#zatara

Absolute Wonder Woman #19 - "Season of the Witch IV" (2026)

drawing a random titan every day: days 21-25

Zatara says gay rights

No, for a couple of rather simple and mundane reasons. Though I'll actually go over the Saint George thing first because it's simpler.

I wouldn't consider him a superhero. While he did take on crime and corruption to a certain point I've never heard of any story of him using a name other than his own in order to do it. Though like many other saints how historical he is or even which specific man his deeds are meant to be based on is kind of up in the air and *I* am not a theologian, I'm a superhero historian. Plus I don't know that being an outwardly pious man of the cross counts as using a motif in the same way that superheroes use their motifs and costumes. Though that one I am VERY open to being convinced on.

There's also the historical division argument. Saint George doesn't count as a superhero because the first anatomically modern superhero was the Crimson Avenger in 1938. If he's an edge case that existed before then he can't be a superhero by definition at the closest he'd be whatever equivalent existed in his time and place which is, again, unclear as to where and when that would be.

Now onto the complicated Cultural and Religious stuff!

(a picture of Huntress I am using because it was the best photograph I could find of any superhero wearing a visible crucifix)

The first reason is a statistical one more than anything. Very few superheroes are openly religious at all, let alone publicly Catholic. While basically any superhero present or past could have been a good Catholic doing their work at least partially in the name of their faith it's kind of hard for the church to prove that if a superhero's identity isn't made public. This is adding onto the complication that someone nominated for sainthood has to have been DEAD for at least five years, so none of the currently active Christian superheroes are eligible in the first place.

The Huntress and Azrael are the only two American superheroes I can think of who have performed Catholic actions and rituals often enough and in enough public view that we can be reasonably certain of their denomination. Though in the world at large there's about half a dozen members of the Global Guardians that are known to be catholic. Venezuela's Bushmaster, Both of Ireland's Jack O'Lanterns, the French android Chrysalis (who would raise the very thorny theological question of if an android is even ELIGIBLE for sainthood in the first place) and equally French spy Fleur-de-Lis. There's also a couple of the JLA's more intentional members like Fire and the Crimson Fox.

The second problem is that a dead Catholic superhero would have had to have been in good with the Catholic Church as an institution for basically their entire life. Taking the women known as the Crimson Fox as an example. Constance and Vivian D'Aramis were both powerful, skilled and brave women who eventually laid down their lives for the sake of others. Not only their teammates but the world at large. However they were also VERY famously sensual women who had relationships outside of wedlock, both of them cursed like sailors and neither of them were above being violent in a confrontation. While it's not insane to imagine them being NOMINATED for sainthood, at least by their people, they would not get through a council of bishops at any time resembling this century.

Thirdly, a candidate for sainthood needs to have performed at least two identifiable miracles. And that's miracles as a technical term. They need to have performed acts of miraculous power that can be explained only by the power of the Lord. Superheroes don't like to frame what they do in those terms. Their powers aren't some reward from on high, they are abilities and talents given to them by hard work or accident of fate that they use to help others. A superhero isn't going to define the things they can do as miraculous even if they ARE a Christian. Fire's ability to control roaring green flame came from an explosion of pyrotechnic chemicals not from her diligence in prayer.

The most squeaky clean, deceased superhero that we know for a FACT was Catholic for his entire life was Giovanni Zatara. Even THEN however, taking a well liked man from an uncontroversial profession who was only ever in ONE long term relationship and saved lives while also raising a daughter who dedicated her time to saving lives, he's just not pious enough for sainthood. From the way he told his own story his physical relationship with his wife Sindella began before the two were properly married (if they ever WERE married in the Catholic sense is unknown) and there's the massive honking elephant in the room that he spent his entire life practicing what amounts to very clear witchcraft. No matter what he used it for the Catholic Church doesn't recognize that benign or beneficial use of magic is even POSSIBLE.

