Zatanna #1: Writer: Paul Dini. Pencils: Stephane Roux
Review: This issue kicks off with Zatanna entertaining a crowd during her day job as a magician(or is it an illusionist?). Z impresses the crowd, soaks in the applause and heads backstage to relax after the show. While trying to relax, Z is confronted by a police detective, who says he has a crime scene he'd like her to take a look at. Z agrees to go and comes across a scene of total carnage(I love it! Sorry, old video game reference there...), where she finds several of the top level mobsters in San Francisco brutally murdered in several different magical ways. While going through the crime scene, Z finds a survivor and uses magic to enter his mind, discovering a few magic criminals from the San Fran underworld(led by a loon named Brother Night), deciding to expand their empire to the overworld. Now knowing who she was dealing with, Z teleports herself to the San Fran underground and confronts Brother Night and his lackeys and lays a mystical smackdown on all of them. Brother Night tries to reason with Z with the old, “might makes right” speech, but Z warns Night that if he heads back to the surface, she'll take him down HARD. With that Z heads back to the surface and awaits Night's next move. This issue ends with Night entering the dream realm and coming across a powerful nightmare demon named Fuseli. After a brief exchange, Night and Fuseli decide to join forces against Z.
What I Thought: I came into this series expecting... well, next to nothing. I have to say, I was VERY pleasantly surprised. The way this issue went was going to help me decide whether or not this series makes it to my monthly pull list, and after reading it I can confidently say that Zatanna WILL be on my monthly pull list. I enjoyed the story, I liked Zatanna and yes, I REALLY liked Teddy... Don't ask! Great first issue, that has me looking forward to more.
Score: 9 out of 10.
I've got to say, I'm a fan of Teddy!
Well, sir, you were definitely a busy body doing all those reviews with work and school. Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteNow, as for Zantanna #1, I was shocked that this first issue was really good. The beginning was a little slow for me but it definitely picked up in the end. Definitely looking forward to the next issue.
I still don't know how I posted that much, with all that other stuff going on... Damn am I crazy...
ReplyDeleteSame here Falisha! I figured I'd pick up the first issue, not like it, and not buy any other issues, but yeah, it was WAY better then I thought it would be. And that kid(Teddy)with the bugs had me laughing, especially when Z was in that waiter's head, saw what Teddy did to those mobsters and was like, "Jesus, Teddy! UGH!"
Lol, that Kid creeps me out. I saw that and was like hell nah, that little boy would get a beat down trying to pull that stunt on me. Lol. But I do have to admit, I am loving the new villains/mobsters. They have their own unique and creepy way of being evil. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it either, X! Just a few minutes ago I was reading the introduction to the Conan book I bought after I enjoyed the first TPB; it talked about how the author couldn't stop writing and spent literally weeks straight writing when he first came up with the character...and I thought of you, haha!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear, with a lot of Vertigo titles being folded back into the main DC universe, a lot of those characters could end up appearing in magic-based books like Zatanna. And as much as it troubles me on one level to think about Hellblazer running around with the Justice League or whatever...I don't know, it might be kind of cool to see it at least once.
On the other hand, that sort of thing could dilute the essence of what would otherwise have been a purely Zatanna-focused comic. Hmm...what do you think? Have you read much of the Vertigo stuff that's set in the main DC universe?
HA! That does sound a bit like me Marc! Once I get rolling, I can't stop!
ReplyDeleteI have read some Constantine comics, and I'd actually enjoy seeing him pop up OCASSIONALLY(that's the key word though)in Z's series. She's appeared in a few of his books, so I don't have a problem with him returning the favor. With that said though, I HATE the idea of Constantine teaming with WW, Supes or the JLA... Zatanna yes, big flashy super-heroes, NO!!
The only Vertigo book I think I've ever read has been Constantine(and that was due to a recommendation from my sister). I'm WAY more familiar with the Wildstorm label then the Vertigo one. With that said, if you have any Vertigo recommendations, send 'em my way, I wouldn't mind dipping my toe in the Vertigo waters.
Sandman!!! Little-known fact -- my favorite graphic novel/collection/whatever you want to call it is Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes. Well, it's not little-known anymore, I guess!
ReplyDeleteSwamp Thing is also good from what I've read. I'll probably be doing a review for ol' Swampie in the near future, which will cover his first appearance and the first issues of his original series.
Other than Constantine, those are the two big ones that actually tie in with the main DC universe. There's also Books of Magic, which I haven't read...but now that I think of it, I'm gonna try and hunt it down and maybe write a review of the first book when I'm through.
Sandman... I don't know why I've never picked that series up... Okay, if I do decide to start collecting the Sandman stuff, what would you consider a good starting point? Do they have trades chronicling the first issues? Since you're the resident trade guy, I figure you'd be the man to ask Marc!
ReplyDeleteThe whole series is covered, from start to finish, in ten volumes. The first one, as I mentioned, is called Preludes & Nocturnes. Just read them in order, and you won't be missing anything!
ReplyDeleteIt's a totally insular series, no prior reading of any kind is required...or even possible, really, since the characters make their first appearances in the first issues of Sandman.
I'll probably do individual reviews for them on my blog at some point, just because they're fun to talk about. I think it would be fun to re-read them along with you (and maybe JT and Falisha too...how about it, guys??) reading them for the first time.
You know Marc, whenever I go to the library I always check out the graphic novel section to see what's new out to read and watch their collection grow. And they have a LOT of Sandman stuff I was interested in reading but never got around to it. I may have to go back to the library lol.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll def be on the look out for those books with my next comic book order(prob next Wednesday). I'll let you know what I find/pick up Marc.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for it Marc, you know I'll stop by and read anything ya post bro.
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