Zatanna

Zatanna Zatara, commonly known mononymously as Zatanna, is a fictional magician appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, and first appeared in Hawkman #4 (November 1964).
Zatanna holds the distinction of being the daughter of the renowned magician Zatara and belonging to the homo magi race, a unique subset of humanity endowed with innate magical abilities. Widely recognized for her exceptional skills as a professional illusionist, she captivates audiences with her mesmerizing performances with both stage and actual magic. In addition to her stage persona, Zatanna assumes the mantle of a mystic superhero, wholeheartedly dedicating herself to the quest of thwarting malevolent forces. Zatanna's extensive understanding of magic and her proficiency in wielding its powers have established her as a highly sought-after consultant in matters pertaining to the arcane arts. Her expertise, coupled with her natural leadership qualities, has led to her assuming prominent roles within the DC Universe. Notably, she has taken up leadership positions in both the contemporary Justice League, a renowned superhero team, and its offshoot branch, the Justice League Dark, which specializes in confronting supernatural threats. This recognition as one of the foremost practitioners of magic solidifies Zatanna's standing as a prominent figure in the DC Universe.
Zatanna has appeared in several different media adaptations, including appearing in several television series in the DC Animated Universe, notably voiced by Julie Brown and Jennifer Hale. She has also appeared as a recurring character in the final three seasons of Smallville, portrayed by actress Serinda Swan. A younger version of the character also appears in Young Justice and Justice League Action, voiced by Lacey Chabert, and in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
Publication history
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman #4 (November 1964). When she is introduced, she is on a quest to find her father Zatara who made his first appearance in Action Comics #1 but had not been published regularly for several years. The storyline crossed multiple comics published by DC at the time, culminating in issues of Justice League of America, also written by Fox.
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
Zatanna is the daughter of magician Giovanni "John" Zatara who appeared in Golden Age comic books and Sindella, a member of the mystical species Homo magi. Her younger cousin, the teenager Zachary Zatara, is also a magician in the DCU. Zatanna makes her living as a stage illusionist prior to discovering her magical abilities while investigating the disappearance of her father. Her original costume is based upon her father's costume but substituting fishnet stockings and high heels for slacks. Zatanna's search for her father was the subject of a storyline which was featured in several titles edited by Julius Schwartz, and in it, Zatanna interacts with Hawkman and Hawkgirl; battles Batman and Robin while in disguise as a witch and under the control of the villain the Outsider; and teams with the Atom, Green Lantern, and the Elongated Man. The series culminated in Justice League of America #51 (February 1967). This Justice League adventure took place during the Batman television craze when Batman was at the height of his popularity. The premise that the witch in Detective Comics #336 was Zatanna was perceived as an attempt to get Batman participating in this issue of Justice League of America no matter how vague the connection to Zatanna's quest was.
She briefly was featured in backup features in Adventure Comics and Supergirl from 1971 to 1973. Zatanna assists the Justice League of America on a few missions before being elected to membership in Justice League of America #161 (Dec. 1978). Soon after Zatanna joined the group, the identity of her mother was revealed in a multi-issue storyline. Zatanna teamed with Superman in DC Comics Presents and with Batman in The Brave and the Bold. A ten-page short story in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #5 (Nov.–Dec. 1980) revealed new details about Zatara's origin and how Zatanna's quest to locate her father began. During her tenure with the Justice League, her power level diminishes, so that she can only control the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. She starred in a backup feature in World's Finest Comics #274–278 and the limitation of her powers is reversed in World's Finest Comics #277 (March 1982). She assists Wonder Woman and several other superheroines in fighting an extraterrestrial threat. Zatanna once elected as the Justice League chairperson via votes.
