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Doctor Fate

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This article is about all associated characters known as Doctor Fate. For original version of the character, see Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson). For the current version of the character, see Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour). For other uses, see Doctor Fate (disambiguation).
Doctor Fate
Textless cover of JSA: All Stars #3. Art by John Cassidy, Mark Lewis, and David Baron.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceMore Fun Comics #55 (May 10th, 1940)
In-story information
Alter egoKent Nelson
Eric/Linda Strauss
Inza Cramer Nelson
Jared Stevens
Hector Hall
Kent V. Nelson
Khalid Nassour
Team affiliationsJustice League
Lords of Chaos and Order
Justice Society of America
Justice League International
Justice League Dark
Sentinels of Magic
All-Star Squadron
PartnershipsPatrons: Nabu, Hauhet, Shat-Ru, Chaos, Thoth, Bastet
Sidekicks and apprentices: Stitch, Salem the Witch Girl
Partners: Kirk Langstrom, Inza Fox, Jack C. Small, Petey
Notable aliasesFate, Fate's Legacy, Sorcerer Supreme,[1] Earth's Mightiest Sorcerer,[2] Mighty Sorcerer,[3] Mantle of Mystic Master,[4] Immortal Doctor Fate,[5] Ageless Archmage,[6] Mystic Maven
Abilities
  • Various mystical powers gained through the magical artifacts (Helmet of Fate, Amulet of Anubis, Cloak of Destiny); powers typically include spell-casting, eldritch blasts, illusion casting, astral projection, reality warping, elemental control etc.
  • Knowledge of the supernatural

Doctor Fate (also known as Fate) is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version was originally created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, debuting in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). Eight characters have served as incarnations of the character within the mainstream DC Universe, with each new version after the original attempting to reinvigorate the character for contemporary audiences.[7][8]

The most well-known version of the character is Kent Nelson,[8] the original Doctor Fate and archaeologist who was empowered by Nabu of the Lords of Order in the 20th century and was a founding member of the Justice Society of America. Having been subjected to various comic book deaths, the character has been succeeded in the role. The current version of the character, Khalid Nassour, is an Egyptian-American physician (originally a medical student) chosen by the goddess Bastet as the latest incarnation of Doctor Fate. This version is supported by Nabu, Thoth, various archangels,[9] and Hauhet. Receiving critical acclaim,[10] the character is often portrayed as an important member of Justice League Dark.[11] Other versions of the character include step-mother/son duo Eric and Linda Strauss, archaeologist Inza Cramer, smuggler Jared Stevens, reincarnated son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Hector Hall, and former psychiatrist Kent V. Nelson.

While not reaching the same levels of iconic cultural recognition like those of Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman, Doctor Fate remains as one of DC Comic's most enduring and long-standing characters, known for their distinctive name and design.[8] The character often appears as a prominent or a major supporting character in various team-based comic book titles such as the Justice Society of America, Justice League International, Justice League Dark, and has had several self-titled comic book titles.

The character has appeared in various incarnations across multiple forms of media based on both the comics and original characters; the Kent Nelson version notably appeared in the television series Smallville, in which he was portrayed by Brent Stait, and the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam, in which he was portrayed by Pierce Brosnan. The Khalid Nassour version debuted in the Young Justice animated television series alongside others based upon pre-existing characters not typically associated with the character's comic book iterations, including Zatara, Zatanna, and Traci Thirteen.

Creation

[edit]

In a 1987 interview, Fox recalled the genesis behind Fate, stating, "Doctor Fate (I originally called him Doctor Droon, but the name was editorially changed) was one of my favorites. I created him and even sketched out the original costume he would wear - but that costume was changed by artists over the years, for one reason or another. To my knowledge, I wrote all the Dr. Fate yarns that appeared, up until 1968, when I left comic book writing to a great degree. I always liked the supernatural; I read Lovecraft, Derleth, Sax Rohmer, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Whitehead, all the others, Fate was a derivation from my imagination influenced by those writings"[12]

Publication history

[edit]

Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age of Comics (1940 - 1985)

[edit]

The original version of the character, Kent Nelson, first appeared in a self-titled six page strip in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940), during the Golden Age of Comic Books, created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, who produced the first three years of monthly Doctor Fate stories.[13] Soon after, the character's origin shown in More Fun Comics #67 (May 1941).[14] Stories during the Golden Age included his love interest, Inza, who was known variably throughout the Golden Age as Inza Cramer,[15] Inza Sanders,[16][17] and Inza Carmer.[18][19][20][21] When the Justice Society of America was created for All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940), Doctor Fate was one of the characters National Comics used for the joint venture with All-American Publications. He made his last appearance within the book in issue #21 (Summer 1944), virtually simultaneously with the end of his own strip in More Fun Comics #98 (July–August 1944).

The character later appeared in book such as the annual JSA/JLA team-ups in Justice League of America that began in 1963 and est Comics #201 (March 1971 and #208, December 1971); an appearance with Batman in The Brave and the Bold #156 (November 1979); and a solo story in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), written by Martin Pasko and drawn by Walt Simonson. Doctor Fate and the rest of The Justice Society returned to All-Star Comics in 1976 with issue #58, for a two-year run ending with issue #74 and Adventure Comics #461-462 in 1978, and Adventure Comics #466 related the untold tale of the Justice Society's 1951 disbanding. During this period, Inza Cramer's name as such was amended.[22]

During the Bronze Age, the character's origin was retold in DC Special Series #10, and Doctor Fate again teamed up with Superman in DC Comics Presents #23 (July 1980), and featured in a series of back-up stories running in The Flash from #306 (February 1982) to No. 313 (September 1982) written by Martin Pasko (aided by Steve Gerber from #310 to No. 313) and drawn by Keith Giffen.[23] In 1981,DC's All-Star Squadron elaborated upon the adventures of many World War II-era heroes, including Doctor Fate and the JSA. Doctor Fate made occasional modern-day appearances in Infinity, Inc. throughout 1984, the same year which witnessed the 22nd and final annual Justice Society/Justice League team-up.[24] In 1985, DC collected the Doctor Fate back-up stories from The Flash, a retelling of Doctor Fate's origin by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton, and Michael Nasser originally published in Secret Origins of Super-Heroes (January 1978) (DC Special Series #10 in the Indicia), the Pasko/Simonson Doctor Fate story from 1st Issue Special #9, and a Doctor Fate tale from More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940), in a three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Doctor Fate.

