DC is getting into the Halloween spirit with DC’s Zatannic Panic! #1, an anthology that delivers a mixed bag of spooky tales featuring some of DC’s most magically inclined, and some decidedly non-magical, heroes. While the book is anchored by a fun lead story, the diverse collection of creators ensures that readers get a variety of tones and artistic styles, making this a true Halloween grab bag. This one-shot features stories centered around Zatanna, Batman, Plastic Man, The Warlord, The Demon, Swamp Thing, Constantine, and Raven, plus a final appearance by Ambush Bug.
The comic kicks off with the titular Zatanna story, written by Lyndon Radchenka with art by John McCrea. It finds Zatanna stuck in a nightmare: trapped in the Forest of Lost Souls at the grave of her father, Giovanni Zatara. Her tormentor, Brother Night, messes with her head, mocking her father’s death and claiming Zatanna is an evil magician who uses her powers selfishly.
Brother Night’s magical attack is a clever, extended metaphor about stage magic, offering Zatanna (and the reader) valuable lessons on performance. He hammers home the need for a good “hook,” the importance of distraction, and making the audience believe the stakes are real. Zatanna, channeling her father’s memory and training, eventually turns those lessons back on him, realizing she’s been the audience for his trick all along.
The art is moody and perfectly suits a magical-horror comic, with Mike Spicer’s colors adding to the eerie vibe of the Forest. The lettering by Ariana Maher is especially clever, particularly when showcasing Zatanna’s trademark backward spells and her father’s ghostly advice. Overall, the narrative nicely blends an emotional journey with action for a satisfying opening act, even if readers familiar with Zatanna might find the story covering well-worn ground with her father talking to her from the grave. (8.5/10)
Next up is the brief Batman story, “Ouroboros,” a “Palindromic Batman Story,” written by Roberto Recchioni. The title refers to the ancient symbol of a serpent eating its own tail, representing an endless cycle. The tale features Batman examining a crime scene tied to an ancient cult that worshipped the Ouroboros serpent with human sacrifices, and the equally old order of knights who fought them, both trapped in a cycle of violence. The art, by Luigi Cavenago, is highly stylized, featuring dramatic reds, oranges, and greens that lend the short a cinematic, almost apocalyptic feel, which is perfectly suited for a story about perpetual violence. (9/10)
The anthology completely shifts gears with the zany Plastic Man short, “Full-Size Bars,” written by Daniel Warren Johnson. It’s a classic Halloween setup: a kid named Rivers wants to trick-or-treat, but her parents are glued to the TV, obsessing over the horrifying news (plunging markets, raging fires, massive casualties… the usual). Rivers and her friends hear about a “high roller” giving out full-size candy bars down the street. That “high roller” turns out to be Plastic Man, who, in a twisted need of help to defeat a massive, grotesque monster. Even the parents are consumed when they finally snap out of their news stupor. Plas eventually defeats the monster by encouraging the kids to sing, allowing him to pull a minor demon from its mouth and crush it.