At the conclusion of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing "American Gothic" storyline (which was tied to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths), John Constantine comes to get Zatanna, Mento and Sargon the Sorcerer to come together to help demonic and divine forces in other hellish dimensions battle the entity known as the 'Great Evil Beast'. The séance is held at Wintersgate Manor, the home of Baron Winters in Georgetown, Washington D.C., which is also a temporal threshold to other planes of reality. Because Constantine had previously taken Zatanna to a "tantric studies meeting", Zatara will not let Zatanna out of his sight with Constantine present and, by his very presence, is forced to take part in the seance to which he was not invited. The Beast, which is so tall that its thumb alone looms over Hell, takes notice of their group twice. The first glimpse dooms Sargon, whom Zatara convinces to 'die like a sorcerer' and not break the holding of hands. Sargon burns to death nobly. The second glimpse starts to literally heat up Zatanna. Zatara willingly takes the effect onto himself, dying (his smoldering hat lands on the table), but sparing his daughter's life.
Post-Crisis
Zatanna starred in a special solo one-shot in 1987 that featured Zatanna exploring her mother Sindella's background and battling the villainous sorceress Allura. In Neil Gaiman's The Books of Magic limited series, Zatanna becomes friends and even temporary guardian to Timothy Hunter, a boy destined to become the greatest wizard in the world, and his girlfriend Molly who at the time was cursed by the Queen of the Fairies and unable to touch anything in the human world, including the ground. After a brief stay, she sent Molly home and Tim wandered off on his own adventures. In 1993, Zatanna starred in her first solo limited series, titled Zatanna: Come Together, which saw her summoning her mother's spirit and battling the sorcerer Tannarak and a demon called Xaos.
When the Justice League vanish in the past as they attempt to rescue the missing Aquaman, an emergency protocol set up by Batman assembles a new League, with this team including Jason Blood as its magical expert. However, when the current threat is identified as Gamemnae, an ancient Atlantean sorceress who seeks to conquer the world, she uses a quagmire spell to absorb Zatanna and Tempest into herself. When new League leader Nightwing attempts to order Blood to transform into Etrigan to help them against Gamemnae, Blood insists that Zatanna is the one they need, sacrificing himself to Gamemnae's quagmire spell in order to free Zatanna. She subsequently joins Nightwing, Firestorm and Hawkgirl in travelling back to ancient Atlantis, where Aquaman has been trapped in a pool of water as a water wraith, Firestorm creating a channel between the pool and the sea before Zatanna casts a spell that allowed the water-based Aquaman to control the entire ocean as his body, allowing him to sink Atlantis in the past and present and disrupt Gamemnae's power.
Zatanna starred in another solo one-shot in 2003, Zatanna: Everyday Magic, in which she fought Nimue Ravensong, a magic-user jealous of Zatanna's ability to use magic naturally and without committing sacrifices. Nimue seduced and cursed John Constantine, leading Zatanna into conflict with the wannabe sorceress. In the 2004 limited series Identity Crisis, Zatanna is a member of the Justice League at the time the villain Doctor Light rapes the Elongated Man's wife, Sue Dibny. When apprehended, he threatens the JLA members' families. Although Zatanna is prepared to erase Light's memories of the incident as she had done to other villains with knowledge dangerous to the League, tampering with Light's mind sparks a debate among the team's members: should the villain's personality be transformed to prevent him from repeating his crime. Zatanna, Hawkman, and the Atom (Ray Palmer) vote for such action, while Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Green Lantern vote against. The Flash (Barry Allen) breaks the tie. Zatanna mind-wipes Light, and the process results in his intellectual abilities being lowered. In the midst of the process, Batman appears and tries to stop it. Zatanna freezes him, and the members vote unanimously to erase Batman's memories of the incident as well.
Her working relationship to Batman sours after he remembers the alteration to his memory. When Zatanna helps Batman with reconnaissance at one of Ra's al Ghul's Lazarus Pits, she asks him why he came to her and Batman says: "I needed someone I could trust. But I had to settle for you". After Infinite Crisis, their relationship appears to have warmed; in Detective Comics #824 he calls her for information on a card-counter involved in scamming the Penguin. He makes no mention of their conflict, and casually calls her by her nickname, "Zee".
