Archive for the ‘Zatanna’ Category

Zatanna #15 Review

Posted: July 23, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Jamal Igle, Zatanna
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Writer: Derek Fridolfs

Penciller: Jamal Igle

Inker: John Dell

Colorist: John Kalisz

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

Cover Art: Adam Hughes

The Plot

In a nut shell, Zatanna has to fight off an ancient band of religious nutcases who believe that anything supernatural and magical  should be burned at the stake.  After hunting down all the vampires, werewolves, ghouls, goblins and whatever other “unholy” creatures are out there, they decided to focus all their hunting efforts on Zatanna…by way of invitation.

After receiving a nasty slice by an almost precise arrow to her throat, Zatanna scolds herself for walking right into the cults trap.  But, due to the archer’s incredibly eye, Zatanna has been left speechless.  So now the question is…can Zatanna get herself out of this pickle without magic at her side?

Before I Begin…

So let me start off by saying that I don’t care how much you get upset by a publisher’s “deceptive methods,” don’t spend a significant chunk of your review whining about how DC’s website administrator screwed up on who actually WROTE the script.  Sure, give the right author proper credit, but don’t get so bent out of shape about it.  I am, of course, referring to the review published at A Comic Book Blog.  Lighten up buddy.

And Onto The Review

The premise of Zatanna #15 is an interesting one; this cult of religious nuts spill the beans by telling Zatanna that they, and those who came before, have hunted down her kind (witches) for centuries, determined to purge the world of them.  Witch hunting is an old plot concept that has been swimming around in gothic literature for over one hundred years and is still being used in modern literature to this very day.  So the concept of hunting down the “unnatural” creatures of the world isn’t new.  But what makes it stick out for this particular comic book is the mere fact that, out of all the supernatural beings on Earth, it is Zatanna that this cult believes holds the greatest threat to humanity.  Not Superman or any of the other more powerful men and women, just Zatanna…quite the interesting approach wouldn’t you agree?

While many fellow readers might find that idea to be a little difficult to grasp onto, rest assured the character of Zatanna is not compromised in the least despite how well the cult hindered her ability to use magic.  Just like with Harry Potter, Zatanna’s ability to save the day does not truly rely on her magical capabilities, but rather on her resourcefulness.  Despite all of the obstacles, Zatanna is able to stay alive long enough to figure out a plan while taking out a few of the red-robed goons on the process.  Of course, what does save her in the end is a small, wound healing potion which heals her throat, allowing her to use her spells to bring the dogmatic boneheads down.  But everything leading up to her inevitable win was all brains and stealth, nothing more.

Jamal Igle is fantastic!  He draws some of the most expressive faces on characters, (right after Amanda Conner) and creates actions scenes that are so vibrant and colorful that I can’t help but stare at each panel in awe.

Zatanna is fun and has been since issue #1.  The thing I love most about this title is its new reader accessibility.  As long as you know Zatanna uses spells and wears fish-net stockings, you should be good to go.  The jumping on points with this title are numerous, and there’s only been 15 issues!  If this series wasn’t going to end next month, I would recommend to everyone that THIS specific issue would have been a great jumping on point for new readers.  But alas…  Oh well, it’s still a fun comic and you wouldn’t be wasting your $2.99 (and some tax) on this issue.

9 out of 10 stars

The Search For Swamp Thing #1 (Of 3) Review

Posted: June 25, 2011 in Batman, Brightest Day, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Jonathan Vankin, Marco Castiello, Superman, Uncategorized, Zatanna
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Written By: Jonathan Vankin

Art By:  Marco Castiello

Coloring By: Barb Ciardo

Inked By: Vincenzo Acunzo

Lettering By: Sal Cipriano

Edited By: Rex Ogle

Associate Editor: Eddie Berganza

Cover By: Ardian Syaf

The Plot

The search begins!  And helming this man hunt for Swamp Thing is the British, wise-cracking detective, John Constantine.  But as good as John is, he’ll still need some help along the way.  Can the Dark Knight detective and our fish net stocking wearer of hotness find Swamp Thing before more chaos is inflicted on society?

