The Final Bow
Story/Writing
This is just the perfect little one-shot Zatanna story. Zee returns home to Shadowcrest after a red-eye flight from Frankfurt, Germany only to find her long-awaited slumber ruined by the presence of Uriah of Limbo Town (not to be confused with the similarly dressed Klarion). One of the aspects of Zatanna's character that appeals to me the most is the fact that, in spite of her vast knowledge of magic and power, much of her life is completely out of her control and her problems are, at their heart, commonplace and completely relatable even if the circumstances are often extraordinary. In this case - she just wants sleep - and for whatever reason life has other plans for her. The story is really well-paced and it's one of those issues where you feel like you've been given not only a complete story, but somehow three issues worth of a story in one. In spite of being a fan of Zatanna, I have only been picking up the later issues of this series off and on because I've been uncertain if any one can truly write Zatanna like Paul Dini. But now, after reading this issue, I really want to collect the whole series and it leaves me hoping that Adam Beechen will be able to do more work with Zatanna in the future.
Art
Victor Ibanez's art is amazing and he may have drawn my favourite Zatanna so far. He's one of those few artists who can not only draw excellent figures, but also excellent backgrounds (and all in perspective.) Some of my favourite parts of the issue were peering into some rooms in Shadowcrest. Unlike the disappointing Everyday Magic and Countdown to Infinite Crisis, here Shadowcrest is designed to feel like a totally believable and living space, a character unto it's own on par with the Batcave and The Fortress of Solitude. And that sequence of leaping from universe to universe was just fascinating and did a great job of showing Ibanez's creativity and versatility as an artist. Also Adam Hughe's cover is my favourite Zatanna cover to date.
Last Thoughts
The final page leave's off with a little bitter-sweet comment about the end of the series, giving a sort of tongue-in-cheek farewell to the fans who have been diligently following this series. And I suppose it's some comfort to think that, whatever creative choices are made to Zatanna post-relaunch, the Zatanna we all know and love is on some beach in Bimini, finally content with her life in her dreams of cocoa butter.
Final Rating - 5/5
