| Doctor Fate | |
|---|---|
 Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate, as depicted in Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross (November 2005). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940) |
| Created by |
|
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Dr. Kent Nelson, Ph.D. |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Lords of Order Justice Society of America Justice Society Dark Justice League Dark Justice League Justice League International Sentinels of Magic All-Star Squadron |
| Partnerships | Nabu Shat-Ru Doctor Fate (Inza Cramer) Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour) Salem the Witch Girl |
| Notable aliases | Fate, Immortal Doctor Fate,[1] Ageless Archmage,[2] Golden Age Doctor Fate |
| Abilities |
|
| Altered in-story information for adaptations to other media | |
| Notable aliases | Earth's Sorcerer Supreme |
Doctor Fate (also known asFate) is asuperhero who appears inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. Created byGardner Fox and Howard Sherman, the character first appearedMore Fun Comics #55 (May, 1940) during theGolden Age of Comic Books. Since his creation, several other characters have served as successorincarnations of the character within the mainstreamDC Universe aslegacy heroes, with each new version attempting to reinvigorate the character for contemporary audiences.[3][4] As the original, he is sometimes also referred to as theGolden Age Doctor Fate.
The original character's secret identity isarchaeologistKent Nelson who encountered a cosmic being namedNabu, a member of theLords of Order, while accompanying his father in an archaeological expedition during his youth. Unwittingly leading to his father's death upon releasing Nabu, the cosmic being pities him and raises him as a sorcerer although various retellings differ in Nabu's intentions and how Nelson is trained. Gifted theHelmet of Fate and several other artifacts, he becomes the hero and agent of the Lords of Order, Doctor Fate.[5] A major character featured in titles based upon several teams such as theJustice Society of America,Justice League International, andJustice League, and one of the foremost sorcerers in theDC Universe, Nelson's most reoccurring conflict is his gradual loss ofpersonal agency to Nabu and its effects on his relationships with others, including his love interestInza Nelson.[1]
Subjected to variouscomic book deaths, Nelson has been succeeded by several successors and often makes posthumous appearances with events in the past. The current successor, Egyptian-American grandnephew and apprenticeKhalid Nassour,[6] is depicted as the mainstream incarnation of Doctor Fate followingJustice League Dark's "Witching War" and "A Costly Trick of Magic" storyline, the showcasing Nassour officially succeeding Nelson and then the death of his predecessor.[6][7]
While not reaching the same levels of cultural recognition asBatman,Superman, orWonder Woman, Doctor Fate remains one of DC Comic's most enduring and long-standing characters, known for its distinctive name and design.[4] Nelson'sImmortal Doctor Fate remain as one of the character's most popular runs.[4] However, creators and critics alike have been critical of the character's associations to Egypt,orientalism, and Nabu's characterization in regards to Nelsons' agency.[8][9][10]
Doctor Fate has made many appearances in adaptations. Nelson first made his live-action debut in the television seriesSmallville, portrayed by Brent Stait. He also appears in theDC Extended Universe filmBlack Adam (2022), portrayed byPierce Brosnan. The character appeared in theDC Animated Universe, voiced byGeorge DelHoyo in theSuperman: The Animated Series andOded Fehr inJustice League andJustice League Unlimited. Several alternate versions of the character have been adapted in media, including original creations and those based on other published DC Comics characters.[11][12]
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 readLovecraft,Derleth,Sax Rohmer,Howard,Clark Ashton Smith,Whitehead, all the others, Fate was a derivation from my imagination influenced by those writings"[13]
The original version of the character, Kent Nelson, first appeared in a self-titled six-page strip inMore Fun Comics No. 55 (May 1940), during theGolden Age of Comic Books, created by writerGardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, who produced the first three years of monthly Doctor Fate stories.[14] Soon after, the character's origin was shown inMore Fun Comics No. 67 (May 1941).[15] Stories during the Golden Age included his love interest, Inza, who was known variably throughout the Golden Age as Inza Cramer,[16] Inza Sanders,[17][18] and Inza Carmer.[19][20][21][22] When theJustice Society of America (JSA) was created forAll Star Comics No. 3 (Winter 1940), Doctor Fate was one of the charactersNational Comics used for the joint venture withAll-American Publications. He made his last appearance in that book in issue No. 21 (Summer 1944), virtually simultaneously with the end of his own strip inMore Fun Comics No. 98 (July–August 1944).
The character later appeared in book such as the annual JSA/Justice League of America (JLA) team-ups inJustice League of America that began in 1963; inWorld's Finest Comics No. 201 (March 1971 and No. 208, December 1971); an appearance withBatman inThe Brave and the Bold No. 156 (November 1979); and a solo story in1st Issue Special No. 9 (December 1975), written byMartin Pasko and drawn byWalt Simonson. Doctor Fate and the rest of the JSA returned toAll-Star Comics in 1976 in issue No. 58, beginning a two-year run that ended with issue No. 74 andAdventure Comics #461–462 in 1978.Adventure Comics No. 466 related the untold tale of the Justice Society's 1951 disbanding. During this period, Inza Cramer's name as such was amended.[23]
During theBronze Age, the character's origin was retold inDC Special Series No. 10, and Doctor Fate again teamed up withSuperman inDC Comics Presents No. 23 (July 1980). He later featured in a series of back-up stories running inThe Flash from No. 306 (February 1982) to No. 313 (September 1982) written byMartin Pasko (aided bySteve Gerber from No. 310 to No. 313) and drawn byKeith Giffen.[24] In 1981, DC'sAll-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 inInfinity, Inc. throughout 1984, the same year which witnessed the 22nd and final annual JSA/JLA team-up.[25] In 1985, DC collected the Doctor Fate back-up stories fromThe Flash, a retelling of Doctor Fate's origin byPaul Levitz,Joe Staton, andMichael Nasser originally published inSecret Origins of Super-Heroes (January 1978) (DC Special Series No. 10 in the indicia), the Pasko/Simonson Doctor Fate story from1st Issue Special No. 9, and a Doctor Fate tale fromMore Fun Comics No. 56 (June 1940), in a three-issuelimited series titledThe Immortal Doctor Fate.Doctor Fate later appeared in several issues ofCrisis on Infinite Earths, joining various heroes from the DC Multiverse in battle against theAnti-Monitor and, later,Amethyst.[26][27] Despite the significant alterations to various histories resulting from the crisis, much of Kent Nelson's personal history remained largely unaffected, although some of the character's earlier stories during the Golden Age were retconned out.
