Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
    Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 2 But Why Tho 10

    Spider-Man Is Coming To Magic And It’s Just Like The Comics

    08/29/2025
    Star Wars Visions Volume 3 Black

    ‘Black’ Sets The Tone For A Bold New Mixtape In ‘Star Wars Visions: Volume 3’

    08/28/2025
    Olivia Colman in The Roses

    ‘The Roses’ Is A Reimagining, Not A Remake, And That’s Why It Works So Well

    08/27/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » DC Comics » REVIEW: ‘Zatanna’ Issue 1

REVIEW: ‘Zatanna’ Issue 1

William TuckerBy William Tucker02/19/20254 Mins ReadUpdated:02/19/2025
Zatanna Issue 1 (2025) DC Comics
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email
Zatanna Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written, art and colors by Jamal Campbell, with letters by Ariana Maher.

Whilst Zatanna prepares for a theatrical production, a magical being starts wreaking havoc on her crew, taking her on an adventure.

Zatanna Issue 1 is split into two. The opening explains the setting of the theatre and the crew, which is essential in what comes next. The setting and the other characters around Zatanna are brand new, so little bits of exposition are necessary. This early stage of the series has a lot of showmanship that only increases as the issue digs deeper. The pace fluctuates, suddenly transforming into a montage of magic and performances. But in the second half, the stakes increase, and Zatanna is suddenly trying to save lives when a being within the theater starts attacking and kidnapping the crew.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

A whole new selection of worlds is opened up with a fantastical adventure, and the pace gets frantic and intense. At that point, the story can get challenging to hold on to. It’s fascinating to see, with a breathtaking sense of fun and drama, but it also makes the head spin. That’s not all bad because the magic is meant to be bewildering.

The worlds Zatanna enters aren’t lived in for very long, as it is all about the bigger picture, a journey through different productions in a short amount of time. It’s a chaotic chase sequence that can lose coherence. But the ending of the issue is a brilliantly intelligent callback that brings the plot to a sudden, shocking halt. With the breakneck speed at which the story is moving, the brutality of putting the brakes on in that manner is a powerful gut punch.

Zatanna Issue 1 explores much of what makes the title character superb. What’s important is that it taps into Zatanna as a magician, not a sorceress. They are very different things. A sorcerer is there to cast spells, sometimes scary. Meanwhile, a magician is all about the show, loving the limelight and the misdirections. Campbell captures that with Zatanna.

She’s dazzling early in the book for the crew and the readers. She is friendly and endlessly charming, happy to talk to anyone approaching her. But when the villain shows up, the magician also shows that her magic is real. She’s relentless, determined, and expressive with her spells.

The art is captivating. Campbell’s ensures Zatanna is constantly drawing attention. There is a slight adjustment to her costume that is still instantly recognizable. The flowing coat and hate add flair and pizazz to the book, spreading around her and making her prominent in the panels. Zatanna smiles often in Zatanna Issue 1, making the book feel positive and exciting. It is dazzling to see when the magic starts, and various locations appear.

The characters’ movements are phenomenal, capturing a mixture of speed, dance, and action. Small panels provide an excellent passage of time. Campbell uses many panels on the page, and the comic looks busy and intense. The montages are beautifully crafted, but they make you want to see more than the small glimpses of the world.

The colors are sensational. The magic is vibrant and startling in Zatanna Issue 1. There is frequent use of purple for two-thirds of the issue, a sign of Zatanna using her powers. But the color palette is wonderfully varied, changing every couple of pages and making it a visual masterpiece. The lettering is part of the fun whenever Zatanna is involved. When she casts a spell, the words are written backward. This makes the reader stop and work to figure out what Zatanna is trying to make happen.

Zatanna Issue 1 is a theatrical spectacle. Despite a confusing middle section, Campbell’s magical adventure is a bold and beautiful auteur piece. The magic is stunningly presented, and the main character is a delight. Zatanna is likable in this first chapter and is a terrific anchor at the heart of this fast-paced, energetic journey. While created for the page, the plot has the air of a stage act. It is immensely dramatic and loving towards stories of old.

Zatanna Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.

Zatanna Issue 1
4

TL;DR

Zatanna Issue 1 is a theatrical spectacle. Despite a confusing middle section, Campbell’s magical adventure is a bold and beautiful auteur piece.

  • Read Now on ComiXology with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleMobile RPG Haikyu Fly High Global Pre-Registration Now Open!
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Wonder Woman’ Issue 18
William Tucker

William is a screenwriter with a love of comics and movies. Once referred to Wuthering Heights as "the one with the Rabbits."

Related Posts

Cover of Absolute Green Lantern Issue 6

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ Issue 6

09/03/2025
Cover of Absolute Superman Issue 11 that features an image of Brainiac

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Superman’ Issue 11

09/03/2025
Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 11

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 11

08/27/2025
Justice League Unlimited Issue 10

REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 10

08/27/2025
Superman Issue 29

REVIEW: ‘Superman’ Issue 29

08/27/2025
Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 6

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ Issue 6

08/27/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Cosmic Spider-Man card details Features

[EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

By Kate Sánchez09/02/2025Updated:09/02/2025

An exclusive look at a new 5-Color Spider entering Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, and Cosmic Spider-Man is going to be a tough one to take on.

Hololive EN at Radio City Music Hall Events

Hololive EN At Radio City Music Hall Was A Pure Expression Of Fandom

By Adrian Ruiz08/31/2025Updated:09/03/2025

Hololive EN turned Radio City in New York City into the pure expression of fandom: chants, penlights, and community in perfect sync.

Foundation Season 3 Episode 8 promotional still from APple TV+
9.0
TV

RECAP: ‘The Foundation’ Season 3 Episode 8 — “Skin In The Game”

By Will Borger08/29/2025Updated:08/29/2025

Still barreling toward a knock-down, drag-out fight between Gaal and the Mule in Foundation Season 3 Episode 8 ups the stakes.

Karl Anthony Towns in NBA 2k26 But Why Tho
8.5
PS5

REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K26’ Brings Basketball To Life

By Kyle Foley09/03/2025

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh in the latest yearly release.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here