No More Pulling Rabbits Out Of Hats — Reviewing ‘Zatanna’ #1

Magic. It’s a wildly chaotic thing ruled by ever changing undefinable rules in most fictional settings where it is present.  With superhero comics this is even more the case, because just like standard superpowers, magic shifts to fit what story is being told.

Zatanna Zatara wants to change that though, as the show magician and Justice Leaguer steps up to a much bigger role in Zatanna #1. The DC Next Level series comes from Jamal Campbell and Ariana Maher.

This is going to sound egregious and blasphemous to many people, but this issue gives me massive Doctor Strange vibes.

Hold on, let me explain. I’m going somewhere with this, I promise.

DC Comics magic related stuff is usually pretty big, mostly cut off from the main stories or done through things like Justice League Dark style team books. Zatanna is very much a character who straddles the line either being the Justice Leaguer or cameo doing magic shows or part of those bigger bolder outside the main sphere things. At Marvel, Doctor Strange fills a similar role of being the go-to magic guy cameo person but also has regular ongoing of him just solving wild magic things.

This is where I’m drawing the comparison from above. Campbell is pulling those similar vibe strings that we saw Jason Aaron and Jed MacKay pull in their runs of Doctor Strange at the competition — having the premiere magic related person utilizing their skill and a fancy important universal binding title to bring peace to the chaotic realms.

I like the idea of Zatanna just taking the title of Prime Magus and running with it. It takes her heroic tendencies to a whole other level as the universe and the realms are experiencing a growing magical destabilization. It gives her such a solid focal point beyond being the show magician, the Justice League’s go to magician, or the person hanging out with Constantine. Not that this is all she’s ever done, but we rarely get to see her take a firm place like this in the middle of everything and it suits her.

There is no doubt that this is a gorgeous comic book to boot.

Campbell has such a dynamic, smooth, bold, kinetic, and distinctive artistic style. Emotive energies are clear to spot as the characters’ faces and body positions give so much away. His framing and panel choices elevate the imagery and its message to another level. Just the ways that we get some of the big spreads and the metal looking actual frame beats in some pages resonate so much.

Rounding it out is the chosen color palette which mirrors the sort of color choices Campbell makes regularly in his work. A foundation of more moderate and natural or neutral toned colors sets the stage by creating something familiar upon which to rest. This allows the more vibrant and flashy color choices to pop out even more as they grow in intensity throughout the comic. Similarly, the darker flashes are played the same as they gain and buildup till they dominate equally with the other shades before all is said and done.

If you’re going big and bold swing with a title like this, Maher is one of the more perfect letterers to pair with Campbell. As the internet likes to say, she understands the assignment every single time. She takes the lettering and shaking it up so that it does the main job of conveying the various sounds of the world but gives us more. Each word drips with the voice and emotion of the characters conveying them, be they thought or vocal dialogue.

Beyond that they are colorful, visually pleasing, and flow through the issue so smoothly. It really gives the world a true voice and sounding pad that we can play out precisely within our minds.

Zatanna #1 is now available from DC Comics.