Instruct: Given a question, retrieve relevant passages that answer the question.
Query: What is the DC Comics character Zatanna Zatara's super power?
Zatanna is both a stage magician and an actual magician, like her father Giovanni "John" Zatara. As such she has many of her father's powers relating to magic, typically controlled by speaking the words of her incantations spelled backwards.
DC Universe Classics takes much of its inspiration from Kenner's Super Powers toyline from the 1980s, from character choices to their general design. All of the characters who were in the Super Powers line have appeared in DC Universe Classics and DC Superheroes, although four of them (Kalibak, the Penguin, Orion, and Mr. Freeze) are very different from how they looked in Super Powers (though Freeze would be re-released later with his Super Powers color scheme, and Penguin has been released in a more Super Powers-accurate version under the Batman Unlimited brand, also Kalibak has been re-released as a Collect and Connect figure in his Super Powers accurate color scheme with the 30th Anniversary Super Powers Collection). Some characters who were redesigned for the Super Powers line (Parademon, Mantis, and Steppenwolf) were released in two versions—a comic-accurate version and a Super Powers version. Even the characters Cyclotron and Golden Pharaoh – created specifically for the Super Powers line—were released in DC Universe Classics. Further, figures that were going to be produced later in the Super Powers line were created as part of DC Universe Classics (including characters from "Super Friends" like El Dorado and the Wonder Twins).
Zatanna is the daughter of magician Giovanni Zatara who appeared in Golden Age comic books and Sindella, a member of the mystical Homo magi race. 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[1] which was featured in several titles edited by Julius Schwartz,[2] and in it, Zatanna interacts with Hawkman and Hawkgirl;[3] battles Batman and Robin while in disguise as a witch and under the control of the villain the Outsider;[4] and teams with the Atom,[5] Green Lantern,[6] and the Elongated Man.[7] The series culminated in Justice League of America #51 (February 1967).[8] This Justice League adventure took place during the Batman television craze where 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.[9]
Zatanna is a playable character in the console videogame Justice League Heroes, voiced by Kari Wahlgren. Zatanna appears as a non-playable character in DC Universe Online, voiced by Claire Hamilton. Zatanna is a DLC playable character in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced again by Kari Wahlgren. She also appears as a portrait in a segment of the first level.[72] Zatanna appears as a playable character in the video game Young Justice: Legacy, with Lacey Chabert reprising the role. She plays an important part near the end of the game, where she uses a locator spell to track down Klarion and the piece of the Tiamat statue in Bialya. Zatanna is a playable character via downloadable content in Injustice: Gods Among Us, voiced again by Lacey Chabert.[73] In Zatanna's ending, she and the One-Earth reality's version of Doctor Fate combine their powers to create the Tower of Fate. It was used as a stronghold for Regime-leader Superman's enemies since Superman is vulnerable to magic and it had saved many lives. Following the defeat of the Regime, it was used as a prison for the remaining Regime forces despite the jury at their trial demanding the immutable defendants to have a death penalty. Zatanna is referenced in Batman: Arkham Origins. A poster for her show is visible on Jezebel Center and outside of the Monarch Theatre. Zatanna appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced once more by Kari Wahlgren. Zatanna is a playable character in the Infinite Crisis video game. Zatanna is referenced in Batman: Arkham Knight. Her shop can be found in Gotham City's Chinatown. Zatanna appears as a playable character in DC Unchained. Zatanna appears as a playable character in the Justice League Dark DLC pack in Lego DC Super-Villains.
Sargon maintained contacts with several other mages in the DC Universe, notably Baron Winters, Zatara (a fellow "faux" stage magician), and the younger mage John Constantine. Sargon answered the summons of Constantine to participate in a ritual at the mansion of Winters in July 1985 to help deal with the effects of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths", using the Swamp Thing as their portal into the war being fought in Hell. Locking hands in a circle of power, and using the psychic powers of Constantine's drunken acquaintance Mento, the group of sorcerers (which also included Zatara's daughter Zatanna) observed the events unfolding, and attempted in turn to channel their magical powers into several other mystical characters present in Hell, including Etrigan, the original Doctor Fate, and the Spectre.
In the DC Comics Universe, Nostradamus was an ancestor of Zatara and Zatanna.
