The second issue of “The O.Z.,” a gritty, crowdfunded sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by writer David Pepose, artist Ruben Rojas, colorist Whitney Cogar, and letterer DC Hopkins, went live on Kickstarter today. We are pleased to present exclusive concept art by Rojas of two characters in the series, the Prince of Lions and Jack Pumpkinhead, and to share an 11-page preview of the 44-page comic.
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Ruben Rojas
Colorist: Whitney Cogar
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Main Cover by Ruben Rojas; Variant Covers by
Maan House, Farid Karami, and Cem IrozWhat if The Hurt Locker took place in The Wizard of Oz? Find out in THE O.Z., returning to Kickstarter now from multiple Ringo Award-nominated writer David Pepose (Spencer & Locke, Scout’s Honor) and superstar artist Ruben Rojas (Proton). Fans of Mad Max: Fury Road, The Old Guard, and Fables will love this action-packed fantasy adventure, available to order now on Kickstarter!
THE O.Z. follows Dorothy Gale’s granddaughter and namesake, a disillusioned Iraq war veteran who is swept up by a tornado and dropped into the war-torn land of Oz. Now leading the Resistance against the Scarecrow’s regime, Dorothy must join forces with the Tin Soldier, the Prince of Lions and Jack Pumpkinhead if she hopes to locate the all-powerful Silver Slippers and bring peace to the Occupied Zone… or as the locals call it, The O.Z.
Press release:
“We are incredibly thrilled for The O.Z. to make its long-awaited return to Kickstarter,” said series writer David Pepose. “Thanks to the overwhelming support of more than 1,200 backers in our last campaign, we’re excited to pull the curtain back and lead our Yellow Brick Road Warriors through even more of our dangerous and sweeping fantasy world. If you’re a fan of L. Frank Baum’s iconic Wizard of Oz mythology, you’ll love our action-packed twist with The O.Z.”
THE O.Z.’s Kickstarter will fund the series’ 44-page second issue, with early bird specials and catch-up tiers available for those who missed the first campaign. Rewards include:
– Behind-the-scenes materials including David Pepose’s script, Ruben Rojas’ raw inks, and Whitney Cogar’s untouched colors;
– Four covers by Ruben Rojas, Maan House, Farid Karami, and Cem Iroz
– Online pitch review by David Pepose
– Original art commissions from Ruben Rojas
– A chance to get drawn into the book
– Three limited-edition sets of Scout’s Honor Ranger Scout merit badges
– Three limited-edition Spencer & Locke handmade plushies
– A store signing with writer David Pepose anywhere in the continental U.S.
Find Out What Fans Think of The O.Z.:
“Terrific! Such a clever concept and so well done… definitely don’t miss out!” – Scott Snyder (Batman, Nocterra)
“A clever twist on an old story, but more than that… a meditation on how deeply we carry trauma the world inflicts on us, whether that world is real or not.” – Mark Russell (Second Coming, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles)
“Emotional and engrossing… [The O.Z.] really does leave its readers wanting to see just how far the war-torn rabbit hole goes.” – Comic Book Resources
“An unflinching tale about the punishing consequences of war, the search for noble leadership, and legacy… this is one Kickstarter you do not want to miss.” – Syfy
“A giant success of an indie comic… [The O.Z.] is a sensation.” – The Comics Beat
Follow THE O.Z. on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @TheOZComic.
ABOUT THE CREATORS:
A former crime reporter turned comic book professional, David Pepose is the multiple Ringo Award-nominated writer of Spencer & Locke, Scout’s Honor, Going to the Chapel, the upcoming Grand Theft Astro, and more. Beyond developing stories for comics, film and TV, David has also worked for CBS, Netflix, DC Comics, and Universal Studios. Follow him on Twitter at @peposed.
Born in Malaga, Ruben Rojas read his first comic book at the age of five, kicking off his dream to make his living drawing. He finished his Illustration degree in 2010 and won several art contests in his native Spain. His work has been published in Cthulhu Magazine, Rogues! for Amigo Comics, and Proton for Blackjack Press. Follow him on Twitter at @ruben__rojas.
Whitney Cogar is a comic colorist and illustrator from Savannah, GA. She contributed colors to the two-time Eisner Award-winning Giant Days (BOOM! Studios), the miniseries Wicked Things (BOOM! Studios), and Lucy Knisley’s Peapod Farm series (Random House). Follow her on Twitter at @smashpansy.
DC Hopkins is a professional comic book letterer and designer who has worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from Eisner-nominated indie projects, to major publishers such as BOOM! Studios, DC Comics, IDW, Dark Horse, Image, Humanoids, Tor, Disney, Oni, and more. In addition to being a freelancer, DC is also a proud staff member of Deron Bennett’s AndWorld Design studio. Follow him on Twitter at @dc_hopkins.
