Doctor Fate

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Doctor Fate


Kent Nelson and Hector Hall from the promotional art for JSA: All-Stars #3 (September 2003) cover, by John Cassaday and Mark Lewis.

Publisher DC Comics
Vertigo
First appearance (Kent, Inza)
More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
(Strauss)
Doctor Fate #1 (July 1987)
(Hall)
(as Doctor Fate) JSA #3
Created by (Kent, Inza)
Gardner Fox
Howard Sherman
(Strauss)
Keith Giffen
J. M. DeMatteis
(Kent V.)
Steve Gerber
Justiniano and Walden Wong
Characteristics
Alter ego - Kent Nelson
- Eric & Linda Strauss
- Inza Kramer Nelson
- Jared Stevens
- Hector Hall
- Kent V. Nelson
Affiliations (Kent)
All-Star Squadron
Justice Society of America
(Kent, Strauss)
Justice League
Notable aliases (Kent, Strauss, Inza)
Nabu
Abilities Manipulation of the magics of Order
Dr. Fate (vol. 1)
Doctor Fate (vol. 2 &3)
Publisher All DC Comics
Schedule All
Monthly
Format All
Standard U.S., 4 color.
Vol. 1 & 3: Limited series
Vol. 2: When published, ongoing.
Publication dates Vol. 1: July 1987 - October 1987
Vol. 2: Winter 1988 - June 1992
1989 (Annual)
Vol. 3: October 2003 - February 2004
Number of issues Vol. 1: 4
Vol. 2: 41, +1 (Annual)
Vol. 3: 5
Main character(s) Vol. 1 & 2: Kent Nelson
Vol. 2: Eric Strauss
Linda Strauss
Inza Kramer Nelson
Vol. 3: Hector Hall
Vol. 4: Kent V. Nelson

Doctor Fate is a DC Comics superhero and wizard, best known as a member of the Justice Society of America. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940).

This was Kent Nelson, the best known and longest used Doctor Fate. He was an archeologist who discovered the tomb of the mystical being Nabu and was trained by him in the arts of magic.

This character was also used by DC in its Golden Age all-star group the Justice Society of America and was an essential part of the group during its 1970s revival.

Afterwards, DC introduced several new versions of Doctor Fate. These included: Eric and Linda Strauss, a man and woman who could merge to form Doctor Fate; Inza Nelson, Kent Nelson’s reincarnated wife; a mercenary named Jared Stevens who used Nelson’s weapons as simply Fate; a resurrected Hector Hall, the son of Justice Society of America members Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and Kent V. Nelson, grand-nephew of the original. [1], who begins his journey as Doctor Fate in Las Vegas (also home to the writer), with no awareness of his family's connection to mysticism.

The revivals prior to Kent V. Nelson were relatively short-lived; and as such Doctor Fate's appearances in other media and comics set outside the continuity of the DC Universe (for instance, in the DC animated universe) tend to be of the original Golden Age Kent Nelson incarnation.

Contents

[edit] Publication history

More Fun Comics #55 first introduced the character of Doctor Fate and his alter ego of Kent Nelson in early 1940. He was presented as an archaeologist who had discovered the tomb of an Egyptian wizard named Nabu. Later stories have modified this, making Nelson a youth when the tomb was found and Nabu take him as an apprentice. Visually, the character was unusual in that he wore a full face helm in his earliest appearances.

When the Justice Society of America was being designed for All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940), Doctor Fate was one of the characters National Allied Publications provided for the joint venture with All-American Publications. He continued to appear in the book through issue #23.

In 1941 Doctor Fate's appearance was modified, changing the full helmet for a half-helmet so his lower face was exposed. The character's popularity waned faster than many of his contemporaries, and he disappeared from the scene before the 1940s were out.

Doctor Fate was revived along with many the Justice Society members in the 1960s through the annual team-ups with the Justice League of America. These stories established that the two teams resided on parallel worlds. Unlike many of his JSA teammates, Doctor Fate did not have an analogue or counterpart among the JLA. This was perhaps because the Silver Age revivals initiated by Julius Schwartz took a more science fictional bent, with which the character was not essentially compatible. In addition, this may have boosted his long-term popularity especially considering he is the closest counterpart the company has had to Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange.

