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