The fantasyland of Oz continues to fascinate steadfast Oz fans. They sympathize with the tin woodsman in his need for a heart, the cowardly lion in his need for courage, and with Dorothy as she searches for a way to return home to Kansas. In The Origin of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, author Michele Rubatino reveals the mystery behind the evidence regarding the source of the maps found in Tik-Tok of Oz. Rubatino discusses the origin of the maps that Baum claims he discovered, rather than penned from his own imagination. The Origin of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz provides evidence to show the maps found in the Oz books, forty of them in all, were derived from drawing blueprints taken from the text of a King James Version Bible dating from around 1611. This information found by Baum formed the foundation for the creation of this fantasy series. Rubatino's discovery will help Oz enthusiasts, theologians, and all interested in the works of Baum to decipher the many facets he included in his stories. It will help fans gain a better perspective on the mysteries still to be found in the Bible and the Oz series.

Covering genres from adventure and fantasy to horror, science fiction, and superheroes, this guide maps the vast terrain of graphic novels, describing and organizing titles to help librarians balance their graphic novel collections and direct patrons to read-alikes. New subgenres, new authors, new artists, and new titles appear daily in the comic book and manga world, joining thousands of existing titles—some of which are very popular and well-known to the enthusiastic readers of books in this genre. How do you determine which graphic novels to purchase, and which to recommend to teen and adult readers? This updated guide is intended to help you start, update, or maintain a graphic novel collection and advise readers about the genre. Containing mostly new information as compared to the previous edition, the book covers iconic super-hero comics and other classic and contemporary crime fighter-based comics; action and adventure comics, including prehistoric, heroic, explorer, and Far East adventure as well as Western adventure; science fiction titles that encompass space opera/fantasy, aliens, post-apocalyptic themes, and comics with storylines revolving around computers, robots, and artificial intelligence. There are also chapters dedicated to fantasy titles; horror titles, such as comics about vampires, werewolves, monsters, ghosts, and the occult; crime and mystery titles regarding detectives, police officers, junior sleuths, and true crime; comics on contemporary life, covering romance, coming-of-age stories, sports, and social and political issues; humorous titles; and various nonfiction graphic novels.

This is fun, self-published Oz fan-fiction by awarded Oz author Ron Baxley, Jr. who wrote this fan-fic as after-thoughts or "After-Th'Oz" to his more established Oz and Oz/Wonderland works from Maple Creek Press. It includes a brand new Oz/Wonderland novella based on Ron's and James C. Wallace II's Of Cabbages/Oz/Wonderland series, three brand new short stories that take place after Ron's _The Oz Omnibus of Talking City Tales_ (Maple Creek Press 2014), one bonus of a non-fiction article on some Munchkin actors from Ron's home-town, and a super hero story based on them. It includes public domain images from classic Wonderland and Oz illustrators. Ron decided he should no longer have Oz as solely an after-thought. Perhaps his readership should too.

"The trio from Kansas gets the royal treatment in Oz as they meet living paper dolls, puzzle-piece Fuddles, and the Spoon Brigade and the whole Kingdom of Utensia! But trouble is brewing: The Nome King is angered that Dorothy stole his magic belt, and he has an army of 50,000 set to invade Oz to get it back! Did Auntie Em and Uncle Henry make it to Oz just in time to see it destroyed?"--Page 4 of cover

Celebrate the unmistakable artwork of Skottie Young in a colorful collection of comic pages, covers and cartoons! The distinctively stylized illustrator first caught fans’ eyes with his flaming-hot take on the Human Torch, and he’s wowed readers across the years since on Marvel books including VENOM, SPIDER-MAN: LEGEND OF THE SPIDER-CLAN, NEW WARRIORS and NEW X-MEN! Young steered the Guardians of the Galaxy’s fan-favorite Rocket Raccoon into solo adventures, and his variant covers are a collector’s-item sensation! In addition to his art, Young has written ROCKET RACCOON AND GROOT, MAGNETO: NOT A HERO and DEADPOOL! This volume is the ultimate retrospective of the Marvel Universe according to Skottie — ideal for Young and old!