Catwoman discovers that Zatanna's mind-wipe of Dr. Light in Identity Crisis is not an isolated occurrence; Catwoman's journey from villain to hero and her resulting efforts to lead a moral life are retconned as being the result of Zatanna's mental intervention. Catwoman comes to distrust her memories, motives, and the choices she has made since that incident. In retaliation, Catwoman shoves Zatanna out a window. Zatanna parry the next attack from Catwoman and freeze her, before apologize and leaving her.
A 2005 four-issue Zatanna limited series was published as part of Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers event. In it, at a support group for superheroes, she recounts a failed magical ritual to search for her father's tomes, during which one of her past spells summons a shapeshifter named Gwydion, who kills her companions. This trauma, combined with her guilt from her former mind-wipes, robs her of her powers. With the help of her new apprentice, Misty Kilgore, she captures Gwydion to use as her own. She eventually regains her confidence and powers, and uses them to defeat Zor, a rogue Time Tailor who released the Sheeda as a plague to infect and degrade the entire universe. As a reward, the other Time Tailors allow her one last meeting with her father, who reveals that his books were written for her, his "greatest spell and gift to the world". In the final battle against the Sheeda, Zatanna casts a spell to move time and space, retroactively positioning the Seven Soldiers to overthrow the Sheeda.
In Detective Comics #833 (August 2007), it is stated that Zatanna's father was a friend of Thomas Wayne. Zatara trained Bruce Wayne in the art of escape, and Bruce and Zatanna were childhood friends, although Batman believes that he has never met her in Justice League of America #51, and her only memory of meeting him is while she was disguised. Bruce helps Zatanna investigate the death of one of her former assistants; all clues point to a performer named Ivar Loxias. Loxias is revealed to be the Joker in disguise; he shoots Zatanna in the throat and incapacitates Batman. Zatanna is able to heal herself by writing a curing spell in her own blood, and she is instrumental in foiling the Joker's scheme, driving Joker insane in the process. Bruce puts Zatanna's betrayal behind him, allowing the two to renew their friendship.
On the "Roll Call" of Justice League of America #22 (August 2008), Zatanna is listed as a part of the team. Called upon to help with the Red Tornado's restoration in his android form, she aids the League when they are attacked by a new, powerful iteration of Amazo. During the battle, Zatanna has her mouth magically removed with her spells, and once again uses her blood to write out spells and restore it. After that Wonder Woman throws off Amazo's concentration and free Zatanna. Zatanna then defeats Amazo once and for all by using the Red Tornado's soul. Following this battle, Zatanna rejoins the team.
Zatanna later accompanies Firestorm, Black Lightning, and Batman to Metropolis after they come to believe Kimiyo Hoshi has been kidnapped by agents of the covert metahuman team known as the Shadow Cabinet. After a brief conflict, Zatanna and the others are informed by teenage superheroine Rocket that Kimiyo's perceived abduction was actually a misunderstanding caused by the Shadow Cabinet's mission to seek out her help in dealing with the cosmic vampire known as Starbreaker. With assistance from Hardware and Icon, Zatanna and her comrades are able to defeat Starbreaker in a battle in the Himalayas.
In Gotham City Sirens Zatanna is visited and restrained by Poison Ivy, who interacts via a tree and asks her if her encounter with Catwoman changed Selina in any way.
Zatanna takes a leave of absence from the JLA, only to reappear during a battle with Despero. Once he is defeated, Zatanna informs the League of the apocalyptic events of the Blackest Night taking place across the globe. After taking the team to the Hall of Justice to find Firestorm, she is forced to fight the undead form of her father, continually pitting the black magic he wields against her own; it is implied she was successful in banishing the Black Lantern, but was left psychologically crushed from having to kill her father again. In the aftermath of Blackest Night, Kimiyo mentions that Zatanna is one of the members who has left the team.
