Dorothy and the malicious witch Once upon a time, in the fantastical land of Oz, there lived a young girl named Dorothy. Dorothy, a kind-hearted and adventurous soul, had been swept away by a tornado from her dreary home in Kansas to this magical realm. Determined to find her way back home, Dorothy embarks on a journey along the yellow brick road, guided by the wise Scarecrow, the gentle Tin Man, and the courageous Lion. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and hurdles, but nothing could have prepared them for their encounter with the malicious witch. The malicious witch, known as the Wicked Witch of the West, was fueled by her jealousy and desire for power. She had heard of Dorothy's arrival in Oz and saw her as a threat to her reign.
Sean Murphy has a very distinctive style. His faces and poses are packed with personality. His inks are thick and sketchy as appropriate for Gotham, and the man knows how to use shadows. The action is incredibly dynamic and there’s a sense of motion even in calm scenes.
I believe that writers usually steer clear of these questions because the answer is often yes, and to address these issues in-story would call for lasting changes that would just deviate too far from the status quo. Lightning-quick pacing and an all-star cast of Gotham s heaviest hitters will keep you on the edge of your seat until the breathtaking finale of this second installment of the White Knight saga.
She had heard of Dorothy's arrival in Oz and saw her as a threat to her reign. With her magical abilities and army of flying monkeys, she set out to capture Dorothy and prevent her from ever returning home. The witch's plan was to steal Dorothy's magic ruby slippers, which had inadvertently ended up on her feet during the tornado.
Comic Book Review – Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy
Written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, Batman: White Knight is a standalone miniseries outside of the mainline DC comics continuity. Following a destructive chase through the streets of Gotham, Batman is filmed brutalizing the Joker while dozens of GCPD officers look on. The footage goes viral, casting the caped crusader and the complacent police force in a negative light. Following this, the Joker has begun taking an unknown medication that “cures” him of his insanity, making him Jack Napier once again. While not blind to his crimes committed as the Joker, Jack sees Batman as the real villain plaguing Gotham City, his vigilante crusade doing more harm than good. He sets out to make the city a better place by exposing all the bad that comes with how Batman operates, leading the public to no longer tolerate their dark knight.
I was always curious about this book, but admittedly it was hard not to see it more cynically as gimmicky. The premise is solid, nevertheless, and gimmicks are not inherently bad by any stretch. What I was pleased to find upon reading it was how much Murphy went out of his way to balance how Batman and Napier are presented, rather than villainizing the former more to make it easier to accept a reformed Joker as heroic. Batman is reckless and causes a lot of problems, but he is still the doggedly determined hero we all know. He’s near the edge, but he hasn’t gone off the deep end. Jack sincerely wants to make Gotham a better place, but he isn’t above using underhanded, even villainous, tactics as a means to this end.
This isn’t simply a story reversing their roles either, but a closer look at a familiar version of their relationship as nemeses. Joker’s love/obsession for Batman is explored as a strong motivator for why he pursues a life of villainy for instance, while Batman is forced to really come to terms with and confront the issues he has refused to acknowledge are the direct result of his vigilantism, Joker arguably being one of them. Personal issues plague the two as well, as Batman struggles with loss and subsequently pushes those close to him like Nightwing and Batgirl away. For his part Jack must try to reconcile with how awful he has been to Harley Quinn, an issue that is somehow even more wonderfully complex than it sounds. I especially like the direction Murphy took with this facet of the story and how Harley Quinn was characterized.
While this book is its own self-contained continuity, I really liked that the lore it pulled from the most was Batman: The Animated Series from the 1990s. There is a wealth of visual references peppered throughout, in background details and character designs, as well as dialogue references lifted straight from the series for those who recall them. What pleased me most though were the callbacks to more meaningful moments from that show, such as those between Batman and Harley, that helped to build out their relationship as not just combative, but sometimes cooperative and sympathetic.
