When you read a comic book, or any book, really, that derives its material from older sources, one of the key things you have to consider is what it brings to the table that's different from the source. For example, Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West uses the work of Frank Baum to create a story full of depth that gives us a more pessimistic, postmodern look at the fantasy world of Oz that so many of us grew to love through the vivid colors of Victor Fleming's wonderful 1939 production. Wicked is reverent, to a degree, but also cynical. It moves around inside the confines of the body of work that is derived from, but gives this old tale new depth.

Yuko Osada's Toto! The Wonderful Adventure doesn't manage to give us a new vision of Oz. It isn't cynical or postmodern. It doesn't even really give its source material (and I use the term source loosely here) any new depth or relevance in today's literary world. What it does do, and quite well, I might add, is give the Oz mythos a vibrant energy that even the campiest of the original Oz novels could not muster.

We are left in the wake of previous adventures as Kakashi, Lion, and Dorothy end up on a mission to find seven magical accessories, each of which gives its owner amazing powers and is somehow linked to one of seven animals. Kakashi happens to be in possession of one of these, the Dog Bracelet (also known as the puppy Toto), and he uses it to pretty great effect throughout the book. Of course, like most shonen heroes, he's a bumbling goofball. Only through the help of his friends is he able to get things accomplished.

As they travel, they're assigned by the North Witch (an organization in Toto, not a person) to investigate the town of Garrot and look for signs of possible owner of a stolen accessory. They find one soon enough as they get roped into some gang warfare by a gang leader named Alice... yes, Toto! doesn't stop with Frank Baum - it has to tap into Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as well.

Toto! is ridiculous camp, but underneath all the silly activity, slapstick humor, and hustle bustle, there's a really well-paced shonen (boys manga) action story that's really just starting to catch its stride. Osada uses the motifs of both The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but he twists them in such a way so that they become fresh new identities. Who would have thought you could use the White Rabbit as a bad guy? This constant retooling of old ideas and motifs leaves you hunting through the book, looking for more references to the source material, but it also gives you a chance to really evaluate the imagery and the speech.

That's another one of Toto!'s strengths. The panels flow well, the illustrations are composed nicely, and Osada proves himself an artist up to the task of reimagining these old classic children's books. I really have nothing to complain about with the art, except for the fact that it is sometimes occluded by the binding of the book. Dear Del Rey; shrink the images so that they fit on the page and I don't have to ruin the spine of your books, or print larger books. The extra $2 I spend on your manga should be getting me something, and it's not paper or ink quality.

Despite the binding issues Toto! The Wonderful Adventure is a book I recommend wholeheartedly if you're looking for a fun romp. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but that's part of the appeal. While it doesn't bring much new depth to the stories of Frank Baum, it does bring a healthy dose of campy fun. That should be good enough for anyone.

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