Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Indie Comics » REVIEW: ‘The O.Z.,’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘The O.Z.,’ Issue #1

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings08/16/20213 Mins Read
The O.Z. #1 - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The O.Z. #1 - But Why Tho

The O.Z. #1 is written by David Pepose, illustrated by Ruben Rojas, colored by Whitney Cogar, and lettered by DC Hopkins. After a tour of duty in Iraq, soldier Dorothy Gale returns to her home in Kansas to take care of her ailing grandmother. However, she struggles to fit back into society as well as lingering PTSD. One evening, a tornado sweeps through Kansas and deposits Dorothy in the land of Oz—which is now a war-torn hellscape split into different factions. Dorothy joins forces with several denizens of Oz, including a heavily mechanized version of the Tin Man, in order to bring peace to Oz as well as herself.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

This series marks another high-concept comic from Pepose, who put a post-apocalyptic spin on the Boy Scouts of America with his Scout’s Honor miniseries for AfterShock Comics. While Scout’s Honor dealt with the damaging effects of toxic masculinity, The O.Z. deals with how wars can leave scars both physical and mental on soldiers.

Dorothy is haunted by memories of her tour that have her bolting awake at night and even contemplating suicide at one point. Pepose also uses his seemingly vast imagination to deliver a new take on the world of Oz, which leads to multiple characters getting an overhaul in the same way that Sword Stone Table revamped the legend of King Arthur. If you thought the Wicket Witch of the West’s flying monkeys were scary before, you need to check out this comic. And that’s not even going into what happens to another beloved Oz character; I never saw that twist coming, but in the context of the comic and the original story it’s a welcome surprise.

This new approach to Oz also extends to the art, with Rojas giving each character a new redesign. The Tin Man, who is the most prominent character to appear, has the best design by far. He is now a towering metal behemoth, with a steampunk-esque look and an ax that bears more resemblance to Thor’s Stormbreaker than his trademark wood-chopping ax. Rojas also draws rather nightmarish images that symbolize the mental turmoil Dorothy is going through; one panel features a drone transforming into a flaming demon, streaking right at the reader. Cogar’s color art is rather muted, which lends gravity to the war sequences. Oz, once a bright and sparkling world, is now caked in a layer of dark yellow dust. It isn’t lost on me that Oz’s current state bears resemblance to the time Dorothy spent in Iraq; from the same bombed-out shelters and even Hopkins depicting the citizens of Oz speaking in another language using braces to depict the Ozian dialect.

The O.Z. #1 uses the familiar fantasy landscape of The Wizard of Oz to explore the horrors of war, resulting in a unique and compelling tale. With the first issue being successfully funded on Kickstarter, I hope the remaining two issues are fully funded as well because this is such a great concept and I need to see the rest of the story.

The O.Z. #1 is currently available to order online. The Kickstarter Campaign for the second issue will launch on August 16.

The O.Z. #1
5

TL;DR

The O.Z. #1 uses the familiar fantasy landscape of The Wizard of Oz to explore the horrors of war, resulting in a unique and compelling tale

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf’ Continues Netflix’s Anime Winning Streak
Next Article INTERVIEW: ‘The Loud House,’ Movie with Director Dave Needham
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Who Killed Sarah Shaw

REVIEW: ‘Who Killed Sarah Shaw’

01/20/2025
Katabasis #1

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Katabasis’ Issue #1 (2024)

11/20/2024
Space Ghost Issue #3

REVIEW: ‘Space Ghost’ Issue #3

07/03/2024
Space Ghost #1

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Space Ghost’ Issue #1

04/30/2024
The Devil That Wears My Face Issue #5

REVIEW: ‘The Devil That Wears My Face’ Issue #5

03/06/2024
The Devil That Wears My Face #4

REVIEW: ‘The Devil That Wears My Face’ Issue #4

01/31/2024

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here