Zatara, The Magician - Creative Arts

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World - Judika Illes 2005

Zatara, The Magician
Creative Arts

DC Comics, first appeared in 1938.

Zatara made his debut in DC’s Action Comics #1, the very same issue that launched the man of steel, Superman. He existed as a comic hero until 1950 when he was retired. (Considering whether to revive him inspired DC Comics to create his daughter Zatanna instead. See previous entry.) Giovanni Zatara, of Italian origin, only appears to be a simple stage magician. True, it was all he originally expected to be. He practiced the craft of illusions until he was a master. At some point, however, he discovered that he possessed genuine magic powers, which he now uses to protect the world from wrongdoers. (He attributes his powers to the possibility of unknown magical ancestors including Leonardo da Vinci.)

Zatara has a special magical trick: speaking backwards. By doing this he can cause anyone or anything to bend to his will: true commanding and compelling powers that would make any medieval sorcerer proud. Zatara eventually reappeared in the series devoted to his daughter Zatanna but was finally killed off (or so it presently seems) in 1986.

Among the many other comic-book enchantresses, sorcerers, and witches are


Image Doctor Fate


Image Doctor Occult


Image Encantadora


Image Enchantress


Image Felix Faust


Image Jennifer Morgan


Image Magic Master Tor


Image Morgaine Le Fey


Image Salamanca


Image Sargon the Sorcerer