POBB May 19, 2026

Pick of the Brown Bag

May 19, 2025

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag, I'm Ray Tate, and I review comic books.  This week I look at Zatanna, the character and her new series, which by now should be available in trade paperback: Zatanna: It's Showtime! ISBN: 9781799505501.

This whole thing started with Mandrake.  With the exception of the Shadow, Mandrake the Magician was the first character to use apparently occult powers to battle criminals.  Mandrake was not a sorcerer, as in the more familiar Stephen Strange and Scarlet Witch.  Neither was the Shadow for that matter.  Mandrake instead used mesmerism and trademark hypnotic illusion to fight crime in the comic strips.  In other words: an exaggerated form of stage magic.

Zatanna is the daughter of Mandrake knock-off Jonathan Zatara.  Believe it or not.  Zatara debuted the same time Superman premiered in Action Comics.

Yes.  You may have seen the dapper fellow in Zatanna's flashbacks, but he really was an individual character who had his own adventures.  Some.  Quite queer.

Love is Love in Action Comics 12 1939.

Take that Nazis.

He furthermore was a genuine wizard.  Zatara used backward spoken spells in addition to other bizarre methods to serve justice.  

Later in his adventures, Zatara fell for and married Sindella...

...a witch from the species Homo magi.  So, two powerful forms of magic course through Zatanna's blood line. 

It's really surprising that such an omnipotent being is so down to earth.  Zatanna by trade is an accomplished stage magician, She furthermore doesn't cheat with sorcery.  That's for her superhero gig.

While putting on such a show in an allegedly haunted theater, Zatanna is lured into battle against Lady White, a vampire's ghost.  Perhaps, "production manager" Jamal Campbell intended that origin as a double-whammy of supernatural to reflect Zatanna's double-dose of magic.

Lady White snatches Zee's crew to a magical realm, and Zee needs to thwart the many obstacles in the domain to find them.  However, the abduction is actually a distraction to what's really going on.  An intricate revenge scheme against the Zatara Family.

Though Zatanna is one of the most powerful characters in the DCU, she can be beaten temporarily with chloroform and/or a sap to the head.  Temporarily.  The apparition seeks a more permanent solution.  Lady White employs a magical artifact whose power dates back beyond the time of the Vikings.  No, it is not the Spear of Destiny.  Campbell's tale never really veers to the predictable.

What I like the most about this story is that it's as grounded as the star.  So many stories based in magic are filled with mystical gobbledygook.  Revenge serves as the core of Campbell's work.  The exact method of vengeance, though apparently deific in nature, is very easy to comprehend.

Zatanna is among other things a people person.  Thanks to Paul Dini, she's one of Batman's oldest friends.  When she debuted in the sixties, she sought out the Justice League to help her rescue her father.  She joined the League sometime later.  

In Campbell's story, Justice League Dark gets involved.  I've been somewhat ambivalent toward the newer lineup of Justice League Dark, but I must admit.  The team is growing on me.

The goofy Blue Devil also shows up in issue two, and here's another character I'm warming to thanks to Campbell's skillful characterization.  

I remember seeing advertisements for Blue Devil way, way back, and thinking: what's the big deal?  After reading, my opinion went: I'm not sure that he warrants this kind of hype.

In this new series, Blue Devil makes for an excellent partner for Zee.  She needs magical brawn as well as wits.  Sure.  She could have called the Justice League, or borrowed Supergirl, Power Girl, Black Canary, anybody to accompany her on the mission.  Blue Devil fits with the milieu.  

Because the Lady in White is a the spirit of a 1930s film star, her magical conjurings leans to the period.  Though Campbell isn't averse to including a few anachronisms.  

Mind you.  Batman did premiere some eighty-seven years ago.  As did psychopath Basil Karlo.  Give or take a year.

Basil Karlo in context of the Rebirthed DCU is a different sort of animal than the one who got himself unceremoniously slain by his copycat in the pre-Crisis.  The Lady in White knows just how to manipulate Karlo into killing Zatanna.