My Awe Inspiring Opinion

I love Jon Constantine, always have, which has peaked my interests as DC Comics ventures forward with Swampy into the DCnU.  But my time living overseas for two years halted my reading of the said character and kept me out of touch with DC’s hero or horror for some time.  So now, to help prepare me for what I’ve missed, the search for Swamp Thing will allow me to dive deeper into the world of Alan Moore even more than I already am.  This Brightest Day Aftermath has my blood pumping for the start of the Swamp Thing series.

With DC announcing its new line of horror comics, a different writing mentality should be adopted by fans of DC and its heroes.  Swamp Thing has always been a terrifying character and now has been given a chance to reclaim his throne of scares, but first DC needs to reestablish Swamp Thing into the DC Universe with….drum role please….A NEW ORIGIN STORY!!!  (Sarcasm mode initiated)

DC is attempting to merge both origin stories from Len Wein and Alan Moore by Bringing Alec Holland back from the dead, causing a Swamp Thing who thinks it actually is the said scientist to have a major identity crisis in the future.  As terrible as Brightest Day was, it certainly set up the rise of Alec Holland perfectly.

My apologies as I’m allowing my love for Swamp Thing to take over this review of a comic focused on John Constantine.  When I read through this issue the first time, I was a little jolted by some of the dialogue and character interactions…It didn’t feel enough like Constantine.  However, a second read through allowed me to process the character’s depth within this first issue.  Vankin allows readers the chance to become acquainted with Constantine while developing the plot at the same time.  We especially get a double dose of his arrogance as he dared to set foot in the Batmobile with a cigarette in hand, something Batman wasn’t too happy about.

The story has undergone some major changes in the last few months with characters dropping in and out of the plot’s grasp.  Originally, Hawkman was to be in the place where Zatanna now stands.  But going even further back shows multiple characters being toggled back and forth in that exact position, ranging from Martian Manhunter to the Blue Beatle, to shadowy unknown figures of questionable loyalty.  But without a doubt, the inclusion of Zatanna was a smart move as her and Constantine share a history together that I’m sure she would rather forget.

Marco Castiello does some fairly amazing work with his jagged and rough-edged style.  Some of the action scenes felt a little anti-climactic, but there was very little else to complain about artistically.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

So overall, this is a quality first issue.  I’m looking forward to seeing how this miniseries establishes what is to be once Swamp Thing #1 pops up on stands in two months.  But of course, who knows what’s going to happen with the reboot.

8 out of 10 Stars

Zatanna #13 Review

Posted: May 24, 2011 in Adam Huges, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Jamal Igle, Jon Sibal, Pat Brosseau, Paul Dini, Zatanna
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Written By: Paul Dini

Penciled By: Jamal Igle

Inked By: Jon Sibal

Coloring By: John Kalisz

Lettering By: Pat Brosseau

Edited By: Joey Cavaieri

Associate Editor: Chris Conroy

Cover By: Adam Huges

Zatanna Created by Gardner Fox

The Plot

The last encounter Zatanna had with Brother Night, she almost lost.  Now, Brother Night is planning a comeback with a team of mindless inmate band of servants.  Zatanna must now face her most powerful enemy again, and this time she may not be so lucky.

Zatanna also pays a visit to the illustrious judge of the evil, The Spectre.  What good will this serve?  Not even Zatanna knows…a mystical cat told her to go.

My Awe Inspiring Opinion

Lucky number 13 right?  WRONG!

Everything goes to Hell (literally) when Zatanna has two hefty storylines leading the charge in this issue.  Paul Dini is back to reclaim his mantle as authoric dictator of the Zatanna series!  #13 presents a lot of story to take in without being overbearing.  This issue is only 20 pages but has a feeling of being much longer…which is a good thing!  The amount of story applied to this issue is done in a way that only writers with Dini’s ability can achieve.  Next month will definitely be a doozy!

