Zatara (Giovanni "John" Zatara) Master Magician Appreciation Thread (2021)

[MajorHoy]

from Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. XXVI (April 1987)

First appearance: Action Comics #1 (June 1938)


To be continued . . .

[Frontier]

The wizard who started it all .

[MajorHoy]

The wizard who started it all

Only at DC.

Mandrake the Magician was a syndicated newspaper comic strip that began June 11, 1934.

[Robanker]

I've got a huge soft spot for Giovanni and wish we got to see him more often. Real shame.

[John Venus]

Back in the old days, one of Zatara's most consistent enemies was the Tigress. A seemingly regular human who pulled off elaborate heists which Zatara had to stop.




Later on, a different Tigress named Paula Crock would be introduced and she would become partners-in-crime with Sportsmaster, going to fight Wildcat, Black Canary, Starman and the JSA. The two would have a daughter named Artemis Crock who would also adopt the Tigress moniker.

I always thought Zatanna and Artemis Crock friendship on YJ was a nod to that history:

Secrets.jpg

[MajorHoy]

. . . Later on, a different Tigress named Paula Crock would be introduced and she would become partners-in-crime with Sportsmaster, going to fight Wildcat, Black Canary, Starman and the JSA. The two would have a daughter named Artemis Crock who would also adopt the Tigress moniker. . .

As far as I'm aware, there was no "Tigress" named "Paula Crock".

When the character was first introduced, back in Sensation Comics #68 (August 1947), she was called "Huntress" and her real identity was never revealed. Years later, while still known as The Huntress, she did get linked with the villain Sportsmaster ("Crusher" Crock).

After CoIE, in Roy Thomas' Young All-Stars series, he introduced a younger version of Huntress and gave her the identity of "Tigress". (He also gave her the identity of Paula Brooks).

[John Venus]

Yes, Pre Crisis her real name was unknown and she was just the Huntress and even fought the other Huntress, Helena Wayne.

Post Crisis, she was Tigress and was given the name Paula Brooks.

[MajorHoy]

Yes, Pre Crisis her real name was unknown and she was just the Huntress and even fought the other Huntress, Helena Wayne.

Post Crisis, she was Tigress and was given the name Paula Brooks.

And as far as I'm aware, she had changed her identity from "Tigress" to "Huntress" well before she hooked up with Sportsmaster.
(Heck, sometimes I wonder how much of Paula's brief history as "Tigress" is still consider canon the way DC seems to constantly ignore or undo Roy Thomas' All-Star Squadron work.)