(Gwen: No kidding, I've had more crosses shoved in my face than I know what to do with /Gwen)

All in all, while colloquially "Saint" is used as a mark for those who take actions of risk and self sacrifice for the sake of others as far as the Catholic Church is concerned it is a term with a very specific and difficult meaning. There's a reason that most often it has been applied to those who spent their lives as members of the Catholic CLERGY rather than any other profession. Because the Catholic clergy live the closest to the very specific sets of rules and guidelines the Catholic Church holds as its tennants.

Also, just in general, superheroes tend to get uncomfortable when nominated for recognition that way. I know that at least half a dozen members of the Justice Society and the All Star Squadron (Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Ted Grant, Charles McNider, Queen Hippolyta and Terry Sloane) have all turned down nominations for the Israeli title of Righteous Among Nations for their actions in saving Jewish lives during WWII. Wesley Dodds was also nominated until it was pointed out that because his mother was Jewish, he is also technically, ethnically Jewish and therefore not eligible for the award to begin with. To the point that after that Israel just stopped attempting to nominate superheroes for the award for the sake of not forcing them to turn it down in public. It comes down to something I've said before. Superheroes, as a rule, don't consider the things they do or the risks they take to be laudable or extraordinary given their position. They earnestly believe that ANYONE would have done what they did in their position.

Jay Garrick doesn't think he's Righteous Among Nations because he earnestly doesn't believe he's especially righteous at all

The only truly relevant quote I could find on this subject was from the previously mentioned Bushmaster, when asked by a priest during a press conference why he did not use his position to bring glory to god:

DC x DP crossover fanfiction

Fanfic idea of Danny adopting everyone. He’s worse than Batman since he does it 200% deliberately with no age nor race restriction.

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“Absolutely fucking not.”

Yeah, nope. No way in hell was he, John mother-fucking Constantine going to let this happen. Only over his dead body, which might actually be the case by the end of the bloody day if they couldn’t come up with something else other than that. And he wasn’t going to change his mind no matter how much the kid currently gallivanting as a demi-god whined. Wasn’t that a news when he found out several months ago.

“Come on Constans, we both know he wouldn’t mind. Besides what else can we do, we’ve tried everything.” Captain Marvel pleaded with the older man as he gestured their surroundings.

It couldn’t be described as anything else other than apocalyptic. A complete fucking shitshow.

Apparently a prophecy of some kind came to fruition right under their bloody noses and they were left grasping straws to try and stop the end of the world from happening. If only-

“Call him or I’ll call him John! Your choice.” Pressed Marvel who was getting fed up with the magician’s nonsense but he wasn’t bugging, no siree!

“Shut up, we don’t need his help! Just let me-” John yelled while buried head first in his spell book, desperately trying to find away that didn’t require him to relinquish the last few pits of his shabby dignity. Or what was left of it anyways. But Marvel was having non of it.

“Nope, that’s it! I’m making the call!” The red glad man shouted over the blonde brit and pulled out his personal phone which looked like it had been pulled strait out of a sci-fi movie.

This caused John to lunge at Marvel who in return floated away out of his reach.

“Are you daft? I’ll never hear the end of it so don’t even- Hey! Don’t you dare, I swear-!” They were quickly interrupted by a black looming silhouette quickly approaching them.

“I hope that you two have come up with something since you’re able to play around like this.” Batman demanded in gruff manner, man looking worse for wear just like the rest of them. Marvel swiftly positioned the dark one between him and his would-be assailant.

“Oh we did have a solution from the very start but someone thinks that we don’t need any help. His poor ego wouldn’t be able to handle it.” He told as he threw a look over his makeshift barrier’s shoulder.

“Shut your cakehole.” John hissed but was reluctantly put in place by a hard glare from mister darker and gloomier who turned to the floating magic-user.

“What is this solution exactly? Help from who or what?” At his inquiry the boy-man hero couldn’t help but beam when he began to explain what, or rather who he had in mind.

