#the jewel of gravesend

[dailydccomics]

Zatanna’s heart eyes sunnies >>>>>>>> Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend (2022) art by Jacquelin De Leon

[jonkentt]

Zatanna by Jacquelin de Leon

[ID: 4 comic edits of Zatanna as a teenager. She has purple hair and winged eyeliner. 1: Zatanna in a purple hoodie, listening to music from pink headphones while reading a book. There are animated white music notes above her head. 2: Zee with heart-shaped sunglasses on her forehead and 'Zatanna’ in a text background. 3: Zee in a black cami, raising her hands in exasperation. There are animated white emphasis lines beside her. 4: Zee with her hair in a bun and she’s drinking a green smoothie. ‘Zatara’ is in a text background. End ID]

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Reluctant Reader Wednesday: Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden & Jacquelin De Leon 

Zatanna is an unusual girl for many different reasons. She lives in a building called the Golden Elephant in Luna Park, her father is a famous magician, and she has a huge pet rabbit that she walks on a leash down the Coney Island boardwalk. While her family makes her crazy sometimes, she has her friends and her boyfriend to help keep her sane. But sometimes they’re not enough to stop her life from going in unexpected directions. 

When a strange new magic show has a weird effect on Zatanna, it’s just the beginning of the roller-coaster of her life. Soon she’s involved in a dangerous magical rivalry that threatens to tear apart her world, and make her question everything she knows about herself and her family.

Give this graphic novel to teens who enjoy urban fantasy, as well as stories about family problems, New York City, and all kinds of magic.

[kitzatara]

My full Zatanna Bring Down The House Review!

(spoiler filled, you have been warned!)

First of all I really enjoyed it, it is a very good characterization of Zatanna. We see her heroism and her innate desire to help people, even strangers, and people she doesn’t trust. Helping the magic users, and seeing her desire to do what’s right. She was determined and doesn’t hesitate to help, just like the hero she is.

She had a dry sense of humor, a showman personality and love of performing, her stubborn will and her temper as well. These are all traits that I have seen and consider to be consistent in Zee over the years. So seeing them be core to her in this book was very much appreciated.

I do have a couple narrative nitpicks, 1) she’s never killed anyone, ever. So the decision to have her accidentally kill a kid in the story was a shame to me. I don’t like the breaking of that 60 year record. My only comfort is that it technically isn’t canon. So technically her record is still intact.

2) is the casters doing logomancy. I think that should be something only Zataras can do. It’s such a unique style of spellcasting, and having other magic users be able to do it sort’ve undermines this unique concept. The original reason the Zataras spoke backwards was because they were descendants of Da Vinci. So others should find it extremely difficult to do if they can do it at all.

I’ve mixed opinions about the casters & bunnies in general. They remind me of the Homo Magi, And I couldn’t help but feel that making Zatara part of a secret magic group was just taking from Sindella’s origin. Which has already happened by making Zatara a Homo Magi, I think the casters easily could’ve been swapped for the Homo Magi. But they were interesting, warring factions of magic is always a fun concept.

One problem I have, that isn’t exclusive to this book, was having her not use magic much until the end. It’s very common for magic users to have this trope of powerlessness. Especially at the start of a hero’s journey. So, I recognize the story format but I’m tired of seeing it.

We’ve now have had 6 stories follow a similar route (7 soldiers, come together, Mystik U, Jewel of gravesend, mystery of the meanest teacher) also absolute power, and technically both JLD runs also begin similarly. Seeing Zatanna constantly at square one no longer serves her character, her story, and discards her history. We should move past stories centered on her not using magic and start moving on to stories of her being a fully realized sorceress.

My final big problem with the story is constantine’s inclusion. I’ve made posts on other platforms about how poorly he treats her and will eventually post one here. But in Bring Down The House he is once again made a part of her origin and revealed to be manipulating things behind the scenes, keeping secrets from her, and even lying to her because he knows better and is trying to “keep her safe.” It’s just an example of sexist tropes like him manipulating and infantilizing her. Which I am also sick of seeing.

