Doctor Fate (comic book)

Doctor Fate
Nabu the Wise

Doctor Fate (also known as Dr. Fate, Immortal Doctor Fate, and Fate) is a series of

. The Doctor Fate comic book series has undergone multiple revamps and reboots throughout its publication history, aiming to reinvent the character for contemporary audiences.

Publication history

Staring 1985, DC Comics compiled various Doctor Fate stories into a three-issue limited series titled "The Immortal Doctor Fate" The collection included the Doctor Fate back-up stories from The Flash, which featured a retelling of Doctor Fate's origin by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton, and Michael Nasser. The series also included the Pasko/Simonson Doctor Fate story from 1st Issue Special #9, as well as a Doctor Fate tale from More Fun Comics #56, originally published in June 1940. This limited series served as a compilation of these diverse Doctor Fate stories, providing readers with a comprehensive exploration of the character's history and adventures.

In 1988, the first limited series of Doctor Fate was released. The series was written by J. M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Dave Hunt, introducing the charactes Eric and Linda Strauss. In the story, they were hosen to take up the mantle of Doctor Fate following the apparent demise of Kent Nelson, the previous Doctor Fate, despite Eric's initial hesitation and Nabu's insistence on Linda's suitability.^[1] The series marked the first attempt to revialize the character by introudcing the concept of legacies, exploring the idea of passing on the mantle of Doctor Fate to a new generation, which involved the demise of the Kent Nelson character.^[2]

After the release of the limited series in 1989, an ongoing series was launched, continuing the narrative from the previous limited series. Initially, the series focused on the incarnations of Eric and Linda Strauss, the successors of Doctor Fate, until their characters were killed off in the storyline leading up to the 23rd issue. Following their departure, the series shifted its focus to Inza Cramer and Kent Nelson, who returned from the dead within the story. Inza primarily assumed the role of Doctor Fate for the remainder of the series until its cancellation. The latter half of the series explored Inza's unique approach to being a superhero, as both characters faced the challenges of rebuilding their social lives in rejuvenated bodies.^[3]

Between 1994 and 1996, DC Comics released the Fate series as part of the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! event. The character of Doctor Fate, portrayed by Jared Stevens in this iteration, underwent a significant redesign. He abandoned the "Doctor" title and acquired new weapons crafted from previous artifacts associated with Doctor Fate. Instead of being a traditional sorcerer, the character was reimagined as a demon hunter. Both Kent Nelson and Inza Cramer were killed off in the series.^[3] Unfortunately, this reinterpretation of Doctor Fate received negative feedback from readers and critics.^[4] As a result, the series was canceled after 23 issues in September 1996. Subsequently, the character appeared in the twelve-issue series called The Book of Fate, written by Keith Giffen. Published from February 1997 to January 1998 under DC's "Weirdoverse" imprint, The Book of Fate provided a rebooted origin and new adventures for the character. Following the cancellation of The Book of Fate in 1998, Doctor Fate underwent yet another reimagination with the revival of the Justice Society in JSA. In the title, Jared Stevens was killed off.

In 2003, a new Doctor Fate limited series was launched, featuring the Hector Hall version of the character, who had previously made his debut in the JSA series. The storyline followed Hector as he embraced his role as the new Doctor Fate under the guidance of Nabu. Set in Salem, Hector faced off against a formidable adversary named "The Curse," an ancient and powerful sorcerer who posed a threat to the Doctor Fate legacy. The Curse resurfaced in the modern world through a host named Justin Guilder, who also competed for the affections of Caitlin, Hector's love interest. Throughout the limited series, Hector also receives support from a Wicca coven in his battle against The Curse.

Following the conclusion of the Convergence limited series in June 2015 and the launch of DC's "DC You" line, a new Doctor Fate ongoing series was introduced. Written by Paul Levitz and illustrated by Sonny Liew, the series centered around the latest incarnation of Doctor Fate, Khalid Nassour, an Egyptian-American medical student. Levitz explained that DC wanted to provide a fresh perspective on the character compared to the original iteration created by Gardner Fox during the Golden Age, as per the vision of Dan Didio and Jim Lee.^[5] The series ran for 18 issues from June 2015 to November 2016.

