Zatanna is finally getting a comic book again in Zatanna: Bring Down The House #1. This has been a long time coming for the DC Universe’s best magician. Zatanna has consistently proven in the past from previous solo series and leading the Justice League Dark that she should be positioned as a pillar character for the DCU. That is at least the potential that the creative team of Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodríguez can tap into this new mini-series. Let’s find out how it goes with Zatanna: Bring Down The House #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Javier Rodríguez
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
ZATANNA: BRING DOWN THE HOUSE #1 SOLICITATION
“AN ALL-NEW DC BLACK LABEL SERIES FROM EISNER-WINNING WRITER MARIKO TAMAKI AND ARTIST JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ! And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… please put your hands together for Zatanna Zatara!
The greatest entertainer in the crappiest hotel and casino of Las Vegas! Not that the ritzier spots on the Strip haven’t come calling, of course. But since a devastating instance of magic gone wrong that forever changed the course of her childhood, Zatanna would much rather live out her days as a top-hat-and-fishnets-wearing sleight-of-hand stage act than bother with real magic. These days, she doesn’t think much of the past at all.
That is, until an interdimensional vortex cracks open during Zatanna’s act, and a terrifying demon crawls out to kill her. If she hopes to survive the horrors that follow it, she’ll need to take herself and her power seriously for the first time in a long time — and fast. Because when it comes to your past, you can run… but you can’t hide forever!” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 is a complete fresh start for the lead character. Rather than being an adventure in the current DC Universe this title exist in its own space. There are a lot of elements in Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodríguez’s approach that is reminiscent to Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe. Given the high quality of the new Ultimate Universe that is a big accomplishment for Tamaki and Rodriguez to reach with Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1.
Some fans may be disappointed with this approach of going with a Zatanna Zatara who is still young and finding herself. But if you can get out of the thoughts of this series needing to take place in the current DCU continuity you will find a comic book that is an absolute joy to read. There is such a refreshing aura around everything about this comic book that it does turn out to be exactly what Zatanna’s character needed.
Tamaki and Rodriguez are able to charm the reader with how they go about approaching this young version of the character. The storytelling feels very modern as it takes elements from comic books, webtoons, and light novels that really vibe with the direction.
Rodriguez artwork is ultimately what makes everything work. The artwork gives so much life to the slice-of-life storytelling structure Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 takes for the majority of its page count. The vibrant colors mixed with the dynamic framing of each panel and page is all stellar work.
To Tamaki’s credit, she shows a great understanding and trust in the talented artist in Rodriguez that she is working with. The writing is handled in way that accentuates everything that is going on in each panel and page. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou as the letterer even does some cool tricks with Tamaki’s writing that works within the layout of the artwork that makes pages pop even more.
The creative direction of the style for Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 makes it so when things start to really going down with the big mystery of this story hit even harder. The place where this first issue leaves Zatanna makes you want to continue reading to find out what is going on. Its exactly what you want from a first issue of a new series.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 is a phenomenal comic book from start to finish. Mariko Tamaki, Javier Rodríguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou have created a fresh story that is brimming with creativity. This is a must-read comic book you should make sure you pick up and read immediately.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
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