In May 2010 Zatanna received her own solo series, written by Paul Dini and drawn by Stéphane Roux. No longer an active member of the JLA, Zatanna is asked by officer Dale Colton to help solve a murder case at a restaurant frequented by mobsters. Zatanna informs Dale that the murderer was a powerful sorcerer known as Brother Night, who rules the supernatural crime scene in San Francisco. After Zatanna shows up at Night's demonic nightclub and threatens him, he responds by calling upon a powerful nightmare demon for help in battling her, but Zatanna defeats and imprisons the demon to aid her later. A crooked casino owner who had made a deal for eternal youth with the demon of avarice by selling the souls of his brides to the demon attempts to use a love potion to win Zatanna's soul. When her cousin Zachary Zatara breaks the spell, the casino owner begs Zatanna to turn him into a soulless lump of gold in order to escape torment in Hell. Aside from Brother Night, Zatanna faces other threats, such as Oscar Hample, a man who tried to murder her when she was a child and was turned into a puppet by her father. The Zatanna series ended with issue #16 (October 2011).
The New 52
In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. Zatanna is one of the main characters in Peter Milligan's Justice League Dark series. She sports a new costume, though she still wears her classic magician's outfit during shows. In the first issue, she learns that Superman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg have been defeated by the Enchantress and volunteers her services to the League.
The Black Canary and Zatanna graphic novel Bloodspell written by Paul Dini and drawn by Joe Quinones was to be released in 2012, but was delayed until May 2014. The story centered around a 16-year-old Black Canary's first meeting Zatanna.
DC Rebirth
Zatanna made her first Rebirth appearance in Detective Comics #958, assisting Bruce Wayne in taking out a robot chasing after a cult member. Later on, Zatanna shows Bruce magic. Later Bruce sees her again and asks her to teach him more about magic. Ultimately she declines and wipes his memory. After the conclusion of the main storyline of the DC Rebirth Batwoman series, Zatanna is implied to be an outpatient therapist of sorts for Beth Kane, Kate Kane's twin sister.
In 2018, a new Justice League Dark series began, with a redesigned Zatanna being part of the team. Zatanna travels to Northern Italy to bind a group of demons called Il Osservatori in a story called Zatanna: Sleight of Hand, published in the DC New Talent Showcase 2018 #1.
Characterization
Heritage & ancestry
Originally, the character was portrayed as half human and half homo magi, with her human lineage stemming from her father's side. However, later retellings of Giovanni's background established her as a full homo magi. This updated heritage has persisted in the New 52 onward. Additionally, the character's maternal ancestry was initially hinted to be connected to the demigod Arion, a revered figure in ancient Atlantean history and the Sorcerer Supreme of ancient Atlantis. This connection is later confirmed in the 52 series. Conversely, the character's paternal line makes her a descendant of Leonardo da Vinci and is related to Nostradamus, Alessandro Cagliostro, Nicholas Flamel, and Evan Fulcanelli, making her of French and Italian heritage.
Reputation
Within the DC Universe, Zatanna is often portrayed as a professional stage magician and holds the esteemed role of a prominent superhero and mystic consultant. She first embarked on her superheroic journey as a member of the Justice League, where she primarily contributed her expertise in the realm of mysticism. Over time, Zatanna's contributions and capabilities led to her ascension as the Chairwoman of the Justice League for a time, a position she attained through a democratic process within the storyline, with the character being elected by popular vote. In recent narratives, Zatanna's portrayal as a highly trusted, longstanding member of the superhero community as well as recognition of her leadership qualities and ability to inspire others from her peers led to her being appointed as a team member in the second iteration of the Justice League Dark, a group dedicated to handling mystical and supernatural threats.
Relationships
In comics taking place in the mainstream continuity, Zatanna has had various relationships with other DC Characters, including John Constantine (with whom she practiced tantra) and Doctor Thirteen. Zatanna also had a flirtatious relationship with her fellow Justice Leaguer Barry Allen / the Flash shortly after the death of his wife Iris. In The New 52: Futures End timeline, Zatanna is romantically involved with Jason Blood / Etrigan the Demon. In the Mystik U universe, Zatanna pursued a romantic relationship with Sebastian Faust, the son of infamous sorcerer Felix Faust.
