OZ: RETURN OF THE WICKED WITCH #3, from Zenescope Entertainment on March 1st, 2023, concludes Dorothy Gales’s desperate fight to save the people of Oz from Mambi’s wicked plan.
The Details
- Written by: David Wohl
- Art by: Guillermo Fajardo
- Colors by: Walter Pereyra
- Letters by: Joshua Reed
- Cover art by: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: March 1, 2023
Is It Good?
OZ: RETURN OF THE WICKED WITCH #3 is a super strong finish to Zenescope’s latest foray into the realm of Oz with magical battles, excellent character work, a few surprises, and a satisfying ending. Any flaws we could find in this issue are minor, so if you pick up this finale, it’s money well spent.
The high point in David Wohl’s script about the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil is the surprisingly deep character work Wohl puts into the main villain. Mambi isn’t simply a wicked witch. She’s a flawed and tragic character who channels her grief into destructive actions.
However, Wohl doesn’t follow the recent trend of making villains “relatable” by painting them as misunderstood. Mambi is well and truly a dark force, so you can appreciate the damaged humanity within her while still accepting that she’s definitely evil, making her the best archetype for a villainous antagonist.
Second to Wohl’s excellent character work is a banger of a magic fight between the forces of good and evil. Spells tear through opponents, and monsters claw their way through the enemy. Wohl delivers a big spectacle with twists and turns to keep readers on their toes until the last page.
Fajardo and Pereyra, likewise, deliver the goods in this issue with fantastic art. The line work is detailed, clean, and crisp. The action scenes are packed with energy. And Fajardo’s coloring work is exquisite.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our OZ: RETURN OF THE WICKED WITCH #2 review to find out what happened to Glinda and Throne while in Mambi’s clutches.
We begin with Dorothy, Tot, and Bartleby fighting against the tree monsters left behind when Mambi retreated underground with Glinda and Thorne as hostages. When Mambi summons her monsters to return, Dorothy hatches a clever plan to tag along.
Meanwhile, we see in a flashback how Mambi patiently tried and failed over years to resurrect Maras with dark magic. Mambi’s imprisonment kept Oz safe, but it also gave Mambi time to perfect her unholy spells. Now that Mambi has regained her wand from Glinda, Mambi attempts her resurrection spell with all the power she can muster.
We conclude the issue with monsters, hopelessness, and acceptance.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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OZ: RETURN OF THE WICKED WITCH #3 ends the mini-series with a climactic battle brimming with action, drama, emotions, and surprises. Wohl’s excellent pacing and plotting are matched by surprisingly deep character work. Fajardo and Pereyra turn in a gorgeous set of visuals to pair with Wohl’s equally strong script.
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