Aside from the annual team up in Justice League of America, DC featured Doctor Fate in other stories through the 1960s and 1970s. These included: a two issue story teaming him with Hourman in Showcase, #55-56;[2] a regular member of the JSA in the short lived revival of All Star Comics; and a solo story in First Issue Special #9 (1975), drawn by Walt Simonson. This lead to DC featuring Kent and Inza, combining into one Doctor Fate, in a series of back-up stories beginning in The Flash #305 (February 1982) and running through #313 (September 1982). Keith Giffen drew all nine stories and Cary Bates wrote the initial one, with Martin Pasko taking over as writer in issue #306, aided by Steve Gerber from #310 to #313. DC later collected these stories, among others, in the three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Dr. Fate.

Following 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths, Doctor Fate briefly joined the Justice League and was the star of a self titled, four-issue limited series by J. M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen. In this story Kent Nelson finally died of old age and the mantle of was passed to a pair of humans, Eric and Linda Strauss, who would merge into one being to become Doctor Fate (similar in this regard to Firestorm and Kent and Izna in the 1982 back-up feature). Nelson's body was reanimated by Nabu who, revealed to be a Lord of Order at this point, started calling himself Kent to help train the pair in their new role. Based on the success of the limited series, DC continued the story in a separate ongoing series, also titled Doctor Fate, by DeMatteis and Shawn McManus.

After two years, the series and character shifted such that Nelson's wife Inza inherited the Doctor Fate mantle and starred in a year's worth of stories in which she tried to change the world for the better using her powers.

After this, DC retired the classic characters, and "Fate" replaced Doctor Fate. He was a mercenary whose weapons were the transformed helm and amulet of Doctor Fate. He starred in two of his own series, Fate and The Books of Fate, but both were canceled after relatively short runs.

In 1999, during the revival of the Justice Society in JSA, DC allowed the character to be reworked. The initial story arc mirrored the transition from Doctor Fate to Fate, the old character was killed and the mantel, along with the original name and a restored helm and amulet, was passed to a new character. In this case the character was a reincarnated Hector Hall, son of the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl. In addition to appearing in JSA, DC produced a self-titled, five-issue limited series featuring Hall in 2003 and positioned him as a prominent magical character in various company wide event stories.

The character was again set up for change during the Day of Vengeance limited seres, part of the lead in to the 2005 company wide event story, Infinite Crisis. This included both Hall and Nabu being killed and the sole remaining artifact of Doctor Fate, the helmet, being sent to find a new wearer.

DC has since used the helmet as a character in the weekly limited series 52, where it is in the possession of, and acting as a guide for, Ralph Dibny. It is later revealed that it is not the Helm of Fate that Dibny was in possession of, but rather Felix Faust masquerading as the Helm.

Spoiler warning: Promotional information about upcoming comic book storylines follows. Details and publication status are subject to change.

DC has also begun to publish a series of bi-weekly one-shot comics featuring the helmet passing through the hands of various magical characters. These include: the Shadowpact's Detective Chimp; Ibis the Invincible; Sargon the Sorcerer; Zauriel; and Black Alice.[3] DC has also announced that these one-shots will be followed by a new ongoing series beginning in April 2007, written by Steve Gerber and illustrated by Paul Gulacy, featuring Kent Nelson's grandnephew, also called Kent, as the helm's new wearer.[4]

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Fictional biographies

[edit] Kent Nelson/Nabu

Kent Nelson, the son of an American archaeologist, accompanies his father on an expedition to Egypt in the 1920s. When his father opens the tomb of the wizard Nabu, and is killed for the violation, Nabu takes pity on the orphaned Kent. The wizard raises him, teaching him the skills of a wizard and bestowing upon him a mystical helm and amulet.

(Nabu is named after a god from Babylonian mythology. The Nabu of the DC Universe may originally have been meant to be this god.)

Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate featured in More Fun Comics #67 (May 1941).Art by Howard Sherman.
Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate featured in More Fun Comics #67 (May 1941).
Art by Howard Sherman.

By 1940, Nelson has returned to the United States and resides in an invisible tower in Salem, Massachusetts. From this sanctum he embarks on a career fighting crime and supernatural evil as the hero called Doctor Fate. During the early part of this career he meets, romances, and eventually marries a red-headed woman named Inza.

