The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower

This artwork makes me drool in happiness. That is all.
No, seriously, I don't have a lot to say. You can read my review/summary of the plot at my entry for the book, here.
Whether or not you've read Baum's book, I recommend the version adapted by Shanower and illustrated by Skottie Young. I've read the book, obviously, so I knew what was going to happen--which didn't make the illustrations any less delightful. In fact perhaps it made them better, since I was so eagerly anticipating Young's version of all the characters.
And if you haven't read The Marvelous Land of Oz, the graphic novels leave nothing to be desired. The story is the same, and although the text is abbreviated I hesitate to go so far as to call them abridged, as the entirety of the story is presented in the graphic novel form. These are just gorgeous, gorgeous versions of the Oz stories, and I can't wait for the next one to come out.

Read these!

Calamity Jack by Hale, Hale, and unrelated Hale

It's been a loooong time since I read Rapunzel's Revenge, written by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale, so I was hoping I could pick up Calamity Jack without needing to remember too much of the first book. And it was fine; Calamity Jack is a complete story with just enough background thrown in to remind you that Jack was Rapunzel's sidekick in the first book, and then it takes off on a new and unrelated adventure.

Jack is bringing Rapunzel back to his home in the city, hoping to show her a good time with his city manners and street know-how. But his past catches up with him quickly, and Rapunzel is bound to find out that he wasn't always the heroic fellow she knows today....

I will say, if you liked the first one, the writing is just as strong, there's a dash of humor, and it's fun to watch the relationship between Punzy and Jack bloom into something a little stronger and deeper. The artwork is colorful and gorgeous--whether or not you've delved into graphic novels, this pair is a good set to try, and you can pretty much start with either one (I'd recommend reading them in order, but if you can't get your hands on RR first, it doesn't hurt to start with the second one.)

Wizard of Oz Week: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Marvel Classics

Yes, the picture needs to be that big. Because that is how much I love this version of L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It is simply gorgeous.

The artwork is stunning and rich. This is one of the first versions I've read that actually made me want to go to Oz, so I could see in person what I was reading about.

As far as adaptations and twists go, this is not a retelling; it sticks very closely to the original story. I didn't pull out my original Oz book to check, but I don't think it's even abridged. Certainly everything I remembered reading was in the graphic novel, including the ending to the original story: the quest to read Glinda in the south of Oz, with the Hammer-Heads and the China doll village.

It's great to see the visualization of Baum's imagination (as it is often left out of movie versions; Dorothy's return from the Wicked Witch of the West is usually considered to be enough story.)

But it keeps going. That's right. And Eric Shanower and Skottie Young do the whole story justice.

I am certainly looking forward to their second installment, as they continue Baum's story with The Marvelous Land of Oz, which was released on October 30th.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

You may be familiar with Shannon Hale from her Goose Girl story, if you are (as I suspect since you are reading this) a fan of the fairy tale adaptations. More recently Hale turned her skills to Rapunzel's tale, or tails if you like.

What I didn't realize when I ordered Rapunzel's Revenge was that the book is a graphic novel. The story is written by Shannon Hale and her husband, Dean, and illustrated by Nathan Hale (apparently of no relation). It's an excellent retelling, bringing the tale up to more modern sensibilities (Rapunzel is able to rescue herself, for example). The artwork is lovely and sets the scene beautifully, taking the reader right into the tale. I honestly have no complaints at all about this work.

There are some great reviews and descriptions over at Amazon.com, so I'll just point you their way if you want more details. It definitely deserves it's 4.5 star rating and I would go so far as to say that should be a 5. I recommend it to all of you, particularly if you like the retellings that are more creative and flexible. Enjoy!

Also check out Shannon Hale's Official Site.

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger on a spindle and sleeps for 100 years. Then she's awakened by her Prince's kiss and falls madly in love with him at first sight, and is carried off to his palace to be his bride.

So what happens to the castle? The kingdom remnants have slipped away... there's nothing much left to rule, but here is this castle and the servants who were asleep with the princess for 100 years. What are they to do?

Linda Medley explores the question in her beautiful graphic novel, Castle Waiting. This collection brings together the first 12 issues of the Eisner Award-winning series. This is one of those books that you can just immerse yourself into, the drawings as compelling as the writing, the story spun slowly out so that even as the action moves on, the character's past is revealed in tantalizing tidbits. With engaging nested stories (for those who like that style), this book ends up including multiple tales, all with fairy-tale flavor, feminine empowerment in a range of forms, and some wonderful offhand references to other stories.

The artwork is gorgeous and creative, a far cry from the "cartoony" feel of some comic books, so if you haven't read any graphic novels before, this might be a good one to try. Altogether, Medley portrays her story well, both in words and images, for a delightful exploration of Sleepy Beauty's castle. I'm looking forward to Volume 2.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan is one of my favorite illustrators, so when he announced the publication of his first graphic novel, The Storm in the Barn, I was, to say the least, very excited to see it.

Set in the Kansas Dust Bowl years, this story weaves together history and mythology, borrowing from tall tales as well as straightforward historical accounts of the time and place. 11-year-old Jack has grown up in a world without rain, and is struggling with his family and classmates as much as the weather. His sister Dorothy is ill, but finds moments to comfort him with tales of "the other Dorothy," as the children read through the Oz books. In the end, Jack must find a way to save his family and their land before they lose hope entirely.

You can get a good idea of the set up of the story, the mood, and the artwork of the book from this book trailer (book trailer yay!):