Zatanna #2

A Book in the Beginning

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Ryan Sook, Mick Gray, & Nathan Eyring

Summary: has Zatanna being accompanied by her apprentice Misty heading to a magic store owned by Cassandra Craft. There Zatanna prepares for battle with Gwydion, who has been referred to as "The Shapeless One." There, she also learns about a mysterious man who's come seeking her and finds Ali Ka-Zoom's cabinet.

Zatanna Zatara. A powerful sorceress under the guise of a stage magician. She is potentially one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe, but even heroes can succumb to their emotions. Out of utter loneliness, Zatanna casts a spell that calls for the man of her dreams, who heralds impending doom.

Noteworthy Items:

Is the six-sided die the same one from Guardian? If so, how did Misty get it?

Dyna-Mite rings were sold by Cassandra Craft, reference to Seven Soldiers #0.

Zatara leaves his hat at Cassandra's store and says “Tell her. Tell her I came back for the books.” Is it Zatara who is known to be dead in the DCU? The hat matches the one he wore in the flashback in Zatanna #1.

I should point out that since the get go there’s been speculation about who Misty is. “… some kind of familiar or homunculus inadvertantly created by Zee.”

Remember discussing chakras? Cassandra mentions it in this issue.

Strange gang of hero kids…. Ali Ka-Zoom - Merlin of the Ghetto… Newsboy Army. References Guardian and hints a connection between the events in Zatanna and Guardian. Also Ali Ka-Zoom was in Los Angeles and met Sir Justin in Shining Knight #2, so with Zatanna #2 we have the a foundation for the connections in the books.

Page 12, final couple panels with the Zatanna autobiography Mitsy's looking at, the poem there references or is a part of Cad Goddeau from The Book of Taliesin.

But since I’m nice, the first part.
I have been a mulitude of shapes,
Before I assumed a consistant form.
I have been a sword, narrow, variegated,
I will believe when it is apparent.
I have been a tear in the air,
I have been in the dullest of stars.
I have been a word among letters,
I have been a book in the origin.
I have been the light of lanterns,
A year and a half.
I have been a continuing bridge,
Over three score river-mouths.
I have been a course, I have been an eagle.
I have been a coracle in the sea.
I have been complaint in the banquet.
I have been a drop in a shower;
I have been a sword in the grasp of a hand.
I have been a shield in battle.
I have been a string in a harp,
Disguised for nine years.
In water, in foam,
I have been a sponge in fire,
I have been wood in covert.

Prowley the Cat, a play on Aleister Crowley's name?