She has a strong friendship with Batman due to their shared (retconned) pasts. In Detective Comics #843-844, Zatanna and Bruce briefly discuss the possibility of having a more meaningful relationship. Both later concede that Bruce is too devoted to his cause as Batman to give her the relationship she wishes for, but the pair reaffirm their bond as close friends. Catwoman once considered Zatanna a more dangerous contender for Bruce's attentions than Jezebel Jet, his fiancé at the time. A pep talk between the two women confirms how Zatanna really meant, during the fateful discussion with Bruce, to explore the possibility of a true romance, but turned out quietly resigned to the role of best friend and confidant. Claiming to act on Bruce's best interest, she pushes Selina into confessing her feelings to Bruce, thus stealing him from Jezebel Jet before it is too late.
In mainstream media, DC Animated Universe touches on Bruce and Zatanna's closeness depicted as her having had a crush on him while he trained under her father as "John Smith", though she later found out his real name. Decades later, an elderly Bruce is shown to still care for her as he keeps a picture of her along with pictures of his other love interests in a file in the Batcomputer. In the TV series Young Justice, Zatanna has a flirtatious and possibly romantic friendship with Dick Grayson / Robin during Season 1. Dick later says that they have a "history" in Season 2 (five years after Season 1), implying that they dated and eventually broke up but still remained close. In season 4, Artemis mentions that both Zatanna and Raquel dated Dick prior.
Powers, abilities, and resources
Zatanna's heritage grants her inherent magical abilities and a profound command over mystical and cosmic forces believed to originate from the ancient depths of the universe. Renowned as a seasoned sorceress, she stands among the most formidable practitioners of magic in the DC Universe, rivaling esteemed sorcerers and sorceresses such as different iterations of Doctor Fate, Madame Xanadu, and John Constantine. Zatanna holds the distinction of being referred to as DC Comics's "Sorceress Supreme".
Typically, Zatanna employs a unique method of spellcasting known as "Logomancy," which involves speaking backwards to invoke mystic effects as a means of concentration and tribute to the Zatara family's method of casting magic. This technique enables her to perform a wide range of magical effects, including teleportation, healing, manipulation of others' minds, and many more. The character is also proficient in other conventionally cast forms of magic, including forms of black magic, tarot reading for insight or divination, and once conferred to using mystical objects derived from her parent's collections of mystic artifacts to cast magic. Aside from magic, Zatanna is a talented illusionist, showgirl, and stage magician. She has honed her skills in sleight of hand and invented variations of card tricks. Zatanna received combat training from her father and is skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She is adept at escape artistry, capable of freeing herself from straitjackets underwater or between magic show acts.
Mystical artifacts
In her role as a sorceress, Zatanna has access to a diverse array of arcane objects, many of which were amassed by her father and family throughout various generations. These magical artifacts provide her with a notable advantage, as they enable her to harness more conventional forms of magic with ease.
Talisman of Atlantis: During a redesign of the character in the 1990s, Zatanna carried this mystic artifact as part of her repertoire, which made its appearance in her solo series in 1993. This artifact, gifted to her by her mother and found among her father's collection, provided her with an alternative method of utilizing magic. Unlike her traditional backwards casting, this artifact allowed her to channel her magic through concentration, offering added ease and control. Additionally, the artifact was used alongside a magical staff, aiding in the focus of her powers.
Demonography: Zatanna possesses a demonology book that contains comprehensive information about various demons. Notably, this book possesses magical properties that allow it to automatically update itself with new information. This was observed when an entry on the demon Nebiros was revised to include its recent involvement with Blue Devil. The updates to the book are carried out by an unknown group of entities, introducing revised editions with updated content.
Gnosis Sphere: The Zatara family has safeguarded a powerful magical artifact for generations. This artifact possesses the remarkable ability to provide answers to any question posed to it upon direct contact. However, due to the immense potential dangers associated with its capabilities, this artifact is regarded as one of the most perilous items within the family's collection.
