Zatanna #2 Review

 

Zatanna #2 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Adam Hughes, David Talaski & Guillem March

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 27, 2026

 

When a plague spirit leaves a trail of flower-covered corpses in its wake, the Department of Extranormal Operations mobilizes. As the plague spirit tears through DEO combat teams, Zatanna and her familiar, Allura, appear. While Zatanna seeks to pacify the marauding entity, Agent Rhoades follows her progress through a rifle sight.

 

As the magical realms change in response to people's emotions and actions, Zatanna vows to protect everyone, everywhere. Yet as Zatanna patrols the realms from her Shadowcrest Theater, the DEO remains on alert. What dangers will threaten people next? And will the DEO's new Occult Affairs division help or impede Zatanna's efforts to protect them? Let’s grab our spell books, leap into Zatanna #2, and see!

 

Story

Between her missions to protect the magical realms, Zatanna ministers to the plague spirit in her Shadowcrest Theater. While she thinks her singing is fine, Zatanna recognizes that the plague spirit sought out exceptional music artists. So, Zatanna decides to consult with an expert on how to assuage the maddened spirit. Leaving her familiar at home in the Shadowcrest Theater, Zatanna travels to Memphis, Tennessee.

 

While Zatanna consults a musician she respects, Zatanna #2 also peers behind the cloak of secrecy in Washington, DC. On their first operation together, Agent Di Manes and Agent Rhoades returned empty-handed. Considering all the lives the plague spirit took, and the DEO agents who returned in body bags, Director Bones has mud on his face. He's second-guessing his decision to open the Office of Occult Affairs. To reassure his superiors that he’s not taking on more than he can chew, Director Bones needs Agent Di Manes’ second operation to go off without a hitch.  

 

In Jamal Campbell’s story, Zatanna yearns to alleviate the plague spirit’s suffering. Yet, she also recognizes the danger it represents. The plague spirit has killed 22 civilians in the United States, more DEO agents, and hundreds of people in other countries. And that's only on Earth. Should it escape her containment, the angry spirit will kill again. And with the magical realms intertwined, the inhabitants of innumerable worlds remain at risk.

 

Perhaps Elodie Arnette, an artist unbound by time, can defuse the plague spirit. Yet Zatanna wonders if she can trust the person Elodie works with. Zatanna may have appointed herself Prime Magus of the magical realms. But like Agent Rhoades, when he observed Zatanna’s efforts in LlaTiren Na Sio, the Verdant City of Elves, Zatanna must let Elodie grab the spotlight in Zatanna #2.

 

Art

As inky tendrils invade a circular room, Zatanna hovers above the central dais. When she bites her lip, the drops of blood banish the sea of darkness. As light returns, a giant orange flower blossoms atop the temple. Then, a white-and-gold snake dragon arises among the pinnacles to investigate the temple set atop one natural stone pillar. Zatanna’s glorified form shines with a rainbow of radiant colors, as Allura resembles a hovering child dancing with delight.

 

In Zatanna #2, the Prime Magus addresses the reader. Surrounded by the intricate scrollwork of her Shadowcrest Theater, she dresses in formal attire and a tophat. Black links the unintended consequences of ambitious magicians with Allura, Zatanna, and DEO agents. Yet the shape and color of Agent Di Manes' face link him with Zatanna, as she pays the price for wielding her spectacular magic. While pink links Zatanna with the plague spirit, orange surrounds the Prime Magus when on her own. Yet blue links Elodie with her partner in their endeavor.

 

A blue compass and black letters in yellow-and-orange banners locate readers in time and place. Black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. Zatanna's thoughts fill pink boxes, while her spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Her familiar speaks white letters into purple balloons in its natural state, and black balloons when transformed. After blue music notes wind through the air, Elodie speaks into blue balloons. Yet Ariana Maher uses colored lines to scrub away letters when unforeseen trouble threatens to curtail Zatanna’s plans. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Performing magic necessitates solving puzzles. And Zatanna admits that one reason people become magicians is that they love puzzles. But while Zatanna seeks aid in completing one, other parties seek to solve it first in Zatanna #2.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Zatanna #1. 

 

For another story featuring a different version of Zatanna, see my preview of Absolute Wonder Woman #16.