Why Did We Create An Ozma Comic Book?
A behind-the-scenes look into developing "Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz #1 - A Mature Fantasy One-Shot".
Hi Lifeline Comics Readers,
This week, we’re going to do a deep dive into why we created our Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz one-shot. We’ll talk about how we came up with the idea, our history with the character from the original L. Frank Baum novels, and the importance of the character and the comic — even hearing directly from Algy, the writer of the one-shot!
We’ll also announce some new September events we’ll be tabling at, announce a change to our Kickstarter schedule, and share our thoughts on The Roses movie and the Phineas & Ferb revival.
Let’s dive in!
Why Did We Create An ”Ozma” Comic Book?
Phil: For those unfamiliar, Ozma of Oz was a character introduced in L. Frank Baum’s second Oz-set novel: The Marvelous Land of Oz in 1904.
She is the Long-Lost Princess of Oz who was stolen as an infant by Mombi the Wicked Witch of the North and transformed into a boy to hide her from those who would seek to have her reclaim her throne.
The Marvelous Land of Oz sees Ozma travel across Oz to escape her captor and surrogate mother, get swept up in a conflict with the all-female Army of Revolt, and eventually discover the truth of her history and choose to be magically transformed back into a girl by Glinda after having grown up as a boy.
Naturally, Ozma has become a Trans icon over the decades. She’s perhaps one of the strongest Trans Allegories in fiction, with gender fluidity and transformation literally built into her origin story. And yet, few-to-no adaptations exist that fully embrace the trans subtext of Ozma’s journey.
That’s where Lifeline Comics decided to step in, making Princess Ozma canonically Trans Femme in our adaptation!
How “Transphoria” Helped Us Grow the “Witches of Oz” Universe
Kat: In hindsight, one of the best moves we ever made was launching our queer Webtoon, Slice of Life, straight after the success of Bi Visibility. As a bisexual creator, Bi Visibility was our first venture into queer storytelling. And once we dipped our toes in, we knew it was important to us to make even more queer content. In parallel with the creation of Bi Visibility, we were working on building a WEBTOON audience for Slice of Life.
We launched Slice of Life directly following Bi Visibility, and that was one of the key elements that helped us build the consistent audience we have on the book today.
As for Ozma, we were always aware of the character, and it was a fun “what if we did this series” for a while. But following the success of Transphoria, we knew that people needed more trans representation. It was the perfect opportunity to grow the Witches of Oz universe, all while getting more trans stories to our growing queer audience.
Hiring Phil’s Brother as the Writer
Phil: From the very beginnings of our musings of potentially adapting the Ozma story into our shared universe, we knew that we would want to bring on a Trans writer to authentically tell the story of our Princess Ozma.
And fortuitously, my brother, Algy, is a Trans writer/editor who we previously collaborated with on Transphoria. And he was very interested in working with us again on this new one-shot!
Kat, Algy, and I had several strategy sessions where we developed the story for Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz.
We wanted to tell a satisfying and self-contained one-shot that also existed within the larger world of Oz that we introduced in The Witches of Oz. It took a few months to get it right, but I can honestly say that I think Ozma is one of the absolute best books in our library! Our (and especially Algy’s) passion for the character jumps out of every page.
But don’t just take my word for it! Let’s hear from Algy himself below!
Why Algy Joined the Project
Algy: Ozma became an important character to me long before I started working on the script. I’ve been fascinated with her ever since I saw that iconic trans Jeopardy-star, Amy Schneider, had the character tattooed on her arm.
I was just amazed at how the queer community finds beauty and authenticity in the most wonderful places, including in L. Frank Baum’s original portrayal. Ozma deserves a project that gave her new possibilities to explore explicit trans and gay themes, and I knew the EverAfterVerse was the perfect place for her to come to life.
So, we gave Ozma a voice to stand up for what she believes in, while also giving her complicated decisions to make. We also gave her complex relationships, with the strange maternal sorceress Mombi, and her butch lesbian ex-lover Jinjur, the leader of our new army of rebels fighting for what they believed in.
It was a fantastic mental obstacle course adding to such an extensive world as the EverAfterVerse while still giving Ozma a satisfying and engaging story of her own. I couldn’t have asked for a better and more supportive team than Kat and Phil, as well as our fantastic artist, Paree Pournmand.
It feels great to not only contribute to a universe centering queer stories of exploration, but to see it come to life on the page.
Conclusion
Phil: Whether you’re an existing fan of Ozma or completely new to the character, we hope you’ll consider checking out Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz!
The 44-page one-shot has all of the staples you’ve come to know and love from the EverAfterVerse: Action, Character, Sex, Magic, and Queer Themes!