Sword of the Sleepless Queen: A magical sword stolen from an entity known as the Sleepless Queen, it holds some magical powers, including transforming others into a "nightmare" version of themselves. Zatanna would keep the magical sword after the events of Knight Terrors.
Resources
Shadowcrest Manor
Shadowcrest Manor serves as the ancestral residence and operational center for Zatanna, which she inherited from her father. The manor has the characteristic of relocating itself to different locations periodically, never remaining in one place for an extended period, and it possesses magical enchantments that render it invisible to ordinary observation. Access to the manor is restricted and can only be obtained through voice recognition or the utilization of specific magical keys directly associated with Shadowcrest Manor. These keys may be entrusted to trusted allies, including individuals like Batman, granting them entry to the premises. The manor is also known to possess a degree of sentience, allowing it to carry out the will of Zatanna. It has the ability to expel individuals from the premises, as demonstrated in a notable incident involving Black Mary, who was banished from the manor following a confrontation with Zatanna. Within Shadowcrest, magical constructs in the form of servants aid Zatanna with various tasks and the maintenance of the house. The manor encompasses distinctive rooms, such as a private library dedicated to supernatural research and the safekeeping of a collection of magical artifacts protected by a mummy named Hassan. Additionally, there is a bestiary room and a changing room that accommodates a vast assortment of outfits personally acquired by Zatanna.
Curious Abode of Zatanna Zatara
The Curious Abode of Zatanna Zatara is an apartment owned by Zatanna, serving as her publicly accessible residence in Gotham City. It functions as both her personal living space and the central location for her side business, known as "Zatanna's One-Stop Shop For Magical and Mystical Mayhem and Management." Through this establishment, Zatanna provides a variety of magical services, including interdimensional travel and the delivery of mail across different realms. The apartment serves as a means for ordinary individuals to request mystical services. Occasionally, Zatanna receives assistance from Khalid Nassour, the current incarnatoin of Doctor Fate, in managing incoming calls and providing services to customers.
Weaknesses and costs
Zatanna, as a practitioner of Logomancy, utilizes speech as the primary channel for her magical abilities. This reliance on verbal communication has made her vulnerable to being incapacitated by villains who restrain her through binding and gagging. It is observed that her magical powers tend to increase when unused, but excessive use can deplete them, leading to a strain on her physical well-being. Similar to other magic users, Zatanna can only replenish her waning powers through an extended period of rest. Additionally, there appears to be a connection between Zatanna's powers and her self-confidence. In the narrative Seven Soldiers, a series of significant mistakes left her emotionally and psychologically shattered, rendering her powerless. It was only through the process of restoring her lost confidence that she was able to regain her magical abilities
Other versions
Webtoon
In 2022, DC Comics partnered with Webtoon to publish a line of Webtoon-original comics. One of these series is Zatanna and the Ripper, which follows Zatanna as she is transported to the 1800s and must solve and stop the crimes of Jack the Ripper. The series ended in 2023, having published over 50 chapters.
DC Super Dictionary
The 1978 DC Super Dictionary invented a character, Conjura, who had the same magic ability as Zatanna, in addition to possessing a time-traveling amulet. While possessing similar powers, the character was visually distinct from Zatanna, depicting her as a dark-skinned woman in a purple jumpsuit, jackboots, and yellow turban with a long cape.
Earth-3
Annataz Arataz, Zatanna's evil Earth-3 counterpart, assists Superman-Prime to detain and torment Mr. Mxyzptlk in Countdown to Final Crisis #23. The imp refuses to provide Prime with information, and Annataz restores his powers. Reflecting upon her own prior cruel actions, she allows herself to be killed by the enraged villain. Her spells are recited "upside-down", rather than backwards.
Zatanna's evil Antimatter Earth counterpart, who unlike the Earth-3 counterpart is called Zatanna, is briefly mentioned in Trinity #35, as one of the few survivors of a purge on magic users.