One of the most interesting reinterpretations that this story brought to the table was, for me, the fate of Jason Todd, the Robin infamously killed by the Joker. This story changes things a bit, making Jason the first ever Robin to have fought alongside Batman rather than Dick Grayson (who still appears at Nightwing). Jason was in Joker’s clutches and tortured, but when Harley brought Batman to stop Joker from killing him the boy was already gone and had not been seen since. Though not the core concern of the story I really like the revelations that came from this subplot, which came to say a lot about both Joker and Batman.
Final Thoughts
White Knight is an excellent Batman story, which I particularly recommend because more casual comic book readers can pick it up only needing a relatively limited primer. The only real problem I had with the books was the characterization of Batgirl, which was at times strangely ditzy. Other than that, I really loved the way it forced Batman to take a hard look his crusade against crime—especially in how poor areas often suffer the most property damage and how rich businessmen find a way to exploit rebuilding efforts for profit—without completely eschewing the more escapist ideas that make us love the world of Batman in the first place.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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Murphy also drops in lots of little Easter eggs and uses characters that are best known from the animated series. The one detail that breaks this theory is the use of Jason Todd in the story, but I won’t spoil that here.
These enchanted slippers, given to Dorothy by the Good Witch of the North, held the key to her journey back home. Realizing the importance of these slippers, the Wicked Witch of the West embarked on a wicked scheme to deceive and capture Dorothy. She laid a trap for Dorothy and her companions, sending her minions to hinder their progress and sow discord among the group. However, Dorothy, guided by her unwavering bravery and resourcefulness, managed to outsmart the witch's minions time and again. The witch grew increasingly frustrated with Dorothy's resilience, her plans continuously foiled by the young girl and her companions. Eventually, the Wicked Witch of the West confronted Dorothy directly, threatening to harm her and take the ruby slippers by force. In a climactic battle, Dorothy, with the help of her loyal friends, managed to defeat the witch and remove the slippers from her grasp. The power of friendship and courage prevailed, as Dorothy stood triumphant over the defeated witch. With the wicked witch vanquished, Dorothy and her newfound friends rejoiced. They were one step closer to finding the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, who they believed could help Dorothy return home. Little did they know that more trials and tribulations awaited them on their journey. The story of Dorothy and the malicious witch serves as a timeless tale of good versus evil, with Dorothy's unwavering determination and the wicked witch's malevolent nature at the forefront. It reminds us that despite the challenges we may face, we can overcome them with bravery, loyalty, and the power of friendship..
Reviews for "Lessons Learned from Dorothy's Encounter with the Malicious Witch"
1. Michelle - ★☆☆☆☆ - I absolutely did not enjoy "Dorothy and the malicious witch". The storyline felt disjointed and unclear, making it difficult to follow. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to care about their struggles. The writing style was also quite repetitive and lacked creativity. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.
2. Robert - ★★☆☆☆ - "Dorothy and the malicious witch" was a mediocre read at best. The plot was unoriginal and predictable, following the typical hero's journey formula without adding any unique twists. The dialogue was often cheesy and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the pacing felt sluggish, with too much exposition and not enough action. While the concept had potential, the execution fell short, resulting in a forgettable reading experience.
3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆ - I had high hopes for "Dorothy and the malicious witch" but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The writing felt amateurish and lacked polish, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The characters were shallow and one-dimensional, making it hard to empathize with them. The world-building was minimal, leaving many questions unanswered. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to fellow fantasy lovers.
4. Daniel - ★☆☆☆☆ - "Dorothy and the malicious witch" was a complete letdown. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, with many loose ends left unresolved. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to immerse myself in the story. The lack of character development made it difficult to care about what happened to them, and the ending was unsatisfying. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written fantasy novel.
5. Samantha - ★★☆☆☆ - I found "Dorothy and the malicious witch" to be a disappointing read. The writing style was lacking and uninspired, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, and their actions often felt unrealistic or out of character. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to others.