This story is a standout thanks to its wild art and bizarre narrative twist. Riley Rossmo’s art, with Iñaki Azpiazu’s bright, cartoonish colors, perfectly captures the chaotic, body-horror-meets-slapstick tone. This one is genuinely scary because of Rossmo’s stellar art, which is amply suited for grotesque, crazy-good stuff like this. (9/10)
Next, “In Your Eyes” features Travis Morgan, The Warlord, caught in a life-or-death confrontation against a monstrous entity that claims to be “The Legend of Skartaris” and Warlord’s brother. The creature is trying to switch bodies and reclaim its place, challenging Warlord’s self-perception by claiming he is a reaper and a conduit for death. Warlord refuses to step out of the magical circle, choosing to die an old man with his foe and preventing the creature from escaping. This high-fantasy, action-packed tale of moral struggle and heroism, written by Alex Galer with art by Daniel Bayliss, is a solid offering. (8/10)
The fifth story, “Splitting Heirs,” is a punchy, rhyming tale starring The Demon, Etrigan, written by Cavan Scott. Etrigan, bound to the mortal Jason Blood, confronts a female demon named Malgra. She’s hunting him because the recently deceased Seventh Duke of Hell has named Etrigan as his heir. Etrigan, finding the idea of being king a shackle, turns the tables and passes the crown (and the danger) to Malgra, making her the new target. The art by Don Aguillo is highly kinetic and fiery, fitting the demonic subject matter. Malgra’s design here is awesome-she looks appropriately scary and a bit sexy, too. But honestly, I always love any chance to see Etrigan; he’s going to rhyme and look cool as hell without fail. (10/10)
Andrew MacLean pulls triple duty on the penultimate story, “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse,” handling the art, story, and letters. It features John Constantine, infected with lycanthropy, turning to Swamp Thing for help. Constantine, desperate to stop his violent transformation into a werewolf, begs Swamp Thing to shoot him in the heart with a silver bullet. Swamp Thing, determined to find another way, eventually creates a barrier of Wolfsbane flowers, which repels the curse and allows John to revert to human form. The art, with colors by Jordie Bellaire, is distinct, with a heavily inked, angular style and a dark, moody color palette. The story ends on an ambiguous note, with John seemingly cured but telling Swamp Thing to hold onto the gun, “just for now, yeah?”. (10/10)
Rowan MacColl provides the story and art for Raven’s tale, “The Trick-or-Treater of Gladstone Street.” Raven, initially dismissive of the ridiculous holiday, is drawn into a case after a frantic mother reports her daughter was taken by the urban legend, The Trick-or-Treater of Gladstone Street. Raven’s empathic abilities force her to confront the emotional reality of the missing child. Following some clues, Raven enters an alley where she finds the Trick-or-Treater (another child?) who subjects her to terrifying illusions, including a vision of her father, Trigon. Raven breaks the illusion, rescues the girl, and leaves with a lesson: “You don’t want to be alone on Halloween.” The art style is less detailed and more expressive, capturing the emotional horror. I love both the Trick-or-Treater’s design and Trigon’s appearance here. Trigon’s always a welcome sight, and this particular design hits a perfect note: it makes him look huge without making him overly muscular. (9/10)
The anthology closes with the most self-aware entry, “The Haunted Comic!,” featuring Ambush Bug, written by Callie C. Miller and drawn by Megan Huang. Ambush Bug is on a case because his mysterious new client disappeared. He mistakenly believes this signals a “Multiverse Threat” and a “Haunted Comic,” and embarks on a bizarre journey to gather clues from all the previous entries. After an absurd romp through various scenes (running into Superman in a canceled-plot thread version of Metropolis, no less), Raven informs him he’s not needed for a Multiverse threat-his son, Cheeks, just needs him for trick-or-treating. The mysterious client turns out to be a sock stuck under his bookcase, trying to become his archenemy.
This is a silly, fourth-wall-breaking palate cleanser to end the collection, with a unique, energetic, cartoonish art style. This comic is hilarious from start to finish. All I can say is “Metropolis. The Sketchy part,” rendered in a rough sketch drawing. Chef’s kiss. (10/10)
DC’s Zatannic Panic! #1 is a strong holiday offering. It does a great job of balancing darker, more serious horror and psychological drama (Zatanna, Batman, Warlord) with fun, chaotic supernatural action (Plastic Man, Etrigan, Swamp Thing) and meta-humor (Ambush Bug). The sheer diversity of art and storytelling makes it feel like a genuine event comic, reminding the reader of the breadth of the DC Universe’s magical, monstrous, and wonderfully weird corners. If you’re looking for an entertaining DC Halloween read, this anthology is well worth the cover price.
‘DC’s Zatannic Panic!’ #1 Review: A Trick-or-Treat Bag Full of Spooky Fun
DC’s Zatannic Panic! #1 is a strong holiday offering. It does a great job of balancing darker, more serious horror and psychological drama (Zatanna, Batman, Warlord) with fun, chaotic supernatural action (Plastic Man, Etrigan, Swamp Thing) and meta-humor (Ambush Bug). The sheer diversity of art and storytelling makes it feel like a genuine event comic, reminding the reader of the breadth of the DC Universe’s magical, monstrous, and wonderfully weird corners.