Crossover Art Print: “Deven & Taylor”
Phil: Ozma isn’t the only Kickstarter we have live right now! And we’re offering a FREE CROSSOVER ART PRINT to anyone who supports both of our live campaigns!
This art by Ale Canzanella sees Trans Witch Ozma wield her shield magic to defend against Teen Slasher Taylor Blake from The Last Case of Deven & Taylor!
“It's always been Teen Detectives and Best Friends, Deven & Taylor, vs. the world. Will that hold true if Deven discovers that Taylor is a secret SERIAL KILLER?”
Delaying the “Second Bite” Kickstarter
Phil: You may recall that earlier this week, we announced an upcoming Kickstarter for our Vampire BL Webcomic: Love at Second Bite.
Second Bite was our Sunny Vampire X Gloomy Vampire entry into the Webtoon Webcomic Legends Contest a few months ago. And while it didn’t move forward in the contest, it’s still a book that we’re super proud of and think that our audience will really love.
Our initial plan was the run a Kickstarter for the first issue of the book in mid-September and relaunch the Webtoon and Tapas version of the series concurrently. But we have since decided that Second Bite deserves the same opportunity that Slice of Life had to grow a Webcomic audience before making the jump to Kickstarter.
So while the Pre-Launch Page is still active (and we encourage you to follow it!), we’ll be delaying the launch to early 2026.
In the meantime, we’ll be relaunching the Webcomic Version of Second Bite next week! We hope you’ll all consider subscribing to the series and following the relaunched version! Trust us when we say that we have so many fun surprises in the series and that we’ve put our whole hearts and souls into making it an amazing comic!
September Pride Events
Phil: We’re excited to announce three new Queer events that Lifeline Comics will be tabling at in September! If you’re local to any of these cities, definitely stop by our table to say hi!
Vermont Pride
Sunday, September 7th from 12-4pm
Waterfront Park, Burlington, Vermont
Spot #25
Saratoga Springs Big Gay Market Pop-up
Sunday, September 14th from 11am-4pm
Kaleidoscope Cafe, Saratoga Springs, New York
Kingston Big Gay Market Pop-up
Saturday, September 27th from 1-5pm
Rowan Woodwork, Kingston, New York
What have we been up to?
Let’s talk about how we’ve kept busy these last few weeks!
Anime NYC
Kat: It’s been two years since we went to one of our home shows, Anime NYC, but Phil and I were happy to be back at the Javits Center.
This was an interesting convention because it’s obviously not exactly our comic book audience, but it’s a crowd with similar tastes. There wasn’t ONE clear winner like we usually have at prides or cons, but there was a good mixture of love for a wide range our books.
There were pockets of time that were slow, BUT when we made sales, they were pretty big, and we feel confident that we made a handful of new fans.
And because this was one of our home shows it was a pleasure to see some familiar faces, and Julius’ cousin even won a medal for continuing to be one of the greatest Tekken players!
And, of course, it’s not a convention without some amazing cosplays:
Lady Gaga: The Mayhem Ball
Kat: Lady Gaga put on a gothic performance that you can tell she poured her whole heart and soul into. I really liked how thankful she was to her fans and her crew, and that radiated throughout the whole night.
It was also cool to see the different “eras” of Gaga in the audience. There was just as much cosplay as a Comic Con!
And it’s not a New York concert without running into a friend. I got to say hi to my college buddy, Brooke, decked out in her New York Liberty gear.
Media
Let’s discuss some non-comics media!
The Roses
Kat: The Roses first came onto my radar when the trailer played before Freakier Friday. I was drawn by the tone and how Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch comedically bounced off of each other. But sadly, The Roses, has that “showing too much in the trailer” syndrome. All the good jokes I had already seen, making the film as a whole fall flat.
And I honestly just never fell for Coleman and Cumberbatch’s love story. I understand why they hate each other, but why did they fall in love in the first place? The journey didn’t measure up the destination - one that jumped the shark multiple times leading into the the movie’s absurdly, bombastic third act.
Phil: The Roses really had me for the first two acts of the film. I really enjoyed the banter-filled relationship between Theo and Ivy. And I thought the progression of their ever-growing loathing for one another was well-paced and believable.
Unfortunately, the film did lose me in the third act. Ironically, the most heavily-marketed aspect of the movie (our lead couple fully giving into their hatred for one another and trying to actually kill each other) was the one I found the least engaging. Up until that point, I found their increasing jabs and conflicts to be the perfect blend of darkly funny and underlyingly tragic. But I found myself taken out of the film when things finally escalated to the cartoonish level of the third act.
