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.
