Zatanna #1: Prime Magus To The Stage!

Zatanna Zatara is the universe’s foremost magician, it’s “Prime Magus.” Whether it’s dazzling spectators on the stage in Vegas or protecting the world from threats beyond dimensions, she has a spell for any occasion. However, when her latest escapade puts her into the sights of the DEO’s newest magical division, Zee is put on a path that even she can’t magic away from.

Zatanna is a character that has had high visibility over the years outside of the comics, having made appearances in various video games, TV shows, and animated adaptations, but has never really had a chance to stand out as a solo character despite her popularity. Usually she’s attached to the Justice League, John Constantine, and sometimes even Batman. Paul Dini’s historic run from 2011 is often seen as the benchmark for Zatanna stories, but Jamal Campbell is making a strong case of his own.

Having first utilized the character in a criminally underrated mini from last year, Campbell continues that momentum in this first issue of a brand new series. Campbell showcases not only how fun Zee is as a character, but also how powerful she is as well when she’s not being forced behind other “heavy hitters”. Zee demonstrates just how she earned the title “Prime Magus” as well as just how much fun she has doing what she does, which helps keeps things light as this book has its share of serious moments.

Campbell’s art is also gorgeous and the pages at times are stylized like a child’s fantasy picture book, however that doesn’t mean that this book is for kids as there are a few scary images like inter-dimensional body horror and some gore. The colors are a wonderful mix of reds, purples, blacks, and whites that illuminate Zee and the fantastically chaotic world she inhabits away from her superhero friends.