In 1987, theDoctor Fate limited series was released, featuring the debut of Eric and Linda Strauss. The characters would replace Kent Nelson, who is killed off in this series, as Doctor Fate.[28] A subsequent ongoing series focusing on Eric and Linda followed in the winter of 1988, with the first 24 issues written byJ.M. DeMatteis and drawn byShawn McManus. The series' premise featured the pair under the guidance ofNabu, who had inhabited Kent Nelson's body and taken his identity. The series also established a supporting cast for the characters and the concept ofKali Yuga among theLords of Chaos and Order, a period where chaos reigns and order is defeated. It further established that the incarnations of Fate are the result ofreincarnation cycles. During DeMatteis's run, the series experienced limited sales.[4] Doctor Fate would also appear in several other crossovers and miniseries at the time, includingMillennium andCosmic Odyssey. Both characters are killed off halfway into the series, replaced by resurrected Inza and Kent Nelson from issue No. 25 onward in 1991. The series ended with issue No. 41,[29] and followingZero Hour, both Kent and Inza were killed off.
A new incarnation, Jared Stevens, was introduced in a series calledFate, launched in the wake ofZero Hour in 1994.[30] 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.[5] Considered an unpopular re-imagining of the character,[3] the series was canceled after 23 issues in September 1996. The character then starred inThe Book of Fate, written byKeith Giffen, which ran from February 1997 to January 1998 for 12 issues as part of DC's "Weirdoverse" imprint, and which rebooted the character's origins and adventures.
However, the revival of theJSA 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 ofHector Hall, the son of theGolden AgeHawkman andHawkgirl, who is reincarnated due to the machinations ofMordru. A fan-favorite incarnation,[33] the character was featured in theJSA title and a five-issueDoctor Fate limited series in 2003.[34] Hector Hall was killed in theDay of Vengeance limited series in 2005 as part of the lead-in to the 2005 company-wide event crossover,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 bySteve Gerber and illustrated byPaul Gulacy, featuring the new Doctor Fate.[4][36] However, the series was delayed due to extended production and creative difficulties. Gerber said in an interview forNewsarama 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 byJustiniano and Walden Wong rather than Gulacy, was released in November 2007. Due to Gerber's death, the seventh issue was written byAdam Beechen using Gerber's notes. The final issue was written by Beechen,Gail Simone,Mark Waid, andMark 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, writerMarc Guggenheim described Doctor Fate's role as a powerhouse but intended to flesh out the character.[40]
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Following the events of theFlashpoint mini-series in 2011, DC's continuity wasrebooted. As part ofThe New 52 initiative, an alternate version of Doctor Fate named Khalid Ben-Hassin was created by writerJames Robinson[41] and artist Brett Booth. The character was featured in theEarth 2 ongoing series from No. 9 (February 2013) onwards.[42]
After the conclusion of theConvergence limited series in June 2015, DC launched a newDoctor Fate ongoing series, written byPaul Levitz and drawn bySonny 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, anEgyptian-American medical student named Khalid Nassour.[43] Created with an emphasis on diversity and inspired byMarvel Comics heroesSpider-Man andDoctor Strange,[44] the series also rebooted the Kent Nelson character, depicting him as a previous Doctor Fate, a mentor figure with some of his old history intact. The series ran for 18 issues, from June 2015 to November 2016.[45]
In 2018, DC launched a secondJustice League Dark series written byJames Tynion IV starring a new roster led byWonder Woman. In this roster, Khalid and Kent Nelson were revealed to be eventual new members of theJustice League, originally acting as "advisors" in the team and becoming recurring characters. Khalid would eventually permanently become the new Doctor Fate instead of Kent Nelson in the "Lords of Order" storyline. Khalid would also receive a new redesign as Doctor Fate.[46] Kent Nelson would be later killed off in the "A Costly Trick of Magic" storyline, leaving Khalid Nassour as the sole Doctor Fate. While the original 2018 series was cancelled in 2020, theJustice League Dark series was re-purposed as a backup strip to the mainstreamJustice League title. The storyline, written by Ram V, featured Khalid remaining a recurring member of the Justice League Dark subdivision.[47] Khalid would also appear in several crossovers with other comics such asSuperman,Teen Titans Academy, andThe Flash.