In late 1940, Doctor Fate is among the founding members of the Justice Society of America.[5] He remains active with the group through the middle of the decade, withdrawing in 1945. By the end of the decade he has withdrawn entirely from public activities, either retiring or turning his attention elsewhere. When the team comes out of retirement to work with the Justice League, he returns as well, rejoining his old teammates.

In 1942 he is forced to change the helmet he uses, changing to a half-helmet that leaves his lower face exposed. Partially this is due to Nabu's personality which resided in the full helmet and exerts some control over Nelson when he wears the helm.[6] The change, while stripping him of most of his sorcerous might, leaves Nelson in full control of his actions. Shortly there after, when a supervillain steals the Helm of Nabu, Nelson losses all access to the Helm as both it and the thief are cast into an alternate dimension.[7] At some point between his withdrawal from the JSA and his return, he is able to retrieve the Helm as he returns to wearing it and relying on Nabu's presence.

Even with the return of the JSA, Doctor Fate's activities are less than public. These include assisting fellow JSA member Hourman with Solomon Grundy and the Psycho-Pirate,[8] and Superman.[citation needed]

When the JSA re-establishes itself early in the modern age of heroes, Doctor Fate is among the returning members. Though he has become increasingly erratic and withdraw from humanity, he is still committed to protecting Earth against supernatural menaces. During this time Nelson also goes through a period where, in order to become Doctor Fate, he must fuse with his wife, Izna.

After helping to stop Darkseid's plans to discredit the heroes of Earth in the eyes of humanity, Kent, as the sole wearer of the Helm, joins the re-constituted Justice League. He serves for a time, but eventually the magics he was using to maintain his and Izna's youth fail. This results in the pair aging and passing away in a short span of time.

[edit] Eric and Linda Strauss

Justice League of America #31 (October 1989) featuring Linda Strauss as Doctor Fate. Cover Art by Adam Hughes.
Justice League of America #31 (October 1989) featuring Linda Strauss as Doctor Fate. Cover Art by Adam Hughes.

With the passing of Kent Nelson, Nabu begins the search for a new Doctor Fate. This search takes him to Eric and Linda Strauss. He binds them so that they must merge to become Doctor Fate, but otherwise lead separate lives. He then animates Kent Nelson's corpse to join them as an advisor and instructor. Since the tower Nelson used as a sanctum is apparently destroyed, the pair operate out of Linda's apartment. Over time they are joined by a small, kind demon they dub Petey and a lawyer named Jack C. Small.

During a battle on Apokolips Eric is killed, leaving Linda to carry on as Doctor Fate on her own. Eventually the Helm rejects her. Eric's soul is not allowed to pass on, but is instead placed in the dying body of Eugene DiBellia, who had been severely injured in a car crash. Eugene is the father of a cosmically important girl named Raina, who is to usher in a new age for mankind.

Even though she is no longer Doctor Fate, the Anti-Fate, Doctor Benjamin Stoner, returns to plague Linda. This forces her to merge with Nabu to become Doctor Fate once again. Before retreating, the Lords of Chaos succeed in assaulting Linda and killing her. Similar to Eric, her soul is placed in the dying body of Wendy DiBellia, Eugene's wife, so that she and Eric can take care of Raina. The DiBellias were always fated to die, but thanks to the timely intervention of the Phantom Stranger and a character serving as the human avatar of God, Raina is not left without her caretakers.

[edit] Inza Nelson

Inza and Kent Nelson's souls, which had been inhabiting Doctor Fate's amulet, are resurrected in new young bodies. They find however that only Inza alone is able to become Doctor Fate. She begins to work toward improving their neighborhood, but Kent chides her constantly about what he feels is reckless use of magic.

As a female Doctor Fate, she spends her time striving to improve the lot of humanity, being, unlike her husband, a proactive Doctor Fate. Her inexperience in the actual use of magics backfires at first, but she grows into her own after some time. Early on she is instrumental in defeating Circe who had orchestrated a war among the gods of antiquity.[9]

As she develops in her magics, she also starts to expand in her proactive role. She becomes increasingly reckless in the way she uses her magics. Slowly but surely people start to become dependent on her to solve every little problem. Instead of retreating, she makes matters worse as she develops spheres that respond to the people's wishes.

