John Zatara

John Zatara is a master magician and sorcerer who casts spells by speaking commands backwards — for example, saying 'nrub' to produce fire. A Golden Age DC hero, he is best known as the father and magical mentor of Zatanna.

A fixture of DC's magical corner, John Zatara graces the pages of Detective Comics and Zatanna alongside some of the publisher's most iconic figures — from the Dark Knight himself to Alfred Pennyworth. Debuting in 1987's Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe, he's a character whose presence echoes through the Copper and Modern Ages, quietly woven into stories that matter. With only ten catalog appearances, he's a rare find for the dedicated collector who loves the mystical margins of the DC Universe.