Mombi is a second-tier wicked witch with ambitions to rule all the Land of Oz. She first appears in L. Frank Baum’s second Oz book, The Marvelous Land of Oz” (1904) where we see her as a harsh, disagreeable old hag living in the northern kingdom of Oz, the Land of the Gillikins. In my book, “The Lost Wizard of Oz,” we see her again as a minor witch with important connections throughout the Land. She is an influence peddler and seller of information and magical items.

Sometimes you need a Mombi.

In “The Lost Wizard of Oz,” Glinda needs something only Mombi can get for her: The bounty hunter, Strigand Nightflyer, who can help her find the missing Wizard. Mombi strikes a hard bargain, but delivers the bounty hunter, as promised.

Connection with Tip.

When Glinda first arrives at Mombi’s miserable little hovel in the woods, she is greeted by a delicate looking little boy named Tip, who is living with the old crone. Mombi chases the boy away, leaving Glinda puzzled as to the relationship between them. Despite living under the same roof, there doesn’t seem to be any warmth or affection between them. Very puzzling. Glinda will learn more about him in another book.

Gayelette: Good Witch of the North.

After Glinda leaves on her quest with Strigand, Gayelette, the Good Witch of the North and Glinda’s younger sister pays a visit to Mombi to find out what her sister is up to. She is worried about her. Mombi doesn’t want to share what she knows, but reluctantly submits to her queen. Gayelette is surprisingly kind to Mombi and offers to have a wagonload of firewood delivered to her to guard against the coming winter.

Why is Gayelette so kind to Mombi? There is more to the old hag than meets the eye.