This abuse of Doctor Fate's magics ends up separating Kent and Inza as they steadily find themselves opposing each other's actions. The Nelsons learn that a Lord of Chaos has taken residence in the Helm of Nabu and has been providing Inza with magic deriving from Chaos instead of Order. This Lord of Chaos is also the reason that they cannot merge and become Doctor Fate. Kent eventually returns to his wife's side and helps her defeat this Lord of Chaos. Inza then learns that she draws her new powers from the people of Earth, rather than Chaos or Order.

Inza's continues her proactive behavior, causing the US government to take notice of her and put her on trial before Congress. After giving a stern lecture to the Congressmen, she temporarily turns them all into newts.

After defeating the Lord of Chaos, the Nelsons began merging as the male Doctor Fate again. The Nelsons did retain the ability though to become independent Doctor Fates if the situation called for it. In these cases Kent's form would resemble that of his days of using the half-helm.

In their last actions as Doctor Fate, the Nelsons, along with the rest of the JSA, face the supervillain Extant during the attempt by Parallax to change the history of the universe. Extant, with seeming ease, causes most of the JSAers to rapidly approach their proper physical ages. He also separates the Nelsons from the raiments of Doctor Fate, the Helm, Amulet, and cloak. The greatly aged and depowered Nelsons are returned to Salem and to a forced retirement.[10]

[edit] Jared Stevens

Main article: Fate (comics)
Fate #1 (November 1994) featuring Jared Stevens, cover art by Anthony Williams and Andy Lanning.
Fate #1 (November 1994) featuring Jared Stevens, cover art by Anthony Williams and Andy Lanning.

After the return of the Nelsons to Earth, Jared Stevens discovers the raiments of Doctor Fate. He alters them into a knife, set of trowing darts, and an arm binding and begins a career as a balance between Order and Chaos as simply "Fate". His sole encounter with the Nelsons results in the death of the couple and the return of their souls to the Amulet.

His apparent end comes at the hands of Mordru as part of the dark wizard's attempt to inherit the mantel and artifacts of Doctor Fate.

[edit] Hector Hall

Main article: Hector Hall
Panel from JSA featuring Hector Hall as Doctor Fate. Art by Stephen Sadowski.
Panel from JSA featuring Hector Hall as Doctor Fate. Art by Stephen Sadowski.

Nabu, aware of Mordru's ambitions, has planned ahead to insure that his Helm and the mantle of Doctor Fate will pass to a reincarnated Hector Hall. This plan coincides with the rebirth of the Justice Society which acts to protect the newly reborn Hector.

The nature of the body into which Hector is born defines a change in purpose for Doctor Fate. The child is the son of Hank Hall and Dawn Granger, agents of both Chaos and Order once known as Hawk and Dove. This makes the child an agent of balance instead of an agent of one side or the other.

Later the Spectre, attempting to expunge evil by extinguising magic, confronts Hector. This results in him and his wife, Lyta, being banished to "Hell," a snowy mountain landscape, where he would be forced to spend eternity. After protecting his unconscious wife from a group of demons, Hector collapses, just as Lyta wakes. She reveals that she had communicated with her son Daniel Hall, now the Lord of Dreams, and made a deal. The two join their son in the Dreaming, seemingly giving up the mortal world forever.[11]

[edit] Nabu

Unaware of the reasons behind the disappearance of Hector Hall, his teammates in the Justice Society travel to the Tower of Fate, hoping to use his services to travel to the Fifth Dimension and find Jakeem Thunder. At the Tower they find the raiments of Fate, but not Hector. Seeking to call forth Nabu, Sand dons the raiments allowing Nabu speak and act through him. He prepares a spell through which some of the team can travel to the Fifth dimension. However, Mordru returns before the spell is complete and causes it to malfunction.

Nabu confronts Mordru without the use of a host body in a panel from JSA #80. Art by Don Kramer.
Nabu confronts Mordru without the use of a host body in a panel from JSA #80. Art by Don Kramer.

In turn, Mordru subjugates the remaining JSA members and Nabu. Mordru seemingly crushes Nabu and his helmet, which restores Sand's freewill and he uses his powers and free himself and his teammates. They regroup and engage Mordru, allowing Nabu time to channel himself through the raiments of Doctor Fate without a host. He attacks Mordru, transporting him to differing dimensions in hopes of defeating him. (Among the alternate realities visited were those of Kingdom Come and JLA: The Nail.)

The two continue their struggle, with Mordru seeming to get the upper hand, until the arrival of Jakeem and the rest of the JSA. Jakeem and his Thunderbolt single-handedly subdue Mordru. The Justice Society offer Nabu membership, but he senses that a crisis is coming and that his presence is required elsewhere and disappears.

