Zatanna is getting the ultimate horror-fueled makeover, thanks to DC’s forthcoming Knight Terrors event. Kicking off this summer, Knight Terrors will plunge the DC Universe into darkness, as a new villain named Insomnia makes their presence known. The heroes must face their darkest fears, and in a cover for Knight Terrors: First Blood #1, Zatanna is given a disgusting and disturbing makeover–one sure to keep fans up at night.
DC has unveiled the “open to order” variant cover to Knight Terrors: First Blood, on sale in July; the cover is drawn by Francesco Mattina. It depicts Zatanna in the grips of a demonic entity; the creature, who is not identified, seems to be consuming Zatanna. It has completely wrapped itself around her head; she is screaming in agony as the creature eats her body and presumably soul as well. Sinister, indigo-colored eyes glare at her.
The same entity is also casting spells, creating bonds to hold Zatanna in place. A book of spells floats nearby–did Zatanna accidentally summon this demon with the book?
Only the Most Powerful Can Defeat Zatanna
Demonic entities are just another day at the office for Zatanna, who has spent her entire life surrounded by magic. A member of both the Justice League and Justice League Dark, Zatanna is one of the most powerful magic users in the DC Universe. She is instantly recognizable by fans for her spells, which she invokes by speaking backwards. The daughter of Golden Age sorcerer Zatara, Zatanna has managed to carve out a career as both a world renowned stage magician and a superhero. During her last stint with Justice League Dark, Zatanna was possessed by the evil Upside-Down Man, one of the originators of magic. This powerful being held Zatanna in his clutches, forcing her to do his bidding. Zatanna was eventually freed from the Upside-Down Man’s clutches, but a bit of him remained in her–and every time she used her magic, he became more powerful. It is only a matter of time before the Upside-Down Man reasserts himself.
While DC did not specify if this is a new form of the Upside-Down Man that is consuming Zatanna, whoever it is must be quite powerful. As stated earlier, Zatanna is one of DC’s magical heavyweights, a powerful sorcerer steeped in magical tradition. Only the most powerful of entities in the DC Universe, such as the Upside Down Man, are capable of truly taking Zatanna down to the wire. Could this entity be Insomnia, Knight Terror’s new villain? Or a whole new creature? Alternatively, it could be the Upside-Down Man, returning to take advantage of the chaos caused by the events of Knight Terrors.
Regardless of who the entity is, the cover taps into a very real fear of Zatanna’s: losing control–which is exactly what happened under the Upside-Down Man’s influence. The entity menacing Zatanna is clearly consuming her–but is it trying to merely eat her and absorb her power? Or is it trying to bond itself to her? Whatever the case, Francesco Mattina’s Knight Terrors variant gives fans a new and terrifying vision of Zatanna.
Knight Terrors #1 is on sale July 4th from DC Comics!
