Welcome to Ink Spots, a quirky little corner of DC.com devoted entirely to all of our favorite Young Adult comics and fiction. In this new Book Breakdown, Sami DeMonster gives top marks to Alisa Kwitney and Mike Norton’s magical Mystik U.
 

Nobody makes pulling a rabbit out of a hat cooler than the Mistress of Magic—or should I say Magik—Zatanna Zatara. Whether you are already a fan of the classic character or have never heard of Zatanna, DC’s newest Young Adult graphic novel, Mystik U: Freshmen Year Enchantments, has a lot to offer. Who doesn’t love a coming-of-age story about teenagers with magical abilities?

Writer Alisa Kwitney, artist Mike Norton and colorist Jordie Bellaire transport us to the world of magic academia as we follow a young Zatanna discovering her powers, making friends and facing one of the biggest supernatural threats to date. Ya know, normal freshmen year of college things.
 

Cover Crackdown:

When I think of universities, I immediately think of picturesque old buildings, perfectly kept grass lawns and varsity jackets branded with the obnoxiously large initials of whatever school you’re at. The cover of Mystik U: Freshmen Year Enchantments utilizes that iconic “varsity” font to highlight the “U” in Mystik University. Mystik U really is just like any other college campus…just with magic and gelatinous jello-monsters! 

The cover art showcases our ragtag group of main characters with the lead Zatanna standing tallest in the center. This visually creates depth and movement with their various heights and positions while showing us that this is primarily the Mistress of Magic’s story. Cover artist Julian Totino Tedesco uses bright colors with cool undertones and an emphasis on the clear blue sky to transport us to a sunny university campus. I can almost imagine myself laying on the lawn reading a book on divination as Zatanna and her friends stroll by on their way to class.
 

Tell Me A Story:

This story opens up with an intense scene set many years in the future with Columbia University in ruins. Readers are immediately asking themselves what happened to cause all this destruction? In the midst of all this chaos, we learn that Zatanna is willing to do whatever she can to stop this evil entity from causing more damage—including going back to school.

The clock resets and the world is catapulted seven years into the past with everyone's memories wiped clean except for one person. Now, Dr. Rose Psychic aka Dr. Occult (two people, one body, you’ll see) alone carries the memories of the future. She has to figure out how to stop the mysterious big bad threat that caused all of this destruction, the Malevolence, before it’s too late. All the while, Zatanna must rediscover her powers as she’s thrown into the dangerous and whimsical world of magic at Mystik University.
 

Let’s Talk Art:

Artist Mike Norton does a great job of bringing this mystical campus to life with bold line art, incredible set designs, excellent prop work and top-notch costumes. When you think about it, a comic book artist has to create a whole world that feels lived in with all the small details. I like that these young characters live within this dark campus, creating juxtaposition with their modern posters hung on stone walls and everyday t-shirts and jeans. They really are just normal teenagers! Together, colorist Jordie Bellaire and Norton create a clean visualization of magic in this world. All the various magics are drawn with different shapes and details, with colors representing the many types of spells and abilities.
 

Dialog Discussion:

While these college kids might have powerful abilities, they are no strangers to the complicated interpersonal relationships that come with being young. We see this, for example, when Zatanna gets recruited by the Thriae society. This creates a strain between Zee and her closest friend and roommate Pia Morales. As Zatanna gets closer to her new friends and stops prioritizing her old friends, we see the tension build up between her and Pia. Ultimately, Pia’s caution against this society might be with good reason. She tells Zatanna that, “People who are too nice too fast are always trying to sell you something. And if you take a closer look, that something's always got a whiff of something rotten.” Zatanna, however, does not take this well. I appreciate that the dialog shows the complicated dynamics of friendships, especially at a young age.
 

One Perfect Page:

For me, the perfect page from Mystik U: Freshmen Year Enchantments is this stunning scene from halfway through the story. Zatanna is given a drink that will help her tune into her magical abilities. We see this moment at the forefront of this page—it’s the only action in a circular panel. Literally spilling out from this singular decision, we also see what happens next—Zatanna excelling in her classes and the physical toll that this potion has on her body as she falls asleep floating in the air. This is the kind of slice-of-life moment that I want to see at a mystical university. Visually, this is a great example of breaking the mold to further your story in a unique and effective way.
 

Perfect Food Pairing:

When I think of your average college kid’s diet, I think of Cup Noodles. Instant ramen in the States represents living in a single-room dorm with no kitchen, as you have to save every dollar. Instant ramen will always be there when you come home late from that party or the library and just want a quick and tasty dinner before bed—savory noodles that are shelf stable enough to survive the zombie—or rather the Malevolence—apocalypse. Magical abilities or not, a cup of ramen is always a yummy and dependable meal.
 

The Final Word:

While we may get to see the adventure and thrills of watching our main characters fight a big bad entity, this is a whimsical story about a group of friends all coming into themselves as new adults. As somebody who was a late bloomer in school and in life, I feel validated in seeing Zatanna be the last one in her friend group to grasp her powers. Everyone grows and learns at their own speed, and that doesn’t determine how amazing and powerful they will become. And Zatanna shows us just that!
 

Mystik U: Freshmen Year Enchantments by Alisa Kwitney and Mike Norton is now available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and as a digital graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Sami DeMonster, just like her eccentric name might suggest, is an enthusiast of supernatural and horror stories. Her favorite DC character is a tie between Poison Ivy and Supergirl. Why choose just one, ya know? She loves losing herself in stories by James Tynion IV, Christian Ward, Stephanie Phillips and Mirka Andolfo. You can stay up to date with her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.