Brian Wayne Peterson and Todd Slavkin revealed that they planned to introduce more DC Comics characters into "Smallville" this season. Among those appearing were Plastique and Maxima, the latter coming to Smallville to try to mate with Clark. This version of Maxima had the ability to make herself irresistible to men, including Clark, whom she set her sights on; actress Charlotte Sullivan was cast as Maxima. "Smallville" also introduced the futuristic heroes from the Legion of Super-Heroes. Comic book scribe Geoff Johns wrote the episode that featured the Legion of Super-Heroes, and suggested that people familiar with the Legion would recognize them when they appeared on the show, as they had some of the quintessential elements of their comic book counterparts. Darren Swimmer stated that they would be using Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad for this episode. In the seventeenth episode, "Hex", "Smallville" puts its spin on the DC character Zatanna. Portrayed by Serinda Swan, Zatanna is a magician who comes to town and grants Chloe a birthday wish that results in Chloe's body transforming into Lois. In an interview, writer Bryan Q. Miller explains that he read through archived comics featuring the Zatanna character, but was more influenced by Grant Morrison’s writing turn on "Seven Soldiers", as well as the television episodes of "" and "Justice League Unlimited" that Zatanna made appearances on. Swan won the role of Zatanna after "acing" her audition thanks to the actress recording Zatanna's spells into her iPod and studying them in reverse—to cast a spell Zatanna recites the words in reverse.
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.
Lobo, who is confined to the Labyrinth, Hell's only prison, is freed as a result of the titanic battle between Etrigan and Blue Devil, a battle which results in Etrigan's (temporary) death at Blue Devil's hands. Lobo then tears apart the soul of Zatara (Zatanna's father), which forces Zatanna to destroy his soul rather than to consign him to an eternity of pain and torment(later, in the 16-issue miniseries "Zatanna" (vol. 2) (July 2010-October 2011), Zatara is shown to have been saved from destruction by a demon who owes him a favor).
Since Kenner had stopped production of DC Comics character figures in 1986 when the Super Powers line folded, DC Comics granted the license to the up-and-coming toy company, Toy Biz, in 1989. Toy Biz first produced figures for the "Batman" movie tie-in, then released other DC Comics character figures under the name DC Comics Super Heroes, a name that would later be used again by different toy companies (see below). "The Flash" TV series character received a tie-in figure from Toy Biz as well.
Mattel's DC Universe Classics line also draws inspiration from the Super Powers figures. Several figures that were redesigned for the Super Powers line (Mantis, Parademon, Steppenwolf, and Mister Freeze) were produced for DC Universe Classics in both comic-accurate and Super Powers-accurate versions. In addition, figures for Cyclotron and Golden Pharaoh were released as part of DC Universe Classics, even though both characters only appeared as part of the Super Powers line. The Penguin released in the first wave is set to be re-released with a new head sculpt and repaint matching the Super Powers figure. In total, every figure produced for Super Powers has also been produced for DC Universe Classics and associate lines and much of the figures set to be produced for Super Powers prior to the line's cancellation has also been produced for DC Universe Classics (save Mr. Mxyzptlk, Shockwave, Black Racer, Atomic Knight, and original Super Powers characters).
Zatara became good friends with Thomas Wayne. His excursions with Wayne led to Wayne meeting his wife, Martha. After the two were killed, Zatara left Gotham City, blaming himself for being unable to stop the orphaning of young Bruce. Eventually, in Europe, Zatara would meet and wed Sindella, who gave birth to their daughter, Zatanna. Sindella seemingly died after giving birth to Zatanna, prompting Zatara to become a depressed drunk.
Mandrake the Magician inspired several other comic characters with magic powers, including Zatara, Kardak the Mystic Magician, Monako, Dakor the Magician, Ibis the Invincible, Mantor the Magician, Sargon the Sorcerer, Zatanna, Mr. Mystic, The Wizard, Mysto, Magician Detective, and the short-lived Jim the Magician (Jadugar Jim in Hindi) by Sudhir Tailang in India.
Giovanni "John" Zatara is a fictional superhero appearing in comics published by DC Comics. He is a stage magician who also practices actual magic. He married Sindella, a "Homo magi", and they have a daughter, Zatanna Zatara, who, like her father, is both a "stage magician" and a genuine high-level sorceress to boot.