Beginning in 2021, Khalid Nassour would appear in major storylines such as theJustice 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.[48] Connected to theFuture State crossover event depicting an older Khalid Nassour who has lived through the aftermath of the events of the "Great Wickedness" storyline, the entity is revealed to be the Egyptian goddess, Hauhhet.[48] Khalid would also play a role in theJustice League/Justice League Dark crossover. In late 2022, the Khalid concurrently appeared in the 2022Justice Society of America comic and in several other notable crossovers such asLazarus Planet andDark Crisis on Infinite Earths. InJustice Society of America, the character's status quo from the previousJustice League Dark title carries over, with Khalid as a member of the JSA and playing a crucial role in defeatingPer Degaton. The series would showcase different iterations of Doctor Fate as Degaton hunts the JSA across time[49] and later rectified the history of the character.[50]
In 2023, the Kent Nelson version is referenced in theKnight Terrors storyline[51] and the Khalid Nassour version appears in theWonder Woman tie-tin.[52][53] In late 2023 and 2024, Kent would make appearances in various titles such asGreen Lantern: Alan Scott andJay Garrick: The Flash, the comic books taking place decades prior to the character's death inJustice League Dark. Khalid would also feature in theAbsolute Power crossover, where he is one of the heroes who lose their powers due to the machinations ofAmanda Waller.
Kent Nelson is depicted as an American ofSwedish and British descent and is anarchaeologist with a doctorate.[54] While early stories also had made him aphysician,[15] he is made exclusively an archeologist later.[55] As the sorcerous superhero Doctor Fate, Nelson is commonly depicted as a mysticalsuperhero empowered by magical patrons.[15] His patrons, the Lords of Order, designates him as their "agent" and is empowered to battles the forces of evil, with Nabu being the most frequent spiritual guide and power behind the character.[15] His most reoccurring conflict involves his Nabu gradually robbing him of personal agency while acting as Doctor Fate, and negatively impacts his personal life and marriage.[56] As a supporting character inDoctor Fate series focusing on other incarnations, he is cast in a mentoring role.[57][58]
Nelson is considered among the most powerful superheroes in theDC Universe and among the "greatest living sorcerers" due to possessing the Doctor Fate artifacts,[15][59] often cited as the most powerful incarnations.[60] Numerous other versions are often being to the original.[61][62][63]
In his physical design, the character is has been depicted as a blonde or white-haired man (dependent on age).[58][7] Drawn with a muscular build, the character is portrayed as being 6'2" with blue eyes.[15][64] As Doctor Fate, his default attire includes a tight-fitting suit blue bodysuit with boots, cape, gloves, and underpants over it all colored yellow. Frequently, he also possess a circular amulet below the neck and a yellow cloak.[1] His attire has changed over time; his modern appearance depict a similar appearance with his body suit, gloves, cape, and boots of similar color scheme (blue/yellow) although the underpants is absent, replaced with a golden Egyptiansun-disk belt buckle.[65]
Nelson's Helmet of Fate design has differed throughout publication; modelled after acorinthian helmet, the helm is traditionally designed as a smooth, full-face golden helm with a prominent vertical fin running along the top, narrow eye slits.[14] In modern settings, the helm appears similar although at times with glowing eye slits and appears more angular with sharper edges.[65] With the half-helmet, his appearance retains his traditional appearance but the bottom of his face is visible, making him visually similar to a traditional superhero.[66]
In visualizing Doctor Fate's magic within mainstream comic books, artistWalt Simonson explained in an interview he sought to establish a structured visual language similar toSteve Ditko’s approach onDoctor Strange. Inspired by Ditko's use of vectors and circles to give magic a coherent system, Doctor Fate's design instead employed the Egyptian ankh as a recurring symbol. This was combined with typographic experimentation—using letters and geometric forms such as circles and spirals as design elements—to create a distinctive visual system. Since its creation, the ankh has since remained a consistent motif for the character and the later incarnations.[67][68]
Within theDC Extended Universe, Doctor Fate's magical effects were alternatively depicted through refractive and crystalline visuals developed byWētā FX and other studios; According to VFX supervisor Bill Westenhofer, the team emphasized a “refractive crystalline structure” to make the magic interact with scene lighting, while incorporating the Egyptian ankh motif. Fate's abilities also included the creation of crystalline forcefields, glass-like clones that shatter on impact, and geometric constructs to giving the character's magic a distinct and structured visual identity.[69][70]
Following Nelson's originalcomic book death in 1987, the character has been succeeded several times, resurrected, and killed. As such, several Doctor Fate incarnations have existed within DC Comics' mainstream continuity with different characterization, is defined as alegacy hero,[5][71] and all possess personal agency in which Nelson himself lacks.[72][73][74] These versions' continuity has constantly been in flux, with several crossover events, comic books titles, and initiatives having revised their histories which has included omission of their histories in main continuity, retroactive changes regarding their histories, and having their complete histories restored.[5][75] Thus far, only Khalid Nassour's mainstream history often remains intact and consistent,[5] being the current modern incarnation published in DC Comics.[7]
Within mainstream comic books, the design of the attire and Helmet of Fate worn by other incarnations is influenced due to the essence of the bearer, allowing for different designs.[58] However, the design of Eric and Linda Strauss incarnations possess the same traditional design as Nelson's when the pair are either merged and taking a male appearance or Eric is transformed on his lonesome although the Helmet of Fate is sometimes drawn with a more prominent jawline and oftenemotes to convey their mood.[76] TheKhalid Nassour version has also been drawn to utilize Nelson's modern design (costume, helm, and physique) at times.[77]
