ZATANNA #2 (DC COMICS)

With great magic comes greater challenges.

Being the new Prime Magus, Zatanna Zatara is being challenged like never before. Her latest outing leads her to Memphis, Tennessee. Searching for a plague spirit is difficult enough. Having the Department of Occult Affairs waiting in the wings is a whole other problem.

ZATANNA #2 by Jamal Campbell & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS) continues the Mistress of Magic’s latest troubles.

Let’s take a deeper dive into this new saga.

ZATANNA #2 by Jamal Campbell & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS) (DC COMICS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Campbell delivers a very straight-forward look at Zatanna in her new role. The opening sequence shows her intervening in the Sea of Dreams. Readers see her composed as she handles the tricky threat. Events wrap on a more stable moment before the writing throws a fun trick in play. The fourth wall break explains much of the use of magic in this sequence. Zatanna’s dialogue is very light but hits the key points. This sets up her painful truth of magic. It also segways into her opposition in the new role.

Agent Di Manes conversation with his superior is tense in delivery. The writing drives home their expectations and Di Manes’ unphased response. This moves events to Memphis. Zatanna’s interaction with Papa Midnite is great banter. It walks readers into the main conflict at hand. What should be an easy case to solve proves more complicated by the page. The Plague spirit hunt becomes a race against time. With both Di Manes and Zatanna attempting to handle it, a curve is thrown into Zatanna’s way. This spins everything out of control for the new Prime. It sets up an intense final act. The ramifications feel huge as the events are left on a high note. Very curious to see where this plays out from here.

Read last issue’s review!

As for the art, Campbell excels with each page. The Sea of dreams is given an incredible opening. A half page panel shows the chaos ensuing. This keeps up a high pace until a solid half panel brings down the house. This transitions into the fourth wall segments. Readers watch as the personal conversation plays out. This leads into a darker aspect of magic. Once Zatanna shows how she “cleans” of dark spirits, the panels unlock the harboring secrets.

The DOA bring a more “grounded” approach to the art (as far as Magic goes). Panels show the tough talk lead into the story’s next phase. At this stage, Campbell’s art lightens the panels up with beautiful images of Elodie singing. It gives the issue a new aura as the heavy magic takes hold. Coloring hits each mark as the case is broken down. This walks readers into an unstable series of events. As each party attempts their work, pages mirror the others work. It leads into a phenomenal two page spread. The aftermath is a bold final page. It caps off the journey of dangerous courses on a solid point for readers to be locked in.

FINAL GRADE: 8.6

Zatanna’s latest challenge is ready to end her career as Prime Magus before it really begins. Campbell throws a few different looks into the story. The art steals the show as the supernatural work begins to unfold. You’ve never seen a magical series quite like this!

Let me know your thoughts on ZATANNA #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!