Polite Dissent

This transfusion comes from a Zatara story published in Action Comics #17 (October, 1939). For those unfamiliar with the character, Zatara was a magician who found himself involved in a variety of adventures. He had quite the sense of style, and was never without his top hat, even in the most extreme situations. He is the father of Zatanna, a former member of the Justice League, who shares his powers, if not his sense of style.

While on a boat to Europe for his annual vacation, Zatara encounters two old friends of his: Beth Jordan and her husband John. A short time later, strange characters try to grab Beth, but Zatara saves her. A few days after that, at dinner in a Paris café, another attempt is made — but once again Zatara saves the day (in this case by turning the assailant into a statue — which Zatara then uses to decorate his apartment. I told you Zatara had style.). The third time, the enemies have wised up and several of them jump and hogtie Zatara while other kidnap Beth and her husband.

The mysterious assailants load Beth and John on a boat for Africa. Remember the part where I said the bad guys had wised up? It seems I spoke too soon, as the villains also load Zatara on the same boat. Zatara decides not to escape, but to play along and see who is behind the kidnapping. Once the boat arrives in Africa, the trio are loaded on a plane and flown deep into the heart of the continent — to the fabled lost city of Ophir.

The Jordans are dragged before the ancient Queen Setapa, ruler of Ophir, who reveals her secret: she is an ancient sorceress originally from Atlantis who had been kept young through magic elixirs. But now her blood is so old the potions no longer work. She has decided that she needs new blood, and has kidnapped Beth Jordan because “the blood of the ancient race” runs in her veins.

John is chained in the dungeon and Zatara hoisted over a giant fire while Beth is hustled off to an operating room where her blood is transfused into the Queen. As predicted, the transfusion restores Setapa’s youth, but Beth is left a shrunken old woman.

Zatara escapes the Queen’s death trap, regains his top hat, and rescues John. Together they rescue Beth. Zatara then confronts Setapa in a magic duel. In the end, Zatara’s magic proves stronger: Beth’s youth is restored and the Queen once again becomes old and wizened. She vows revenge, but Zatara just blows it off as he and the Jordans leave Ophir.

A couple of thoughts on the transfusion seen in this story:

• Not only does the transfusion restore her youth, but it seems to change Setapa’s ethnicity as well. I think I’ll leave that for others to explain.
• Was the transfusion just of Beth’s blood into Setapa, or was Setapa’s blood also transfused into Beth? I think it must be the latter, for how else can you explain Beth’s mysterious aging? If just loss of her own blood caused Beth to age, I’d hate to be there when she accidentally cut her finger — or every 28 days for that matter.

Other Comic Book Transfusions