| Character | Brief description | Patrons | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric andLinda Strauss | The original successors of Doctor Fate and agents of order advised by Nabu in Kent's deceased body whom could merge as one entity known as "Doctor Fate".[78] While once stated to potentially surpass Kent in raw power but lacked his knowledge,[79][78] they were retroactively considered unremarkable.[80][81] This versions' history was originally omitted following the New 52 but later was restored.[82][83] | Lords of Order | Nabu |
| Inza Cramer | Kent Nelson's love interest who later adopted the role following the Strauss's death, she focuses both her efforts on heroism and on social class issues. A powerful incarnation considered more talented than Nelson in spell-casting, she derived her powers from chaos magic and life energies. Like the Strauss', she can also merge with Kent to form a singular entity known as "Doctor Fate".[84] Some revisions have omitted this versions' history in main continuity.[82][83] | Lords of Chaos | Unnamed Lord of Chaos |
| Jared Stevens | An unpopular reinvention of the character,[85] he is a controversial demon hunter with no spell-casting powers and agent for the Lords of Balance that investigates supernatural matters.[86][86] Some revisions have omitted this versions' history in main continuity.[86][87] | Lords of Balance | None |
| Hector Hall | The reincarnated son ofHawkman (Carter Hall) andHawkgirl (Shiera Hall), Hall is described as eager to prove his worth as Doctor Fate and is less aloof than prior incarnations. The nature of his powers are verbal-based, wielding a vast array of spells and "eldritch formulae" acquired from Nabu's suggestions within the helm and potentially making him the most powerful incarnation.[88][89] Disruption to his connectoin to Nabu and/or his ability to speak de-powers him.[90][91] This versions' history was has been omitted,[83] restored,[82] and revised to be the third Doctor Fate instead of the fifth.[82] | Lords of Balance | Nabu |
| Kent V. Nelson | The grandnephew of the original Kent Nelson and a formerpsychiatrist whose life unravels following an extramarital affair and malpractice but improves when he is chosen Doctor Fate.[92] Lacking connections to theLords of Chaos and Order and, he is a superhero who utilizes a consistent set of spells and charms akin to Marvel Comics'Doctor Strange.[93] Some revisions have omitted this versions' history in main continuity.[94][95] | N/A | |
| Khalid Nassour | The other grand-nephew and the former apprentice of the original Kent Nelson, Khalid Nassour is an Egyptian-American and Muslim chosen by the Egyptian deities and archangels to become Doctor Fate. Khalid is cast as a young man burdened with significant responsibilities, embarking on a journey of self-discovery within a world reminiscent of Doctor Strange's mystical realm.[96][97] Beginning as a medical student,[98] he is later expressed to be a physician.[99] | Egyptian deities | Hauhet |
In his debut appearance in issue #55-56 forMore Fun Comics (May–June 1940), Doctor Fate makes his first ecounter with archnemesis Wotan and love interest Inza Cramer, wherein he tries to kill her to defeat the hero. Wotan is beaten but learns he did not pass into the afterlife, enabling him to face his foe once more. Fate manages to defeat him again; using a spell to trap Wotan insuspended animation, Fate then buries him deep within the Earth.[1] The character's origin was first revealed inAll-Star Comics #3 (1940), written byGardner Fox, wherein Doctor Fate states that he is not human nor had a childhood, having been created by elder gods and sent to Earth to battle evil in their name.[100] One year later, the character was given a new origin with a human alter-ego, revealing him as Kent Nelson, the son of archaeologist Sven Nelson whom encountered Nabu as a child during an excavation and accidentally kills his father by releasing poisonous gases. Nabu explains he is an immortal alien being from the planet Cilia and pities the boy, teaching him the "secrets of the universe" and raising him into adulthood to become Doctor Fate.[101]
The1963 "Crisis on Earth-One" and "Crisis on Earth-Two" storylines respectively revealed Nelson and the Justice Society of America's home reality to be ofEarth-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.[102][5]
In 1975, the storyline from1st Issue Special #9 reveals more of Nelson's earlier years, pitting him against the mummy sorcererKhalis 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.[1][103] Three years later in 1978,Paul Levitz's revisions alternatively depicting Nabu as a cosmic being of theLords of Order and sought to use young Kent, whom he aged to adulthood and imparted into him his mystical knowledge in the process.[104]
From 1981 to 1982, Nelson appears in backup issues inThe Flash #306-313. In both stories, Nelson continues to battle the Lords of Chaos while a marital 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 join forces, Inza nearly commits to infidelity with a museum curator until Nabu intervenes. Sensing the rift to be potentially damaging to Nelson's mind, he allows the pair to both mend their marriage and later merges her with Kent temporarily, formulating a powerful new Doctor Fate transformation that both defeats the renegade Lords and grants Inza a higher understanding of the role of Doctor Fate.[1]
In 1985, the character later appears in theMarv Wolfman andGeorge Pérez'sCrisis 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").[5] The stories from his first appearances (More Fun Comics #55), his origin story (More Fun Comics #67),1st Issue Special #9,DC Special Series #10, and all his backup stories inThe Flash #306-313 are considered definitive adventures and stories for the character in which were reprinted whereas older Golden Age and Silver Age stories were no longer considered canonical to his new universe.[105][5][1] The character's original origin is partially revealed inAll-Star Comics #3 (1940), written byGardner Fox. In that appearance, Doctor Fate states that he is not human and had no childhood, but was created by elder gods and placed upon Earth to battle the forces of evil.[100]