So what's Lady White's beef with the Zatara family?  Turns out it's based on falsehood, as is the entirety of the evil.  

This latest Zatanna series is pretty entertaining.  The magic cloth is pulled with the help of the entirety of Justice League Dark, and there's reveal after reveal.  

All of these twists as well as, an uncharacteristically unheroic ending, makes sense if you've been paying attention.  So, bravo to Jamal Campbell, who provides the words and the sweet, sweet artwork in a superb magical performance.

POBB March 24, 2026

Pick of the Brown Bag

March 24, 2026

by 

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag, a column of comic book reviews created, construed, constructed by yours truly Ray Tate.

So the only thing wrong with Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Justice League is....

...nothing.  I have only sunshine and rainbows to toss at this surprisingly upbeat heist mini-series by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, Annette Kwok and let's give Troy Peteri the letterer some love.

The Justice League possess a Super Power Bank.  A device that will return superpowers to every hero that lost them.  Such a thing even in the context of a science fiction/science fantasy multiverse is complete rubbish.   I normally would have much complaint to lodge as I dissect its impossibility.  

However, it's a macguffin.  

It's a plot device that catalyzes the story.  So, it's actual mechanism for working or not is irrelevant.  All that matters is that it's valuable and Cheetah and Cheshire want it.  Not for world conquest.  Nope.  They want to make millions off of it.  That's a rationale I can respect.

They're furthermore willing to put together a crew to steal the Power Bank from the Justice League.  Hence the title.

Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva is the Cheetah.  She is not the first.  The Cheetah name and animosity toward Wonder Woman goes all the way back to the 1940s with Priscilla Rich.

Barbara Minerva holds the title since John Byrne, George Perez and Len Wein reintroduced Wonder Woman for the post-Crisis era. 

The Powers that Be rebooted Wonder Woman several times.  Her foes, the same.  Unlike the previous Cheetahs, Barbara Ann can no longer be considered simply as Wonder Woman's enemy.

From Tom King's masterful Wonder Woman #10

Cheetah though villainous is more of a victim because of the curse that metamorphosed her.  Rucka and Scott remind readers of that curse.  The need to eat human flesh.

Now, cannibalism is a dark theme.  However, don't get turned off by the Cheetah's struggle to fight for her humanity.  

It's part of the story.  It's buried beneath the surface.  It doesn't cross a line.  This isn't some 1960s Italian cannibal splatter film. 

Jade Nguyen is Cheshire.  Marv Wolfman and George Perez created Cheshire in late pre-Crisis days for The New Teen Titans.

Cheshire wasn't as popular as the team's previous assassin conception Deathstroke.  However, Perez's art leaves an indelible impression.  

So even if you forgot about Cheshire's history or only vaguely remember her as Lian Harper's mother, you'll never forget what she looks like.

Cheetah and Cheshire are natural partners-in-crime.  Although, I don't know where these two met.

Cheshire's encounter with Wonder Woman was singular and in a previous universe.  It's not like the two villains ever teamed up to take down Wonder Woman.

So that doesn't explain how Cheshire and Cheetah are close enough to give each other nicknames.  

This is the only conceit in the book.  You need to accept that Cheetah and Cheshire are old friends.  Thanks to Rucka and Scott's skill, it's very easy to swallow.

Third member of the team...

Lian Harper is Cheshire's and Speedy's daughter.  Roy Harper alias Speedy was the original sidekick of the Green Arrow.

Wolfman and Perez deserve credit for literally cleaning up Speedy.  They turned him into a credible DEA Agent.  They gave him the complicated history with Cheshire.  A daughter whom both hero dad and villain mom love unconditionally. 

Next crew-member, Klarion the Witch Boy and his feline friend Teekl.  

From the Demon #7

Created by Jack Kirby, Klarion is a classic occult mischief maker, and that's what the team promises the immortal kid.

You'll note that Klarion nowadays sports a blue complexion.  This change in design occurred during Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers of Victory.  No idea why Morrison or the artist made him blue, but after several universal reboots, it stuck. 

