Mage Wars Academy - zone spells : do they attack mages?
Yes, zone spells effect everything in the zone, including Mages, both yours and your opponent's.  

In Academy, there is only one zone, so the spell effects everything in play, unless the spell states that it does not.

Two possible strategic uses could be if you were way behind in creatures, so if will effect more opposing creatures than your own, or as a way to help finish off your opponent's mage.