On the positive side, I did think this was an incredibly funny movie. There are a ton of laugh-out-loud moments throughout from both the two leads and the supporting cast. And the pacing of most of the film is fantastic — right from the electric opening scene which quickly transitions to an extended flashback.
The dinner party scene, alone, makes The Roses worth watching. It’s such a well-done sequence and a fantastic payoff to Theo and Ivy’s growing resentments. And the way that the entire supporting cast is weaved into this extended fight between the couple makes it all the more engaging.
The Roses isn’t a perfect movie. It doesn’t crack my top ten. But I did enjoy quite a lot of it and think it’s worth a watch if you enjoy banter-heavy scripts and a slow-burn devolution of a relationship.
Phineas & Ferb Season 5 (2025 Revival)
Phil: After ten years off the air (ending its Season 4 run back in 2015), Disney Channel animated comedy Phineas & Ferb returns for a new fifth season in 2025.
I watched the original run of Phineas & Ferb throughout my middle and high school years. From a bird’s eye view, the series looks like the textbook definition of formulaic cartoon — recycling the same “Candace tries to bust her brothers” and “Doofenshmirtz is thwarted by Perry the Platypus” plots every episode. But what has always set the series apart is that the series is just as inventive as its boy genius leads — constantly finding small ways to keep the formula fresh with quick-paced humor, a large recurring cast, fun musical performances, and more running jokes than you can list in a single sitting.
The newest season of Phineas & Ferb doesn’t miss a beat — recapturing the exact energy and humor of the first four seasons. If I was seamlessly watching the entire show without any context, I honestly don’t know if I would have picked up on the long gap between seasons (minus a couple of voice actor changes) because of just how much the spirit of the original run remains intact.
Phineas & Ferb season five is funny, inventive, familiar, and a little heartwarming — all qualities of the original run. My only real criticism (so far) is that there’s only been one new song that I’ve really loved. But even the original run would sometimes have a dry spell of musical numbers before putting out a new classic. I’m excited to continue watching and to see the new ways that the creators find to keep the formula fresh and funny each week.
Hollywood (2020 Netflix Miniseries)
Phil: Hollywood was a Netflix miniseries from Ryan Murphy that debuted back in 2020 and tells the stories of various aspiring actors, writers, directors, and producers during a fictionalized Golden Age of Hollywood. It was a show I missed when it originally aired, but that my fiancé Julius wanted to rewatch after seeing David Corenswet in Superman (he plays probably the most prominent character in the Hollywood ensemble cast).
Like many Ryan Murphy shows, Hollywood is literally filled to the brim with characters. There’s a ton of diversity among the main cast — with folks of all different socio-economic classes, races, and occupation rounding out an ensemble of eleven starring roles. Not every character can see their stories satisfyingly fleshed out in the seven-episode run of the miniseries. But there are a lot of very interesting beats and performances for each member of the cast.
Hollywood is unique in its approach to historical fiction. It takes place in a version of 1940’s America where racism, sexism, and homophobia all exist, but are forces that can be overcome at a wide scale (so wide that the fictional first nationally-released film starring a Black woman can become the biggest opening in movie history). At first, this approach left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. It felt inauthentic, revisionist. But by the end of the miniseries, I came to appreciate the approach the show took with these elements as empowering and wish-fulfilling fiction.
It still feels a bit weird seeing a fictionalized version of Rock Hudson (a real-life actor who was well-known to be secretly gay in the industry but who never officially came out) publicly announce his relationship with another man in 1940’s Hollywood. But at least the conversations surrounding race and sexuality in the show feel authentically written and realized by members of the respective communities, for the most part.
Hollywood is a mixed bag that tries to fit a lot into a short seven-episode run. Some elements and characters end up being underserved. But the highest of high moments do shine brightly and manage to make for an uplifting viewing experience. If you enjoy historical fantasy and revisionist history that places power in the hands of the disenfranchised, then Hollywood will likely be a great watch for you.
Comics
Let's discuss some comics we've enjoyed recently!
As usual, we’ll spotlight an Indie Book, a DC/Marvel book, a Webcomic, and a Live Kickstarter book!
Indie Comic: Lilith (Vault Comics)
Kat: I’ve been following Lilith since it was first announced as a crowdfunding book, and have now been reading it issue by issue in the direct market.
Corin Howell creates a fun ensemble to follow as Lilith explores a life outside of beauty and vampirism as she learns to enjoy the smaller moments with her newfound Scooby gang. Taking on both writing and art duties, I was especially impressed by the tone Howell created with her striking use of whites and reds.
We don’t have nearly enough queer stories on a monthly basis; Lilith filled a void I didn’t know I was missing. Excited to see where the “will they, won’t they” goes with the book’s planned volume 2.