Doctor Fate later appeared in several issues of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, assisting various heroes from the DC Multiverse battle the Anti-Monitor and later Amethyst.[25][26] Despite the significant alterations to various histories resulting from the crisis, much of Kent Nelson's personal history remained largely unaffected, although much of the earlier stories during the Golden Age were retconned out.

Modern Age (1985 - 2011)

[edit]

In 1987, the Doctor Fate limited series was released, featuring the debut of Eric and Linda Strauss. The characters would replace Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate, who is killed off in the series.[27] A subsequential ongoing series was released focusing on the former two characters, the first twenty-four issues having been written and drawn by J.M. DeMatteis and Shawn McManus, starting in the winter of 1988. The series' premise involved the pair under the guidance of Nabu, who inhabited and taken Kent Nelson's identity. The series' also establishes a supporting cast for the characters, the recurring concept of kali yuga amongst the Lords of Chaos and Order, a period where chaos reigns and order is defeat, and established the incarnations to be the result of reincarnation cycles. During DeMatteis's run, the series experienced limited sales.[8] Doctor Fate would also appear in several other crossovers and storylines, including Millennium and Cosmic Odyssey. Both characters are killed off halfway into the series, replaced by resurrected Inza and Kent Nelson from issue #25 onward in 1991. The series ended with issue #41.[28] and following Zero Hour, DC killed off both Kent and Inza.

Fate #1 (November 1994) featuring Jared Stevens. Cover art by Anthony Williams and Andy Lanning.

A new incarnation, Jared Stevens, was introduced in a self-titled series called Fate, launched in the wake of Zero Hour in 1994.[29] The Doctor Fate character went through a radical redesign, dropping the "Doctor" title and gaining new weapons made from the previous related artifacts of Doctor Fate. Unlike prior depictions of the Doctor Fate character as a sorcerer, the character was instead a demon hunter.[30] Considered an unpopular re-imagining of the character,[7] the series was cancelled after 23 issues in September 1996. The character then starred in The Book of Fate written by Keith Giffen, which ran from February 1997 to January 1998 for twelve issues as part of DC's "Weirdoverse" imprint, rebooting the character's origins and adventures. However, the revival of the JSA title in 1991 allowed an opportunity for the Doctor Fate character to be reworked, with Jared Stevens subsequently killed off.[31][32]

The next incarnation of Doctor Fate would come in the form of Hector Hall, the son of the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl who is reincarnated due to the machinations of a supervillain. A fan-favorite incarnation,[33] the character was featured in the JSA title and a five issue Doctor Fate limited series in 2003.[34] The character was killed in the Day of Vengeance limited series in 2005 as part of the lead in to the 2005 company-wide event story, Infinite Crisis.[35]

In early 2007, DC published a bi-weekly run of one-shots depicting the search for a new Doctor Fate. These were intended to be followed by a new Doctor Fate ongoing series in April 2007, written by Steve Gerber and illustrated by Paul Gulacy, featuring Kent V. Nelson.[8][36] However, the series was delayed due to extended production and creative difficulties. Gerber said in an interview for Newsarama that the story intended for the first arc of the Doctor Fate ongoing series had been reworked to serve as the main story for Countdown to Mystery, a dual-feature eight-issue miniseries with Eclipso as the second feature.[37] The first issue of Countdown to Mystery, with art by Justiniano and Walden Wong rather than Gulacy, was released in November 2007. Due to Gerber's death, the seventh issue was written by Adam Beechen using Gerber's notes. The final issue was written by Beechen, Gail Simone, Mark Waid, and Mark Evanier, who each wrote a different ending to the story.[38]

The character then appeared in the Reign in Hell miniseries[39] and in Justice Society of America (vol. 3) #30 (August 2009), featuring in the book until its cancellation with #54 in August 2011. During the series, Marc Guggenheim described Doctor Fate's role as a powerhouse but intended to flesh out the character.[40]

The New 52 and beyond (2011 - present)

[edit]
Textless cover of Doctor Fate #13 depicting both Kent Nelson and the newly created incarnation, Khalid Nassour, as Doctor Fate.

Following the events of the Flashpoint mini-series in 2011, DC's continuity was rebooted. As part of The New 52 initiative, an alternate version of Doctor Fate named Khalid Ben-Hassin was created by writer James Robinson[41] and artist Brett Booth. The character was featured in the Earth 2 ongoing series from #9 (February 2013) onwards.[42]

After the conclusion of the Convergence limited series in June 2015, DC launched a new Doctor Fate ongoing series, written by Paul Levitz and drawn by Sonny Liew as part of the DC You initiative, which saw an emphasis on "story over continuity", loosening the restrictions of continuity to allow for a diverse range of genres while some characters underwent status quo changes. The title focused on the newest and most recent incarnation of Doctor Fate, an Egyptian-American medical student named Khalid Nassour.[9] Created with an emphasis on diversity and inspired by Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange,[43] the series also rebooted he Kent Nelson character, depicting him as a previous Doctor Fate, a mentor figure with some of his old histories intact. The series ran for 18 issues, from June 2015 to November 2016.[44]

In 2018, DC launched a second Justice League Dark series written by James Tynion IV starring a new roster led by Wonder Woman. In this roster, Khalid and Kent Nelson were revealed to be eventual new members of the Justice League, originally acting as "advisors" in the team and becoming reoccurring characters. Nassour would eventually permanently become the new Doctor Fate instead of Kent Nelson in the "Lords of Order" storyline. Nassour would also receive a new redesign as Doctor Fate.[45] Nelson's character would be later killed off in the "A Costly Trick of Magic" storyline, leaving Nassour as the sole Doctor Fate character. While the original 2018 series was cancelled in 2020, the Justice League Dark series was re-purposed as a backup issue to the mainstream Justice League title, the backup issue being written by author Ram V, featuring a new storyline, with Khalid remaining a reoccurring member of the Justice League Dark subdivision.[46] Khalid would also appear in several title crossovers such as Superman, Teen Titans Academy, and The Flash.

