Everything is connected here! What would Zatanna Zatara do in a pinch? Will she stand up to the devil, even if it’s her father? Well, she is a hero after all. Does that mean she has a plan? no! In the final issue of this miniseries, writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Javier Rodriguez risk their souls to deliver a magical series finale. Our time with one of DC’s most powerful magicians is coming to an end, but this story ends on a great note, capping off one of DC Black Label’s most successful books of all time.
direct current
A lot happens in the story, but to be fair, there are some loose ends that need to be tied up. Tamaki spends much of the issue focusing on Zatanna understanding her true powers. And you might think, “Isn’t that the point of this story?” And yes, there are two factors. Zatanna: Bring Down the House as a whole is about identity and the power we all have. This is well reflected when we see Zatanna confronting her father.
As she and the Stranger take a trip down memory lane to the beginning of the story, Zatanna discovers several things. First, she is incredibly powerful and always has been. Also, she is at her best when she feels comfortable in herself and when she is not made to feel small. What I really appreciate about this is that it’s a message that a lot of people can relate to. We may not all be prodigal magicians who can change the world with a few words, but we all have something unique about ourselves. If that’s the message of this story (and I hope I’m getting it right!), then Tamaki tells a powerful story of people realizing what their true potential is within. You did a great job.
direct current
There’s no big, bombastic fight between Zatanna and Zatara in this issue, but it’s one of Javier Rodriguez’s best work to date. His panel manipulations give a psychedelic effect. One of the best examples of this is when a creepy monster literally crawls onto the page and takes up the entire page space. It’s so bad in every sense of the word. This is in stark contrast to the moment at the end of the issue when Zatanna makes her grand entrance onto the stage. This moment is so wonderful. In the best possible way, this page feels like a perfect emulation of Darwyn Cooke’s work, and does a great job of depicting moments like this that feel classic comic book greatness. I feel it is suitable.
We’ve seen Zatanna put through the wringer throughout the series, and these tender moments are perfectly placed to contrast that and highlight her ability to bounce back. Color naturally helps make your story pop. Rodriguez’s colors do a great job of shading the comic in darker, more ominous tones or vibrantly lighting up the pages during the book’s eerie moments. Overall, this issue is a beautiful story that captivates readers from beginning to end.
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #5 is the perfect conclusion to this mini-series. It’s sad to see such a great book end like this, but Tamaki and Rodriguez end it on the perfect note. I’ve said before that I felt this story perfectly summed up The Hero’s Journey, and it’s safe to say that it does. When Zatanna returns to the world we once saw, things are different, but the same. She is much more comfortable with her powers and it shows. By the end, it is clear that she is no longer in a league of her own and has decided to move on from her lonely life. Overall, the book wraps up the various loose ends well and works great as a modern origin story for the characters.
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #5 is the final act
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #5
Zatanna: Bring Down the House #5 is the perfect ending to a great mini-series from a creative team with so much love for this character.
The story is wrapped up very well and everyone gets a strong conclusion
Javier Rodriguez publishes a great issue full of creativity and vibrancy
Mariko Tamashiro’s understanding of Zatanna and her relationship helps paint a realistic story that is both captivating and moving
