The Wicked Witch of the West, ruler of the Winkies after wresting control from the Wizard by conjuring an army of flying monkeys from her Golden Cap. Most of her powers seem to come from objects she owns, and she desperately wanted to add Dorothy’s teleporting Silver Shoes to her collection. She watched over her territory with her single magical eye, which allowed her to see great distances. Any intruders were met with swarms of vicious wolves, ravens and bees.
Though Dorothy ended up defeating the Witch, this was a complete accident, as she didn’t realize that throwing a bucket of water at her would melt her. Sure, the Wizard Oz sent her to the Witch with the mission to destroy her, but that was just a bluff. He knew the kid would certainly be killed or enslaved, and he’d be able to keep masquerading as a powerful magician. (Oz was not a cool dude).
Eureka the pink (sometimes purple) kitten. Dorothy and her cousin Zeb fell through a crack in the Earth into the land of the Mangaboos, and the multiple coloured suns of that country permanently changed the kitten’s white fur to its current colour. Like all animals entering fairylands, she gained the ability to talk, allowing Eureka to express her constant amused disdain of people, non-people and the concept of orderly law and justice. More than anything she wants to eat one of the Wizard of Oz’s nine tiny piglets. There’s nine of them, surely he can spare just one for a wittle hungwy baby.
Comparing her to the Bungle the Glass Cat, I think Baum held a very particular view of domestic felines. But where Bungle feels like this, Eureka very much has this energy.
Here is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, also known as the Wizard of Oz. A stage magician of the mortal world, who got to the magical country of Oz via a ballooning accident. He became the ruler of the place by kidnapping the infant Ozma and giving her to a witch filling in the power vacuum left in Oz when the wicked witches did away with the rightful royal family.
He is outed as a humbug by Dorothy and her crew, revealing that he has no magical powers, only sleight-of-hand and really really good prop-work. Later on, the Princess Ozma later grants him leave to stay in her country and become an apprentice to Glinda, the good Witch of the South.
A likeable and jolly enough person despite the whole false rule thing. He’s especially fond of the magic trick with the seven tiny pigs. Will straight up bisect a person with a sword if threatened (that was a plant-person, do they count).
Ojo the Unlucky, a Munchkin boy off on a quest to gather up the ingredients to un-petrify his uncle. He’s a pessimistic child, bearing several un-auspicious signs. Sometimes he gives in to the cruel twists of life –what else could be expected to happen to someone who’s Unlucky–, other times he expresses frustration at people forcing their wills upon others.
He’s the main cause behind the Patchwork Girl’s extroverted personality. Originally intended to be a domestic servant by Dame Margolotte, Ojo interfered in her construction, filling her brains with extra Cleverness, Poesy, Self-Reliance… basically all the mental attributes that make for an extroverted, non-servile personality. Good for her.
The King of Bunnybury (not to be confused with Bunbury), a town created by Glinda to protect the albino rabbits in her lands. He was elected to kingship by the other rabbits, but spends most of his time crying about how difficult it is to rule. He’d really like to return to the wild, but only if he can keep his nicest clothes, his favourite chair, his acrobats…
Bungle the Glass Cat, built and animated by Dr Pipt. He was made to catch mice, but the the Glass Cat’s marvelous pink brains (you can see ‘em work) mean that it’s too proud to debase itself that way.
Princess Ozma, ruler of Oz, previously known as Tip, restored to her original form by Glinda the Good. Was kidnapped and given to the witch Mombi by the Wizard of Oz when he stole the kingdom from King Pastoria. Or maybe when the Wicked Witches took over Oz, before the Wizard showed up? Baum didn’t much care for continuity.
Jack Pumpkinhead, built by Tip and given life by the witch Mombi, who periodically has to carve himself a new head. Later lives on a farm in Winkie country, where he grows new heads and buries his old rotten ones in little graves.
Oh em goodness whaaaaaat
(Coming on October 13th y’all, the second spookiest day in October)
Billina the yellow hen, who washed ashore the land of Ev with Dorothy. Originally named Bill by a kid who mistook her for a rooster as a chick. Will fight anybody who tries to boss her around in the chicken coop. Name feminized by Dorothy because I guess she believes in gender conformity?