Beginning in 2021, Khalid Nassour would appear in major storylines such as the Justice League Dark: The Great Wickedness storyline, depicting a status quo change wherein the Helmet of Fate is damaged and is inhabited by a new entity.[47] Connected to the Future State crossover event depicting an older Khalid Nassour having lived through the aftermath of the events of the "Great Wickedness" storyline, the entity is revealed to be the Egyptian goddess, Hauhhet.[47] Nassour would also play a role in the Justice League/Justice League Dark crossover. In late 2022, the Nassour version concurrently appeared in the 2022 Justice Society of America comic and in several other notable crossovers such as Lazarus Planet and Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. In the Justice Society of America comic title, the character's status quo from the previous Justice League Dark title carries over with the Khalid as a member of the Justice Society and playing a crucial role in defeating Degaton. The series would showcase different iterations of Doctor Fate as Degaton hunts the JSA across time[48] and later rectified the history of the character.[49]

In 2023, the Nelson version is referenced in the Knight Terrors storyline[50] and the Nassour version appears in the Wonder Woman tie-tin.[51][52] In late 2023 and 2024, Kent would make appearances in various titles such as Green Lantern: Alan Scott and Jay Garrick: The Flash, the comic books taking place decades prior to the character's death in Justice League Dark. Khalid would also featured in the Absolute Power crossover, depicted as one of the heroes depowered by the machinations of Amanda Waller with the help of Amazo robots replicating the powers of heroes and Brainiac Queen.

Character overview

[edit]

Doctor Fate is a sorcerous hero commonly empowered by magical patrons.[14] Since the first Doctor Fate series in 1989, the character was retroactively established as a legacy hero, with new incarnations introduced throughout their publication history. In more recent continuities, the character was also defined as originally being champions and mystic defenders from ancient Egypt whom were vessels for Nabu due to possession of the Helmet of Fate until in recent times,[30][11] with Kent Nelson being the first to use the codename "Doctor Fate" and exhibited incarnations' capacity for having personal agency.[48]

Patronage, role, and support

[edit]

Lords of Chaos and Order

[edit]
Main article: Lords of Chaos and Order

Doctor Fate is more commonly empowered as an agent for the Lords of Order and battles the forces of evil.[14] Nabu is the most frequent patron and power behind various incarnations of Doctor Fate, noted for being a dissident and obsessive patron who often schemes to supplant and override the will of various incarnations; while the original Doctor Fate was gradually treated as a conduit for Nabu,[53] subsequent incarnations would be given more personal agency.[54] Other Lords of Order, such as Shat-Ru, also served as a patron of similar abilities but allowed the retention of agency.[55] At times, the Lords of Chaos also have empowered Doctor Fate to showcase chaos not being equal to evil.[56] In other instances, both groups or a affiliated subgroup (sometimes called the Lords of Balance) have also empowered Doctor Fate as a agent of balance,[54][57] serving in a similar capacity to battling evil but also to act as a check and balances between the affiliated groups.[57]

Ancient Egyptian deities

[edit]
See also: Ancient Egyptian deities

Since Khalid Nassour's debut in the 2015 Doctor Fate series, Egyptian deities have served as patrons in place of the Lords of Chaos and Order for the aforementioned incarnation. In this arrangement, Doctor Fate remained an agent of order but is guided by Bastet and Nabu (a disciple of Thoth) while the powers associated with Doctor Fate is instead supplied by Thoth[58] and later Hauhet, whom consolidates the role of being the guide and power behind Doctor Fate.[47] The Egyptian deities also work directly under the purview of DC Comics' depiction of God in Abrahamic religions and archangels, with the Egyptian deities considered either a more powerful variant of jinns or fellow angels fashioning themselves as deities.[59][60]

Characterization

[edit]

Kent Nelson

[edit]
Main article: Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)

The original version is acknowledged as an agent of order under Nabu and is considered a highly regarded incarnation.[61][62][63] The character is notable marked by his complex and antagonistic relationship with Nabu, who often works to supplant his will and personal agency.[64] While an experienced and respected hero who is often sought after for advice in his later years,[65] Nelson often becomes disillusioned with the role over time and is supportive of a successor.[66] Nelson's character expresses an approach of Doctor Fate in which focuses on grand supernatural problems and believes problems in regards to humanity being mundane and doesn't warrant such attention but adheres to the role encompassing a high responsibility.[60][56]

Eric and Linda Strauss

[edit]

The original successors of Kent Nelson's role as Doctor Fate, both characters were ordinary individuals and outside their role as Doctor Fate, possessing no abilities of note, had the shortest tenure.[67] Similar to Nelson, both are considered agents of order advised by Nabu, who appropriated a Kent's deceased body during their tenure, making them independent from Nabu's influence. The pair can mystically merge with one another to become an independent being known as Doctor Fate, with the artifacts instead manifesting only after the merging.[68]

Inza Cramer

[edit]

Within the second Doctor Fate solo series, Cramer is depicted as being inadvertently an agent for the Lords of Chaos, using her chaos-powered magic for benevolent reasons.[69] Differing from previous incarnations before her, she is characterized as using overwhelming power to simultaneously address both grander universal issues and more "local" issues such as social inequality and poverty, the latter in a district in New York City. A reoccurring conflict for the character is the moral and ethical usage of her powers, questioned often by her husband and, at times, other allies.[56]

Jared Stevens

[edit]

A version of the Doctor Fate character often considered unpopular,[7] the Stevens versions is radically different, referring to himself only simply as "Fate", is retroactively acknowledged as a demon hunter,[30] and doesn't utilize spell-casting powers like previous incarnations.[70] He is also referred to as an agent of for the Lords of Balance.[57] As Fate, the character investigates supernatural occurrences and possess powers to sense disturbances and the fates of others but is a controversial figure within the DC Universe, considered a person of interest to government agencies, the superhero community (i.e. the Justice League), and aspects of the supernatural community. This enmity is characterized especially prevalent amongst those like Alan Scott, whom was close to previous incarnations.[70]