Marvel: Gwenpool
Kat: Cavan Scott and Stefano Nesi find a fun side to the convoluted history of superhero comics through the lens of Marvel’s #1 fan, Gwenpool.
The name Gwen Stacy packs a big punch for most Spidey fans. So I’ll be the first person to say I was pretty weary when this title was first announced. Do we really need Gwen Stacy to come back…again? She’s a character that has been constantly reinvented trying to recapture the success of Spider-Gwen.
But by using Gwenpool as a foil, I feel like Marvel is closer to figuring out the Gwen Stacy’s return saga. Because, in this version, she’s the complete opposite of her original counterpart. This Gwen is an assassin who has been through the ringer of Marvel’s mythos - Weapon X’s, clones - you name it!
As Scott and Nesi throw every plot device into the kitchen sink, they don’t forget the key to making a good comic - heart. Gwenpool, as a fan, guides readers to lean into the ridiculous, while taking a closer look at Gwen Stacy’s legacy. Using Gwenpool as a POV character, surprisingly helps ground this crazy concept into a story that’s both fun and emotional.
Webcomic: Punk Rock Candy (BL)
“The golden-boy athlete vs. the brooding rock star. Rylan’s idolized status gets under Axel’s skin, and Axel’s icy demeanor drives Rylan crazy. When an unwanted incident at a party leads to a hot kiss, it’s a game-changer. As emotions rise and tensions build, the line between love and hate dissolves, leaving Rylan and Axel to navigate a connection they never saw coming.”
Phil: If it hasn’t become obvious already, Gloomy/Dark queer romances are kind of my jam. I love a good “opposites attract” story, and my favorite expression of that is a cheerful (or cheerful-presenting) character falling for a jaded, sour character. So naturally, Punk Rock Candy jumped out to me amongst the titles on Webtoon Canvas.
This college-set romance primarily follows jock Axel, who is growing frustrated with the standoffishness of rock star classmate Rylan. When the two find themselves locked in a garage together, they finally are forced to confront their “hatred” of one another without a chance to run away…which leads to some surprising results.
Punk Rock Candy rocks some fantastic art that feels like a more Anime-inspired Adam Ellis (a high compliment). The writing is fun and not overly comedic (like many Webcomics tend to be), with characters who pretty plainly state their positions and what they are thinking. There’s an earnestness, especially with Axel and his narration, that I find very charming and think makes for a very cozy read.
Read “Punk Rock Candy” on Webtoon!
Kickstarter: FUNeral Home: a 30 Page One-Shot Comic
“A story about chosen family, processing grief, and sapphic assassins. It's not burying your gays if your gays are burying everyone.”
Phil: A new Sapphic one-shot comic from our good friend (and recently-announced head of our DEATHline and POWerline imprints) Michele Abounader and one of our favorite artists to work with, Fell Hound.
We like to call this book the “comic of a million slogans”, because Michele and Fell just keep coming up with new and fun taglines for the comic (“It's not burying your gays if your gays are burying everyone”, “Your resident sad gays attempt to make a FUN comic”, “Can this professional assassin keep her cool when her whole life is about death?”)
This is a passion project that the team behind the book has been working on for over a year, and that passion clearly shows in every inch of the project page. The six-page preview on the campaign page manages to squeeze in so much of what we’re excited to be: introspection, comedy, action, GAY!
And the variant covers by Heather Antos and Skylar Patridge are simply beautiful. It makes for an incredibly difficult decision as to which cover to grab (spoiler: I got them all).
In Closing…
We hope you enjoyed our discussion of Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz! This book is really special to us, and we just know you’ll love it, so be sure to back if you haven’t already!
Also check out The Last Case of Deven & Taylor #1-2 for a free crossover art print when you support both of our live campaigns.
If you’re local to Burlington (Vermont), Saratoga Springs (New York), or Kingston (New York), we hope to see you at one of our September events!
Subscribe above for biweekly updates on our future projects!
Buy Lifeline Comics on our Website!
Current Kickstarters:
The Last Case of Deven & Taylor #1-2 (Ends 9/11)
Ozma: The Trans Witch of Oz #1 (Ends 9/18)
Next Cons/Events:
Vermont Pride (9/07) (Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT) (Spot #25)
Saratoga Springs Big Gay Market Pop-up (9/14) (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Kingston Big Gay Market Pop-up (9/27) (Kingston, NY)
Bravo! Happy to hear about your Ozma comic! Ironically, I just wrote a post regarding her for my Trans Ascending substack. It's titled, "The Wonderful Queerness of Oz." Check it out.