The Wizard Of Oz Left Out Some Pretty Spectacular Characters

The Wizard of Oz is turning 75 this year. Well, the film version, at least — let's forget that the iconic movie is based off a series of books by L. Frank Baum, filled with wonderful illustrations by John R. Neill.

Readers were first introduced to this magical world in 1900 when Baum penned The Wonderful World of Oz. It was then that Dorothy was swept away from Kansas via cyclone and plopped down into a Technicolor reality filled with incredible creatures and evil witches. Baum went onto write 16 more adventures in his fantasy world — each with a menagerie of characters left out of the 1939 film adaptation.

While we adore the film's cast (who doesn't want to give the cowardly lion a hug?), we don't want to forget the other compelling characters from Baum's series. Ahead, four illustrations from Neill — maybe Hollywood will grab these up and try to reboot the franchise?