“Well I was thinking calling our-” But he was rudely cut in before he could get far.

“We aren’t calling anybody because we don’t need his help! We can take care of this on our own!” Batman turned back to the blond and was clearly at the end of his patience.

“We are running on borrowed time Constantine, if there is any chance to for us to stop this then we should take it since we don’t have any other options left.”

The two began to argue so heatedly that they didn’t pay attention to Marvel speed dialing the number he kept close to his heart. With a dopey grin he bounced on his heels while he waited for the other side to answer. After just two rings the line connected.

“Hi kid! What are you calling in for, did you get out of work already?” A jovial, baritone voice rang out which instantly relaxed the kid-not-kid hero. The all-composing feeling of warmth, protection and safety could almost be felt through the phone which never failed to make him feel comfortable and at peace.

“Hi dad! No, I’m still at work and we kinda shorta need your help. Badly.”

He could near feel the change in his father’s mood and he definitely heard it in his voice.

“What do you need? Where are you?” Came the rapid questioning. His smile never left as he thought how dad always went strait to business when it came to his family and friends. Always ready to help no matter what or why.

“Well, apparently the apocalypse is happening and we have no idea how to stop it… Can you help us? Please?” He tentatively asked as he glanced back at the bickering duo. Sometimes he asked himself if he really was the only secret child there.

“Ha ha, no need to beg, let alone ask. I’ll be there in a jiffy once I know where you guys are. Just try and hang in there kid.” Voice on the other side commented in lighter tone.

Marvel let out a sigh. He knew that everything would be okay after all.

“Thanks dad. We are currently stuck on Metropolis in it’s central, it’s a complete mess in here.”

“Everything will be fine. See you soon.” The voice chuckled and cut the call.

Yes, everything would be just fine. He turned to call out to the idiots who looked to be near ripping each other a new one.

“You two can stop now, he’s already on his way!”

He had to wince at the speed which the blonde turned his head to stare at him. Then came the familiar cursing.

“Fucking shite!”

He merely rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in irritation. He glared at the magician.

“Seriously, what’s your problem? It doesn’t have to be this difficult you know.”

Before John could comment, Batman pushed pass and stalked up to Marvel.

“Who did you call?”

He couldn’t say much before more of their fellow heroes started to trickle in. Flash no surprise being the first.

“Hope you got something up your utility belt Bats, we can’t take this much longer.” Pleaded the red speedster. He was joined by Green Lantern carrying injured Superman and ouch did he look roughened up.

“Have to agree with Flashpoint. Were running out of juice fast, and even Big Blue is out cold.”

Marvel looked at the others coming in. Martian Manhunter, Zatara, Wonder Woman, Black Canary and even Doctor Fate was there, none of them looking any better.

“Well, I’m glad to announce that help is on their way so we can all sit back and relax for a bit. This will be over in no time.” He declared brightly.

The others goggled at him like he made the most outlandish statement in all of history, minus Constantine who has decided to use this small window of calm to drown his headache in his flask while he still can.

“What the hell are you on about? What help? Who could possibly help with this!” Flash yelled out the question in everybodies mind.

“I would like to known this too finally.” Batman demanded this as well.

Seeing everybody hanging onto his up coming explanation he smirked at John who gave him oh-so-eloquently middle finder in retaliation. Well to bad, he would have to just deal with it, the big baby.

“Oh nobody too important, just the most powerful and influential being in all multiverse. Some of you might know him by his monikers like the First Champion, the Balancer, the High King and the Great One.” He said flippantly as he pretended to check his nails, trying his absolute best to hid his smug smile when he noticed Zatara and Fate going rigid and pale.

Zatara near stumbled thanks to his shaking knees. He took couple faltering steps towards the Champion of Magic. His expression mix of reverence and fear as started to whisper as if dreading that someone or something might hear him if he spoke too loudly.