Hector Hall

[edit]
Main article: Hector Hall

The Hall version of the character is the former son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders) known as the Silver Scarab whom was killed by and reincarnated as the son of Hawk and Dove. Now the spiritual son of both Hawkman and Hawkgirl late possessing memories of his past lifetime,[71] Halls is portrayed as legacy hero burdened with the responsibilities associated with Doctor Fate. While potentially being the greatest, he seeks to prove both himself and his teammates of being capable. Unlike previous versions, Hall is referred to an agent of balance.[54]

Kent V. Nelson

[edit]
Main article: Doctor Fate (Kent V. Nelson)

Inspired by Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange and created by Steve Gerber to simplify aspects of the Doctor Fate character, Kent V. is the grandnephew of Kent Nelson and former psychiatrist who becomes an incarnation of Doctor Fate.[72] Lacking any ties to other mythologies and the Lords of Chaos and Order, this version is a sorcerous hero of the Justice Society of America. The younger Nelson is also less apt in mystical arts and his intended characterization includes working to becoming more formidable by using a consistent set of spells and abilities.[36] Alongside his great uncle, the character's other familial connections include ex-wife Marissa Nelson, and daughter Laryn Nelson.[72] Although the character's history restoration into the prime continuity would retroactively make the character cousin to Khalid Nassour and the nephew of Elizabeth/Mohammed Nassour respectively, the new history has Nassour comment none were able to actually confirm his relation to the original Kent Nelson.[48]

Khalid Nassour

[edit]
Main article: Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour)

Drawing inspiration from Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, Nassour is portrayed as a young adult and grandnephew of Kent Nelson burdened with significant responsibilities, embarking on a journey of self-discovery within a world reminiscent of Doctor Strange's mystical realm.[73] Supported initially by Nabu, it differed from past portrayals and was noted to be akin to a "combination of a GPS system and the movie version of Iron Man's J.A.R.V.I.S.", contrasting from past depictions as an overbearing presence.[74] Nassour has been supported by various Egyptian deities, several archangels,[58] and currently Hauhet, whom replaced Nabu with a yet unknown agenda.[75] However, he retains the status of agent of order.[47]

Reputation

[edit]

Although specific accolades of each incarnation vary, the Doctor Fate character is considered among the most powerful superheroes in the DC Universe.[76] Throughout the publication history of the character, specific descriptors of the character's expressed is sometimes consistent with one another; the original and Hall versions were both cited as among the "greatest living sorcerers" due to possessing the artifacts associated with Doctor Fate.[14][77] Similarly, both the Nassour and Hall versions are both comparable to noted sorceress Zatanna and alongside the Eric and Linda Strauss versions, are considered among the most powerful magic practitioners on Earth[78][79][68] while the original Neslon and Inza Cramer versions shared the distinction of "one of the ten most powerful beings on Earth".[80] Uniquely, the Kent V. Neslon version is expressed with the title of Sorcerer Supreme within comics.[81]

While all versions (sans Jared Stevens) are considerable in magical practice, the original version is often cited as the most formidable version of the character[67] and is subjected to being compared to later versions; the Eric and Linda Strauss versions were once stated to potentially surpass Nelson in raw power combined[82] but do not rival his knowledge.[68] Hall's version is recognized as potentially the most formidable version of Doctor Fate than even Nelson[54] while Cramer was considered more talented. Conversely, the Nassour versions was once stated (prior to training) to being less powerful than previous Doctor Fates[30] and in later stories, it was asserted by the character was instead less powerful than either the original Neslon and Hall version.[83] The Kent V. version was noted to be lacking in skill enough to obfuscate his trueskills through the reputation of past incarnations[84] and the Eric and Linda Strauss version in later stories were retroactively considered unremarkable compared to later versions.[85][86]

Fictional history

[edit]
Release timeline
Debuts & histories of mainstream Doctor Fate
Earth-Two continuity in green
Post-COIE continuity in blue
Current continuity in red
1940'Kent Nelson, Nabu, and Inza debuts.
Nelson is Doctor Fate
1941–1984
1985Nelson, Nabu, and Cramer exists in a merged reality.
Select stories are definitive adventures.
1986
1987Eric and Linda Strauss debuts.
Nelson is killed off.
1988–1990
1991Eric and Linda are killed off.
Nelson and Inza are ressurected.
Inza is Doctor Fate.
1992–1993
1994Jared is Fate
Inza and Kent are killed off.
1995–1998
1999Jared is killed off.
Hector Hall debuts as Doctor Fate.
2000–2004
2005Hector Hall is killed off
Nabu is briefly Doctor Fate in place.
2006Nabu is killed off.
2007Kent V. Nelson debuts.
2008–2011
2012All previous Doctor Fate histories are rebooted.
JSA characters are re-imagined into a rebooted Earth-2.
2013Doctor Fate becomes a Earth-2 character
Khalid Ben-Hassin debuts.
2014
2015Doctor Fate/JSA in mainstream continuity resumes.
Khalid Nassour debuts.
Post-Flashpoint Kent Nelson first appears.
Post-Flashpoint Nabu first appears.
2016Khalid and Kent are concurrently Doctor Fate.
Kent Nelson later becomes the main Doctor Fate again.
2017–2019
2020Khalid is the main Doctor Fate once more.
Kent is killed off again.
2021–2023
2024Past histories from Post-COIE is restored.