One of Kenner's most highly acclaimed lines was the Super Powers Collection, produced from 1984 to 1986. These action figures were based on the famed superheroes of DC Comics. What made the line so successful was that the characters were modeled almost exactly from the style guide of the company; and also, each character performed some "action." For example, if Superman's legs are squeezed, he would throw a punch. Furthermore, Kenner was able to commission some of the characters' creators like Jack Kirby for his New Gods characters and George Perez for Cyborg to design the action figures. In 1985, DC Comics named Kenner as one of the honorees in the company's 50th anniversary publication "Fifty Who Made DC Great" for its work on the Super Powers Collection.
Zatanna appears in the Young Justice cartoon series,[64] voiced by Lacey Chabert. This version is only thirteen years old, and as such her romantic entanglements involving Batman are instead transferred to Robin. In the episode "Humanity", Zatara initially brings Zatanna to Mount Justice in Happy Harbor to meet the team, and asks the kids give Zatanna a tour of Mount Justice. They pretend to go along with that request, quickly use Miss Martian's ship to leave the cave and track down Red Tornado with Zatanna, referring to her departure with them as "kidnapping". Zatara was displeased that his daughter went on a mission with the team. Robin seems to have an interest in her. She returns in the episode "Secrets", where she and Artemis head to Manhattan on Halloween night. They are ambushed and eventually kidnapped by Harm, a psychotic teenager wielding the mystical sword of Beowulf. While Harm interrogates Artemis, the ghost of his murdered sister, Secret, removes the tape from Zatanna's mouth and allows her to rescue Artemis. Together, the three girls defeat Harm and allow Secret's spirit to move on to the afterlife. Afterwards, Zatanna promises to erect a proper grave for Secret, who had previously been buried in Harm's backyard. In episode "Misplaced", Zatanna is with the team when all the adults disappear. She is able to use a spell to locate Klarion the Witch Boy on Roanoke Island. As her powers seem ineffective against Klarion (he refers to them as "baby magic"), she dons the Helmet of Fate as a last-ditch effort. After Klarion escapes, Nabu refuses to relinquish Zatanna as his host, until her father offers himself as Nabu's host. After making Batman promise to take care of her, Zatara dons the helmet and leaves Zatanna with the rest of the team. She then moves into Mount Justice with Miss Martian and Superboy and joins the team full-time. She is shown to be clearly devastated by the loss of her father. In "Happy New Year", she and Rocket are now shown as adult members of the Justice League. In the episode "Depths," Nightwing implies a past romantic relationship between them to explain why she was willing to provide him with an enchanted amulet without asking for its purpose. In "Satisfaction", Zatanna and Miss Martian attend Rocket's bridal shower, and fight Captain Cold alongside Bumblebee, Black Canary, Wonder Girl, and Batgirl. In the episode "Cornered", Zatanna, Captain Marvel, and the team battle Despero in the Hall of Justice. She helps by possessing Mal and backfiring Despero's powers on himself. In "Intervention", she assists Rocket in capturing Blue Beetle and releasing him from the Reach. Zatanna appears in Mad. In episode 46, Zatanna is among the superheroes that ask Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman about being called "Super Friends". In episode 50, Zatanna (voiced by Tara Strong) appears on a skit called "Potions 11" where she teams up with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger for their heist. Zatanna appears only in the intro of the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special with the Justice League. Zatanna appears in Justice League Action, with Lacey Chabert reprising the role while her child form is voiced by Dayci Brookshire. In the episode "Zombie King", she and Swamp Thing help Batman fight Solomon Grundy when he raises an army of zombies with a magical gem. In the episode "Trick or Threat," she, Batman, Doctor Fate, and John Constantine are turned into children by Klarion the Witch Boy so that he can lure them into a trap at the House of Mystery and steal the Helmet of Fate. In the episode "Speed Demon," Zatanna helps Batman defeat Harley Quinn who had been enchanted by Brother Night. During the confrontation with Brother Night, Ember, and the rest of Brother Night's followers, Brother Night enchants the Batmobile where it binds Zatanna while separating her from her hat and takes her on a ride causing Batman to enlist Etrigan the Demon for help. After Batman and Etrigan the Demon free Zatanna and have both the enchanted Batmobile and the ice cream truck that was enchanted by Merlin teleported to Brother Night's lair, Brother Night and his followers get away as Batman and Zatanna claim the enchanted orb that Brother Night used on the Batmobile that he left behind. In the episode "Hat Trick," Zatanna was helping Batman and Jason Blood fight the possessed mannequins until Felix Faust appears and makes off with her hat. Upon tracing Felix Faust to the Hebrides, Batman, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon are transported there by Merlin. Once there, they find that Felix Faust is using Zatanna's hat to summon the demon Ghast on the world as a way to regain his youth. Once that was done, Zatanna engages Felix Faust in battle while Batman and Etrigan the Demon work to prevent Ghast from reaching the mainland. As Felix Faust animates a gargoyle, Zatanna uses every trick in her arsenal where she destroys the gargoyle and chains Felix Faust up with the chains she conjured. Once Zatanna regains her hat, she casts a spell to send Ghast back to where he came from.
