ZATANNA #1 (DC COMICS)
The Mistress of Magic is back!
Zatanna Zatara is now the new Prime Magus. With the new role comes many challenges. Zatanna is no stranger to handling major threats. The question becomes how much can she handle before the crown gets too heavy to wear.
ZATANNA #1 by Jamal Campbell & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS) launches forth an all new series of magical mayhem.
Let’s take a closer look at this debut.
ZATANNA #1 by Jamal Campbell & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS) (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Campbell is no stranger to the character. His 2025 venture left fans wanting more when it wrapped at issue #6. This one begins with a monlogue form the new Prime Magus herself. The dialogue conveys the responsibility and excitement of the new role. Events go dark quickly as she walks around dead bodies to discover something far more intriguing. A young girl is trapped inside a dangerous creature. This forces Zatanna to go on the offensive. What follows is a more of a whirlwind than expected.
Readers watch as Campbell pulls out all the stops for this one. Adding in the DEO is a nice touch to ground the heavy fantasy vibe. They don’t steal too much thunder as Zatanna heads right to work. Using the abilities of her new title provides a definitive finish to the current dilemma. The writing leans into a more pleasing direction before switching gears for more surprises. Readers watch as the DEO has plans all their own. The dialogue is tense with either giving an inch of space. This moves events into a full circle moment to finish on. There are many avenues to take this series with high promise after this debut.
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Pulling double duty, Campbell’s art is another great factor to this series. The opening shot is a perfect welcome to the world of Magic. This leads into a fantastic two page splash of her new world. Events shift swiftly as she starts investigating a creature’s rampage. Another excellent full shot shows the culprit behind the violent attacks. This unlocks more stunning visuals. Readers witness another excellent two-page splash thrust events into more chaos. Campbell’s eye for detail here is very impressive.
There’s no slowing down from this stage. The conflict escalates fast. A near half page welcomes the DEO into the scenario. It doesn’t upset the rhythm established. Zatanna’s powers provide some quick jabs of humor while things escalates. Readers see a full page segway into a steady landing spot. The two page spread of another realm steals the show. It is a magnificent piece which provides a safe closing. Once in the closing portion, the DEO’s newest agent makes his presence known. The conversation between him and Zatanna leads to a standstill. This allows the final pages to return to the start of the series. There are so many compliments that can be stated for the art. It needs to be seen to be believed.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Zatanna returns in a monstrous way in her latest series debut. Campbell’s writing sets a high pace for the series to follow. The art never misses in capturing huge moments and larger than life threats. Get caught under this series’ spell and brace for the ride!
Let me know your thoughts on ZATANNA #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
