What would happen if you found out your favorite stories were real? Oz and Wonderland are actual places with actual residents, and you may be able to bounce back and forth between the real world and these fantasy realms? That is the world of Namesake.

Created by Megan Lavey-Heaton and Isabelle Melançon, the story centers on people known as namesakes, individuals in each generation chosen to be part of a story that exists in a parallel world. Namesakes are given tasks to complete in their respective mythical lands, but if they fail, the consequences are dire in both dimensions. The selection of a namesake is random, but if you are chosen and named Alice, for example, you will always be connected to Wonderland, and so on.

If you are a lover of fairy tales and legends, this comic is a must-read. I always love stories like these that take a well-known tale and turn it on its ear. The first arc features Oz, which is the perfect setting for a deep, complicated tale of political intrigue, treachery, and adventure.

The art is also beautiful. There is a mix of black and white and color panels, and in some sections, the pages have a hint of a hue that adds to the narrative, like green undertones when talking about events in Emerald City or just a red splash to highlight blood.

Namesake began back in 2010, but it is still going strong with updates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Click here to begin reading. The website also offers a handy archive section to keep track of chapters as well as a cast list to help sort out the characters.

Namesake