Anyone else reading Zatanna?

[madmarva]

I read Zatanna issues 2-8 last night and found the series to be quite good. Not a must read by any means, but Dini tells a good story even if has nothing to do with Batman and the art has been very nice even though several different artists have handled the series this early on.

Very much like a Dr. Strange comic, but with a lighter tone. Dini makes good use of DC lore as well as Zatanna occupation as a very highly paid stage magician/illusionist.

If DC were looking for another TV series type property, the set-up for the comic could really work. Paranormal hero stuff like this does fairly well on TV.

[The Toyroom]

I read it....as you said not a must-read and I'm sure it's not high on anybody's "pull list" but it's solid storytelling with nice artwork...Too bad we can't get more of this type of stuff instead of the latest "Brightest Darkest Last Son of Flashpoint" stuff we see so often....

[PNGwynne]

Very much like a Dr. Strange comic, but with a lighter tone. Dini makes good use of DC lore as well as Zatanna occupation as a very highly paid stage magician/illusionist.

^My partner reads it and is really enjoying it and is also a big Dr. Strange fan.

[Riffster]

I like the series it's very entertaining

[madmarva]

Anthony, I'm with you. Just tell me some good stories with nice art with the characters in-character. I believe such an approach over the long run would outsell all of the event-oriented stuff.

I love Green Lantern, but was so worn out by Blackest Night and it worming its way into nearly every book in one way or the other.

Brightest Day has worn me down, too. I initially had a good bit of interest in some of the storylines, but for them to drag on for a year just to fit a publishing schedule is milking the onion too much.

The Max Lord story is interesting to me but does it really need 26 issues to tell?

I'm already scared of Flashpoint and its scope. I don't feel Johns has given me enough Barry Allen as Flash to really give a crap about the character or the storyline, much less it overtaking all the titles its going to for 3 months.

And if the storyline isn't overtaking those titles and these mini series are going to run concurrently with DC's Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern titles, well, I'm just not going to be able to afford it.

I really do enjoy most of Johns work, but he always gives lip-service to creating comics that are accessible, but I'd argue that DC's publishing policies not only make their book non-accessible to new readers but also off-putting to long-time readers.

[The Toyroom]

^ Yeah Blackest Night burned me out too....Brightest Day is wearing me down as well...The only story I'm interested in is the Aquaman segments which could have been better served with a "Rebirth" type mini-series approach than to drag it out over umpteenth issues. All of this stuff is being written at a snail's pace with the trades in mind and it kills the narrative flow IMO.

I like What If type stories but I'm not really sure I have an interest in Flashpoint....As you said it's gonna be way too much $$$ to spend again if everything is concurrent with the ongoings. I won't be buying those if that's the case. And Johns has done a HORRIBLE job with the Flash. I was VERY interested in Barry Allen's return but I think Van Sciver's slow artwork (along with writing Blackest Night and everything else under the sun) killed Johns' momentum and he hasn't been able to get a handle on it since. Which is surprising since he usually does good work and his time on the Wally West version was great.

[madmarva]

I agree about the Flash. I never was a huge Barry Allen fan. I read the book because in the 70s and 80s the books were cheap enough to read everything. But I hated the whole Flash on trial storyline that killed the title prior to Crisis.

But when DC decided to bring him back, I was interested in seeing what Johns would do with Barry. I read the Wally Flash off and on. I probably liked Waid's run the most, but neither Flash has ever been a favorite of mine.

And Johns has done nothing to change that.

I will say his Barry Allen works really well with his Hal Jordan both in Blackest Night and in the recent GL issue.

I've never really waited on the trades, but with Flashpoint that might be the way I go, particularly if the tie-in books are not being reflected in the ongoing series. And honestly if I wait a year for the trades, I might just skip it altogether.

[johnnystorm]

Zatanna is a solid book...don't know how well it's selling, but I like it! Best of all, it's contained, so far no crossovers...unlike they've just pulled with Secret Six!

[madmarva]

I agree johnnystorm, it's nice to just read a comic. My favorite issue was the one about the Magic museum. A one-and-done fill-in that was well executed and retained the feel of the series and was even referenced in the next issue. to me that's a well-produced series. Not sure who the editor is, but he's doing a nice job.

I doubt its selling well. Marginal character and all. Heck I had been buying it for 8 months and was 7 issues behind. But I like Dini's work and the artwork is good. But I'm kind of fired up about the book now.

I'm not against crossovers, but it seems crossovers have become the point of comic-book publishing today.

[VintageMike]

Been reading it and enjoying it. Interesting side note: I actually read the first or second issue during my Mego Meet trip last year.