In later stories, Kent Nelson is introduced as Doctor Fate's alter ego. The son of archaeologist Sven Nelson, Kent, as a child, encounters a comatose Nabu during an excavation and accidentally kills Sven by releasing poisonous gasses. Pitying the boy, Nabu explains that he is an immortal alien being from the planet Cilia, and takes Kent in to teach him the "secrets of the universe," raising him to adulthood to become Doctor Fate.[101] Later stories change aspects of Kent's background; one story establishes Kent as twelve years old during the incident, and shows Nabu altering Kent's mind and then slowly possessing him as Doctor Fate when Kent becomes an adult.[1][103] Another story portrays Nabu as callous and cold, seeing Kent as a mere vessel and aging him to adulthood with mystical mastery.[104]
As Doctor Fate, Nelson battles foes such as Wotan, Ian Karkul, and Khalis, accompanied by Inza Cramer, his girlfriend and later wife. Kent and Inza's relationship is often tested due to Nabu's interference and impact on her social life.[1] Originally, Doctor Fate's home reality is Earth-Two, and he is a founding member of theJustice Society of America (JSA) and theAll-Star Squadron. The JSA often interacted with Earth-One'sJustice League of America, until theCrisis on Infinite Earths crossover consolidated the two universes, while leaving most of his history intact.[102][5]
In the late 1980s, an older Kent Nelson becomes a founding member ofJustice League International but is killed off in 1987 inJ. M. DeMatteis'sDoctor Fate miniseries, which introduces his successors Eric and Linda Strauss.[76][5][105] In theCosmic Odyssey miniseries, they assistDarkseid,Highfather, and other heroes and villains in battling a sentient being made up of Anti-Life energies.[106] In 1991, the pair are eventually killed off in circumstances again involving Darkseid (retroactively revealed to be a disguisedDeSaad) and Anti-Fate, respectively, but reincarnate into new lives and lasted a year in the role.[107] However, upon their death, Kent and Inza Nelson are revived in younger bodies.[107]
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Succeeding Eric and Linda, Inza is inadvertently empowered by the Lords of Chaos and aids a district in New York while battling supernatural entities.[58] She also appeared in theWar of the Gods storyline to aid Wonder Woman and other heroes to thwart Circe's efforts to destroy Earth.[108] During the "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!" storyline in 1994, the Kent and Inza merge to become Doctor Fate,[109] but are defeated byExtant, and are rapidly aged with the loss of their artifacts, leaving the pair powerless.[110] The married couple are killed shortly after, having hired smuggler Jared Stevens to retrieve them but are killed by demons. With the pair dead, circumstances also leads Stevens to claim the mantle, albeit in his own unique manner as "Fate".[111]
When Steven's origin was rebooted in 1997 by Keith Giffen, circumstances are different with Kent and Inza, the latter whose mental health were compromised in her brief time as Doctor Fate. Kent manages to trick Stevens into the role, allowing the both of them to ascend into the afterlife while Stevens is burdened with the mantle of "Fate".[112]
In his originalFate series, his background is revealed as a son of an accountant and a criminal mother who lived in Boston, the latter whom was overbearing until he moved to Europe with his mother at sixteen but later distanced from her criminal activities, opting for law school as a adult.[113] Desiring a exciting life, he joined the Institute for Phenomenological Study as an adventurer and is caught in a conflict in a race for a magical artifact, leading to his first supernatural experience he considered a mass hallucination.[114][113] He later became a smuggle for arcane artifacts and seeks those affiliated with Doctor Fate. When the Nelsons are killed by demons sent by Kingdom, Jared's status as the next chosen agent for the Lords of Order is revealed but he resists Nabu due to the Amulet of Anubis's power, leading to a explosion and injury that leaves him an ankh tattoo and scarring on his arm, placated by using the Cloak of Destiny as bandages. This leads him to become Fate, a demon hunter and agent of balance for the Lords of Order and Chaos. During his time as Fate, he works withScare Tactics,Etrigan the Demon, and other forces to combat threats from the realm ofGemworld.[citation needed]
During his brief time as Fate, he is assisted by Arnold Burnsteel in theFate series and in the rebootedBook of Fate series, he is instead assisted by Arnold's sibling, Vera Burnsteel, both whom are accomplished hackers who seek to help him understand his role through occult research. Jared is later murdered byMordru, who attempts to kill all the agents of theLords of Chaos and Order and claim Fate's artifacts for himself. Jared's equipment reverts to its original forms and returns to the Tower of Fate upon his death. His tenure is defined later to have lasted at least over a year before he was succeeded by Hector Hall.[115][116]
In late 1999 and 2000 in a story inJSA Secret Files (which leads into the "Justice Be Done" storyline byJames Robinson andDavid S. Goyer in theJSA ongoing comic), Jared Stevens is killed and replaced byHector Hall, the son ofHawkman andHawkgirl, who is reincarnated as a new Doctor Fate and aged up from infancy by the villain Mordru. Hector battles and prevails over Mordru, aided by the (seemingly) spirits of Kent and Inza Nelson within the Amulet of Anubis.[117] Hector, as Doctor Fate, also appears in theDay of Judgement comic title and crossover, shown as a member of theSentinels of Magic. As a member of the Justice Society, he is considered less aloof and potentially a greater Doctor Fate but struggles with continuing the Fate legacy and both he and his teammates question if he can balance his responsibilities while having a ordinary life.[63][89]
Since his re-emergence, Hector reunites with his father and his re-occurring conflict includes seemingly learning of his wife,Fury, being alive but comatose from a spell he cannot mystically break.[118] In the 2003Doctor Fate mini-series, the novice but somewhat arrogant Hector is somewhat tested by Nabu when the re-emergence of Curse, a Babylonian demi-god sorcerer and rival of Nabu, forces him to battle a powerful foe. Like Nabu, Curse bonds with thief Justin Guilder, who competes with Hector for the affections of love interest Caitlyn. Critically injured, Hector's true insecurities is revealed but he manages to reinvigorate his own spirits by first rebuking Nabu's criticisms (as Nabu hoped) and manages to over-power Curse and his demonic forces, the latter aided by a Wiccan coven he once dismissed.[119]
