REVIEW: ‘Zatanna’ Issue 1

Zatanna Issue 1 (2026) is published by DC Comics. Writing and art by Jamal Campbell and letters by Ariana Maher.

Zatanna fights a rampaging spirit across the realms in a battle that draws the attention of the DEO.

This may have the same creative team as the previous Zatanna series, but this first chapter is entirely fresh and easy to jump into. There’s a fast-paced and terrifying battle against a monstrous creature, one that erupts very early in Zatanna Issue 1 (2026). It’s ferocious and frantic, set in spectacular locations we only get a glimpse of. There aren’t too many explanations or world-building; instead, it lets the action do the talking. The fight with the monster is the key moment running through the entire issue.

All other story threads are directly attached to the plot, observing the battle from afar. It keeps the story compact and connected, not veering too far away from what is already lively. The ending is where more exposition comes in when people seek to keep an eye on Zatanna. It’s much easier to absorb this information when we’re not distracted by the chaos happening on the page.

Campbell is a fantastic writer for Zatanna. He recognizes how much the magician loves a show and puts her right in the spotlight. The cast is very small in Zatanna Issue 1 (2026), and the monster she fights isn’t chatty. So it falls to her to be the life of the party, and she absolutely is. But she’s also incredibly kind and considerate. When first confronted with a horrifying creature, Zatanna is gentle and approachable, as if it were a wounded animal.

Even when she’s fleeing, she never gets angry; she wants to minimize damage. Zatanna is extremely caring and understanding towards anyone who needs her help. However, that doesn’t mean she’s a pushover. When others who are more nefarious enter the fray, she becomes more confrontational. There is a figure assigned to watch over Zatanna who is both disturbing and delightfully chaotic, with an awesome design. 

The art is spectacular, creating a world that is equal parts scary and dazzling. Her outfit is always iconic, her long hair, flowing coat, and magician’s gloves giving Zatanna a terrific profile that almost dances when she moves.

The monster is also phenomenally illustrated, with a unique concept. The head is repulsive and unnerving, as are the giant and incredibly detailed fingers and the spindly tendrils of hair that resemble tree branches or veins. There are so many hidden features that hint at the spirit’s background. Some magic-based comics can feel slow and static, but that’s absolutely not the case in Zatanna Issue 1. The constant movement creates intensity, as does changing between realms. The various locations shape the atmosphere and set the tempo, too.

The colors are also pivotal in controlling the mood of the issue. At the start of Zatanna Issue 1, the tone is very gloomy and incredibly dark. Even the light used to illuminate the creature in the opening pages is eerie and sinister. This is because it presents the monstrous creation in all its grotesque glory. Then there is a realm robbed of all color, completely white, and the pace slows and grows quieter. The only colorful parts of this moment come from Zatanna and the victims of the monster, leaving bodies behind.

The lettering struggles in a few places. The font used in the captions at the beginning and end of Zatanna Issue 1 (2026) is very hard to read. And in the scene where Zatanna finds the monster, the radio chatter word balloons are patchy to denote scratchy comms, making some of the words hard to make out.

Zatanna Issue 1 (2026) is an energetic new beginning as the most elite magic user in the DC Universe deals with the most elite threats, moving at a breakneck pace. Zatanna is really putting in a show, embracing the role of Prime Magus. The comic is gnarly and filled with glorious horror elements, as well as the tension from new figures.

Zatanna Issue 1 (2026) is available where comics are sold.