1. The soldiers behind the witches

1. The soldiers behind the witches The Skarabs are one of the peoples making the witches' power visible in Zenescope's original Oz. Despite the name, these are purple-skinned humanoid fighters, rather than a swarm of ordinary beetles. They belong to the armed forces enforcing the witches' rule. That distinction matters when looking at all the different enemies in this version of Oz. Flying monkeys, dangerous beasts, magical attackers, and soldiers can all threaten the same group of travelers, but they don't have identical roles. The Skarabs are part of the military presence behind the conflict. The witches have people who can carry their violence into places where they aren't standing personally. Dorothy is entering a struggle that has already damaged communities before she arrives. The Skarabs' involvement in the attack on Thorne's village connects the army to that earlier suffering. He is traveling with the consequences of something those forces have already done. Their place in the story also starts before the fourth issue. The Skarabs are indexed in the opening issue of the original miniseries. By the time the narrative gives more attention to Thorne's history, they are an established part of the danger around him and Dorothy. Looking at them separately helps make the conflict easier to follow. A witch's magical power is one threat. An armed force that can attack a settlement and help bring a war to a city is another, and the people living in Oz have to survive both.