Zatanna #1 – Jamal Campbell, Writer/Artist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: Jamal Campbell’s Zatanna was one of the most acclaimed miniseries out of DC last year, a twisty magical adventure through the realms with stunning art – as well as a huge status quo change, as Zatanna became the DCU’s new Prime Magus. Operating out of her old theater, she now serves as the larger arbiter of magic in the DCU and has access to new powers and knowledge. That allows her to step in on major crises far beyond Earth – like when a young elf girl in another world gets possessed by a plague spirit, trapping her in limbo while it mutates her body and turns her into a rampaging monster. This story is a great showcase for Campbell’s art, as he manages to create one of the most bizarre monsters I’ve seen in a while as well as a hauntingly beautiful world that features some big surprises along the way. It starts with a big win for Zatann in her new role…
Except she’s not the only one keeping tabs on the case. Zatanna’s big upgrade has gotten the attention of the DEO, and they’ve spent most of this issue keeping an eye on her – with a sniper rifle trained on her the whole while. There’s a new agent in town, and while he doesn’t seem to be immediately antagonistic in the same way as Amanda Waller, he makes clear he thinks magic needs to be brought under control the same as any other power – and he seems like he’s likely using magic to do it. This is a very different kind of antagonist for Zatanna, one who will test her skills in a new way, and it’s a great start that feels different enough from the previous mini to justify the new #1. I’m hoping Campbell can continue to deliver a story as ambitious as this opening issue, while also continuing to tie it in more deeply with the ongoing plot threads in the DCU that this is spinning out of.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