Another compliment to throw Dini’s way is the way he approaches the theme of this series.  With #13, Dini uses this comic like a magician uses their deck of cards…it’s not exactly what it seems to be and mystifies you in the process.  And as we appreciate the skill it takes to master the art of a magical comic book, we should also recognize the creative idea being thrown out with #13; combining old and new characters to create something new and interesting.  Zatanna and the Spectre are very well known within the DC Universe, but neither have been given the opportunity to flesh out their potential…not until Dini took over the magical world of DC Comics.  (A little too Disney-esk maybe)  With the incredible work that’s been done with Zatanna in the past year, the Spectre is now given his moment to shine!

Jamal Igle does really great work, as always, and doesn’t disappoint with this issue.  Give him a task and he will see it through, no matter how daunting or difficult.  City streets, action scenes, light and dark scenery, twisting and turning pits of despair where men are thrown and turned into mice, it’s no challenge for him.  The mystical cat with the Jeweled eyeball did freak me out momentarily, which I’m sure was the hope, and only supports my already stated theory.  I don’t want to overwhelm Igle as I’m sure he’s already as busy as can be, but it would be nice to see him continually work on both Supergirl and Zatanna.  All I can do is hope.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

This was a shorty review, but worth reviewing either way.  I’m glad I started picking this title up a few months ago.  But, of course, anything Dini does is worth picking up right?  Especially if it’s with Igle as well!

10 out of 10 Stars

Zatanna #12 Review

Posted: April 25, 2011 in Amanda Conner, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Matthew Sturges, Pat Brosseau, Stephane Roux, Zatanna
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Nettirw Yb: Wehttam Segruts

Tistra: Einahpets Xour

Tsiroloc: Nhoj Zsilak

Revoc Tistra: Adnama Rennoc

Rerettel: Tap Uaessorb

Rotide: Yeoj Ireilavac

Eht Yllacigam Gnitevir Tolp

A wanna be thug and rapper, named Backlash, takes it upon himself to utilize his time reversing device to assist him in his dastardly and murderous deeds.  After slaying a group of mer-people, this simple minded jerkwad takes his blood-thirsty agenda to San Francisco where Zatanna practices her backwards enchantments.

While taking a stroll through the city, our fish-net wearing heroine finds herself doin’ the mystical tango with the Backlash. (Original name huh?)  As time runs backwards, and Zatanna’s spells are spoken correctly, (making them useless) she must now use her mighty wit and outsmart our rhythmless evildoer and save Tinkerbell!

Wait…What?

Ym Ewa-Gniripsni Noinipo

I have now decided to go back eleven issues and play catch up with the Zatanna series.  I’ve always loved her, but never did I imagine that she had enough potential to have her own title.  Finally, one year later, I decided to pick up issue #12 and see what all the excitement was about.  And I told myself I wasn’t going to pick up any more titles to help save a few bucks…this was a bad way of sticking to my comic book diet.

The interesting thing Sturges does with #12 is the play on the reverse aspect of Zatanna’s world.  How could a writer put a twist on Zatanna’s spells without seeming to unoriginal?  I got it!  Force her to say the spells forwards instead of backwards!  And I’ll be honest, as corny and stupid as the new villain Backlash is, the idea propelling this story is quite creative.

I liked Sturges’ portrayal of Zatanna having to constantly practice her magical spells.  Sure, she’s been around since the late 60’s, but everyone gets rusty right?  She doesn’t seem inept to me, just staying on top of things.

I can only imagine how much fun Sturges had in thinking up as many Palindromes as he could for Zatanna to spout out.  For those who loves word games, comics, and action, this is the ultimate storyline.  I wonder if Sturges decided to challenge Stephanie Roux and create some difficult artistic situations through the dialog that only the best artists could render.

Maybe it’s my problem having hopped on board with Zatanna 12 issue after it began, but I wasn’t fully sure where this thug came from, where he got his “wicked sword,” and where this green fairy came from.  It all seemed very random to me and out of place…but thus is the nature of comic books.  So all I have to say is “give me more randominity!”