Zatara is rumored to appear alongside his daughter and other magic-based DC Characters in a film developed by Guillermo del Toro, set within the DC Extended Universe, titled "Dark Universe". The film will be based on the comic book superhero team, the Justice League Dark.
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. Bruce puts Zatanna's betrayal behind him, allowing the two to renew their friendship.
Romeo Tanghal was born and raised in the Philippines. A self–taught artist, he started doing comics illustrations after graduating high school. He briefly worked with various local publications before emigrating to the United States in 1976. His first published work in the U.S. was "If There Were No Batman... I Would Have to Invent Him" in "Batman" #284 (Feb. 1977) for DC Comics. He then drew short stories for "House of Mystery", "House of Secrets", and "Weird War Tales". He later became the inker on such features as "Super Friends", "Scalphunter" in "Weird Western Tales", and "Gravedigger" in "Men of War". In 1980, Tanghal became the inker of George Pérez's penciled artwork on "The New Teen Titans". Tanghal drew two origin stories for DC's digest line during this time, a ten-page short story in "DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest" #5 (Nov.–Dec. 1980) featuring Zatara and Zatanna and the origin of the Penguin in "The Best of DC" #10 (March 1981). Tanghal began working for Marvel Comics as well in 1986. He inked the comics adaptations of such films as "Labyrinth", "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark", and "Willow". Tanghal did character design and storyboards for Sunbow Entertainment from 1985 to 1987.
Rumors in November 2012 suggested that Guillermo del Toro was working on a Justice League Dark film titled "Heaven Sent". It would feature Deadman, the Spectre, Swamp Thing, John Constantine, Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, Zatara, Sargon the Sorcerer, and Etrigan the Demon. Del Toro later confirmed in January 2013 that he was working on such a film, with the working title, "Dark Universe", and was hiring a screenwriter. Del Toro revealed Swamp Thing, Constantine, The Spectre, Deadman, Zatanna and Zatara were characters in the story.
Zachary Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Zachary is a descendant of the Homo Magi just like his cousin Zatanna and uncle John Zatara. He first appeared in "Teen Titans (vol. 3)" # 34, and was created by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel.
After the events of Day of Vengeance, when magic in the DC Universe was changed, Zachary developed abilities similar to his relatives, Zatanna Zatara and John Zatara. Calling himself the "most popular teenaged magician", he briefly joins the Teen Titans. Zachary has little tact, patience, and modesty when it comes to his skills. As a result, he was left with few to no friends amongst the Titans, many of whom looked at him as a selfish brat.
She briefly was featured in backup features in Adventure Comics and Supergirl from 1971 to 1973.[10][11] Zatanna assists the Justice League of America on a few missions[12][13] before being elected to membership in Justice League of America #161 (Dec. 1978).[1][14] Soon after Zatanna joined the group, the identity of her mother was revealed in a multi-issue storyline.[15] Zatanna teamed with Superman in DC Comics Presents[16] and with Batman in The Brave and the Bold.[17] 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.[18][19] 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.[20] She starred in a backup feature in World's Finest Comics #274–278[10] and the limitation of her powers is reversed in World's Finest Comics #277 (March 1982).[21] She assists Wonder Woman and several other superheroines in fighting an extraterrestrial threat.[22]
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.
Zatanna Zatara (/zəˈtænəzəˈtɑːrə/) is a fictional superhero 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).