The Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion is a Talking Beast and a primary character of the series.

He also is the third and final being to join Dorothy Gale's group, serving as the muscle when they need it.

When Cowardly Lion encounters Dorothy for the very first time, she is also accompanied by a brainless Scarecrow, a heartless Tin Woodman and her little pet dog named Toto, all of whom became loyal comrades and good friends forevermore. In the end of the story the Cowardly Lion eventually received the courage that he deeply desired, and becomes one of the most respected and bravest beasts in all of Oz.

He is currently the king of all the forests of Oz.

Personality
True to his name, The Cowardly Lion is easily scared or terrified by almost everything around him. He even admits to Dorothy that he was terrified of sheep when he was a cub, though he has seems to have gotten over that particular fear.

Despite his moniker of being cowardly, he has his moments of bravery, such as when he willingly protected Dorothy and Toto from some Flying Baboons, getting bitten by one in the process. After recovering, he willingly fought off two Kalidahs, even loudly saying he planned on “fighting them to the death”, despite Dorothy’s protests.

Appearance
The Cowardly Lion looks like a normal lion, only much larger, with hooked claws and teeth sharp enough to break tree limbs and cut into flesh like butter. He can also speak like a normal person, since he's a Talking Beast.

Powers

 * Super Strength: Lion has incredible strength, even by lion or animal standards, as he can effortlessly fight off creatures that even the Tin Man has a hard time fighting off. The Cowardly Lion is even able to push a large tree down with his amazing strength to use as a bridge to cross a deep chasm.
 * Super Speed: Lion can run at extraordinary speeds that seem to surpass that of normal lions, most likely due to his large size or stamina.
 * Durability: Lion is quite durable, as he can take several bites from Flying Baboons before succumbing and having to rest. He's also able to smash through a wooden hut and shows no signs of discomfort or injury while doing so.

Trivia

 * He often lets Dorothy ride on his back when she's too tired to walk on her own.
 * He affectionately calls Toto "Peewee".
 * He apparently hates the taste of goat meat, preferring to eat deer or wild pigs.