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The Gump
Gump-book

Real Name

The Gump

First Appearance

The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904)

Original Publisher

Reilly & Britton

Created by

L. Frank Baum

Origin[]

A Gump is an elk-like creature common in the Land of Oz. They have wide-spreading antlers, caprine whiskers, and a turned-up nose. Gumps have a screeching cry, and also possess great pride and an independent spirit.

The head of a gump was mounted on the mantle in the great hallway of the Royal Palace of Oz. When the Scarecrow was deposed as King of Oz, he and his companions were trapped by the General Jinjur's Army of Revolt. The Professor Wogglebug brought the Gump's head and with two sofas for a body, palm tree limbs for wings, and a broom for a tail, all tied together with clothesline, the Tin Woodman created a vehicle for their escape. The Gump was then brought to life using the Powder of Life.

Although their escape was successful, during the night the Gump flew much farther than expected and took the companions over the Deadly Desert and completely outside the Land of Oz. In an attempt to land and turn around, they crashed into a Jackdaw nest and the Gump was damaged. Eventually the Wogglebug used a Wishing Pill to repair the Gump and set them back on their way again.

He was later disassembled, at his own request, and remained only a head.

Public Domain Appearances[]

Notes[]

While the original character who appeared in Oz books published before 1923 is in public domain, the versions of the character used by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Disney, Vertigo Comics, Marvel Comics or post-1923 Oz books are NOT in the public domain.

See Also[]

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