That all being said the conclusion is the crown jewel of the story. It’s immensely satisfying. We got to see her transfiguring an army of demons easily. A powerful ability in her tool kit that I feel isn’t utilized as much as it used to be. The bunnies as allies was also fun, and having magical bunnies as allies and a part of her show is a fun and whimsical addition to her lore that I’ve wanted to see.

It was dare I say almost worth the typical and repetitive hero’s journey. While the decision to make Zatara the villain of this story was interesting, albeit not one I would have made. His defeat was wonderful and spectacular. It was emotional, impactful and bad ass. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Finally, it must be said and cannot be understated how beautiful the art was. It was colorful, whimsical, and just perfect for her story. It wove with the narrative seamlessly. I loved the artwork in this book. Truly blew me away.

So even though I have my criticisms and nitpicks, it was still a really fun and beautiful read, with a perfect ending. I wish the series was an ongoing, or led to a solo title for her because reading this showed how fun her story could be. All in all to me it was a 4/5.

Thank you for reading

Eht dne!

[hibiscera]

Okay. You know what. Major points to Jewel of Gravesend for implying drag king Zatanna, the utterly specific scenario I love to think about a lot.

Sadly we didn’t get to SEE this happen, but I forgive it because the book went in an unexpected direction and clearly setting up for a sequel.

I will hold them to it for if there is though.

[kbkirtley]

Part 2 of my superhero favorites list: Top 5 Female Heroes

1. Artemis/Tigress (Artemis Crock) - Not a ton of appearances beyond Young Justice but she was maybe my second favorite character in a series that I loved. She’s also the main inspiration for a future character of mine that has become one of my favorites that I’ve written.

2. Batgirl/Oracle (Barbara Gordon) - Babs has long been a favorite in part because of her connection to Dick Grayson, but she’s more than worthy of a spot on this list on her own merits. Her roles in Young Justice, Harley Quinn, and the excellent recent Batgirls run were all phenomenal.

3. Zatanna (Zatanna Zatara) - Like most of the other characters on these first two lists, I love Zatanna in Young Justice. I Also loved her in the wonderful Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend Graphic novel by Alys Arden and Jacqueline deLeon (DC green light a sequel already).

4. Batgirl/Orphan (Cassandra Cain) - While Cass did appear in Young Justice, she had a pretty small role. But I fell in love with this character through the Batgirls run and the phenomenal Webtoon Wayne Family Adventures. (My deepest apologies to honorable mention Steph Brown, the one Batgirl not included here.)

5. Supergirl (Kara Danvers) - A little edgier than her Boy Scout of a cousin, Kara is a great superhero and great ambassador for the House of El’s symbol of hope.

[ninelivesart]

Part 4 of Drawing My Reads 2024 was Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden and Jaqueline De Leon

[2021ya]

ZATANNA: THE JEWEL OF GRAVESEND

​by Alys Arden & Jacquelin de Leon (Illustrator)

(DC Comics, 4/13/21)

9781401296384

Add to Goodreads

Purchase from Bookshop

There's more to the mobsters, mystics, and mermaids at the last stop on the D/F/Q trains: Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. Zatanna's not your typical New Yorker. She walks her giant rabbit on a leather leash down the boardwalk, lives in a colossal architectural wonder known as the Golden Elephant, had her first kiss in the Haunted Hell Gate ride--and wouldn't have it any other way. But the time for having fun in Luna Park comes to an end when a mystic's quest for a powerful jewel unravels everything Zatanna thought she knew about herself and her beloved neighborhood. Mysteries and magic surround her as she reveals the truth about her family's legacy, and confronts the illusion that has been cast over her entire life. From the bewitching mind behind The Casquette Girls, Alys Arden, and with enchanting artwork by Jacquelin de Leon, comes the story of a girl stuck in the middle of a magical rivalry and forced to choose between love, family, and magic without hurting anyone...or worse.

