Zatanna #1
Zatanna #1 (May 2010) marked the first time in the character's 46-year history that she headlined a true ongoing solo series — a milestone that collectors and critics alike had long considered overdue for one of DC's most beloved supernatural heroines. Written by Paul Dini, whose personal affinity for Zatanna stretches back through years of animated work, the issue set a tone that was simultaneously action-packed and character-driven, centering her dual life as a stage illusionist and a genuine sorceress rather than relegating those facets to footnotes. The launch proved that a female-led, magic-focused DC title could sustain commercial momentum, reaching the top 100 best-sellers for its debut month and selling out quickly enough to warrant a second printing. Its influence reverberates in every Zatanna solo project that followed, up to and including the 2024–2026 era of renewed DC interest in the character.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The project's roots go back to 2007, when Dini first conceived the ongoing series, but he voluntarily delayed it until 2010 — by his own account he wanted the timing to feel right and his other commitments to clear. The creative partnership paired Dini with French artist Stéphane Roux, who had previously worked on Birds of Prey covers but whose interior DC work this issue officially inaugurated; inker Karl Story and colorist John Kalisz rounded out the visual team, with Joey Cavalieri serving as editor. The series was published under the post-Infinite Crisis 'New Earth' continuity and ran 16 issues before being cut short by the September 2011 New 52 reboot.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Brother Night (Eldon Peck), a soul-trafficking sorcerer who functions as the series' primary antagonist; his civilian identity is not revealed until issue #2.
- First appearance of Detective Dale Colton, San Francisco police detective who serves as Zatanna's law-enforcement liaison throughout the run.
- First appearance of Mikey Dowling, Zatanna's stage assistant and recurring supporting character (last name not revealed until issue #8).
- Stéphane Roux's debut on DC interior art — he had previously been known only for cover work on titles such as Birds of Prey.
- The issue carries a standard cover by Roux as well as a variant cover by Brian Bolland, with the regular covers for later issues in the run handled by Adam Hughes.
- Issue #1 sold out at the distributor level upon its May 19, 2010 release and received a second printing in July 2010.
- The story has been reprinted twice in collected form: in Zatanna: The Mistress of Magic (DC, 2011) and in the Zatanna by Paul Dini omnibus collection (DC, 2017), the latter also collecting Dini's one-shot Everyday Magic and detective Comics tie-in issues.
- Written by Paul Dini — Emmy Award-winning producer/writer best known for Batman: The Animated Series and the co-creation of Harley Quinn — whose long personal history with the Zatanna character informed the series' character-focused approach.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Action Comics #888 (2010), Adventure Comics #10 / 513 (2010), Booster Gold #31 (2010), Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #2 (2010), Zatanna: The Mistress of Magic #[nn] (2011), Zatanna by Paul Dini #[nn] (2017), Swamp Thing Giant #1 (2019)
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