Bored Panda decided to ask a few questions about this recent series by Rubin to uncover what inspired the artist to create it. The author of ‘Rubes Cartoons’ shared with us: “‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a beloved staple of American (and of course the entire world!) pop culture. Each character is an icon in its own right, each one with its own backstory and peculiarities and personality.”

The cartoonist also revealed which elements of ‘Wicked’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ he felt were most important to highlight in his strips: “It’s always fun to share a different viewpoint and place the characters in a setting outside of their ‘movie role lives.’ How do they deal with some of the more average situations in life, such as using a blow dryer or eating an ice cream cone or even using an encyclopedia?”

When asked about a particular character he found especially fun or challenging to draw, Leigh responded: “Each character is delightful in their own way and capturing their expressions exactly to reflect the specific situation is essential to get the most from each gag.”

Lastly, Rubin shared with us which other literary works he’d like to create cartoons based on: “Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorites to draw on as well as any number of nursery rhymes, such as the cow jumping over the moon. I never get tired of that one!”