Zatara

Giovanni Zatara

Giovanni Zatara, often called John, is a fictional magician and superhero from DC Comics. He debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1938, making him one of the publisher's oldest characters. The son of Italian immigrants and a descendant of Leonardo da Vinci, he became a stage magician and hero. Originally shown as human, he was later classified as a homo magi, with the Phantom Stranger teaching him to control his magic as a child.

As an adult, his reputation rivaled Doctor Fate's. He is the father of Zatanna and uncle of Zachary Zatara, and was romantically involved with Madame Xanadu before meeting Sindella. In the "American Gothic" storyline, John Constantine recruited Zatanna, Mento, and Sargon the Sorcerer to confront the Great Evil Beast. During a séance at Wintersgate Manor, the Beast killed Sargon and targeted Zatanna. Zatara sacrificed himself by absorbing the attack to save her.

A master of Logomancy, he casts spells by speaking phrases backwards, and is also a skilled stage magician and escape artist.

Zatara in other media

Giovanni Zatara first appeared in a flashback during the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Zatanna," with Vincent Schiavelli providing his voice. In Young Justice, voiced by Nolan North, he was a Justice League member who studied under Kent Nelson. Following Nelson’s death, Zatara took on the Helmet of Fate to spare his daughter Zatanna from becoming Doctor Fate, which caused him to age quickly over many years. Zatanna later freed him in the fourth season by setting up a rotating schedule of hosts for Nabu.

Phil LaMarr voiced him in DC Super Hero Girls, and a mural in Superman included a cameo. He was a summonable character in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, and Steve Blum voiced him in the "Zatanna" entry of the Cartoon Monsoon contest. A crossover between The Batman Adventures and Superman Adventures showed him as a former teacher to young Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent. In Smallville Season 11, he belonged to the Shadowpact during World War II.

Zach Zatara

Zachary "Zach" Zatara, also known mononymously as Zatara, first appeared in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #34, created by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel. He is the cousin of Zatanna and nephew of the original Zatara. After the events of Day of Vengeance, Zachary gained magical powers and chose to become a superhero and stage magician. Like other family members, he manipulates magic by articulating spells in reverse, but he cannot directly affect living beings except doves.