Zatanna #2 – Review

by Paul Dini (writer), Stephane Roux (pencils & inks), Karl Story (inks), John Kalisz (colors), and Pat Brosseau (letters)

The Story: Zatanna battles Fuseli in the realms of nightmare and Brother Night makes Detective Colton an offer he can’t refuse.

What’s Good: Stephane Roux’s artwork in this issue is awesome.  He takes his game up to totally new levels for this issue.  A good part of it is due to much of the issue taking place in Zatanna’s dreams, which allows Roux to really cut loose with his lay-outs, allowing him to go wild with a couple of awesome splash pages or create pages that feel like organic collages while John Kalisz goes wild with the psychedelic colors.   Zatanna’s facial expressions are also really well done, instantly making her very likable.  Villains Brother Night and Fuseli look great as well; Brother Night’s barely changing sinister grin is creepy as hell and Fuseli reminded me of Gollum of LOTR fame.

Dini’s Zatanna continues to grow on me.  Her trademark sassiness is ever present and it was nice surprise to see her be completely unfazed Fuseli’s nightmares.  Instead going through the typical traumatic struggle with her past, Zatanna quickly interrupts Fuseli and starts kicking ass in the nightmare realm.  It was a total about-face from what I was expecting.  Dini also adds plenty of human touches to the character.  In constantly wanting a good night’s rest, Zatanna is instantly more sympathetic and vulnerable, which is in complete juxtaposition to her composure when battling Fuseli’s conjurations.  It’s really rather neat as Zatanna shows no vulnerability under stress, when we’d expect her to, but instantly becomes human outside of that stress.  If that’s not the mark of a superhero, I’m not sure what is.

Dini is also very effectively building up Brother Night.  Everything he does is subtle and minimal, just enough to hint at his power without ever pulling back the curtain.  There’s a demonstration of his power this issue that is really awesome in this respect; it suggests the sheer depth of his power without breaking out any pyrotechnics.

I also liked Dini’s depiction of Fuseli’s dream manipulation.  Instead of going with standard nightmares for his victims of falling or monsters or what have you, Fuseli’s constructions are realistic and close to life.  It’s far more effective and it makes a lot more sense.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Ray’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: DMZ #54– Brian Wood delivered in last week’s installment of DMZ, as the issue was packed with good dialogue and amazing unique cinematic-esque art from Riccardo Burchielli.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return Of Bruce Wayne #3 – Two reasons… A) It’s Batman in the high seas…. and B) I now feel justified and unashamed for owning this.

Other Top Picks: Superman #700, Detective #866, Incorruptible #7, Amazing Spider-Man #635,  X-Men Legacy #237, Powers #5

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: New Avengers #1 -The best issue of the week, for me, was also the biggest surprise of the week.  I honestly expected mediocrity but got a whole lot of fun instead.  I’ve gone from the classic comic reader conundrum of buying out of a sense of obligation to genuinely looking forward to the next issue.

Most Anticipated: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 -The first issue was such an absolute blast that I can’t wait to see how Levitz follows it up.  Hopefully it’s just as dense of a read.

Other Picks: American Vampire #4, Avengers #2, Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #3, Fantastic Four #580, Powers #5, Secret Warriors #17, Superman #700, Wolverine: Weapon X #14, Zatanna #2

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Forgetless #5 – This issue shows why Nick Spencer is one of the better up-and-coming creators out there.  Good endings are hard and in this issue he shows that he not only is a font of the weird and wacky, he can also bring the story home in a very enjoyable fashion.

Most Anticipated: American Vampire #4 – There are a lot of big name books coming out this week, but when I scanned down the list, I realized this is the title I was actually looking forward to the most.  I’ve really enjoyed the work that Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque (and some dude named Stephen King) have been doing to create a story about vampires than isn’t just appealing to teenage goth chicks.

Other Top Picks: Avengers #2, X-Men Legacy #237, Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1, Powers #5, Amazing Spider-Man #635

DS’ Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Brightest Day #4 – One of DC’s proven creative teams is taking Brightest Day up and issue #4 swiped this week’s crown. I know some are complaining that Brightest Day is starting slow, but that’s because Johns and Tomasi are writing an epic. Think of Lord of the Rings. Brightest Day is in that spot where they’ve decided to take the ring to Rivendell, but haven’t left the Shire yet. A Johns story needs a lot of canvas, but strap yourself in for a great ride.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #3 – Darkseid has set something bad in motion – Bruce is hurtling towards the present like a living WMD and he doesn’t know it.

Other Top Picks: Green Lantern Corps #49, Legion of Superheroes #2, Power Girl #13, Namora #1, X-Factor #206, X-Men Legacy #237.