Amalgam Comics
In the Amalgam Comics universe, Zatanna is merged with the Scarlet Witch of the Avengers to form a character known as Wanda Zatara, the White Witch.
Batman: Holy Terror
In Batman: Holy Terror, a world where Oliver Cromwell's Church never fell and the United States of America (which now encompasses North America and most of South America) is ruled by a totalitarian religious group known as the Privy Council, Zatanna is an agent of the council. She uses her 'sin' in the service of the state to capture other superhumans, but she is defeated by Batman. While focusing on defeating Barry Allen, Batman throws a gas pellet down her throat.
JLA: Another Nail
She appears in JLA: Another Nail, which shows her teaming with Hawkwoman in Midway City.
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Zatanna is a member of the Secret Seven and is a member of a motorcycle gang. Her father, Giovanni "John" Zatara, is transformed into a motorcycle when Zatanna is riding on him. Zatanna is killed while trying to cast a death spell on Enchantress.
DC Bombshells
In the DC Bombshells continuity, Zatanna was the daughter of a Jewish father and a Romani mother during World War II, but was prevented from being sent to the concentration camps thanks to the Joker's Daughter, who in return, forced her to perform magic to aid the Third Reich. Her lover, John Constantine, confronted her during one of her shows in an attempt to rescue her, but knowing they were surrounded, Zatanna transformed John into a rabbit and kept him under her care to prevent his death. He eventually convinces her to use her magic to aid the Allies, which she does by transforming her soul into a large, spiritual dove that aids Batwoman in freeing a refugee camp. Their attempts are discovered by the Nazis, and the two are depowered of their magic (with John being turned back into a human) and sent into the ghettos. Zatanna slowly gains her powers back over time, and finds a kindred spirit in another magic user imprisoned by the Joker's Daughter, Raven. They eventually defeat and depower the Joker's Daughter after allying herself with the Bombshells.
Mystik U
A college-aged alternate version of Zatanna is the lead character in the DC limited series Mystik U written by Alisa Kwitney and illustrated by Mike Norton. The Zatanna of this continuity enrolls in Mystik University, a school for magic users, alongside other magical DC characters like Enchantress, Sargon the Sorcerer, and her love interest in the series, Sebastian Faust. The students of the school must figure out which of them is destined to betray the others and become a force of evil.
DC Books for Young Readers
DC released two stand-alone Zatanna graphic novel titles for its Books for Young Readers program. The first, Zatanna and the House of Secrets, written by Matthew Cody and illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani, was released in February 2020. The story features a middle-school aged Zatanna who lives in the House of Secrets with her father. Zatanna must protect her pet rabbit, Pocus, from Klarion the Witch Boy, and then rescue her father from Klarion's mother, the Witch Queen. The second Zatanna stand-alone young adult title, Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend, is written by Alys Arden and illustrated by Jacqueline de Leon. It was released in April 2021, and features a young Zatanna whose "fun in Luna Park comes to an end when a mystic's quest for a powerful jewel unravels everything Zatanna thought she knew about herself and her beloved neighborhood. Mysteries and magic surround her as she reveals the truth about her family's legacy, and confronts the illusion that has been cast over her entire life".
In other media
Television
Zatanna appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU):
She first appears in a self-titled episode of Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by Julie Brown. This version befriended Batman as a youth and developed a crush on him while he was studying escapology under her father Zatara in the guise of "John Smith". In the present, while working as a stage illusionist due to not having discovered her true magical potential yet, she reunites with Batman while foiling criminal magic debunker Montague Kane's plans.
Zatanna makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in The New Batman Adventures episode "Chemistry".
Zatanna makes a cameo appearance in a photograph depicted in the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past".
Zatanna appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Jennifer Hale in "This Little Piggy" and by Juliet Landau in "The Balance". As of this series, she has joined the Justice League. Additionally, she is capable of reciting spells without speaking and while speaking normally. She still works as a stage magician, typically combining real magic and stage illusions to create spectacular entertaining shows.
Zatanna appears in Smallville, portrayed by Serinda Swan.
