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

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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.

Zongar the Miracle Man

"Your magic is the greatest thrill I ever knew, Zongar."
~ Ruth, girlfriend of Zongar

"No greater thrill than your magic, Ruth."

~ Zongar the Miracle Man

ZONGAR THE MIRACLE MAN
Real Name:  Unknown 
First Appearance: Silver Streak Comics # 7(January 1941)
Publisher:  Lev Gleason Publications

"When Zongar, the Miracle Man, holds the magic amulet in his hand, the all powerful spirit of Abaraxx appears, to do his bidding."

Zongar had in his possession a magic amulet that allowed him to command the spirit Abaraxx.  Abaraxx seemed to have limitless power.  When his girlfriend, Ruth West, and her father were kidnapped by the evil Master Rokula, Zongar used the amulet to track and rescue them.

Some of the things Abaraxx was seen doing for Zongar are:

• Tracking kidnappers.
• Opening locked doors.
• Freeing Zongar from restraints.
• Changing thugs into kittens.
• Destroying Rokula's mountain lair.

Zongar only appeared once, in Silver Streak Comics # 7, although there was a next issue appearance tease.

El Carim, Master of Magic

"Why are you smiling, El Carim"
~ Gladys Troy, assistant
"Just my own private joke, Gladys!"

~ El Carim, Master of Magic

El Carim from Master Comics # 10

EL CARIM, MASTER OF MAGIC

Real Name:  Unknown 

First Appearance: Master Comics # 1 (March 1940)

Publisher:  Fawcett Comics

Creator:  Carl Formes and Sven Elven

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"Read backwards, El Carim's name spells "miracle".  The name fits the man...for El Carim is the world's greatest miracle maker."

El Carim is another turbaned magician of the era, who served as a stage magician as well as fighting crime. 

From Master Comics # 24

In addition to using magical spells, being able to project his spirit and being a master escape artist, El Carim had a wide array of magical tools including:

• a magic monocle that creates illusions, allows him to see "visions" in conjunction with his "spectrograph" and that at least once deflected bullets
• a "spectrograph" that transforms words into radio "vision" or "distance" waves
• the world's most powerful magnet
• an "arrestor" that freezes men or moving objects into statues
• invisible paint

El Carim is visited by the spirit of Wizzar, the father of all magic, in Master Comics # 15, who sends him to the planet Zaam, to free the Princess Illean and avenge her father's death.

El Carim and Gladys from Master Comics # 9

El Carim and Gladys from Master Comics #10

In many of his adventures, he was assisted by a woman named Gladys Troy.








El Carim appeared in Master Comics # 1-32.

Below is his first appearance from Master Comics # 1.