20th Century

[edit]

Origin and Nelson's adventures

[edit]

In his debut appearance in issue #55-56 for More Fun Comics (May–June 1940), the characters makes his first ecounter with archnemesis Wotan and love interest Inza Crame. Wotan is beaten but learns he did not pass into the afterlife and encounters him once again, attempting to blow up the Earth. Fate manages to defeat him, placing him in suspended animation before buring him deep within the Earth.[64]

The character's origin was first revealed in All-Star Comics #3 (1940), written by Garnder Fox, cumilating to Doctor Fate stating that he is not human nor had a childhood, created by elder gods and placed upon Earth to battle the forces of evil.[87] One year later, the character was given a new origin with the alter-ego, Kent Nelson. Kent was the son of archaeologist Sven Nelson who encountered Nabu as a child during an excavation and accidentally kills his father by releasing poisonous gases. Nabu explains he is immortal alien being from the planet Cilia and pities the boy, taking him in to teach him the "secrets of the universe" and raises him into adulthood to become Doctor Fate.[88]

The1963 "Crisis on Earth-One" and "Crisis on Earth-Two" storylines respectively revealed Neslon and the Justice Society of America's reality to be of Earth-2 and meets with the Justice League of Earth-1, a superhero team of a parallel world. After years of retirement, Doctor Fate becomes semi-active and helps the teams.[89][30]

In 1975, the storyline from 1st Issue Special #9 reveals more of Nelson's earlier years, pitting him against the mummy sorcerer Khalis while dealing with a frustrated Inza, whom he has married fifteen years after becoming Doctor Fate. The story also retroactively changes aspects of his origin, revealing Nabu altered young Kent's mind to erase his grief and pain, establishing him as twelve years old during the incident and would slowly possess him as Doctor Fate when he was an adult.[64][90] Three years later in 1978, Paul Levitz's revisions alternatively depicting Nabu as a cosmic being of the Lords of Order and sought to use young Kent, whom he aged to adulthood and imparted into him his mystical knowledge in the process.[91]

From 1981 to 1982, Nelson appears in backup issues in The Flash #306-313. Nelson continues to face foes from the Lords of Chaos while a martial rift between the pair grows due to Inza's envy over Nabu's presence and Nelson's duties as Doctor Fate taking precedent over her and their marriage. In one instance, Totec weaponizes her envy against Nelson. In another, while Nelson battles a renegade Lord of Order and Lord of Chaos who team up, Inza nearly commits to infedelity with a museum curator. Sensing the rift to be potentially damaging to Nelson's mind, Nabu allows the pair to both mend their marriage and later merges her with Kent temporarily, formulating a new Doctor Fate transformation that defeats the renegade Lords and grants Inza a higher understanding of her husband's role.[64]

Crisis on Infinite Earths and onward

[edit]

The character later appears in the Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover series, merging both Earth-1 and Earth-2 realities within the multiverse altering event, with all past definitive histories histories having been said to happen on this composite universe ("Earth").[30]

Eric and Linda Strauss's tenure (1987 - 1991)

[edit]

In the late-1980s, an older Kent Nelson appears as a key member of the Justice League International but is killed off in the1987 within J. M. DeMatteis's Doctor Fate miniseries, which introduced the origin of Eric and Linda Strauss's incarnation.[92][30][11]

Eric Strauss is the ten-year-old son of a billionaire whose history of abuse led to the suicide of his birth mother and disdain of his stepmother. With the boy's father dies and is placed and under her care, she is both attracted and amazed by Eric for reasons she cannot explain. Eric is chosen to wear the Helmet of Fate and is aged up by Nabu. Conversely, Linda Strauss is the twenty-eight year old stepmother of Eric who she becomes attached and attracted to despite believing it to be inappropriate. Years earlier, she married Eric's father for his wealth but regrets it following his abusive tendencies. The pair later merges with one another to become the new Doctor Fate during a battle with villains, Anti-Fate and Typhon.[92][30]

The second series revealed both Eric and Linda to be a pair often reincarnated alongside one another subjected to familial, platonic, and even adversarial dynamics in each lifetime.[93] In 1991,the pair are eventually killed off in different circumstances involving Darkseid (retroactively revealed to be a disguised DeSaad) and Anti-Fate respectively but reincarnate into new lives, ending their run. Their tenure as Doctor Fate was revealed to have lasted for approximately a year within the series.[93]

Inza Cramer's tenure (1991 - 1994)

[edit]
Inza as Doctor Fate. Art by Vincent Giarrano, Peter Gross, and Anthony Tollin.

In the same year during the second half of the second Doctor Fate series, Inza and Kent are revived in younger bodies. Circumstances makes Inza Doctor Fate, allowing her a social life and shifts her heroism towards social class issues and inequality alongside fighting the supernatural. Inza appears in the War of the Gods crossover and title alongside Wonder Woman and other superheroes to help thwart Circe's efforts from destroying Earth.[94]

Jared Steven's Fate tenure (1994 - 1999)

[edit]

In 1994, Jared Steven's first origin story is depicted in early issues of the Fate series by John Francis Moore, where he is hired by elderly Kent and Inza Nelson to retrieve the lost artifacts of Doctor Fate. The pair are killed by demons when they try to collect the artifacts and Jared comes into contact with Nabu. Jared rejects his attempt to make him Doctor Fate under his control and circumstances causes him to alter the forms of the artifacts, the helmet now being a knife, the power of the Amulet of Anubis within him now, and the Cloak of Destiny now acting as bandages on his arm. He also instead utilizes the moniker of "Fate".[95]

In 1997, Keith Griffen later reboots his origins, wherein the elder Nelsons instead deceive Stevens into the role of Doctor Fate, allowing them to past into the afterlife peacefully and burdens him with the responsibilities.[96]

In 1999, an issue of DC's Secret Files and Origins establish various points in time: Nelson becoming Doctor Fate in 1940, the events of Eric and Linda Strauss's time as Doctor Fate took place four years prior to the book's timeline (1995) and Jared Steven was chosen as Fate one year prior to the book's timeline (1998).[97] Another SF&O issue reinforces Nelson's first time as Doctor Fate in 1940, Eric/Linda's time being four years prior to the book's timeline (1995) Jared being chosen one year ago (1998). However, Inza's activities during War of the Gods is references to taken place two years prior (1997).[77]

21st Century

[edit]

Hector Hall's tenure (1999 - 2005)

[edit]
See also: Hector Hall

In late 1999, The story within the book (JSA Secret Files) also is part of and leads into the "Justice Be Done" storyline by James Robinson and David S. Goyer Jared Stevens is killed off and replaced with Hector Hall, the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl who is reincarnated as the new Doctor Fate and aged up from an infant by the villain Mordru, who he then battles and prevails thanks to the spirit of Kent and Inza within the Amulet of Anubis.[71] Hector Hall's Doctor Fate also appears in the Day of Judgement comic title and crossover, depicted as a member of the Sentinels of Magic.

