Zatanna: Bring Down the House #2 – Mariko Tamaki, Writer; Javier Rodriguez, Artist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Zatanna’s journey into the world of magic continues, as we slowly learn more and more about the decisions that left her without her family’s skills – or so she thinks. Last issue, we were introduced to Zatanna as a depressed, broken-down stage magician working in a casino – until her show was rudely interrupted by a powerful demon, and a mysterious woman in the audience who seemed to know her better than she should stepped in to save the day. Flashbacks revealed a horrible incident where a boy pushed her too far as a child, leading to an unpredictable tragedy. And in this issue, we see how Zatara tried to fix her mistake – pulling her into a ritual designed to bring the boy back. But did it work – and what happened to Zatara? All those questions hang over the issue, as Zatanna faces her first real battle against a powerful enemy, and potential allies who view her as a threat.
As the immediate threat is dispersed, Zatanna’s new ally – who uses the same kind of backwards magic she typically does – pulls her into a mysterious magical realm, one where ancient and powerful sorcerers stand ready to judge her. It’s clear they know more about her magic than even she does, and when she eventually returns home she’s met with another bizarre figure – each one holding a piece of the puzzle of her past. Two issues in, the pacing of this series is a little slow and keeps its secrets well, but that might be the point. The true star, though, is the gorgeous artwork of Javier Rodriguez. He’s equally at home drawing fantastical horror and down-to-earth moments. The present-day segments are good, but it’s the sense of tension and pain in the flashback segments that really make this series feel like it’s on the verge of breaking out into something amazing.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
