Zatanna Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give an outline of major storylines featuring Zatanna Zatara throughout DC Comics. It may not encompass every one of her appearances, but is a timeline of the major ones and the stories that affect them.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

Jump to: New 52 – Rebirth – Universe – Infinite Frontier

New 52

At the beginning of the New 52, the DC Universe was reset. This appears to have wiped most of Zatanna’s history. However, the tragic death of her father and her relationship with John Constantine (Reading Order) are kept in continuity and have an impact on her adventures in this era.

In this era, Zatanna stars in the Justice League Dark series (Reading Order). Her adventures within this series start out independent from most of the DC Universe. However, they then directly lead to the Trinity War (Reading Order) event, which directly leads to the Forever Evil: Blight (Reading Order) event. After these events, Zatanna’s adventures are once again confined to the Justice League Dark series, in which she continues to have a starring role. Outside of this, she only makes brief appearances, typically in comics that involve the larger magical community.

ToS=Trinity of Sin
Justice League Dark issues are from the Vol. 1 series
Justice League issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Secret Six issues are from the Vol. 4 series
Swamp Thing issues are from the Vol. 6 series

Notes

1. Zatanna's appearances in these two comic issues is incredibly brief. They simply establish the fact that Zatanna has a history with the Justice League (Reading Order). Readers can feel free to skip these issues if necessary.
2. Zatanna plays a significant role in the second half of the Forever Evil: Blight (Review)(Reading Order) event. Though she does not appear in these particular issues, they help set the context for her appearance in the next few issues. For this storyline to make sense, these issues are strongly suggested.
3. This is a tie-in issue with the Futures End (Reading Order) event. This event takes place in a potential future timeline, so it has no real effect on the current storyline. Therefore it is not necessary but still is a unique story featuring Zatanna.
4. This issue involves many members of the DC Comics magical community facing a threat to magic. Zatanna plays a moderate role in this effort but the comic primarily focuses on the members of the Secret Six team-up.
5. Zatanna helps Swamp Thing (Reading Order) out with something in these issues. However, her role here is pretty minor and is relatively disconnected from the rest of her adventures.
6. Zatanna and a few other members of the Justice League Dark (Reading Order) appear here. However, their role is very small, as the issues mostly focus on Constantine (Reading Order).

Other Appearances

• Bizarro
  • The Bizarro miniseries is generally unconnected to the mainstream DC Universe.
  • Zatanna appears in two issues from this series. Her first appearance has her make a large guest appearance, which focuses on Bizarro's take on her backwards magic. Her second appearance is smaller and simply has her helping out in the series finale.
  • Her first appearance is in Bizarro #4 and her second is in Bizarro #6. Both appearances are collected in Bizarro (Review).
• Harley Quinn
  • The Harley Quinn solo series (Reading Order) appears to take place in a separate continuity from the mainstream DC Universe, possibly at some point in its future.
  • Zatanna appears in a single issue from this series. The appearance has her on the road as a magician and starts a friendship with Harley Quinn.
  • Zatanna's appearance takes place in Harley's Little Black Book #3, collected in Harley's Little Black Book (Review). She is one of the starring characters in this issue.

Rebirth

The transition from the New 52 to the Rebirth era introduces few continuity changes for Zatanna. However, it does bring back her friendship with Batman, an element of her pre-New 52 history.

Zatanna's role in this era is far less pronounced than it was in the previous one. Her most significant appearances are found in the Detective Comics series, where she plays a major part in a single story arc. Later on, her role in the Justice League: No Justice (Reading Order) event helps to directly set up her appearances in the next era.

Detective Comics issues are from the Vol. 1 series
Trinity issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Deadman issues are from the Vol. 5 series

Notes

1. Zatanna and a few other magic users have a small role in these issues of the Trinity (Reading Order) series. However, these issues are primarily about Batman, Superman (Reading Order), and Wonder Woman (Reading Order). 
2. These issues are mostly about Deadman (Reading Order). Zatanna and several other magic users appear in these issues but their role is pretty small. In addition, the story told here is generally unconnected to anything else taking place in Zatanna's life.