It was nice to see Stephane Roux back on board with the art on a title.  I haven’t actually seen her work for some time which is quite sad.  We very rarely see Zatanna out of her magician’s uniform and in regular clothing.  But even then, Roux gives a very modern and exotic look to her, even as she flies over the city of San Fransisco.

Speaking of which, I hear rumors around the World Wide Web that Sturges’ description of San Francisco was a spot on match to what it’s actually like in the real world.  I’ve never been to the magical city, but if what Zatanna says is true, I might need to pay it a visit one of these years.

Ym Yllacitsejam Citcamilc Noisulcnoc

Overall, this was a very well thought out book.  It had its confusing and out of place points but, eh, nothings perfect.

Oh, that the cover by Amanda Conner is freaking amazing!!!!

7 out of 10 stars

Power Girl #23 Review

Posted: April 23, 2011 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Jessica Kholinne, Judd Winink, Power Girl, Sam Basri, Uncategorized, Zatanna
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Written By: Judd Winick

Artist: Sam Basri

Colorist: Jessica Kholinne

Cover Artist: Sami Basri

Letterer: John J. Hill

Editor: Joey Cavalieri

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

So there’s a horde of magical dinosaurs rampaging the city while their creator, Siphon, is spending quality time with the sexiest woman in a top hat and fish nets who spouts out backwards magical jargon. He doesn’t want to hurt her…he just wants to have her powers.  After Supes and PG release Zatanna from her bondage, thus begins the wizard’s duel!  It will have you laughing and tilting your head to the side in bewilderment at the same time.

It’s been almost a year since Winick took over the writing responsibilities for Power girl and it seems he’s only JUST getting started.  Winick decided to throw everything out there (including the kitchen sink) and make this one of the most chaotic issues of PG since Power Girl #12.  One can only guess what the two year anniversary issue next month may or may not be.

I’ve honestly always loved any comic book which involves Power Girl and Superman teaming up to fight the baddies.  It’s interesting how two Kryptonians, both from different dimensions who don’t technically share a real family linkage can feel more like family than Superman and Supergirl.

Siphon is an interesting villain, only good for one issue and then maybe returning a few years down the road after Geoff Johns revamps him into a much more dramatic and angst filled character. In the meantime, what an amazing duel the two magicians have as the fight kept you wondering what the next daunting spell was going to be; From Sasquatch to rocky boobs, every spellbound attack gave me a joyous laugh filled with action and…well…awesomeness!

I have always liked Zatanna, but this issue made me LOVE her.  This in turn causes me to regret not picking up her regular monthly title from the beginning.  However, I was a little jolted by the Magical bras comment…until I saw the image of Zatanna, Supes, and PG standing triumphantly, with hands placed on their hips, in front of Siphon.  No wonder she has Magical bras, her boobs are just as big as Power Girl’s!  I guess now we know how PG has been able to live without too many back problems, she has Zatanna to make her super powered braziers.

I know, It's not the best picture to display her chesticles, but my scanner has broke and have no way of scanning my favorite panels.

Sami Basri is doing nothing but good things on this titled.  When he first began his anime styled take on Power Girl, it got a lot of criticism.  But #23 showed me that he is anything but a second rate comic book artist.  Jessica Kholinne only enhances what Basri puts to paper with her excellent colors and shading.

I’m not sure what I think of the whole new look for Karen Starr.  She did, in fact, look completely different with her red hair and business attire, but I have my doubts on its longevity.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

Once again Power Girl one of the best comics of the month; Its consistent quality is always refreshing and fun to read.  However, it does make me wish that magical bras were real…I know my wife would love to have one.

10 out of 10 Stars

Zatanna #12 – Amanda Conner Rocks!!!

Posted: April 21, 2011 in DC Comic Book Cover, Matthew Sturges, Zatanna
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Without a doubt, the best cover of the month!