The Beginning of Zatanna’s Magical Journey

Zatanna Zatara is a powerful magician who uses her abilities as a hero with the Justice League of America and the Justice League Dark. She can command magical energy, cast spells by speaking commands backwards, is an expert in the occult and demonology, and she’s a good fighter.

She was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, who introduced her 60 years ago in Hawkman #4 (October 1964). She is the daughter of magician Giovanni “John” Zatara and Sindella, who belongs to a subset of humans with natural magical abilities. Zatanna was working as a regular stage magician when she discovered her magical abilities while trying to find her father who had disappeared. Her search for Zatara connected her to DC characters like Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and she teamed with the Atom, Green Lantern, and Elongated Man. At one point the Outsider took control of her and disguised her as a witch to attack Batman and Robin.

After that, Zatanna started helping the Justice League on a few missions, then became a regular member in the late ‘70s. Several of her early storylines revolved around her parents – learning the identity of her mother and discovering details about her father. She helped Batman and Superman on a few cases, then her power was diminished to only controlling earth, air, water, and fire. Zatanna helped Wonder Woman and others to fight an extraterrestrial threat then became the chairperson for the Justice League.

When the “American Gothic” storyline wrapped up in Swamp Thing, John Constantine reached out to Zatanna, Sargon the Sorcerer, and Mento. He needed help fighting the Great Evil Beast, who was threatening divine and demonic forces in hellish dimensions. They participated in a séance which Zatanna’s father reluctantly joined because he didn’t trust Constantine around his daughter. The imposing Beast felt their presence and burned Sargon when they wouldn’t break the séance. He set his sights on Zatanna, but Zatara protected her and died in her place.