During the waning hours of the Ninth Age of Magic, Nabu calls together the remaining great magicians to deal with the Spectre and the destruction of the Rock of Eternity. Nabu personally confronts and goads the Spectre, whose anger grows so great that he fatally wounds Nabu. This causes the Presence to take notice and send the Spectre to his new host. As a result of Nabu impending death, the Ninth Age of Magic ends and the birth of the Tenth Age begins.

Before his death, Nabu gives the Helmet to Detective Chimp to give to the Doctor Fate of the new Age, telling him that the Helmet will still have certain abilities, even though Nabu will no longer be contained within it. After Detective Chimp finds that the Helmet will not fit him, he asks Captain Marvel to throw the helmet down to Earth and let it land where it will, letting Fate pick its next Doctor.[12]

[edit] 52

Main article: 52 (comic book)
Promotional art for 52 Week 18 (September 6, 2006) cover, by J. G. Jones.
Promotional art for 52 Week 18 (September 6, 2006) cover, by J. G. Jones.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Felix Faust disguises himself as Nabu in the Helmet of Fate, and attempts to trick Ralph Dibny into trading his soul for Faust's freedom from Neron by telling Dibny how to resurrect his dead wife, Sue. In his masquerade, Faust kills Tim Trench and fools the Shadowpact, but is found out by Dibny, who dies after binding Faust and Neron within the the Tower of Fate.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] One Year Later

Main article: One Year Later
Promotional art for Doctor Fate #1 cover, art by Paul Gulacy.
Promotional art for Doctor Fate #1 cover, art by Paul Gulacy.

The Helmet resurfaces a year after Infinite Crisis, crossing paths with various heroes. In these appearances it resembles the half-helm that Kent Nelson used during the 1940s.

It returns again to the possession of Detective Chimp, who finds he can now wear the altered Helmet. After acting as Doctor Fate for a short time, he decides he does not have the temperament to wear the Helmet and sends it on its way.

The Helmet next comes into the possession of Ibis the Invincible, and attracts the attention of the dark god Set. Set defeats Ibis, forcing the hero to retreat into hibernation as a mummy to heal. Ibis' last act is to find a replacement. The new Ibis confronts Set, retrieves the Helmet and then sends it on.

The Helmet's travels are interrupted by the spirit of Sargon the Sorcerer, who diverts it in an effort to protect his grandson David. Once David is in possession of the Ruby of Life, he bestows something of himself on the Helmet, before returning it to its journey.

The Helmet then falls into Black Alice's hands, who unsuccessfully tries to make it obey her. When the Helmet starts to punish everyone who wronged her, including her loved ones, Black Alice relinquishes it, realising the Helmet would fulfill her desires, but destroy her life in the process.

Spoiler warning: Promotional information about upcoming comic book storylines follows. Details and publication status are subject to change.

The Helmet will cross paths with the angel Zauriel before winding up in the hands of Kent Nelson, the original Kent Nelson's grandnephew, who will become the new Doctor Fate.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Other versions of Doctor Fate

Doctor Chaos artist Kurt Schaffenberger
Doctor Chaos
artist Kurt Schaffenberger

[edit] Doctor Chaos (Earth-One)

In New Adventures of Superboy #25 (January 1982), Professor Lewis Lang and his assistant Burt Belker discover a helmet identical to the one used by Nabu in the Valley of Ur which contained a Lord of Chaos. The Lord of Chaos possesses Burt to become Doctor Chaos, whose agenda differs from the one of Earth-Two's Doctor Fate. Doctor Chaos's costume mirrors Doctor Fate's, with an opposite color scheme. Superboy confronts him and is able to remove the helmet from Belker and jettison it into space.

There was no record of the helmet ever returning to Earth, and the merging of alternate universes during the Crisis on Infinite Earths removed the occurrence from DC Universe continuity.

[edit] Fate (Kingdom Come)

The limited series Kingdom Come featured a version of Nabu, similar to his later appearance before his death, who was able to channel his consciousness through the Helm and Cloak without the need for a host body. This version of Fate sided with Batman's group during the series, and was amongst the survivors at the end of the story.

