The Iron Giant | |
---|---|
Real Name |
The Iron Giant |
First Appearance |
Ozma of Oz (1907) |
Original Publisher |
Reilly & Britton |
Created by |
L. Frank Baum |
Origin[]
The Iron Giant is a mechanical man constructed by Smith & Tinker for the Nome King. Its duty is to prevent trespassers from locating the Nome King's palace, and to this effect it straddles a narrow portion of the valley leading to the palace, pounding the ground in front of him with a huge metal hammer. There is no way to circumvent the iron giant, and only the Nome King holds the key to its clockwork. The iron giant lacks the ability to think or speak, having received no such attachments as were possessed by Tik-Tok, another of Smith & Tinker's creations.
When Ozma of Oz and Dorothy Gale lead a contingent to the Kingdom of the Nomes in order to free the royal family of Ev from the Nome King's clutches, their party had to pass beneath the thumping hammer and between the iron giant's legs one by one, timing their crossings carefully to avoid being crushed. The Saw-Horse, however, did not time his movements, and was crushed beneath the giant's hammer, though he suffered only minor damage, being made of such sturdy material. On their way back from the Nome King's palace, Dorothy stilled the giant with a word to the Nome-King's Magic Belt.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- Ozma of Oz