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[LOLtron]

Royal Nonesuch reviews the new Zatanna #1, published by DC Comics!


Credits & Solicit Info:
Written by PAUL DINI • Art by STEPHANE ROUX and KARL STORY • Cover by STEPHANE ROUX • Variant cover by BRIAN BOLLAND

At last – the Mistress of Magic in her own ongoing series! Zatanna Zatara has long made her home in San Francisco, but right under her nose a sinister threat has developed – a crime boss who dominates the criminal underworld with the dark powers of the magical underworld! The terrifying Brother Night is making his play for San Fran, and the police force – including hunky detective Dale Colton – turn to Zee for help. But Brother Night is a whole new kind of criminal and if Zatanna thinks she can backwards-talk him down, then she's in over her top-hatted head! Superstar writer Paul Dini (BATMAN: MAD LOVE) is paired with the gorgeous art of Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY), making his anticipated DC debut on interior art! There's only one thing to say – T'NOD SSIM TI!
DC Universe 32pg. Color $2.99 US
On Sale May 19, 2010


Review:
Paul Dini has quietly been turning in a lot of fun, solid comic books at DC for a few years no, so it was really only a matter of time before he got to launching a new ongoing title for one of his declared favorite characters, Zatanna. 

For her part, Zatanna had some baggage foisted upon her in 2004's IDENTITY CRISIS limited series, where her part in the forcible behavior modification of several villains (and Batman) was retconned into the history of the Justice League.  It was a dark place to take the character, and it never really fit with everything else readers knew and felt about her.  ZATANNA #1 serves to inform readers that six years is enough time to move in comics, and that's just what the superhero magician sets out to do when the San Francisco police department enlists her aid to investigate out an obviously magic-based mass murder. 

Zatanna's design was always fun since it brings to mind simple trickery and sleight-of-hand rather than actual sorcery, but we get to see in this issue just how powerful she is.  However, it seems that her powers slightly outpace artist Stephane Roux, who after years of providing covers for DC finally gets a shot at interiors.  Roux' pencils are competent enough (if hewing a bit towards the cheesecake--does Zatanna's cup size actually increase when she gets into costume?), but there are some trouble spots where his static storytelling does not do the fast pace of Z's powers, or Dini's script, many favors.  Still, this seems more like a case of an artist needing more time to really inhabit the world of a character, since there are some sequences that work very well. 

If the art is solid yet unspectacular, then the same can be said of Dini's story, which is your basic first-issue setup.  The real draw here is the main character, who come across as truly charming and personable.  This is a good showcase not only for Zatanna's powers, but for the woman herself.  Unconstrained from the weight of crossover and mega-event stories, ZATANNA #1 is able to breathe and set forth what the series as a whole will be about.  It may not be a remarkable debut issue, but it is a solid one that will please fans of the character, and may interest newcomers.    

[Victorian Squid]

Almost bought this, took a look at it in the shop. It seemed like a solid debut issue that would appeal to fans of the character but I think it's gonna have to do more than that to survive in this day and age.

If it seems like it's going somewhere interesting I'll trade-wait it.

[GLX]

God, this comic was great.

[e_galston]

I Really enjoyed the issue. I'm glad dc is doing something mystical.

[Chubbles]

I'm a zatana newb and i thought this was solid. The art was decent enough and the story held its own. Not sure if it's all that appealing to mainstream but i wish it good luck for those of you that love the character.

[MoneyMelon]

I ordered this mainly because of Paul Dini. I'm not really that much of a Zatanna fan.

Should be getting it next Friday.

[oogy]

This is getting added to my pull list next week. I loved the first issue and can't wait to read more.

[Royal Nonesuch]

Why are the images still not showing up?

Freakin' LOLtron.

[David Bird]

I've been calling for Zee to get her own book for years and was actually a little apprehensive about this one, but its was very good and I look forward to a lot more.

[bkthomson]

My question is how long do you think it will last. Can you see this last 100 issues? I've yet to see a Dini book get canceled so I have high hopes that this one stays around for a long time.

[David Bird]

There are a lot of people who like Zatanna, even if they don't think she's up to her own book. As long as its good, there are people who will buy it. Enough to keep it going for a long time. (Back in 1988, who thought Hellblazer would be the last man standing out of all Vertigo's initial releases, let alone that it would still be going strong 22 years later?)

[bkthomson]

There are a lot of people who like Zatanna, even if they don't think she's up to her own book. As long as its good, there are people who will buy it. Enough to keep it going for a long time. (Back in 1988, who thought Hellblazer would be the last man standing out of all Vertigo's initial releases, let alone that it would still be going strong 22 years later?)

Good point on Hellblazer. I've always taken that something like that title has a more older audience members plus looking at all the titles this is the only one where D.C. has let on different creative teams. When original crators on most vertigo books leave the title said title ends.

[Victorian Squid]

I was reading a review of something on another site, and the reviewer mentioned that in his opinion DC had transformed Zatanna & Black Canary into "bitches of the lowest order". But he didn't give any reason for that, is it the mind-wiping incident, I wonder?

[bkthomson]

I was reading a review of something on another site, and the reviewer mentioned that in his opinion DC had transformed Zatanna & Black Canary into "bitches of the lowest order". But he didn't give any reason for that, is it the mind-wiping incident, I wonder?

I think once they married Black Canary the writers made her really a nagging wife to Ollie, intentional or not, but she was not handled right post marriage. With her coming back to Birds of Prey we may get the stronger, confident Black Canery.

Where as Zatanna I'd agree it could be the mind-wiping but there have been some really good issue post identity crisis where she appeared in Batman, ok Dini written issue who has a mad-love for the character, where she has turned into a quality character.

[Stephen Day]

I didn't mind this, but I didn't find it mind blowing. Zatanna -- street level magic user in the middle of a gang war, this isn't really what I want to see from this character. I did like it enough that I'll continue getting it.