Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Cliff Chiang; Rob Leigh; & Trish Mulvihill
Cover Art by Jesus Saiz
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Ladies’ Night,” it was published by DC Comics for June 2010 as a prequel to Batman: The Killing Joke. Zatanna Zatara ominously wakes up late one night, sensing her dream-in-progress was really a premonition. Recruiting Wonder Woman/Diana, a somber Zatanna coordinates a special girls’ night out. In Gotham City, the duo double-teams Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) into joining their excursion. Decked out for exploring Gotham’s nightclub scene, the ladies enjoy much-needed downtime.
Over breakfast, after a gauntlet of all-night clubbing, Diana tells her friends of the Greek oracles, gently alluding to Zatanna’s guilt over sensing Barbara’s imminent fate. As Zatanna & Diana’s private exchange is poignantly revealed in its full context, Barbara spends a quiet evening at home with her dad in the moments leading up to The Killing Joke. In the present-day, Oracle/Barbara wistfully confides her favorite recurring dream.
REVIEW:
It’s kudos for writer J. Michael Straczynski, as he does a beautiful job delving into the psyches of both Zatanna and Batgirl. Limiting Wonder Woman’s contribution as the supportive friend is a smart creative choice, as giving her Zatanna’s heartfelt, oracle-like role would have been far too predictable. With artist Cliff Chiang in vintage form, this story’s low-key visuals are elegant and appropriately subdued. The top-caliber cover image is another considerable asset. Quite impressively, The Brave and the Bold # 33 delivers a complete storytelling package.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC Nation” column by Dan DiDio promotes the DC Comics Super Heroes and Villains Fandex, as well as discussing DiDio’s own fond memories of growing up with super-heroes.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
