Magic Act

Poof. It’s magic.

Just like that. The number one issue of the new Zatanna series cropped up on the bookshelf of the local comic book store this week. If you blinked, you might have missed it.

Like most magic performances, this one is very entertaining with a nice glimpse into things to come for the sorceress.

But it seems to be a high tide for many different female characters getting their own series following the footsteps of DC’s Powergirl or even Marvel’s Black Widow. However, it is the resident sorceress who’ll be getting her own magazine after forty years of scattered appearances.

They tried an ongoing series to run a couple of times before. The Seven Soldiers of Victory saga a few years ago tried to launch many minor characters into longer running series. Including Zatanna. It didn’t work out. There was another attempt many more years ago including an entire costume change. That one worked even less.

Which is too bad.

I have always found her to be an interesting character. And she looks great in a top hat and fishnet stockings that may make her one of the sexiest female characters in DC comics. She’s charming, very lovely, and has a nice personality… she would be someone I would like to have a cup of coffee with. No kidding. She's super nice. You don't see many nice people around.

She’s also the daughter of Zatanna of the Golden Age’s great magician Giovanni Zatara who was killed in one of the Swamp Thing issues (#50) where he was killed in a grisley fiery death. And her mother was Sindella who a member of Homo Magi race, very mystical. It’s obvious where she gets here magic talents from. She also received as a young child the notebook from Leonoardo Da Vinci. The entire books are written in backwards.

Which is why Zatanna speaks all her magic words backwards. Pretty cool, huh?

It’s find of fun seeing that. As you can read the words backwards in the dialogue to see what she says.

The number one issue (No individual title for the story) of the new ongoing series takes place in San Francisco when a bloody hit on several mafia head honchos becomes a rather bloody mess. And it leaves the police and detective into seeking the help from a local expert on the circle of magic. Someone who would be work in the unofficial capacity of advisor.

It’s nice to see how Zatanna works outside of her usual magic show on stage. And we, as an audience, watch how she interacts with other people while not in her traditional magician role. However, it turns out that the mob hit was bad news. Zatanna finds out that it is Brother Night who is making the hits and offing some important people in higher ranks in the mafia.

The ending reveals Brother Night isn’t in the same league as Zatanna, who might be one of the most powerful magicians in her side of town. So Brother Night calls up a demon who may be more than a match for her. It’s a clever lead in for the next issue.

Paul Dini has a good grasp of the character who is a great amount of fun. She doesn’t a dark side to her. But she knows what she’s doing when it comes to magic. Dini makes sure that the dialogue with her is very crisp, concise, with plenty of humor. Her trade offs with the detective such as when she asks me, “Are you asking me out on a date?” is a very funny one. The other highlight is her exchange with Brother Night who is a particularly nasty creature of the magic world.

Zatanna takes care of him in a hurry. And makes sure he doesn’t stick around in town anymore.

But her actions would only lead to bigger trouble.

I love the art. It’s a very nice, very good kind of art that doesn’t go overboard. I think it’s suitable for a comic book like Zatanna. It’s not so simple art… but detailed enough to give the comic book a sensible style. It's non-anime style, for one thing. Thankfully. The artist Stephane Roux knows how to draw her very well. There are portions of the book which cleverly hides a full front nudity shot of her as she strides into the shower and still makes the comic book a very fun read on all entertainmening levels.

I hope they continue to make it a fun book.

I have collected John Constantine: Hellblazer for the entire course of the series for twenty years or more… and it started out as a regular DC book hitting retail stores before the maturity concept in the book made it a more direct to comic stores approach. I don’t think this would be the same route for Zatanna. She’s a good character for anyone of all ages. Even the fishnet stockings are in good taste.

I would be interested in seeing how the series would run out. She’s got a healthy amount of history to unfold, and Dini would be the right guy to do it. He’s already wrote for the Zatanna character in the Batman: Animated Series. So he’s no stranger to her character. There is a gallery of interesting foes she could run into while star-crossing the magic world. And then there is also the possibility of doing stories revolving the more regular magic of her stage shows. There could be a nice blend of reality and fantasy.

There is even the possibility of seeing the return of Zatara in ghost form should they ever decide on bringing back his character. And it’s not uncommon for someone to see ghosts in the magic world.

I’m all for seeing creatures and demons stalking the universe who may hound the favorite stage performer of magic tricks. And she could combat it with her most incredible tongue lashing wit. It’s nice to see her getting the spotlight this time around. I’m hoping it’ll last a long time. It’ll be interesting to see how the artist and writer will build on her world of illusions with countless stories.

She isn’t an icy cold women who got her nose in the air. She’s friendly, very cute and certainly knows her way around magic. And it’ll be nice to pull off some good stories with her character.

I did tell you that she is nice.

Yes, I did.