Creative Team – Jamal Campbell, Ariana Maher
Published by DC Comics
The Story
This is a joint review from Matt of Hops Geek News and Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast!
Matt – First and foremost, Agent Di Manes better hope Zatanna cannot get back up, because he has set her up and caused all sorts of chaos and havoc. I love that Jamal dives into the Voodoo magic and history a bit in this issue, as it’s something that I have always been fascinated by. We get a little bit into what Agent Di Manes is up to; however, there is still so much left to explore. They appear to be letting Zatanna do their job for them. This addition has me curious about the endgame. Aside from that, I love how Jamal utilizes music and mixes in magic with music as well. Music can make us feel so many different things, and it has a magical spell on us when that song hits just right. Add in Voodoo and the ability to bring out spirits, and I am sold on the direction of this run!
Megan – Jamal Campbell is continuing to impress with this second issue and it was created with the Zatanna fans in mind. There’s so much depth to this issue, that it feels so much more than just one singular comic. The Mistress of Magic’s job isn’t easy and that’s proven time and time again, but if there’s anyone that can manage it, it’s Zatanna.
Zatanna is on her grand tour as the Mistress of Magic and her next stop is in Tennessee where she hopes to find help from a friend of the ghost variety. Living it up in Memphis to the sound of soulful music, Zatanna hopes to get help with a dangerous spirit who has murder on the mind. Meanwhile, the Department of Occult Affairs follows her every move, making her mission even more complicated than it already was. Agent Di Manes needs to watch his back because Zatanna is not the one to mess with.
The Art
Matt – Jamal may be producing some of the best artwork in comics currently. Every panel and every page blows me away with the colors and the way there are variations of blues that range from softer, such as with the spirits, to darker blues in magic. The page that blew me away most was the musical sequence, with how the musical notes broke up the sequence of the full page layout, and there was incredible attention to detail throughout it. Ariana’s lettering almost has a ghost-like feeling to it when in this spirit world, and when it comes time for Zatanna to speak her magic, I love the subtle shift in the lettering for dialect.
Megan – Jamal Campbell is someone of many talents. Writing, story creating, and artwork. When you open Zatanna #2, you’re treated to a mystical wild ride that’s covered in magic and panels that are nothing short of stunning. Each page is drenched in detail and leaves all the magic on the table, showing you exactly what you’re going to get with the Mistress of Magic. The colors are absolutely beautiful with a perfect mixture of vibrancy and dark tones. Ariana Maher handles the lettering, and does so in a way that brings the magical vibe to the dialogue. With some excellent use of sound effects and the tone of the story perfectly captured through the words, Maher wraps the comic in a perfect bow.
Final Thoughts
Matt -10/10. This is perhaps some of the most under-the-radar work from DC and every publisher in production. The artwork alone is a story that flows so magnificently from panel to panel. This mysterious game between Di Manes and Zatanna has my full attention.
Megan – 10/10. Zatanna #2 proves that the first issue wasn’t just a strong start, but an example of the high quality work you can expect to see from Jamal Campbell and Ariana Maher on Zatanna.
Overall Grade – 10/10
Let us know in the comments what you thought of Zatanna #2!
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