Even if DC doesn’t always realize it, Zatanna Zatara is one of DC’s finest superheroes. The Mistress of Magic is so beloved that readers voted her into the Justice League way back in the 1970s. And yet, despite her obvious popularity (you see a minimum of 50 Zatanna cosplayers per convention) and unlimited potential (she is magic, after all), Zatanna is often relegated to a supporting role. She’s popular enough to be featured, but she’s not popular enough to outshine Batman or Superman. When you have a character who can manipulate the fabric of reality by speaking backward, it can be hard to incorporate her into the action without having her be the focus, so they generally don’t. Zatanna usually gets incapacitated within minutes to keep the story flowing. However, in those rare moments when Zatanna gets the chance to star, she brings down the house. This is so apparent, her recent miniseries was called “Zatanna: Bring Down the House.”
With that series and many guest appearances across the DC Universe over the last several months, it’s starting to look like Zatanna will finally get her due. Her 2010 ongoing series by Paul Dini was well regarded but short-lived. However, “Zatanna: Bring Down the House” was consistently a best-seller in comic sales. This latest offering, aptly named “Zatanna,” was second only to a Wolverine comic the week it was released. And if the rest of the series is as good as the inaugural outing, I suspect Zee will remain on that list for a long time to come.
First, it has to be said that Jamal Campbell’s art is simply gorgeous. Putting aside my obvious bias towards Zatanna, I can’t remember the last time a comic looked THIS good. All of it is spectacular, though there are two sections that stand out to me. One is a montage within the first few pages that depicts major moments in Zatanna’s life. Not only do we see beautiful renderings of Zatanna at various ages, we also see terrific renditions of nearly every major DC superhero. The other is a sequence in which the players jump from one film to another. Campbell evokes these genres well (musical, noir, etc.) while keeping everything artistically consistent. We also see about 80 feats of magic done with great style on every page. This book feels like watching a magician’s act unfold, which is appropriate for its titular heroine.
Being the first issue, we’ve only scratched the surface of the story. What we do have is pretty solid so far. The issue opens with a fairytale about a princess in her shadow, something that will no doubt play a larger part in future issues. Afterwards, Zatanna reflects on her life until it’s time for rehearsal. From there, we see Zatanna and her crew prepare for what is meant to be a classic Zatara magic show in a grand old theater where many great entertainers performed. One of which is The Lady White, a long-dead performer who’s back in ethereal form. The ghostly hands of Lady White capture Zatanna’s crew, and the Princess of Prestidigitation must use the mystic might to stop the evil one!
I don’t want to give away too much. For a single issue of a comic book, there’s a lot going on. You may even have to read it a few times to catch every bit of magic and ingenuity on display. Frankly, this was exactly what a comic book should be: fun, thrilling, and magical. Best of all, Zatanna herself feels like a rockstar. If you see her as just a secondary hero, this book will change your mind real quick! She’s characterized as a boisterous, confident showman as well as a powerful sorceress. The way Campbell incorporates stage magic iconography with actual sorcery is perfect. That, combined with the theatrical setting, put Zatanna completely within her element. And when a character is in their element and not just a background figure in someone else’s, you see their full potential.
“Zatanna #1” is said to be the first part of a six-part miniseries. Considering that this came so soon after a different Zatanna miniseries, I like to think this means Zatanna will get an ongoing solo in the near future. Campbell, who wrote as well as illustrated, has a clear grasp of what makes Zatanna special. Not only am I excited for the rest of this mini, I desperately hope Campbell stays with Zatanna for the foreseeable future. If this series is any indication, Zatanna was born to be a headliner.
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