Advance Review: ‘The Patchwork Girl Of Oz’ #2 Shows Artistic Love

Writer/artist/colorist/letterer Otis Frampton and color flattener Kate Frampton continue adapting author Lyman Frank Baum’s novel The Patchwork Girl Of Oz (1913). There continue to be a variety of interesting moments for those experiencing an adaptation of the novel for the first time. While children and those learning to read should still be finding this issue to be a delight. Not to mention that Otis Frampton adds supplemental material that may please those new to the Oz franchise along with the die-hard fans. Though some readers could face the same confusion that this reviewer has over two character profiles in one supplemental section. Also like most multi-issue comic stories this issue is somewhat reliant on the events of the prior issue. Still readers should find this issue to be accessible without reading the first issue.

When it comes to the progression of the over-arcing plot things seem to slow with this issue. There are still beats of the larger plot, but the majority of this issue consists of talking heads and exposition. Yet, Otis by his own admission in the second supplemental section in this issue talks about doing this adaptation in a cinematic manner. Thus, there is still a lot of show over telling. Otis also talks about certain moments seeing change from how they are in the novel. Hopefully, this manner of adaption will pan out by the final issue.

As for the art and colors they seem almost as good as the first issue’s. The only arguable problem in the art is that the glass cat is too expressive. While the design and expressions are cute the more critical the reader the more likely they will find this a bit odd if not jarring. Still, a lot of love seems to be put in the smaller details of the art. Not to mention the difference in the outlines between the glass cat and the other characters.

The Patchwork Girl Of Oz #2 comes out on February 19th from Image Comics.