Abadazad

(CrossGen, 2003-2004)
™ and © CrossGen

One of the most creative, beautiful, and regrettable victims of the “CrossGen implosion” was J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog’s Abadazad. Abadazad is the mystical land in a fictional “beloved series of century-old children’s books.” The abducted brother of 14-year-old Kate has been missing for five years: guess where he’s been.

This new series of novels is an amazing mix of media. It includes Kate’s first-person narrative, traditional illustrations, and “excerpts” from the “original” Abadazad books and comics pages that, like the prose, propel the storyline. It’s an innovative, effective, magical mix.

Any resemblance to Oz is strictly intentional but also fleeting. Yes, we can say that “Little Martha” corresponds to Dorothy, Queen Ija to Ozma, Master Wix to Jack Pumpkinhead, etc., but that’s superficial. Abadazad’s characters are original creations whose resemblance to more famous archetypes is a mere storytelling convenience, a literary form of shorthand: like putting super-heroes in tights. The meat of the characters is in their personalities, which are new and unusual.

The art is splendid. Recommended for ages 9 and up, Abadazad is not to be missed.

— Jack Abramowitz

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