In the 2003 Doctor Fate limited series, Hall battles the Curse, a demigod sorcerer that challenged Nabu in the past. Similar to Nabu in being bound to a helmet, he gains a willing host in Justin Guilder, who is vying alongside Hector for the affection of love interest, Caitlin. Hall is assisted by a Wiccan coven but is later mortally injured and meets Nabu's spirit in the helm, who berates him due to not living up his potential despite being seen as the most powerful Doctor Fate incarnation. Overpowering Nabu and his verbal abuse, he revitalizes himself and defeats the Curse, becoming more secure and confident in the process.[98]

In the 2005 Day of Vengeance crossover, Hector is killed by the Spectre and Nabu briefly acts in place of Doctor Fate. He gathers gather mystics and later confronts the ghost, driven to insanity and commits towards a witch-hunt for all magic users, destroying the Lords of Chaos and Order in the process. Fatally injured, he succeeds in stopping the Spectre but dies. In his final moments, he asks Captain Marvel to throw the helmet into space in hopes it finds a worthy bearer.[99][30]

Kent V. Nelson's tenure (2007 - 2011)

[edit]

Throughout 2007–2008, the Kent V. Nelson version is introduced by Steve Gerber following Hall's death in Countdown to Mystery. His origin depicts him as a former psychiatrist whose life spirals out of control following an infidelity, depression, and loss of medical license. The grandnephew of the original Kent Nelson, whom he is named after, he continues the Doctor Fate line when he dons the helmet sometime prior to the Final Crisis crossover event and battles longtime Doctor Fate villain, Nergal. Due to Gerber's death, the conclusion of the series features several different endings from his notes written by several other writers.[72][11]

In 2008–2009, the Reign in Hell storyline and comic title features Kent V. alongside other notable magic users (Zatanna, Ibis the Invincible, Enchantress, etc.) getting involved in a civil war in hell between Neron, the current ruler, and duo siblings Satanus and Blaze, the demonic children of the Wizard Shazam. An inexperienced sorcerer, Nelson is unaware of how to escape from hell and battles Blaze, who lambasts him for his limited experience but is defeated when she hints how to focus his power. He also helps the group fight Lobo, who has been exiled to Hell.[100]

In 2010–2011, the original Nelson's spirit appears to help Green Lantern while stuck on a planet with no way to escape, learning of his future death but chooses to save Hal instead despite his protests.[101] Later, the current Nelson becomes involved in the Justice Society, helping the team fight against a team of villains targeting the JSA, later saving Mister Terrific's life, and battling Mordru despite his limited talents before leaving to improve his abilities.[84][102] In "The Dark Things" crossover storyline, he later comes under the Starheart's influence and abducts JSA team members and Sebastian Faust as the Starheart pits themselves against the JSA and JLA with the help Alan Scott's mind controlled children, Jade and Obsidian.[103] He also helps the team fight against the new threat known as Scythe and helps Lightning deal with the rift between her and her father, Black Lightning, and is scarred in process when helping her through mystical means.[104]

New 52 onward

[edit]

Following the New 52 reboot in 2012, the Kent V. Nelson version is erased from existence alongside much of the past incarnations of Doctor Fate.[30]

Nassour's first tenure (2015 - 2016)
[edit]

In 2015, the current version of Doctor Fate is imagined by Paul Levitz as twenty-two year old biracial Egyptian-American Khalid Nassour, who is Muslim, a descendant of a line of Pharaohs, and a medical student. In his debut story, the "Blood Price", he inherits the mantle of Doctor Fate from ancient Egyptian deities and archangels alike to oppose Anubis.[105][58] Subsequent stories It is later revealed that he is connected to the Nelson bloodline through his mother, who is described to be Kent Nelson's favorite niece who inspired her towards archaeology. An elderly Kent also returns into the role and mentor Khalid and both are Doctor Fate concurrently,[59]

Nelson's return (2016 - 2019)
[edit]

Nelson later takes precedent within the role, with Nabu also briefly usurping it to battle Arion and assist the latest Blue Beetle,[106] and appears in crossovers such as 2017's Dark Nights: Metal.[107] During James Tynion IV's run in Justice League Dark from 2017 to 2019, Kent, Khalid, and Nabu are featured heavily in the run. The pair are trapped by Nabu, who uses Nelson's body and conspires with other Lords of Order to destroy the source of magic following the piercing of the Source Wall. Their plans are interrupted by Wonder Woman's newly created Justice League Dark and their allies, who free Khalid. Enlisting the power of chaos magic from Mordru, Kent is freed from Nabu's control and the team prevails in defeating the Lords of Order. Wonder Woman asks Nelson to don the helmet once more, who refuses due to his disillusionment and recommends Khalid, who also declines. The pair enlist themselves as advisory based members of Justice League Dark but when the team is pitted against Circe's Injustice League Dark, Khalid becomes the sole Doctor Fate and assists in their defeat.[108][66][65]

Nassour's return and second tenure (2019 - present)

[edit]

As the sole Doctor Fate, Nassour is a trusted member of Justice League Dark,[11] was instrumental in both restoring the Parliaments governing the elemental forces of the DC Universe and the eventual defeat of Upside-Down Man, where Kent sacrifices himself to deal a powerful blow but at the cost of the helm being depleted of power.[109] Within several stories in 2021 onward (coinciding within the Infinite Frontier period), the character is revealed to have taken in non-binary animated effigy Stich as both child and apprentice in the mystic arts[110] and had managed to restore the power lost against Upside-Down Man with Kirk Langstom's help as the Justice League Dark battled an evil Merlin. A new spirit, the goddess Hauhet, is revealed to have replaced Nabu and grants Nassour the power to see into the future.[47] In the 2022 "Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, Nassour joins the Justice Society and helps in efforts to defeat Pariah and the Great Darkness.[111][112]