In the "Princes of Darkness" storyline, manipulated by Mordru, he learns he instead placed a spell on a different woman,Dawn Granger, the biological mother of him in this incarnation whom was sexually assaulted byHank Hall (as Extant while under mind-control) to lead to his creation and had later disguised her as Fury. He also learned the "spirits" within the Amulet of Anubis containing the previous bearers were fascimiles created by Hector's imagination as a result of yearning to be accepted as a legitimate inheritor of the Doctor Fate legacy. He is later instrumental in defeating him once more and trapping him in the Rock of Eternity with the Wizard Shazam's permission.[120]
In the 2005 "Black Reign" storyline, Fury's true fate is revealed, having been trapped in the Amulet of Anubis alongside the previous incarnations of Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson, Eric and Linda Strauss) by Nabu, who had plotted to remove Fury from Hector's life to help manipulate him. Upon finding the truth, Nabu usurps control of Hector's body as the JSA battles Black Adam's team following his disillusionment for the JSA's moral stance inadvertently allowingKobra to go free without punishment. But from within the amulet, the group manages to instead entrap Nabu in the amulet and allow Hector to be free.[121] Later, in theDay of Vengeance crossover, Hector is killed by the Spectre, who has been driven insane and is hunting all magic users, destroying the Lords of Chaos and Order in the process. Nabu then briefly acts as Doctor Fate without a human host, gathering other mystics to confront the Spectre. Fatally injured, Nabu succeeds in stopping the Spectre but dies. In his final moments, Nabu asks Captain Marvel to throw the helmet into space in hopes it will find a worthy bearer.[122][5]
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In 2007, the Kent V. Nelson version of Doctor Fate is introduced bySteve Gerber inCountdown to Mystery. following Hector Hall's death. The grand-nephew of Kent Nelson (his namesake), Kent V. Nelson is a former psychiatrist whose life falls apart when his wife learns of hisinfidelity and he loses his license to practice from malpractice stemming from his depression. Kent dons the Helmet of Fate and assumes the role prior to theFinal Crisis.[123][124] During theReign in Hell storyline, he battles Lady Blaze and assists other supernatural heroes in an intervention in Hell's affairs due to a civil war waged by Satanus and Blaze herself. Inexperienced, he manages to defeat Blaze but both siblings managed to secure the throne, ultimately going to Blaze.[125] Later joining the JSA, he helps the team battle, Mordru,.[126][127] the Starheart (although he is mind-controlled), the new threat known as Scythe while helping the Pierce Family.[128][129]
In 2011, While Kent V. continues in the role, the original Kent Nelson's spirit appears to help Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) while the latter is stuck on a planet with no way to escape. Kent learns of his future death but chooses to save Hal, instead, despite Hal's protests.[130]
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Following DC's company wide "New 52" reboot in 2012, Inza Cramer, Kent V., Eric/Linda Strauss, and the Jared Stevens' histories initially erased from continuity.[5] While their histories was once restored,[49][131] it is also later revised; Kent's history remains similar to his Post-Crisis on Infinite Earth history, his marriage with Inza Cramer, and his connection with the Justice Society. However, during World War II, Nelson was also a member of the Justice Society Dark whom was active even after the disbanding of the Justice Society, battling a threat that would take decades in another realm.[132]
Also a member of the Justice League International for a time, he is succeeded by Eric and Linda Strauss as Doctor Fate, the pair having teamed up with Darkseid, Highfather, and others to help to stop the Anti-Life entity. After their passing, Hector Hall becomes the third Doctor Fate during the founding of a new JSA iteration by Wesley Dodds.[75]
In the 2015Doctor Fate series, Nelson appears in the second major storyline of the book, revealing Khalid Nassour as another grandnephew through his maternal line and the previous Doctor Fate.[133] This reality also establishes a different past, revealing Nelson to having an unnamed younger brother who fathered Elizabeth (Nassour's mother) and became aChristianpreacher. Neslon also was an influence on her life, inspiring her towards archaeology and was remarked to be his favorite niece.[133] The elderly Kent mentors Khalid and the pair act concurrently as Doctor Fate, having learned to draw power from them even without having them physically. The pair would encounter both an Ifrit set to destroy New York and Osiris, who unleashes the undead and seeks retribution for Anubis's defeat by Nassour sometime prior to Nelson's revelation towards Khalid.[133]
Nelson eventually takes precedent within the role, with Nabu also briefly usurping it to battleArion and assistthe Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes),[134] and appears in crossovers such as 2017'sDark Nights: Metal.[135] From 2017 to 2019, Kent is featured inJames Tynion IV's run inJustice League Dark alongside Khalid and Nabu. 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. Enlisting the power of chaos magic fromMordru, Kent is freed of 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 then declines. The pair enlist themselves as consultant 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, prompting a concerned Kent.[136][137][7]
With Nassour now the new Doctor Fate, Nelson leaves the team with intent to retire once more and believes himself unable to train Nassour further. Nelson later appears for the final time as Doctor Fate during the team's battle with Upside-Down Man, when Nabu summons him. Nelson sacrifices himself when the pair unleash a critical blow at the villain, killing him and depleting the helm of its power. As Nassour sees his death as a personal failure, Detective Chimp asserts he made the sacrifice with high hopes in his grandnephew's abilities.[6]
