Zatanna by Paul Dini

Writers – Paul Dini, Adam Beechen, Lilah Sturges, and Derek Fridolfs

Artists – Stephanie Roux, Jamal Igle, Chad Gardin, Cliff Chiang, Rick Mays, Jesus Saiz (to name a few)

Reading and discussing comics with friends is an enjoyable past time. This activity really brings people together. No matter how busy our lives get, my friend Oscar and I will text weekly and chat at least once a month on the phone about comics we’ve read.

Oscar and I decided to come up with twelve titles each and alternate picks from month to month. Although not on my list, I chose Zatanna by Paul Dini for September.

This collection contains the one shot – Zatanna– Everyday Magic and the entire run of her series, which lasted just sixteen issues.

Everyday Magic lays the groundwork for the collection which features the magician helping her ex-lover John Constantine, who has been cursed by a young woman that is practicing dark magic. This one shot helps readers get an idea of Zatanna and her complicated relationship with ol’ Johnny Boy and their respective places in the DC Universe.

The next run of issues features Zatanna battling the forces of evil and forging a bond with a police officer as the two protect the streets of San Francisco together. We also get a look at the inner workings of her stage shows and the friends and crew that help her pull off her stage performances. We also get a glimpse of her family life with cameos by her cousin Zachary Zatara and her dear old dad, Giovanni.

The story arcs tend to be one or two issues with a few done in one tales to boot. There is a storyline that features Zatanna revealing her lifelong phobia of puppets that I feel like ran an issue too long.

We have seen Zatanna as part of superhero teams like Justice League and Justice League Dark and as a guest star in other DC titles, from time to time. It was nice to see her step into a solo series of her own for a change. Although only lasting sixteen issues, there is a lot of heart and soul in these stories as well a nice balance of horror and humor. Paul Dini deserves an ovation for taking Zatanna and giving her a chance to step into the spotlight, a place she deserves to occupy. You’ll see what I mean after giving this series a once over.

There are a few plot points and shocking revelations that are teased that would have had decent pay offs if the series continued. That is one of the frustrating parts of this run. A follow-up mini-series or giant one-shot could have wrapped the series up perfectly. One that got away involves Detective Dale Colton and his parents. It was a jaw dropping moment that unfortunately never gets resolved.

If you start this collection today, you’ll finish it almost on or right around Halloween. If you are looking for something different to read on the Road to Halloween, both Oscar and I wholeheartedly recommend Zatanna. It is available instantly on Prime Reading and Hoopla.

If you are curious to know what our next pick is, Oscar went with The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. You have to admire someone that adores the classics!

Thanks for reading and its never too early to wish you a NEEWOLLAH YPPAH.