DC Brings Back an Underrated Golden Age Hero With a Dark Twist

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DC Comics’ Absolute Universe often presents familiar heroes and villains in a much darker light. While characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman generally keep their heroic qualities, others succumb to the influence of Darkseid’s world. These heroes become warped and help maintain the harsh, oppressive system in place. In Absolute Wonder Woman #18, Wonder Woman, from the Wild Isle, will battle a long-standing DC superhero—and the father of one of its most famous magical characters.

Veronica Cale, determined to defeat Wonder Woman, sent the Suicide Squad after her. The team included a version of Zatanna with incredibly powerful magic, comparable to Wonder Woman’s. When Zatanna escaped, Cale unleashed an even more formidable sorcerer – a frightening, skeletal demon who used dark magic to damage Wonder Woman’s magical arm. The next issue revealed this terrifying being to be Zatanna’s father, Giovanni Zatara, a lesser-known hero from the Golden Age of comics.

Zatara Ushered in an Age of Magical Heroes

While DC Comics boasts many powerful magical heroes like John Constantine, Doctor Fate, and Zatanna, Zatanna’s father, Zatara, often doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He was a truly influential figure, not only defining the look of early magical heroes, but also inspiring many who came after him, making him one of the most important, yet underappreciated, characters in comic book history.

Giovanni Zatara first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, alongside Superman, making him DC Comics’ second superhero. He was also the first to use magic to fight crime. Originally a stage magician, Zatara learned real magic by studying the notebooks of his ancestor, Leonardo da Vinci. He cast spells by speaking backwards and became known as the Master Magician, dedicating his life to helping others. During the Golden Age of comics, Zatara traveled the world, using his magic to defeat evil, and likely influenced the creation of other magical heroes.

Though Zatara wasn’t as widely known as other Golden Age magic heroes like Doctor Fate, nor a member of a major team like the Justice Society, he significantly influenced many important DC characters. He’s best remembered for teaching his daughter, Zatanna, everything about magic and performing, and his disappearance – after being kidnapped by a powerful witch – motivated Zatanna to become a superhero and eventually rescue him. He also trained Batman in the skill of escape artistry. Even though he’s not a household name today, Zatara’s influence lives on through the heroes he mentored.

The Absolute Universe Resurrects Zatara as a Monster

The Absolute Universe is a dark place where even death doesn’t offer escape from corruption. Interestingly, Zatara, a famous hero in this universe, is one of the few who has actually stayed dead. He gave his life fighting the Great Darkness, a powerful threat to everything. Since then, he’s only shown up occasionally as a spirit, offering guidance and support to his daughter. This makes his story in the Absolute Universe especially heartbreaking and frightening.

Even before it was confirmed, clues like his backwards speech and hints of a magician’s outfit suggested the fiery skeleton was Zatara. Zatanna later confirmed this in Absolute Wonder Woman #18, revealing he was her father and she was trying to save him. The exact circumstances of his transformation into a monster are unknown, but it appears to be a twisted consequence of being resurrected. Despite his violent actions, including attempting to kill Cheetah to strengthen his magic, Zatara seems to be under Cale’s control and may still possess some goodness, suggesting he’s being manipulated into fighting Wonder Woman.

Zatara seems to think Wonder Woman is a demon and is determined to avenge Zatanna’s death. However, since Zatanna is still alive, it’s likely Cale misled Zatara into believing Wonder Woman and her allies were responsible. This twist cleverly reimagines Zatara’s character; he’s always been driven to protect his daughter. But in this new reality, his false belief that Zatanna is dead has transformed him into a vengeful spirit, potentially willing to destroy the world to get revenge.

I’ve seen a lot of takes on classic heroes, but the way they’ve changed Zatara… it’s honestly heartbreaking. He was always such a kind and giving person, and to see him twisted into this villain is just devastating. I’m really hoping Wonder Woman can figure out what happened to him and somehow save him from this awful fate. There are so many unanswered questions, and I’m really rooting for him to find peace and break free from whatever’s controlling him.

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2026-03-28 17:41