Although deceased in current times, the character makes posthumous appearances in which expands on his history in the new reality following the New 52 reboot;Geoff Johns' "The New Golden Age" storyline in 2023 reinforced several key storylines in past realities. Due toPer Degaton's time manipulations, he has several instances his life where he vaguely remembers a girl nameSalem the Witch Girl, his arrogant sidekick whom he encountered and took in for four years until her disappearance from time in 1944. Her removal from time erased his memories, only getting vague impressions at select times he could not figure out as a side effect. He also has visions of the death of various Doctor Fates and JSA members across time at different points, even warningCatwoman of the eventual targeting of herfuture daughter years before his death. A past version of Nelson is later brought by Nassour to seal Degaton, who has become a time paradox.[49][138]
In the "Knight Terrors" story arc, it is implied that in the past, Nelson knew about the Nightmare Stone before anyone else of the Justice Society did based on a conversation betweenDeadman and a recently resurrected zombifiedWesley Dodds.[139] In 2024, aspects of past incarnations' histories are restored byGeoff Johns.[49] Among other appearances includes him being present when Dodds was recruited into the JSA,[140] assistedFlash (Jay Garrick) alongside the JSA andBoom (Garrick's daughter) in battlingDoctor Elemental,[141] and aidingGreen Lantern (Alan Scott) when attacked by a group of similarly powered villains known as the Crimson Hosts.[142][143] When a girl calling herselfKid Eternity follows Wildcat into the afterlife after he is killed byLady Eve, Doctor Fate is among the dead JSA members who tell Kid Eternity that the JSA is in danger and that they need her help.[144]
Granted various mystic enhancements by Nabu, Kent possess heightened invulnerability, an extended lifespan, and peak human mental and physical capabilities. He also possess Nabu's vast arcane knowledge and expertise.[145][137] Early iterations of the character also depicted him as a practitioner of jujutsu and a medical doctor with a medical degree.[146][147][148] While once lacking true magical abilities in earlier, recent stories granted Kent magical abilities on his lonesome, drawing power from the helm without it on his persons.[57] The character is renowned for his brilliance in archaeology, holding a doctorate degree.[149]
Nelson is classified as a "sorcerer", employing magical artifacts to access a wide array of magical abilities and provide protection against the inherent risks associated with magic.[150] Together with various artifacts at his disposal, his flight, teleportation, precognition, illusion casting, and spell-casting abilities are widely regarded as being nearly unrivaled.[55][5][150]
Chief among his artifacts, he dons theHelmet of Fate, a potent artifact that grants him the ability to perform virtually any known magical feat.[145] Constructed from Nth metal, the helmet possesses inherent mystical properties and possesses the unique ability to counteract and negate magical forces as well as see the destiny ("fate") of others, foresee potential futures, are unable to be predicted from others withprecognition abilities,[135][49] and are immune toprobability-related powers.[131][49] 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.[60] However, the Helm's abilities and sources differ between incarnations.
Within his characterization, the source of this power was explained as having a scientific basis, involving the conversion of matter into energy and vice versa.[151] However, it was later established that his abilities were predominantly supernatural in nature. The helmet essentially allows Nelson to embody the essence of the Lords of Order, enabling him to wield magic through the power of imagination and merge with a female bearer into a more powerful entity.[152] This retroactively allowed him to cast spells, particularly drawing from Egyptian cultural influences.[1]
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Amulet of Anbuis | A significant artifact with various origins; One account states that it was created by Anubis and initially possessed by Khalis before being claimed by Nabu.[1] Another origin story suggests that the amulet was crafted from the remnants of Cilia, a planet belonging to the Lords of Order.[153] The amulet's powers includes resistance to psychic and astral probing, mind control, and magical power enhancement,[1]necromancy[154] and contains its own separate universe apt for trapping entities.[155][153] It has also been called theAmulet of Thoth.[64] |
| Cloak of Destiny | A cape which possess magical qualities that grants the user several powers such as invulnerability, superhuman strength, and flight.[156] It is also fireproof and counters the magical abilities originating form the Lords of Chaos.[157] |
| Orb of Nabu | 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[158] |
| Tower of Fate | Doctor Fate's base of operations; 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.[124] 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 theLibrary of Alexandria. It is fortified with mystical defenses.[159] |
| 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.[160] |
While formidable, Doctor Fate has some limits and weakness; inferior toSpectre in power,[145] it is expressed Doctor Fate cannot cast counter spells against him due to a condition regarding the "rules of magic".[5] The physical age of an incarnation also impacts their ability, with older incarnations diminishing in power over time while a younger versions' inexperience hampers mastery of their magical abilities.[161][162] Despite its durable nature, the Helmet of Fate is not impervious to damage. It has shown vulnerability to abilities originating from powerful entities (ex.Arion andBrimstone), some which included potent forms of Atlantean magic, power from higher beings such as the Spectre, and advanced applications of theFirestorm matrix, requiring regeneration. It can also experience overload in special circumstances, resulting in temporary limitations and the inertness of certain powers.[163][134][6]
