Zatanna Zatara

Zatanna
Zatanna, from the cover of the graphic novel Zatanna: Everyday Magic (October 2003). Art by Brian Bolland.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Hawkman #4 (October–November 1964)
Created by	Julius Schwartz Gardner Fox Murphy Anderson
In-story information
Alter ego	Zatanna Zatara
Species	Homo magi
Team affiliations	Justice League Justice League Dark Sentinels of Magic Seven Soldiers
Partnerships	Zatara John Constantine Batman
Supporting character of	Timothy Hunter
Abilities	Skilled and powerful user of magic

Zatanna Zatara is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published DC Comics. The character was created by Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, and first appeared in Hawkman #4 (November 1964).

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.

She is known for her involvement with the Justice League, her retconned childhood association with Batman, and her crossing of the Vertigo line with characters such as romantic partner John Constantine and protégé Timothy Hunter.

Created by editor Julius Schwartz, writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman #4 (November 1964).

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 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 (Feb. 1967). This Justice League adventure took place during the Batman television craze where Batman was featured prominently on the cover. 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.