Klarion is without a doubt one of the least trustworthy denizens of the DCU.  Boy.  You just keep expecting the other shoe to drop.  He doesn't seem to disappoint.  

Yeah.  There's way more to this meeting than meets the eye.  Let me also say.  It's just swell to see Black Adam being a bad guy again.  Because that's what he is.  

Originally, Black Adam was created to be a one-off menace for the original Captain Marvel to fight.  

Squint and you can see how important 

Black Adam was to the Marvel Family

Creators however vaguely remembered that one Fawcett story and, against reason, kept bringing Black Adam back.  Popularizing the character until....

...Well shoot....

That's inexplicable. 

Cheetah and Cheshire also acquire Rebecca Sharpe, the Gambler's granddaughter.  She actually has a considerable longevity in comic books.  First appearing in the 1980s Infinity Inc.

The Gambler is one of those 1940s characters that's just too hilarious to go away, especially with his Foghorn Leghorn banter.  Granted every normal, human 1940s character should be dead by now, or not nearly so rambunctious.  Suffice to say.  DC has a flexible reality when it comes to time and space. 

Next, we have the brawn, amusingly named Featherweight.  She's the newest villain on the block.  Klarion, who crushes on her refers to her as she.  I'll go with that.   She's apparently the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul's other daughter Nyssa; created coincidentally by Rucka and artist Klaus Jansen.

Nyssa is better known in the television Arrowverse as Sarah Lance's Beloved portrayed by Katrina Law.  Or maybe not.  Doesn't matter.  

You see.  Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League is just as self-explanatory as the somewhat Japanese-translation-styled title.  

Rucka and Scott take moments to painlessly explain who these people are--without the lion's share of my history lesson, why they're motivated to rob the Justice League, and what's in it for them to be part of the team.  

Whatever their reasons, their loyalty to the heist unites them.  As with the best heist stories, and Rob the Justice League should at the very least hold an honorary position in the roll call of best heist stories, the heist is spectacular.  It's so brilliant.  So well-thought out.  It left me grinning throughout the read.

This is no ordinary heist.  The typical fictional heist only need worry about terrestrial elements.  This heist takes into consideration the whole shared universe of DC Comics---magic and super-science--to outrageously accomplish what the title states.  It even respects the abilities that comprise the Justice League.

I'm sure Batman took notes on Cheetah's and Cheshire's infiltration of the JLA Watchtower.  It will not be tried again.  If foolishly attempted, it certainly won't be successful.

Appendix

Justice League guest-stars found in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League:  Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Renee Montoya The Question, Carol Ferris The Star Sapphire, The Red Tornado, The Challengers of the Unknown

Justice League cameos found in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League: Jaime Reyes the Blue Beetle, Zatanna, Misfit, Vixen, Flex Mentallo, Avery Ho the Flash, Fire, Firestorm, Mr. Terrific, Captain Atom, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Dr. Fate, Metamorpho, Detective Chimp, Raven, Cyborg, Damien Wayne Robin, Power Girl, Ted Kord the Blue Beetle, Yara Flor Wonder Girl, Spoiler, Starfire, Nightwing, Monkey Prince, Ray Palmer the Atom, Courtney Whitney the Star-Spangled Kid, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Miss Martian, The Martian Manhunter, Swamp Thing, Donna Troy Wonder Girl, Mary Marvel, Supergirl, Oliver Queen the Green Arrow, Barry Allen The Flash

Please note that this discounts the imagery in Cheetah's dissertation on the Justice League and the Watchtower.  

Nicola Scott, by the by, also seems to relish the opportunity to illustrate as many DC Comics heroes as she can.

Sorry.  My scanner isn't big enough to demonstrate Nicola Scott's Double Page spread of the Justice League attacking Black Adam and his cronies.

This had to be a lot of work.  No doubt a pleasurable amount.

Cheetah and Cheshire is now available in trade paperback: ISBN 9781799509486.  Alternately, you can buy the six back issues at your local comic book shop.

