow brick road, where we will run into my honorable mention of terrifying creatures in Oz: the man-eating plants. These blue-leafed plants were introduced in Baum's The Patchwork Girl of Oz. If you stood still long enough, they would devour you whole at which point you would have sing or whistle to get yourself out of it. Not truly terrifying but just the name man-eating plants doesn't make you want to go near them. Well, now we are safe back in the Emerald City, we can relax and leave all those denizens in our memory. A great way to safely revisit these Horrors of Oz and bring them to your neck of the woods is to check out the many adaptations listed above. There are tons of spooky and haunting elements in this land as much of it is still very much unexplored as well as tons of areas, villages, and towns that were also not very kind to the protagonists in many of the Oz books. But, I wonder, who are the denizens of Oz that give you the heebie-jeebies? Let me know in the comments; and until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse.
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AuthorMy name is Vinkus Ken and I have been a long time fan of many things in Oz and how their world truly does emulate much of ours. Did you know that they have a flag of their own? Or did you know that they have a law about only having 9 jurors in their courts? Also, Oz has a court system! I like to introduce facts that seem meaningless and bring meaning to them by comparing them to our world. So, come along on this journey and enjoy the ride. |