[edit] Future (Books of Magic)

In the fourth Book of the Books of Magic limited series by Neil Gaiman, Mister E shows a future version of Doctor Fate to Timothy Hunter. This one is a corrupt version of the Helmet which looks like a human skull. It would ultimately kill any of its worshippers that wears it. This one no longer cares about the war between Order and Chaos and believes that there is no meaning in life; just flesh and death. Mister E says he wanted to kill Doctor Fate and destroy the helm long ago, but the Justice League prevented him. (Note: In the first book, Hunter and the Phantom Stranger observe Kent Nelson, though Nelson was not aware of their presence.)

[edit] Doctor Strangefate (Amalgam Comics)

In the Amalgam Comics published jointly by DC and Marvel Comics, Doctor Strangefate is equivalent of Doctor Fate combined with Doctor Strange and Charles Xavier of Marvel Comics. His powers are based on both Doctors, but Charles Xavier is the man under the helmet. Doctor Strangefate is the protector of the Amalgam Comics universe, built up the universe around him from the battle between DC Comics and Marvel Comics respectively, and would literally kill to prevent his world from collapsing.

[edit] Powers and abilities

Doctor Fate possesses a variety of mystical powers. In general, even without wearing the Helmet of Nabu, the host can fly, is resistant to damage, has minor telekenesis, and has greater-than-human strength.

At his most potent, Doctor Fate is an accomplished sorcerer, able to match most other wizards in the DC Universe. He has been credited in DC's Who's Who as being one of the top 12 most powerful heroes in the DC Universe.

Doctor Fate has been observed throwing bolts of mystical energy, teleporting across the universe, crafting solid objects out of energy, and transforming objects into other kinds of matter. The full limits of his magical skills are unknown, and have varied greatly from one appearance to the next depending on the needs of the story. For example: In Swamp Thing #50 (July 1986), he slays the demon Abnegazar of the Demons Three with very little effort. Conversely in Justice League of America #148 (November 1977), the Demons Three control him and set him against his fellow heroes.

At perhaps the peak of his abilities, he was able to take control of Etrigan the Demon, Darkseid, Highfather and Orion and harness their powers to take on the Anti-Life entity. In this instance, he was powerful enough to destroy a reality in order to halt the advance of the entity using a "Mystic Firebreak". As powerful as he is, he has been shown to be on the losing side of drawn out battles with the Spectre, as shown in the recent Day of Vengeance series.

Over time, Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange has evolved to be somewhat similar to Doctor Fate, in that both possess amulets which can emit beams of light, and both live in mysterious abodes filled with mystical books and objects. Fate is considerably more withdrawn from humanity in both demeanor and locale than is the Manhattan-based Strange.

[edit] Helm of Nabu

The helmet that Doctor Fate wears is the focus of the Doctor Fate identity. It originally housed Nabu's spirit and allowed him to possess the current host, it later only allowed him to advise the host instead. The helmet is what provides the link to Nabu and by not wearing it, as Kent Nelson did at one time, Doctor Fate loses much of its power and knowledge.

Putting on the helmet usually results in its wearer being clad in the other raiments of Doctor Fate, unless the one with the actual claim to the helmet wants to prevent it. On several occasions, villains seeking the power of Doctor Fate have stolen the helmet, in which case the result has typically been that the wearer goes insane when they try to put on the helmet.

[edit] Amulet of Anubis

The circular device that adorns the livery collar worn around Doctor Fate's chest and shoulders is the Amulet of Anubis, which gives anyone who wears it vast magical abilities. It holds many similarities to the Amulet of Agamotto of Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange, with both Amulets being capable of revealing and recognizing magical characters. The amulet has also been shown to house the souls of many whom have worn the vestments of Fate. In JSA, the amulet contained the image of a farmhouse with the souls of Kent and Inza Nelson, Eric and Linda Strauss, Jared Stevens and Kid Eternity inhabiting it. This dimension was used more than once as a refuge for the JSA to regroup in battle or access the advice of previous Doctor Fates. Mordru was imprisoned in this dimension for some time.

[edit] Awards

Both the character and the comics of the same name have received recognition, including:

  • 1963 Alley Award for Strip Favored for Revival
  • 1965 Alley Award for Best Revived Hero

[edit] Other media

Doctor Fate has guest appeared in animated form on Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and became a member of the Justice League in Justice League Unlimited. The Doctor Fate in those series is the Kent Nelson version. In Superman: The Animated Series George Del Hoyo provided his voice. In his return appearances in the Justice League series, Oded Fehr provides his voice.

