Zatanna Zatara Sitting on Stage

Zatanna Zatara sitting on stage as a cloud of magic smoke disperses in the background.

[Workflow: Image prompt started in NightCafe, then added smoke, font, and some minor AI artifact clean-ups]

Hi-Rez image link [2160px tall]

Constantine Stands on the Dark Rail

As the dimly lit industrial train yard outside Chicago swallowed the darkness, John Constantine stood defiantly on the worn railroad tracks, his eyes locked onto the swirling vortex of hellish sunburst energy before him. The air was thick with the acrid stench of brimstone, clinging to his throat like a noose, while the distant rumble of the approaching train grew louder, its headlamp casting an eerie glow on the rusting behemoths of steel that loomed in the shadows.

With a sweep of his wrist, Constantine's worn leather trench coat fluttered open, revealing a twisted, blackened crucifix adorned with strange symbols and gemstones. It hummed with dark energy as he held it aloft, the relic serving as his focus for the arcane arts. The demon, its grotesque form writhing in agony, clawed at the energy beam searing its flesh, letting out a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the night.

The train's horn blared a warning, a monstrous beast hurtling toward him with deadly precision. The engineer's frantic attempts to brake were futile against the massive weight of the locomotive. Yet Constantine's gaze never wavered; he poured every ounce of his arcane power into the ritual, the air around him crackling with energy as the train bore down.

At that moment, the framework of reality seemed to tear asunder, the boundaries between worlds blurring. The demon's screams crescendoed, mingling with the train's horn, a cacophony of impending doom. But Constantine stood firm, a solitary figure against the tide of darkness, determined to vanquish the horrors that lurked beyond.

As the train thundered closer, he felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him. This was just another day in the life of a man who had made a pact with the devil himself, and he would not let it end here.

[Workflow: Started with a basic image of JC standing with his arm raised forward from image prompts in Tengr, then used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. Added relic to hand, created fire bolts, and Fx, created the inbound train lights approaching, digital sign inlay, texturing for a painted canvas impression for the final edits in Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

Lilitha Summons a Demon - Expanded Edition

Lilitha was once a skilled sorceress who delved too deep into the dark arts, seeking power and knowledge. She made a pact with a powerful demon, trading her soul for unimaginable power. Now, she uses her abilities to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

[Original Workflow: Bing Co-Pilot images brought into Affinity Photo for final hand edits, revised version used Freepik's Pikaso inpainting expansion feature to give a wider-angle view. For version 2 I cleaned up AI glitches, added proper shadow for the demon, new layers for extra smoke, flames, and dust.]

Hi-rez image link [3760px wide]

Placing a Protection Spell (John Constantine)

John Constantine placed a protection spell on the room. I will probably use pieces of this one in a future creation.

John Constantine (The Trench Coat Magician)

A few Nightcafe and Tengr images I created of John Constantine which I then cleaned up within Affinity for final posting.

Zatanna: London, Two Nights Only (Book 1) [TrUzApalOOza cardstock wraparound variant cover]

[my rough proposal for a two-part Zatanna Zatara storyline for DC Comics]

In the city of magic and wonder, where the lights of the West End shine bright, a legendary illusionist is about to take the stage. Zatanna Zatara, the enchanting mistress of magic, has arrived in London for a limited two-night engagement at the historic Garrick Theatre in the heart of Westminster.  As she prepares for her opening night, Zatanna is approached by an old family friend, the enigmatic and mysterious Sargon the Sorcerer. His eyes gleam with an otherworldly intensity as he whispers a cryptic message in her ear. "Zatanna, my dear, I have a favor to ask of you. A dear friend of mine, a collector of rare and ancient artifacts, has gone missing. His name is Silas, and he was last seen in the city, searching for the Orb of St. Edward. It seems that the Cult of Mithras, a secretive and ancient organization, has stolen the Orb from the British Museum, and Silas was tracking them down. I fear he may have gotten himself into trouble, and I need your help to find him and recover the Orb."

Zatanna's eyes narrow, her mind racing with the possibilities. She knows that Sargon's friends are often involved in the darker side of magic, and she senses that this is no ordinary case. "I'll help you, Sargon," she says, her voice firm and resolute. "But I need to know more about the Orb of St. Edward and what kind of danger we're facing."  Sargon's smile is like a crack of thunder on a stormy night. "Ah, Zatanna, you always were one for the thrill of the chase. Very well, I'll tell you what I know. The Orb of St. Edward is a powerful relic, said to grant the power to control the very fabric of reality. It's been passed down through the centuries, and its last known resting place was the British Museum. But now it's gone, and I fear that if it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Zatanna's eyes flash with excitement. She knows that she's in for the adventure of a lifetime, and she's ready to face whatever dangers lie ahead. "Then let's get started, Sargon," she says, her voice dripping with determination. "I'll find Silas and the Orb of St. Edward, no matter what it takes." And with that, Zatanna Zatara sets off on a journey that will take her to the very limits of her magical abilities, and beyond. The game is afoot, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Will Zatanna emerge victorious, or will the darkness consume her?  The world of magic is full of surprises, and Zatanna is about to find out just how true that is...