In addition to several versions existing in alternate universes and timelines within theDC Multiverse, several characters briefly came into possession of the Helmet of Fate due to circumstances, allowing them to become Doctor Fate temporarily;Superman was briefly given helm by Khalid Nassour to help battle the mystical super-villain, Xanadoth.[172] When Nezha gained the Helmet of Fate by defeating Nassour,Batman later usurped it and briefly became Doctor Fate.[173]Detective Chimp was briefly chosen as Doctor Fate but relinquished it due to the overbearing information it placed in his mind.[174]Sand briefly used the helm to confer with Nabu and explain his Hector Hall's disappearance.[175]Black Alice was a candidate but the helm rejected her in part due to her intentions and forceful nature.[174] Okeontis was an alien freedom fighter possessed by an alienfungusa whom gained the Helmet of Fate . The helm's significant power caused thePresence to sendZauriel to intervene.[176]
In bothMore Fun Comics andImmortal Doctor Fate (backup issues from Flash), Doctor Fate has a small cast of characters;Inza Cramer, whom acts as his love interest, acts as his partner and confidante whom later becomes his wife. Nabu, his patron, is also a reluctant ally whom is responsible for gradually eroding his personal agency as Doctor Fate.[177][178] Vern Copeland is a fellow archaeologist whom is also smitten with Inza and noted to have similarities to Kent.[177] The second half of the 1988Doctor Fate series featured a larger supporting cast: Tooly and Tildly Wilson, an African-American couple and supporter of Doctor Fate with three children. Debby Niles, a police officer and niece of the Wilsons, was Inza's best friend and a close confidante whom was aware of their dual life. Another included corrupt billionaire-turned-ally Thomas Bridge,Shat-Ru, a renegade-turned-friend and Lord of Order who posed as Kent's grandfather and spoutednihilistic ideals, and his eccentric girlfriend, Dorothea.[179]
Doctor Fate also has numerous enemies of his own, featured in his limited series and/or significant with him from other appearances. Out of all his villains, Wotan is the most re-occurring villain whom is considered both his rival and arch-enemy as well as also battling other incarnations.[180][181][182] Others, such as Negal, have also been reoccurring with other incarnations.[183] AlthoughArion is typically a hero, the character has been listed as his adversary due to appearances in other titles wherein he was under mystical influence.[184][185]
| Character | First appearance |
|---|---|
| Wotan[177] | More Fun Comics #55 (May, 1940) |
| Negal[180] | More Fun Comics #67 (May, 1941) |
| Ian Karkull[186] | More Fun Comics #69 (August 1941) |
| Khalis[177] | 1st Issue Special #9 (December, 1975) |
| Mango the Mighty[180] | More Fun Comics #57 (July, 1940) |
| Kulak | All-Star Comics #2 (September, 1940) |
| Totec / Malferrazae[177] | The Flash #306 (backup feature) |
| Arion[184][185] | Warlord #55 (March,1982) |
| Ynar[177] | The Flash #310 (June, 1982) |
| Gray Man | Justice League #2 (June, 1987) |
| Non-mystical villains | |
| Mister Who[180] | More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941) |
| The Dude[180] | More Fun Comics #75(January, 1942) |
| Clock[180] | More Fun Comics #81 (July, 1942) |
| Groups | |
| Lords of Chaos | Retcon:More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940) Actual:DC Special Series #10 (Jan 1978) |
| Anti-Fate Group[179] | Doctor Fate v2 #35 (November,1991) |
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 toWizard 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.[4] The character's portrayal byPierce Brosnan inBlack Adam was also received well and was once slated to eventually appear again in theDC Extended Universe due to his popularity prior to James Gunn's appointment as creative head forDC Studios.[187]
Several versions of the character have critical acclaim; the Hector Hall version was considered a fan-favorite during the 1999JSA run[33] and the Khalid Nassour incarnation was well-received among critics and was compared toMarvel Comics'Kamala Khan as representing an underrepresented demographic while also praising his design and incorporation of Egyptian elements compared to Greek/Roman.[188]
The original character's connection to Egypt has been subjected to various criticisms due to Nelson's usage of the Egyptian mysticism,[189][190] InMixed Race Superheroes, Resha critiques Kent Nelson's incarnation as the archetypal white Western hero who freely accesses Egyptian mysticism without repercussions, contrasting it to Nassour. In a noted example within issue #9 of the 2015Doctor Fate series, she points out Nassour's worry about intervening in a massive demonstration gone awry within the United Nations plaza without being labelled "some kind of super-villain or costumed terrorist" and asserts how while Nelson's incarnation likely would not have worried about being labelled a terrorist (and only a super-villain at worst), Nassour's incarnation is aware he would not be afforded the same level of protections as a person of color.[189] Within media portrayals such asBlack Adam, Doctor Fate is among the characters cited within the Justice Society where their intervention in the fictional Arab nation of Kahndaq is critiqued as reinforcing "Orientalist stereotypes through the male imperial gaze" and exemplifies how Western superhero narratives "reproduc[e] a colonial vision where Western 'knowledge' of ancient civilizations 'rescues' the past from oblivion," exotifying and objectifying Arab figures while erasing their agency.[190]
Within mainstreamcomic books,Paul Levitz created theKhalid Nassour version of the character to address similar concerns, believing Nelson's connection to Egypt to be a by-product of a time when writers could not write in detail about ethnicity and religion.[8] James Robinson's creation of Khalid Ben-Hassin years earlier (featured in a Elseworld universe) was also made to avoid an offensive characterization, opting to make the character Egyptian-American to allow him to have Western traits.[191]
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.[9][10]
During his run in theJustice 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".[40] 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."[191]
In regards to the Jared Stevens version, the character was panned due to his design and departure from the common elements of the character.[3] The Eric and Linda Strauss' version has also been panned due to the characters' dynamic being that of lovers despite the age gap and relation between older Linda and child Eric whom was aged up physically, the former view as a pedophile and unnecessarily sexualized compared to her male counterpart.[192][193]
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