In his Superman appearance, "The Hand of Fate", Superman goes to seek Fate's help when a supernatural threat named Karkull, whom Fate is responsible for defeating previously, invades and conquers the Daily Planet. At first, this Fate, who is animated as being middle-aged, refuses to get involved because he is tired of the eternal struggle between "good" and "evil". Superman's insistence on returning to fight on his own, despite his success being unlikely, inspires Fate to join the good fight again.

This fatigue with mortal concerns has continued in his animated incarnations, as seen in his next appearance on Justice League entitled "The Terror Beyond". He and Aquaman help Solomon Grundy escape from the authorities so they can enact an age-old spell to save this dimension from an invasion by the Old Ones, creatures based on the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. They are stopped by the League and end up fighting the Old Ones in their own dimension.

Only after this episode does it seem that Fate maintains any continual relationship with fellow superheroes (miscommunication being the reason for the struggles between him and the League in "Terror"), including joining the expanded League in Unlimited. However, he is still not much of a team player, maintaining his own little mini-League of outsiders within the League. This team is a disguised version of Marvel Comics' Defenders; including Aquaman for Submariner, Hawkgirl for Nighthawk, Solomon Grundy for the Hulk and Amazo for the Silver Surfer. Fate is a stand-in for Doctor Strange.

[edit] Action Figures

Justice League Unlimited action figure by Mattel.
Justice League Unlimited action figure by Mattel.

To date, three versions of Doctor Fate are available in action figure form. The first Doctor Fate toy was released in 1985 under the second wave of Kenner's Super Powers Collection. The Super Powers Collection version also included a mini-comic book. In the book, Doctor Fate was forced to fight Superman and the Martian Manhunter who had fallen under control of Darkseid and sent them to collect Doctor Fate's artifacts.

DC Direct released the second in 2000 as part of the Mystics, Mages and Magicians collection.

The third was released with the Justice League Unlimited series several times as a single figure and as part of three-pack collections.

All versions were the Kent Nelson form of Doctor Fate.

A full-size replica helmet and amulet was announced by DC Direct at the 2004 San Diego Comic-Con International, for release in 2005.[13] It was besieged by manufacturing problem and delays and was never released. In September of 2006, the DC website indicated that DC Direct "hope(s) to have this great replica ready in 2007."[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/2007/03/03/some-thoughts-on-doctor-fate-part-1/
  2. ^ Hamilton, M. (2005-08-03). SHOWCASE #55: The Glory of Murphy Anderson. the comic book bin. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  3. ^ Brady, Matt (2006-10-12). Dr. Fate's Helmet Tours the DCU Before Return Next Spring. Newsarama. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  4. ^ McLauchlin, Jim (2006-12-03). A Twist of Fate. Wizard. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  5. ^  Fox, Gardner (w),  Hibbard, Everett (p),  All Star Comics v1 #3 Winter, 1940  DC Comics (1-4).
  6. ^  Pasko, Martin (w),  Simonson, Walt (p),  First Issue Special v1 #9 December, 1975  DC Comics.
  7. ^  Thomas, Roy (w),  Howell, Richard (p), "A Spectre Is Haunting the Multiverse!" All-Star Squadron v1 #27 November, 1983  DC Comics.
  8. ^  Fox, Gardner (w),  Anderson, Murphy (p),  Showcase v1 #55-56 March/April & May/June, 1965  DC Comics.
  9. ^  Perez, George and Braun,Russell (w),  Perez, George and Braun,Russell (p),  War of the Gods v1 #1-4 September through December, 1991  DC Comics.
  10. ^  Jurgens, Dan (w),  Jurgens, Dan (p),  Zero Hour v1 #4-0 September, 1994  DC Comics.
  11. ^  Champagne, Keith (w),  Kramer, Don (p),  JSA v1 #79-80 January and February, 2006  DC Comics.
  12. ^  Willingham, Bill (w),  Justiniano (p), "The Ninth Age of Magic" Day of Vengeance Infinite Crisis Special v1 #1 March, 2006  DC Comics.
  13. ^ 2004 San Diego Comic Con International: DC Direct. Raving Toy Maniac. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  14. ^ Ask DC Direct: #9. Time/Warner (2006-09-13). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.

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