Zatanna #3 Review

 

Zatanna #3 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Carla Cohen, David Talaski & Chrissie Zullo-Uminga

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

Like any other territory, the magical realm needs people to safeguard it. So, while Wonder Woman initiates an overhaul of the Justice League, and Emperor Aquaman extends Atlantis' influence to distant stars, Zatanna vows to strengthen the magical realm before Darkseid's return. Instead, she finds an enraged plague spirit ravaging the musical community. And as she attempts to protect people from its predations, Zatanna prevents government agents from capturing the maddened spirit.

 

Director Bones of the Department of Extranormal Operations has opened a new Occult Office. With Agents Di Manes and Rhodes at his disposal, he intends to police the magical realm. And Director Bones isn't interested in sharing power with Zatanna. Will the Occult Office's agents capture the murderous plague spirit? And after Di Manes and Rhodes interrupt her ceremony, can Zatanna recover from their attack? Let's grab our spell books, leap into Zatanna #3, and see!

 

Story

Like the Blue, the Magical Realm unites distant places and worlds. So when Elodie sang to awaken the memories of a plague spirit, Agent Di Manes hijacked her healing ceremony. After the plague spirit attacked Elodie, Zatanna knew she had to act fast. But in the process, the magic backfired. And amid the explosion, Zatanna fell.

 

When Papa Midnite hastily initiates a Voodoo ceremony, Zatanna's spirit visits Guede Nibo. While helping Zatanna recover her memory and her spirit form, the Loa offers suggestions on what she should do next. But in magic, everything has a cost, and Zatanna knows she must pay the price for his assistance.

 

In Zatanna #3, Papa Midnite's condemnation comes back to haunt the self-appointed Prime Magus. His Voodoo ceremonies protect the host. Zatanna may not be as reckless as the magicians at the Serpentes Shrine. Yet, confident in her abilities, Zatanna improvised a bespoke spell that endangered Elodie and damaged the club where her spirit resides.

 

After Zatanna's meeting with Guede Nibo, Jamal Campbell's story follows her quest to discover what transformed a grieving muse into a plague spirit. Papa Midnite may frown on Zatanna's decision to become Prime Magus. Yet others applaud her determination to safeguard the Magical Realms in Zatanna #3. As she seeks to recapture and aid the plague spirit, Zatanna learns more about the Department of Extranormal Operations’ new Occult Office and how Director Bones intends to police the Magical Realms.

 

Art

Paint adorns Papa Midnight’s face and body as he initiates his ceremony in Zatanna #3. After Elodie ministers to Zatanna, her attendants carry the magician before hurling her into a fabric-draped realm. Zatanna hovers like Alice amid pillar-like candles and ceremonial objects as she beholds a giant. Then the Loa picks her up. As he holds her in his hand, his features fade as he reveals where she must travel for the answers she seeks.

 

Jamal Campbell adorns his detailed art with bright colors in Zatanna #3. Yet blue defines Elodie’s musical realm. As he sits before a red-framed window, Zatanna hovers in an indigo room. While her red arm evokes a hero in another universe, Guede Nibo smiles as new skin wraps around her arm like a compression bandage.

 

After leaving the gray-and-brown club, Zatanna visits another blue realm, where she transforms into her iridescent glorified form. Red accompanies Agent Di Manes’ efforts to secure power over the magical realm and shows how the plague spirit affects its victims. Yet just as violet flowers blossom from the troubled muse, violet fills the air as Zatanna combats the Occult Office agent. 

 

As Zatanna addresses the reader, she explains how she created the compass adorning the orange location banners. Ariana Maher's black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. Elodie’s speech fills blue balloons, and Guede Nibo’s off-camera dialogue inhabits orange boxes. Zatanna's spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Laughter follows the reverberating sounds of a Voodoo ceremony, while white music notes swoop through a deadly confrontation. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Papa Midnite accuses Zatanna of wanting to rule the Magical Realms. While Zatanna asserts the purity of her desire to serve as the Prime Magus, others’ motives are less so. And as Zatanna gains insight into the dangers threatening the Magical Realm, she navigates a path between gods and monsters in Zatanna #3.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Zatanna #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Zatanna #2. 

For how this series began, see my review of Zatanna #1. 

For Zatanna's fight against Harley Quinn, see my preview of DC K.O.: Zatanna Vs Harley Quinn #1: All Fight Month Round Five Preview