Other Appearances

• Harley Quinn
  • The Harley Quinn solo series (Reading Order) appears to take place in a separate continuity from the mainstream DC Universe, possibly at some point in its future.
  • Zatanna appears in a single issue from this series, which is also a crossover with characters from the world of Archie Comics. This appearance is relatively brief but has a interesting meeting between Zatanna and Sabrina Spellman.
  • Zatanna's appearance takes place in Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica #2, collected in Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica.
• Mystik U
  • The Mystik U series centers around a magic school attended and staffed by several DC characters with ties to the supernatural. Though the series stars a number of familiar characters, it appears to be set in a reality separate from the rest of the DC Universe.
  • Zatanna is the main character in the Mystik U series. The full series is collected in Mystik U (Review).

Universe

The Universe era is essentially an extension of the Rebirth era, as it maintains the same continuity. As such, Zatanna's story picks up immediately where it left off in the Justice League: No Justice (Reading Order) event. The only definite change in continuity for Zatanna is that her adventures with the Seven Soldiers of Victory are now confirmed to still be canon.

In this era, the fallout from No Justice directly leads to the reformation of the Justice League Dark (Reading Order) and the publication of the Justice League Dark series. Zatanna is one of the central characters in this series. Her adventures there put her at the center of a fight for the fate of magic. Along the way, hidden details from her past, particularly those related to her father's death, are also explored.

Outside of her appearances with the Justice League Dark, Zatanna also appears as a supporting character in several other comics. Most of these smaller appearances have Zatanna helping out another hero or have her encountering a problem while performing as a stage magician.

Justice League Dark issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Wonder Woman issues are from the Vol. 5 series
Young Justice issues are from the Vol. 3 series
Catwoman issues are from the Vol. 5 series

Notes

1. Only the "Halloween Hayride" from this issue is relevant to this reading order.
2. These issues mostly center around Sideways (Reading Order). However, they are significant in that they bring back Zatanna's old team-up, the Seven Soldiers of Victory. In this way, these issues are great for fans of the Seven Soldiers.
3. Zatanna and the rest of the Justice League Dark (Reading Order) only make a very brief appearance in this issue. Instead, the issue is almost exclusively focused on events surrounding Swamp Thing (Reading Order). However, what happens in this issue relates to the ongoing narrative in the Justice League Dark series.
4. Zatanna's appearance in this issue is very brief. It simply presents a slightly humorous interaction between her and two members of Young Justice.
5. Zatanna shares the spotlight with Catwoman (Reading Order) in Catwoman #18. It doesn't focus much on things going on in Zatanna's life but is a fun crossover.
6. This issue is a part of the Endless Winter (Reading Order) crossover event. Though Zatanna and other members of the Justice League Dark (Reading Order) appear in this issue of the crossover, they do not have a large presence.

Other Appearances

• Harley Quinn
  • The Harley Quinn solo series (Reading Order) appears to take place in a separate continuity from the mainstream DC Universe, possibly at some point in its future.
  • Zatanna's appearance in a story from Secrets of Sinister House #1 takes place within this continuity. It is a team-up with Harley Quinn that expands on their friendship.
  • This team-up takes place in the "Harley Quinn & Zatanna: "Calling Dr. Bonkers!"" story from Secrets of Sinister House #1. This issue is currently uncollected.

Infinite Frontier

This era just began recently. Because of this, Justice League Dark stories from this era are currently in publication. Right now, Zatanna appears alongside the rest of the Justice League Dark in a backup storyline from the Justice League series. This storyline is set to be collected in Justice League Dark: The Great Wickedness.

As this era is still in progress, we will be updating this portion of the reading order once more comics for it have been published.

All DC Comics Reading Orders