I am proposing this would be written by Paul Dini, interior art by Jamal Igle, and exclusive painted covers by TrUz ApalOOza.

[Workflow: A series of image prompts from Bing Co-Pilot and NightCafe to give me a chunk of starter images, which I then composed and merged within Affinity Photo. Lots of layers, overlays for shadows and lighting, texture layers for lens flares, sparkles, fireworks, distorted/warped/twisting all over with a large dash of masking.]

Image list:

1. final TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant wraparound cover of Zatanna London book 1
2. raw version of the painting (reduced resolution), without final book layouts/logos
3. front cover view
4. back cover view
5. The series logo which I worked within both Affinity Photo and Designer
6. Letter Z, applied to her tuxedo lapel
7. and a glance at my Affinity Photo layering panels with Fx filters

Zatanna Zatara with her summoned pets

I fed the black & white image of Zatanna Zatara I created earlier this month into NightCafe, Bing Copilot, and Tengr.AI to make some new variations.  Minor clean-ups and final touches by hand using Affinity Photo.

Lilitha Summons a Demon

Lilitha was once a skilled sorceress who delved too deep into the dark arts, seeking power and knowledge. She made a pact with a powerful demon, trading her soul for unimaginable power. Now, she uses her abilities to fight against evil and protect the innocent.

[Workflow: Bing Co-Pilot images brought into Affinity Photo for final hand edits.]

Raven Conjures a Mystical Portal

I extracted a panel from Titans #11 (DC Comics 2024), originally drawn by Lucas Meyer , and modified it to depict Raven having traversed a dimensional portal. I added elements such as a portal, light radiation, particles, a glowing magic staff, an altered moon, removed a moon, and created matching dialogue for the revised scene. Below, you can find the original source page for reference, allowing you to clearly see the alterations I made.

Hi-rez image link [1967px wide]

Zatanna Magic Time

Here are the best of Zatanna Zatara Bing/Copilot-generated AI images I made.

Zatanna Conjures a Mad Rabbit from Her Hat

Zatanna Zatara, a skilled magician and daughter of the renowned magician John Zatara expertly conjured a pentagram-eyed evil rabbit from her top hat. The air was filled with the sweet scent of mysticism and wonder as the demonic rabbit, with its glowing eyes and twisted, gnarled fur, seemed to embody the dark magic that she had summoned. Its presence was both fascinating and unsettling, as if it held secrets and mysteries that only it knew.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, paper textures, and warping effects within Affinity Photo.]

Teenage Zatanna with Xaxpyre

As the warm glow of candles illuminated the mystical chamber, Zatanna, now an older teenage magician, kneeled on the floor, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air as she attempted to conjure a small flame. In front of her, her loyal demon-imp familiar, Xaxpyre, watched with an air of quiet intensity, his piercing green eyes fixed on the young magician.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, and flames within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

The Magic of Zatanna and Xax (a young girl magician and her conjured cat)

Young Zatanna Zatara narrowed her eyes, their cerulean depths glowing with intense concentration. Her lips moved silently, forming the arcane words of an incantation. Her hands, imbued with the power she wielded, danced in the air, tracing intricate patterns. The very air around her seemed to thrum, shimmering and distorting as if reality itself bent to her will. A pinpoint of flame ignited on her index finger, blossoming into a miniature inferno fueled by her magic.

Meanwhile, Xax, the impish demon-cat familiar, reveled in the chaos. With a nonchalant flick of his tail, he sent a fireball arcing through the air, a playful glint in his eyes. His paws, impossibly nimble, juggled the fiery orb with practiced ease. The flames danced around him, a mesmerizing spectacle of swirling gold that cast a warm glow on the scene. Xax punctuated his fiery display with a playful meow, a challenge in his emerald gaze, daring Zatanna to snatch one of the blazing spheres from his midair performance.

As the magical energy escalated, the air crackled with raw power. The acrid tang of smoke and ozone mingled with the sweet, earthy scent of burning wood, filling the air with a heady mix. The very atmosphere vibrated with anticipation, charged with the promise of wonder and the thrill of the unknown. Glowing particles, like miniature stars, swirled and pulsed around them, adding to the spectacle.

[Workflow: Started with some Bing Co-Pilot AI images, and then added additional layers of smoke, particles, and fireballs within Affinity Photo.]

Hi-rez image link [3840px wide]

and then I created a Manga-style version of this image this time with her fire imp Xaxpyre...

Hi-rez image link[3840px wide]

Zatanna Fighting Demons in the Streets of London

As the fog-shrouded streets of London's East End trembled with the whispers of the damned, Zatanna Zatarra, her eyes blazing with determination, clashed with the demonic horde that had descended upon the city. 

[Workflow: a series of Tengr.AI images generated from a base image drawn by Vasco Georgiev, minor post edits done with Affinity Photo.]