“Y-You couldn’t possibly mean King-”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence for they all felt the change in the air, in the ground.

He has arrived.

Time came to a crawl, the world slowed it’s movements in face of approaching force. It quaked, it trembled, it slithered. Leak becoming a downpour, a tear in reality of sickly green opened above the group, high out of reach. What little light still had remained in the hellish landscape around them were drained as if all the world’s shadow congregated around the opening to greet its master like a deprived servant. Then a figure of black and white caped in light seemingly holy, descended from it. Even from afar they could distinguish their towering form who’s muscles failed to hide under its full-body armor. Their mountainous presence becomes more and more apparent the closer they came. What they thought as wings of pure and white was actually a cape of moving light.

Blazing green eyes as that of the tear gazed upon them from under their moonlight hair, which coupled with the iron grown of flames created figures of shadow dancing across their hardened features as if to praise their beholder’s glory.

Zatara had already collapsed on the ground in utter disbelieve. All the myths and legends were true all along.

“King Phantom.” He spoke in awe and bowed before the king as did equally shocked Doctor Fate.

“Hi dad!” Marvel yelled and dragged the laughing magician by his coat to greet their new arrival.

All of their associates looked between the clear powerhouse of a being and their red heavy hitter in utter incredulity at the revelation. Zatara and Fate near had a heart attack at the way their magical colleague addressed the mythical presence. Marvel had a father? And this horrifying existence was it? What sent them reeling even more was how the king’s responded.

With his arms stretched he lowered himself fully to gather the two smaller men in his embrace.

“Kids! Boy, when you said that you needed help bad I think you might have underestimated a tiny bit.” He joked with a toothy smile as he moved to get a better look at his more-or-less willing captees of his affection. His expression softened even more at the face of Constantine, not the others could see.

“John, it’s so good to see you as well.” He said softly and ruffled both of their hairs, eliciting a laugh from his youngest and indignant pout from his fourth oldest who tried to swat the offending hand away.

“Whatever.” John growled but Phantom didn’t mind since he could see the blush caking his scratched up cheeks.

Now this drew his attention, both of his boys were in horrendous shape and he would do something about it after his job was completed. Looking at the blood willed sky no longer colored by his green and the burning wreckage that is this dimensions earth, he knew he didn’t have much time.

“I suppose we should get this over with then. You two better get back to the Keep after this, understood.” He stated and then was gone just like that.

Now that the oppressive feeling of death and power has left along with the godly being, every single one of the heroes present turned to the two for explanation. Marvel send a pleading look towards his brother, but John pointedly turned away and began to nurse his briefly forgotten drink which was now empty, damn you dad.

Discreetly gulping his nerves down he twirled to face his peers.

“Okay, let’s start with one question at a time please.”

This caused the floodgates to open and Zatara practically jumped him in his feverishness.

“You are a son of King Phantom? The King Phantom? I thought he was nothing more than a myth! A legend told through out several histories!”

As Marvel was trying to dislodge the man he was approached by Doctor Fate.

“I too held the believe that he was nothing more than a story to strike fear onto the forces of evil and to aspire heroes of both old and new. To think he was real this entire time.” He mused, and before Marvel could say anything, Flash barged in as well.

“And what about you John? This might be the first time I’ve seen any otherworldly being be happy to see you.” He pointed at the man who chose to wisely stay far behind.

“Fuck you too!” Shouts the offended man from the back. Even if it’s true doesn’t make it any less rude. And oh look here comes Batman.

“Enough! Marvel, explain.” He demands as he moves effortlessly to the front of the pack.

“Well… you see-” Marvel stammers as he tries under the pressure to come up with something to say but was thankfully saved by the sky shifting again.

As quick as a snap the red sky was returned to its blue color, signaling the King’s victory over his enemy. Marvel smiled widely and even John couldn’t stop a heavy sigh of relieve from escaping his mouth. Good old dad, always up to any task he comes across.