In 2023 during the Dawn of DC period, Nassour is mentioned in both the prelude and main even of the Lazarus Planet crossover and appears in the spin-off. The former mentions he is bested by Nezha and the helm is stolen for his purposes and his disappearance was noticed by heroes. Dreamer discovers he is trapped in a dream-like state after being enlisted by Batman to help track him down.[113][114] In his concurrent appearances in Geoff John's 2023 Justice Society of America series, chronologically taking place after Lazarus Planet, Nassour helps the team and future Helena Wayne fight against Per Degaton's attempt to erase them from existence with the help of JSA members across time while a past Nelson reconciles the various alterations in his lifetime from Degaton.[115] The title addresses timeline discrepancies, noting events like "Zero Hour" occurred eight years earlier and the 2015 Doctor Fate series is set one year prior.[48] However, Khalid's appearances in other titles, especially Justice League Dark,[116][65] suggest a tenure longer than four years, as he is depicted as a medical school graduate and being a first-year resident physician.[65]

In 2024, aspects of past incarnations' histories are restored by Geoff Johns and Nelson makes posthumous appearances during the 1940s which expands on his histories in the new reality that followed the New 52. One noted change includes him having a young arrogant sidekick Salem the Witch Girl until her disappearance from time erased his memories of her.[48] Among other minor appearances includes him being present when Wesley Dodds was recruited into the JSA,[117] assisted Flash (Jay Garrick) alongside the JSA and the Boom (Garrick's daughter) in battling Doctor Elemental,[118] and aiding Green Lantern (Alan Scott) when attacked by a group of similarly powered villains known as the Crimson Hosts.[119][120]

Nassour's involvement saw Salem's return to the current timeline, where she is hostile due to his placement in the legacy of Doctor Fate. Nassour places Salem under the JSA's care until the pair can reconcile and is ventures to the 31st Century to help the Legion of Substitute Heroes unearth a plot by Eclipso.[121][122] Nassour is also involved in the Knight Terrors and Absolute Power crossovers, among the heroes captured in the latter,[123][124] the becomes a member of the now rebranded Justice League Unlimited following the events. He assists the League in defeating Darkseid the League inadvertently helps the villain become the creator of the Absolute Universe.[125]

Powers, abilities, and resources

[edit]

Doctor Fate

[edit]

Mystical artifacts

[edit]

While incarnations of Doctor Fate often possess different abilities compared to one another,[76][30] all possess a collection of powerful magical artifacts[3] that can empower individuals of limited supernatural skill with substantial mystical power,[86] in which experienced incarnations possess a godlike level of magical power and knowledge[53] which makes them nearly unmatched in spell-casting[30][3] and capable of virtually any kind of mystical feat.[62] These artifacts also serve a dual purpose of both enhancing inherent magical powers and serving as protective measures.[126]

Helmet of Fate
[edit]
Main articles: Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson) §  Powers, abilities, and resources; Hector Hall § Doctor Fate's powers and abilities; and Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour) §  Powers, abilities, and resources

The Helmet of Fate bestows its wearer with extraordinary god-like abilities and is widely regarded as one of the most potent artifacts in existence. Constructed from Nth metal, the helmet possesses inherent mystical properties and possesses the unique ability to counteract and negate magical forces.[107] Whether guided by the residing spirit within the helm or through the helm's own discernment, the artifact is typically accessible only to individuals deemed worthy by its judgment.[67] Despite its formidable nature, the Helmet of Fate is not impervious to damage. It has shown vulnerability to powerful entities like Arion and Brimstone, requiring subsequent regeneration. The helmet is susceptible to potent forms of Atlantean magic, power from higher beings such as the Spectre, and advanced applications of the Firestorm matrix. It can also experience overload, resulting in temporary limitations and the inertness of certain powers.[127][106][109]

Throughout the publication history of Doctor Fate, the portrayal of the helm's source and methodology of power has undergone various changes, dependent on the incarnation of Doctor Fate; the original version possesses a varied history, first described as being from "unknown science of the weird and occult" and having learned " the true conversation of energy into matter, and matter into energy". Doctor Fate was also described as being a "alchemist and physicist extraordinaire".[128] Subsequent depictions instead established the character to possess a more outright supernatural connection; the helm was described as granting power to perform "virtually" any mystical feat.[62] It was additionally described as being imaginative-based compared to spell-casting or familiars due to Doctor Fate being a "Earth-bound Lord of Order".[129] The subsequent versions, Eric, Linda, and Inza possess similar abilities (although Inza were based in chaos magic)[56] and could merge with another vessel to become a more powerful, singular entity.[68] The Eric and Linda pair could also act individually but their powered were halved.[130] Hall's versions comannded a "vast array of magical spells and eldritch formulae" and uses Nabu's suggestion of spells in the form of a whisper from the helm,[54] Kent V. used a consistent set of spells and charms derived from "original" sources similar to that of Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange[131][132] and could draw from a library of spells within the helm,[84] and the Nassour version possess element-controlling powers that allows him to manipulate the elements and can use other magic abilities powered by the elements.[11][58][30]

Amulet of Anubis
[edit]

The Amulet of Anubis is a significant magical artifact associated with the Doctor Fate legacy. Its origins have been depicted in various narratives. One account states that it was created by Anubis and initially possessed by Khalis before being claimed by Nabu.[64] Another origin story suggests that the amulet was crafted from the remnants of Cilia, connecting it to the Lords of Order.[133] In the New 52 continuity, Thoth is presumed to be the creator.[58] Regardless, the amulet bestows various powers, which includes resistance to psychic and astral probing, mind control, and magical power enhancement,[64] necromancy[134] and contains its own separate universe apt for trapping entities.[97][133]

Cloak of Destiny
[edit]

The Cloak of Destiny is a cape which possess magical qualities that grants the user several powers such as invulnerability, superhuman strength, and flight.[135] It is also fireproof and counters the magical abilities originating form the Lords of Chaos.[136][137]

