Review: Zatanna #1
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Jamal Campbell
Art: Jamal Campbell
Colors: Jamal Campbell
Letters: Ariana Maher
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Just after rehearsing Zatanna and her stage crew are assaulted by the mystical Lady White, a Hollywood legend who seems intent on not staying dead.
Positives
Jamal Campbell has a unique and recognizable artistic style, and if you like it, you like it. It fits well with Zatanna especially the less grounded scenes present in Zatanna #1. The double page spread between pages 8 and 9 is a nice bit of storytelling. There are a lot of images, but they effectively convey multiple “shots” and “camera angles” simultaneously. It’s a textbook example of how comics can do thing that no other medium can. There are two conversations happening between two pairs of people in separate wider shots while there is a close up of Zatanna’s hands…all at the same time. It looks good and is also great comics.
The last Zatanna ongoing series utilized Zatanna’s “day job” and this new Zatanna #1 opens similarly. Campbell gets the action going pretty quickly as some of the crew in the background are discussing the Lady White because of the old movie posters in the theater in which Zatanna is rehearsing. It’s an organic introduction to the Lady White. There’s a lot of backwards spell speak in this issue which is necessary and it makes the dialogue something you can’t gloss over…otherwise, you may not catch exactly what Zatanna is doing.
There’s a mystery at the heart of this first issue and it’s usually a good way to launch something new. That’s the case with this issue and it bodes well for this first story arc.
Negatives
The recent Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 felt like it was telling a story I’d read before…in the 1970’s, in the ’80’s, in the ’90’s in the New 52… . There’s a tendency with Zatanna to ALWAYS go back to the same themes with Zatanna and her father, Zatara. Zatanna was first introduced back in Hawkman #4 (1964) initiating the story of her search for her father. That theme is played out. There’s a small bit of dialogue from the Lady White in Zatanna #1 that indicates Zatara may be integral to the plot…again. This could make this first story arc a “ho-hummer” if it doesn’t play out. Zatanna #1 doesn’t feel like it’s going completely down the retread path that Bring Down the House did with its first issue. It’s something to be wary of, but it’s not a big drawback for this first issue.
Verdict
Zatanna #1 is a strong first issue. The last Zatanna ongoing was great, and this issues indicates for the most part that this is going to be a fun ride with some good characterization. There’s just something about Zatanna. There’s something to be said for the approach taken with Zatanna’s “day job,” that really works with the character as she balances the two different magic worlds she straddles.
