Jan-Ken-Pon – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #7 review

    
_{Please view my reviews of the previous issues for my thoughts on them, and general overview fluffery that comes with looking at installments of anything that deal with concepts and characters that have any amount of history. You may also want to see my interview with series writer Eric Shanower.}

    
The penultimate issue of this series by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young wraps up a Wizard’s humbug’s reign and chronicles the first act of OZ’s new ruler; one that occurs without heavy-handed fanfare, yet still embodies what this series is about.

In this issue the Wizard ‘keeps’ the ‘promises’ he gave the companions upon setting them on the path to the Wicked Witch of the West. We know that he doesn’t give the Tin Man, Scarecrow, or the Lion anything tangible, at least nothing they didn’t have to begin with, yet are still left unable to say his actions have no effect. The Wizard is a former circus worker; a magician from Omaha, and sleight of hand and illusion – used for benevolent purpose – certainly added a self-awareness of already possessed attributes to Dorothy’s friends. In giving them (nothing) everything they asked for, only his promise to Dorothy remained. The line we all know (that doesn’t show up yet) “there’s no place like home” is constant theme, being Dorothy’s sole purpose throughout this series. The Wizard knows that even with his considerable talents at invention and being in command of OZ cannot offer her anything that replaces her desire to return home. He does, however, come up with a solution which is essentially the way he came to OZ in the first place. He and Dorothy begin to build another Balloon to cross the great desert in an attempt for the both of them to return home.

The attempt works for only one of them as Dorothy was unable to find Toto and the Balloon flew away with just the Wizard in tow. At the beginning of this review I noted that this book would show us an initial decision by the next ruler of the Emerald City and it proves the Wizard’s choice true. More than anything, the occurrences in this series reflect a rather pure view and worth of friendship. About true friendship. Armed now with what they’ve always wanted, they were not content with their own personal gains. Once again, the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow – the newly appointed rule of Oz – would join Dorothy and Toto on a journey; one to seek out the wisdom of Glinda, the Witch of the South.

Visually we get what we’ve to expect in this title. I’ve tirelessly extolled Young’s effort in this series, and will refrain from doing so again until I review the final issue next month. That said, one can almost feel the enthusiasm that went into putting a patch-work balloon on to the page. The last exchange in the issue, between the Scarecrow and Dorothy, encapsulate both the series as a whole and each step of the journey. It speaksto our desire to explore, learn and experience–whether wide-eyed kids or more cautious adults.

“Oh My!”

“Go On!”

    
Consistently with this title we are engaged and want to see more. It’s a cliffhanger that at the same time is a creative ace-in-the-hole in that no wall is insurmountable enough to stop us from wanting us to advance; from seeing what lies beyond. I know what lies beyond, but I cannot escape the desire to see it. The next glimpse – one that we all must anticipate for a month – is of dainty china landscape.

We’ll literally see what Shanower and Young can dish.

    
- Jay Tomio

_{Jan-ken-pon is the time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column of Jay Tomio, owner of 1/3 of everything you see currently on screen, and the editor of Heliotrope. Some call him the Bodhisattva.}

About Jay Tomio

...Jay Tomio is the co-owner of BSCreview and BSCkids--check out Jan-ken-pon, his time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column. More fun awaits at the Vogue Immunity