Zatanna appears in the teaser for the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Chill of the Night!", voiced again by Jennifer Hale. This version wears purple tights instead of fishnets.
Zatanna appears in Young Justice, voiced by Lacey Chabert. This version is initially a teenager and member of the Team who becomes romantically involved with Robin. After donning the Helmet of Fate to defeat Klarion the Witch Boy, Nabu refuses to release her until Zatara offers to take her place. Ever since, she works to free her father. In the second season, an adult Zatanna joins the Justice League. In the fourth season, Zatanna trains the Sentinels of Magic to help her free Zatara by convincing Nabu to rotate between all of them.
Zatanna appears in Justice League Action, voiced again by Lacey Chabert as an adult and by Dayci Brookshire as a child.
Zatanna appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Kari Wahlgren. This version, also known by her first name "Zee", is a dramatic fashionista and student at Metropolis High.
Zatanna makes non-speaking cameo appearances in Harley Quinn. As of "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special", she has entered a relationship with the Flash.
Film
Live-action
In 2005, screenwriter Hadley Davis announced that she had written an action-comedy featuring a teenage version of Zatanna.
Zatanna appears in a proposed Guillermo del Toro film project based on the Justice League Dark, which was meant to be part of the DC Extended Universe.
A live-action Zatanna film, developed by Warner Bros. Discovery and Bad Robot Productions and with Emerald Fennell serving as a writer, was in production before it was cancelled as of March 2021.
Animation
An unnamed alternate universe version of Zatanna makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths as a minor member of the Crime Syndicate.
The Young Justice incarnation of Zatanna makes a cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery.
Zatanna appears in the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) films Justice League Dark and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, voiced by Camilla Luddington. This version is a member of Justice League Dark.
Zatanna appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, voiced by Kate Micucci.
Zatanna makes a cameo appearance in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
Video games
Zatanna appears as a playable character in Justice League Heroes, voiced by Kari Wahlgren.
Zatanna appears as a non-playable character (NPC) in DC Universe Online, voiced by Claire Hamilton.
Zatanna appears as a downloadable playable character in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced again by Kari Wahlgren.
Zatanna appears as a playable character in Young Justice: Legacy, voiced again by Lacey Chabert.
Zatanna appears as a downloadable playable character in Injustice: Gods Among Us, voiced again by Lacey Chabert.
Zatanna appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced again by Kari Wahlgren.
Zatanna appears as a playable character in Infinite Crisis.
Zatanna makes non-speaking cameo appearances in Doctor Fate and Raiden's endings in Injustice 2. In the latter, she serves as a founding member of Justice League Dark.
Zatanna appears as a playable character in DC Unchained.
Zatanna appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains via the "Justice League Dark" DLC pack.
Miscellaneous
Zatanna appears in Gotham Girls, voiced by Stacie Randall.
A teenage Zatanna appears in the Zatanna: Trial of the Crystal Wand segment of Cartoon Monsoon, voiced by Tara Strong. This version takes inspiration from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Buffy Summers and has an older brother named Damon.
The Smallville incarnation of Zatanna appears in Smallville : Harbinger, in which she meets John Constantine and joins forces with him to retrieve her father's Book of Magick and rescue Rachel Roth from Brother Blood.
The Injustice incarnation of Zatanna appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.
The DC Super Hero Girls incarnation of Zatanna appears in the franchise's tie-in novel Spaced Out.
Collected editions
JLA: Zatanna's Search collects The Atom #19, Hawkman #4, Green Lantern #42, Detective Comics #335 and #355 and Justice League of America #51, 128 pages, February 2004,
Justice League of America Hereby Elects includes Justice League of America #161, 192 pages, December 2006,
Zatanna: Mistress of Magic collects Zatanna #1–6, 160 pages, March 2011,
Zatanna: Shades of the Past collects Zatanna #7–16, 144 pages, November 2011,
References
External links
Zatanna at DC Comics.com
Zatanna at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
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