“Incredible.” Wonder Woman gasped, even Lantern had to give an impressed eyebrow at the instant change in atmosphere. And while everyone was distracted by his dad’s handiwork, Marvel shimmied his way to the grumpy magician who was in progress of making his getaway.

“I think we should continue this some other time, there’s a lot of cleaning up to do and me and my bro need to do a little house call. So bye!” He called out with a wave as he was crabbed and transported to their destination before anyone could stop them.

Others could do more than blink as Batman stewed in his place. In Lantern’s arms Superman began to stir.

365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs

Zatanna

Zatanna Zatara is a greatly accomplished sorcerers, a super hero and Justice Leaguer as well as a celebrated stage magician.  She is the daughter of a mystic known as Sindella and the magical hero Giovanni Zatara.  Zatanna was born homo-Magi, a human subtype possessing an innate acumen for magic and spell-craft.  Along with tenures as part of the Justice League, she also helped found the Justice League Dark and has been a part of the Sentinels of Magic and the Seven Soldiers of Victory.  

A hero of the Gold Age, Giovanni Zatara started off as a stage magician before learning to wield true magic.  He honed his skills for ‘logomancy,’ a type of magic that allows one to alter aspects of reality by stating a desired outcome aloud and in backward fashion.  He used his magical abilities to become a superhero, serving as a part of the Justice Society and fighting in the Second World War as member of the All Star Squadron.   

Following the war, Zatara battled a foe on a mountain range in Western Turkey.  During this adventure he met Sindella, a sorceress from a secluded village of Homo-Magi.  The two fell in love and soon thereafter married and had a daughter whom they named Zatanna.  Sindella mysteriously disappeared shortly after Zatanna’s birth and she was raised by her father.  

Showing a naturally affinity for the craft, Zatanna became highly adept at stage magic and quickly surpassing her father in her skills for logomancy. In her early adulthood, Zatanna became a colleague to John Constantine and the pair maintained an on-again/off-again romance.  Her father disappeared following a confrontation with the sorceress known as Allura and Zatanna sought out the Justice League to help her find him. Soon thereafter Zatanna was asked to join the league.  

Alongside her service as a part of the league, Zatanna honed her skills as a stage magician and opens a highly successful show.  She utilizes only sleight of hand, escapology and mentalism in her act, only relying on true magic for the grand finale.     

Some time later, Zatanna, her father and John Constantine became involved in an effort to stop a demonic entity.  They were able to prevail but tragically at the cost of the life of Zatanna’s father who sacrificed himself to ensure their victory.  Not long thereafter, Zatanna temporarily looked after the young mage Tim Hunter.   

Early on in her time with the Justice League, a group of supervillains learned the secret identities of the heroes.  Uncertain how to handle the situation, Zatanna was asked to erase this information from the villain’s memories.  It was a dangerous spell, but Zatanna agreed.  When Batman discovered this had happened he tried to put a stop to it and Zatanna was forced to later his memory as well.  

Over time, her guilt over these past actions took a great tole on Zatanna; it undermined her confidence and led to a short period in which she lost her ability to wield magic.  Fortunately, Zatanna was able to regain both her confidence and magical abilities in time to defeat the inter-dimensional threat of the Sheeda.  Not long after this, Zatanna and Batman were able to repair their friendship.   

Zatanna and Constantine helped to form the Justice League Dark, a team o magical heroes who came together to prevent the villainous Nicholas Necron from obtaining the fabled Books of Magic.   She has also aided in the training of her cousin Zachary Zatara, a young hero hoping to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and cousin.  Zachary served for a time as a member of the Teen Titans and continues as a student at Titans Academy.  

A version of Zatanna appeared in the television series Smallville portrayed by actress  Serinda Swan.  The heroine has additionally featured in many animated television shows and movies, voiced by actresses Julie Brown, Jennifer Hale, Lacey Chabert, Camilla Luddington, Kari Wahlgren and Kate Micucci.