POBB February 25, 2026

Pick of the Brown Bag

February 25, 2026

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  My name is Ray Tate, and I review comic books.  Pick of the Brown Bag started on the usenet way back in the nineties.  Comics Bulletin, then Silver Bullet Comics, head-hunted me into their fold.  Now I'm back, baby, with the Pick of the Brown Bag, under the auspices of my own blog.

In Vampirella issue eleven, writer Christopher Priest and artist Ergun Gunduz begin a new story that's easy to follow and an excellent jump-on point.  They keep things simple by skillfully introducing newish characters through Ella's witty first person narration and reinforcing the canon of the star.

Thanks, Ella.  I had no idea who she was.

I admit.  It's a little dicey describing a magazine/comic book series that's been around for so long with the word canon. 

Vampirella Magazine was 50 Cents!

Many writers and artists left their brand on Vampirella. The lion's share, including Priest, still adhered to the basic idea from issue one.

Despite her name, Vampirella isn't a vampire.  She's an alien.  She comes from the planet Drakulon where blood flowed in the same way water does on earth.  Notice that the original creators, aware of their black and white medium, puckishly played with the theme.

Co-creator Forrest J. Ackerman's concept isn't as far-fetched as you may think.  Human blood is mostly water with some iron thrown in for color and oxygen transportation.

As you can see by the depiction, Drakulon suffered from a planet-wide drought.  When the Arthur Clarke crashes on Drakulon, the still surviving government sends Vampirella to investigate.  

Unfortunately for the space explorers, they choose not to come in peace.  As a result, Vampirella discovers the truth about humans, by snacking.

The highly intelligent Vampirella repairs the ship and pilots it back to earth.  She escapes Drakulon's now inhospitable environment and forges a new life on our planet.   

In one fell swoop, Priest and Gunduz dramatically distinguish Vampirella from the vampires of 19th Century legend. 

I spoil this scene only to demonstrate Priest's respect for the past and to exemplify Gunduz's striking visuals.  Loving the red western look for Ella.

How in the world did Vampirella end up in the old west? Priest has got you covered.  

Incidentally, this is not the old west.  Rather, it's the turn of the century west; the brief period of time where horses and cars roamed the dusty trails.

The story opens with Earnest Darling, a fast-talking robber baron, welcoming vampire U.S. Marshalls to Utah.

The vampire Marshalls are here to enforce violence on Mormons.  Or so, Darling thinks.

The vampires are actually here to extend their own selfish existence.  

All of which flies in the face of Vampirella's belief system.  Vampirella is very much a live and let live kind of gal.  Oh, but she takes vampirism very seriously.  It's the antithesis hedonism.

Believe it or not.  Vampirella killed monsters for over five decades.  

She made a pledge long ago in Vampirella Magazine and continues to stick by it.

Of course, she collected more reasons to kill the monsters, including human ones.  Nevertheless, I still find it smashing that everything that shaped her character before still applies.

You may be asking yourself why Darling seeks to exterminate the Mormons.  The original mormons despite marrying multiple wives expressed a strange dichotomy against corruption.  I'm not sure how successful they were in the history books, but Darling certainly believes their protests against his operations--"gambling and whores"--issues palpable threat.

Some of Darling's operations include the exploitation and expungement of the Native population.  This doesn't sit well with Priest-created Vampirella hero Legere "Saint" Holland.

As it turns out Darling completely underestimated his undead partners.  A common failing among those tainted with hubris.  Dr. Sandra Mornay, the Nazi scientist in Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, thought she had the upper hand.  Alas, Dracula.  

In this case, four coffins with their vampire U.S. Marshall arrived, but four hundred coffins are on their way.

Arliss expresses her step on a butterfly objections.  They make sense, and it's clever for Priest to use her--the most science fiction based character--to remind Ella of the dangers of time travel.  The hero's made his decision.  Arliss hopes to talk Vampirella, the pulp senior, into siding with her.  Ella's just not built that way.

Vampirella is way better than I even hoped for.  Despite being out of the series for awhile, I found re-immersion painless.  The stakes easy to understand.  Vampirella's monster fighting nostalgic, and the story just turned into a heist.  Back on my subscription list.