Zatanna #1 Review

 

Zatanna #1 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Kyuyong Eom; Adam Hughes; Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern; Julian Totino Tedesco

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 29, 2026

 

She fought alongside heroes and villains to preserve reality from Darkseid's dominance. Now, as she returns to this reborn world, Zatanna receives a vision. The Omega Tournament was just the opening battle in Darkseid's war. She must prepare for Darkseid's next attempt to dominate reality.

 

Zatanna's combatant in the Omega Tournament, Harley Quinn, has undergone a radical change of identity. What threats will Zatanna face in her quest to become a greater hero? And how will her new mission transform Zatanna as she strives to safeguard all she holds dear? Let’s grab our magic kits, leap into Zatanna #1, and see!

 

Story

You don't know what you've got until you almost lose it. So, as Zatanna returns to life after the Omega Tournament, she asks, “Who am I? And what do I most care about?” While many heroes protect cities, countries, or planets, Zatanna inhabits the magic realm. Some people worship magic. Others exploit it. Zatanna concludes that the order protecting and preserving the magic realm has passed away. So, lacking anyone else to step up, Zatanna crowns herself the realm's protector. From her traveling Shadowcrest Theater, Zatanna can visit any place the magical realm intersects, and safeguard anyone who uses or is affected by magic.

 

After her theatrical declaration, Zatanna #1 leaps forward in time. The newly dubbed Prime Magus has been following a trail of destruction. A plague spirit controls its latest victim. Amid the blood and bodies, she tries to pacify the victim, a young elf possessed by the malevolent entity. Yet the plague spirit feeds on fear. And the girl, already frightened by being taken over, lashes out.

 

In Jamal Campbell’s action-packed story, Zatanna has help. A familiar named Allura leaps to Zatanna’s assistance to separate the girl from the plague spirit. Yet as Zatanna risks her life on behalf of the elf, others watch. They've already lost one assault team, perhaps more. They realize they're out of their depth. But if Zatanna fails, they hope they can overcome the incomprehensible entity that has taken so many lives.

 

This group may play by different rules. And like some of the new members of the Justice League, they may have checkered pasts. But like the Prime Magus, they've gotten their world back. And in Zatanna #1, they don't want to lose it again.

 

Art

Jamal Campbell surrounds the opening pages in gold fretwork and captures scenes inside ornate gold frames. Action spills across two pages when Zatanna pursues the plague spirit, and later when she commands its attention. Varying panel shapes enhance Zatanna's rescue effort, while inset panels occasionally tile atop one another for closeups and a 3D effect. Direction lines tear a pathway through places, as Zatanna pursues and fights the plague spirit.

 

As Jamal Campbell paints Zatanna #1 in black, white, and red, purple fills the air of the magical realm. The red plague spirit resembles a growth. Yet it can also form strands that entangle its victims and opponents. Pink accents this purple realm, touching even the soldiers waiting in readiness. Yet red links the Prime Magus with the plague spirit, suggesting that just as she wishes to command this realm, Zatanna must take some responsibility for its creation.

 

Like the images that introduce this malignant entity, black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. The announcer introduces the star of the show with stylized white font in black balloons with a rainbow border. Zatanna's thoughts fill pink boxes, while her spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Blue static obscures weak radio transmission, while Allura speaks white letters into purple balloons. Ariana Maher’s sound effects enhance Zatanna's first trial, while enlarged letters fill panels with the screams of a soul in torment. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

We’re all drawn to the things we love. And sometimes, it seems sufficient to live vicariously through the people we admire. As Zatanna follows a trail of destruction, dead bodies, and broken families, the Prime Magus sees what happens when love transforms into obsession in Zatanna #1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

To look inside see my preview of Zatanna #1.