Zatara the Magician

"Uoy  era won ni my rewop."

~ Zatara the Magician

Action Comics # 14

ZATARA THE MAGICIAN

Real Name:  Giovanni "John" Zatara 

First Appearance: Action Comics # 1 (June 1938)

Publisher:  DC Comics

Creator:  Fred Guardineer

Recommended Links:
* Link to The Comic Archives Golden Age Checklist Appearances List
* Link to Cosmic Teams Page

* Link to DC Mania Page
* Link to Toonopedia Page
* Link to Wikipedia Page

Action Comics # 12

"Champion of law and order, the word's greatest magician and his faithful East Indian assistant, Tong, have dedicated their lives to wiping out the forces of outlawry led by the beautiful woman criminal and Zatara's arch-enemy, The Tigress."

Hawkman (vol 1) # 4 - Zatanna

Zatara is a stage magician who actually possessed magical powers.  He usually spoke his spells backwards. Zatara and his servant, Tong, traveled the world fighting crime and injustice.

Zatara had a daughter, Zatanna, who first appeared in Hawkman (volume 1) # 4 (October-November 1964).  She also cast her spells by speaking backwards.  Her mother was Sindella, of the magical race Homo Magi.

Zatara appeared in DC Comics from June 1938 until his death in Swamp Thing (volume 2) # 50 (July 1986).  His spirit has since appeared numerous times after his death.

Below is his first appearance in Action Comics # 1.

Doctor Fate

"By the wisdom of Nabu, I banish you! Begone!"

~ Doctor Fate

DOCTOR FATE

From More Fun Comics #55

Real Name:  Kent Nelson 

First Appearance: More Fun Comics # 55 (May 1940)

Publisher:  DC Comics

Creator:  Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman

Recommended Links:
* Link to Cosmic Teams Page
* Link to JSA Fact File Page
* Link to Toonopedia Page
* Link to Who's Whose in the DC Universe Page
* Link to Wikipedia Page

Doctor Fate was born Kent Nelson.  While exploring an ancient Egyptian temple as a young boy with his father, he accidentally released the alien Nabu from suspended animation.  With the death of Kent's father the same day, Nabu raised Kent, training him in the mystical arts of magic.  As a adult, Kent became the "greatest of all masters of the supernatural."  

From a mysterious tower in Salem, Massachusetts, Doctor Fate battled all manner of evil, often with his beloved Inza Cramer.  He became a charter member of the Justice Society of America.

The comic below is "the Origin of Doctor Fate", which ran in More Fun Comics # 67 (May 1941).

Lando, Man of Magic

"I just dropped in to tell you that you're not going to conquer anything!"

~ Lando, Man of Magic

LANDO, MAN OF MAGIC
Real Name:  Unknown 
First Appearance: World's Best Comics # 1 (Spring 1941)
Publisher:  DC Comics
Creator:  Howard Purcell

Recommended Links:
* Link to Toonopedia Page

"Lando the Unknown, greatest of magicians" made his first appearance in World's Best Comics # 1 (1941) by DC Comics, featured here.  


Created by Howard Purcell, Lando subsequently was featured in World's Finest Comics #2-7, his last appearance in 1942, and then was never to seen again.  A true disappearing act!

The following is from World's Best Comics # 1.

Sargon the Sorcerer

"Gun, you're not a gun.  You're a rabbit!"

~ Sargon the Sorcerer

SARGON THE SORCERER

Real Name:  John Sargent

First Appearance: All-American Comics #26 (May 1941)

Publisher:  All-American Publications, later DC Comics

Recommended Links:

* Link to Cosmic Teams Bio 

* Link to The Comic Archives Golden Age Checklist Appearances List

* Link to Toonopedia Page 

* Link to Wikipedia Page 

Sargon the Sorcerer was one the of magicians of the era who fought crime with his magical Ruby of Life.  The Ruby gave him absolute power over whatever he touched. As you can see in his first appearance in All-American Comics #26, John Sargent takes to the stage to hide his magic and strive to use his power "to some good purpose."

Sargon was featured in All-American Comics, Comic Cavalcade and Sensation Comics, making regular appearances from 1941 until 1948, at which time he disappeared until being revived in 1969.