Other artifacts and resources
[edit]

Others include the Orb of Nabu, serving as a scrying glass and allows him Fate search for hidden threats by reacting to his brainwaves. Although not explicitly magical, it provides valuable insights for the bearers[138] In addition to possessing powerful mystical artifacts, Doctor Fate has access to various resources, including the Tower of Fate. This fictional structure serves as Doctor Fate's primary dwelling and is considered a nexus point of magic and reality on Earth. The tower is only accessible through magic and lacks doors or windows.[11] Inside, it appears as a twisted maze of stairways and hallways where the laws of physics do not apply. The Tower of Fate houses a vast personal library containing arcane texts, including materials salvaged from the Library of Alexandria. It is fortified with mystical defenses.[139] Doctor Fate also possesses the Book of Fate, a tome that contains a comprehensive history and knowledge of the Lords of Chaos and Order, predominantly from the perspective of the latter.[79]

Weaknesses

[edit]

The character possess several known weaknesses and limitations. One known weakness is that Doctor Fate is expressed to be unable to use counter spells against exist ones due to established "rules of magic" within the DC Universe.[30] Some versions such as Kent V. possess no innate powers and are dependent on the helm.[140] Older aged versions can diminish their potency, power, and effectiveness as Doctor Fate[141] while inexperience hampers younger iterations' mastery of their magical abilities.[140][58] The character is also explicitly stated as being inferior to the Spectre in power.[62]

Fate (Jared Stevens)

[edit]

Jared's incarnation repurposes various notable artifacts and the mantle itself into the role of a demon hunter;[30] The Mystic Dagger of Nabu, a repurposed Helmet of Fate in the form of a knife, possessed limitless magical power. Fate's usage of the weapon lacked the magical spells and powers of Doctor Fate, instead serving as an impervious weapon capable of hurting supernatural beings[142] and can telepathically control its movements and trajectory when thrown.[143]

Other versions

[edit]
Main article: Alternative versions of Doctor Fate

Cultural impact and legacy

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

As a character, Doctor Fate has established himself as one of DC Comics' enduring figures, although not reaching the same level of cultural recognition as iconic characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman or The Flash. According to Wizard Magazine, Doctor Fate's notable strengths lie in his name, distinctive design, and the recurring motif of the Helmet of Fate. While the character has experienced various cancellations over time, they have also been the focus of multiple miniseries and ongoing series.[8] Several versions of the character have critical acclaim; the Hector Hall version was considered a fan-favorite during the 1999 JSA run[33] and the Khalid Nassour incarnation was well-received among critics and was compared to Marvel Comics' Kamala Khan as representing an underrepresented demographic while also praising his design and incorporation of Egyptian elements compared to Greek/Roman.[10] The character's portrayal by Pierce Brosnan in Black Adam was also received well and was once slated to eventually appear again in the DC Extended Universe due to his popularity prior to James Gunn's appointment as creative head for DC Studios.[144]

Criticisms

[edit]

Characterization

[edit]

In a noted example, the Jared Stevens version was panned due to his design and departure from the common elements of the character.[7]

Egyptian characterization and representation

[edit]

The character's connection to Egypt has been subjected to various criticisms in recent years, with the Ben-Hassin and Nassour versions similarly created to be explicitly of Egyptian heritage to rectify this. James Robinson's creation of Ben-Hassin was also made to avoid an offensive characterization, opting to make the character Egyptian-American.[145] Similarly, Paul Levitz also made Nassour of the same background and expressed it made more sense, and believed the earlier versions to be a product of its time when writers could not write in detail about ethnicity and religion.[73]

Nassour's characterization and role in various storylines has also been subjected to criticism; Jessica Plumber believed a Muslim writer would have made the character more authentic in representing a Muslim character and found Khalid's fate being "reduced" to a hieroglyphic in a vase during the Tynion's Justice League Dark run ironic due to being a Doctor Fate of Egyptian descent.[10] Adrienne Resha also noted his portrayal in the same series, believing the character to be sidelined in favor of other characters despite being the only clearly identifiable person of color on the team and frequently invoking Egypt's past and mythology instead of its current history and events.[146] Comic historian Tim Hanley also believed Nassour to be an example among the characters of color often becoming secondary characters who are sidelined, featured only as backlist team members, or fade into obscurity.[147]

Portrayal of Doctor Fate's abilities

[edit]

Throughout the character's history, Doctor Fate's depiction concerning his abilities has garnered various criticisms from writers; Steve Gerber was critical of the character's abilities prior to 2007 pointing out the character's inconsistent power level, which posed challenges for writers in defining the character effectively. Moreover, Gerber expressed reservations about the recurring element of the Nabu entity controlling Doctor Fate, as he believed it hindered the character's ability to form meaningful connections. Additionally, Gerber advocated for an original interpretation of magic, akin to the approach taken with Marvel's Doctor Strange, rather than Doctor Fate's association with Egyptian mythology and believed the character's history to be among the most convoluted. He sought to address this with the Kent V. Nelson incarnation of the character.[131][132]

During his run in the Justice Society of America comic book title, Marc Guggenheim opined a tendency for magical-oriented characters to cease being characters ("people") and become a set of powers. With the Kent V. Nelson version of the character, he sought to characterize Doctor Fate into a more "three-dimensional character".[148] James Robinson also stated how despite the reoccurring theme of a "cost" to magic, Doctor Fate's magical powers "feels and certainly looks no different than a blast of energy from Green Lantern's ring. It's just energy that gets fired."[145]

Critical response

[edit]
  • ScreenRant included Doctor Fate in their "The 10 Most Powerful Wizards".[149]
  • Doctor Fate was included in CBR's "Top 50 DC Characters".[150]
  • Ashley Land of CBR included Doctor Fate in their "Greatest Supernatural DC Heroes".[151]
  • In 1998, Wizard Magazine published an article in which included Doctor Fate in their "All-Wizard Team", which consisted of a list of the most powerful, versatile heroes in a respective field.[152]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Live-action

[edit]

Animation

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Video games

[edit]

References

[edit]
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