[dccomicsnews]

Book Review: Zatanna: The Jewel Of Gravesend

Book Review: Zatanna: The Jewel Of Gravesend

[dreacwrites]

Book Review: Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend

Book Review: Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend

Format: Graphic NovelRating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ARC – Net Galley and DC Entertainment provided this Advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Alys Arden and Jacquelin de Leon take us on a magical and mystical journey through Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. Zatanna is engulfed in the world of magic and illusion in this tale of mystery, mirror script, and magic. We see Zatanna as we have never seen…

[dailydccomics]

casual Zee Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend (2022) art by Jacquelin De Leon

[smashpages]

Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend concept art by Jacquelin De Leon

[kitzatara]

Hello! Sorry to bother but I can’t find any zatanna reading lists/recommendations, especially for early stuff, and I’d really like to get into her comics. Could you suggest some if that’s okay? :D

Zatanna’s search

When she Joins the JLA #161 to when she leaves #255 (she is in most of these issues but some she isn’t) DC Super Stars of Magic Zatanna

Hawkman #4 (1986)

DC Special Zatanna

Spectre #7-8

Secret Origins #27

Adventures Of Superman #522

Fate #10 Zatanna Come Together Day of Judgment

JLA Black Baptism

Obsidian Age

7 Soldiers of Victory

Reign In Hell

Gotham City Sirens (volume 2)

Her 2010 Solo

Black Canary & Zatanna Bloodspell Infinite Crisis Fight For the Multiverse (not canon) JLD both runs

Truth and Justice #7

Wonder Woman Agent of Peace #15 Knight Terrors

Zatanna Bring Down The House

My favorite Elseworlds with her are:

Bombshells, Zatanna and the House of Secrets, Zatanna and the Ripper, Smallville Harbinger, DCeased Dead Planet, and Zatanna and the Jewel of Gravesend

There is my Zatanna reading list, it is a mostly chronological telling of her story, with some stories being fun bonuses. There’s lots of other issues shes in but these will advance her canon, showcase her power, or have her present.

The elseworlds can be read whenever, and while infinite crisis for the multiverse isn’t strictly canon, you can pretend that it is. Like it would fit if we really wanted it to, and I really want it to lol.

Yojne!

[takaraphoenix]

Family Trees of the Multiverse: Constantine-Zatara Family

I was honestly not aware that John had that many children; Noah and the demon spawns were new to me. Still, I combined Zee and John’s tree because Zee’s alone would be a little too tiny and they do share two children.

As usual, color-coded for easier visibility on who shares a continuity.

Vertigo universe exclusive: brown

Prime Earth: black

New Earth exclusive: red

Earth-22 [Kingdom Come]: dark pink

Earth-24 [Bombshells]: light blue

Unnamed Earth [Jewel of Gravesend]: purple

Unnamed Earth [Distorted Illusions]: lavender

Also, I chose to feature JoG!Zatanna separately because between the adopted name and the purple-haired redesign, it seemed worth separating, though they are versions of the same character.

[kbkirtley]

I’ve read more this year than any other year in my life. One reason for that is I finally started to enjoy Graphic Novels. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Here are some of my favorites of the year that didn’t quite make my cut-off for best of the year but that I still wanted to highlight as honorable mentions.

House of El by Claudia Gray was a fun trilogy looking at the last days of Krypton through the eyes of two young Kryptonians. An excellent example of the storytelling opportunities that superhero worlds provide, even when the superheroes aren’t present.

Batgirls by Becky Cloonan dives into the three main characters to wear the Batgirl cowl (Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown) all doing so at once. The mentor relationship Barbara has with Cassie and Steph and the bond the three share as roommates (plus the Nightwing visits) make this a series I’m looking forward to more installments from.

Aquaman: The Becoming by Brandon Thomas was another favorite. Jackson taking on the mantle while still figuring out how he fits into the world both above and below the surface makes for a great coming of age superhero story.

Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden was just as good as Aquaman as a coming of age superhero story and the best stand-alone graphic novel I read. The story, the characters, and the setting were all masterfully done and I desperately need a follow-up to see what Z does next in this world Arden’s created. The art in this by Jacquelin de León was gorgeous. Normally I don’t care as much about the art as I do the story or characters (which is why I’ve always struggled to fall into Graphic Novels), but this one was an exception to that apathy.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman was the first non-superhero (and first non-DC) graphic novel I’ve read. I had to find out if the hype was real, and it exceeded my expectations. Looking forward to seeing what comes next in 2024 with the fifth installment.

I’ll be back throughout the week with more of my favorite Graphic Novels I read this year!