In 2022, Tom King and Mitch Gerads initially proposed a new Doctor Fate series. However, DC Comics decided against the idea and instead encouraged them to concentrate on projects related to Batman.^[6]

Print media

Comics

Volume 1

No	Title	Release date
1.	"Cycles"	July, 1987
2.	"Asylum"	August, 1987
3.	"Strangers"	September, 1987
4.	"Incarnations"	October, 1987
Creative team
J.M. DeMatteis (author), Keith Griffen, Dave Hunt (illustrators) , Anthony Tollin (colorist) , Dennis O'Neil (editor)

Collected editions

Immortal Doctor Fate (1985)

Title	ISBN	Release date
The Immortal Doctor Fate	140125876X	March 29, 2016
Creative team
Martin Pastsko, J.M. DeMatteis (author), Keith Griffen, Dave Hunt (illustrators) , Anthony Tollin (colorist)
Synopsis and other information
Reprint of several stories. Collects 1st Issue Special #9, backup stories from The Flash #306-313 (Immortal Doctor Fate #1-3), Dr. Fate #1-4 and DC Challenge #11. The Immortal Doctor Fate/Flash backups are several stories depicting Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate during his earlier years: As Doctor Fate, Kent Nelson faced adversaries and challenges throughout his journey. One of his early foes was Wotan, who plotted to eliminate Doctor Fate by kidnapping Inza Cramer, Kent's love interest. Though Wotan's attempt failed, he feigned his own death. Kent ventured into the Underworld to confirm Wotan's demise but discovered his continued existence. Another confrontation involved Khalis, an ancient priest seeking revenge against Doctor Fate after losing his power. With Inza's help, Doctor Fate defeated and destroyed Khalis. Kent's marriage to Inza suffered as she grew increasingly frustrated and lonely, strained by his double life. They faced challenges from Totec, a Lord of Chaos who manifested Inza's jealousy as a creature. Doctor Fate restored Inza and defeated Totec. Later, Kent encountered Ynar and Vandaemon, powerful beings seeking universal rule. Inza's encounter with a curator named Vern Copeland added tension. Doctor Fate confronted Vandaemon, leading to a confrontation with Inza about her actions. Through revelations, Doctor Fate realized the power of the human spirit to resist manipulation. Kent, Inza, and Doctor Fate merged to defeat Ynar and Vandaemon, deepening their understanding and resolving trust issues. In the Dr. Fate storyline, Kent Nelson, who had been Doctor Fate for decades, faces the threat of the Lords of Chaos due to his aging body. To find a successor, Kent and Nabu choose ten-year-old Eric Strauss. Eric rapidly matures and becomes the new Doctor Fate, tasked with battling the Lords of Chaos and their agent, Benjamin Stoner. Eric and Linda, Eric's stepmother who was also chosen as a vessel of Doctor Fate, confront Anti-Fate, secure the Helmet of Fate, and emerge victorious. Kent discovers that the original Doctor Fate role involved two merging vessels, but this requirement was abandoned by Nabu for better control over him. Kent passes away, leaving Linda and Eric as the new Doctor Fate.

Dr. Fate: Countdown to Mystery (2008)

Title	ISBN	Release date
Dr. Fate: Countdown to Mystery	1401218407	September 3rd, 2008
Creative team
Steve Gerber, Gail Simone, Adam Beechen, Mark Evanier, Mark Waid (writers), Chad Hardin, Mario Alberti, Paul Gulacy, Joe Bennett, John Floyd, Stephen Segovia, Thomas Denrenick, Tom Derenick, Wayne Faucher, Belardino Brabo, Justiniano, Michael S O'Hare, Shawn McManus, Ethan Van Sciver, Gene Ha, Walden Wong (artists)
Synopsis and other information
Kent V. Nelson, the grandnephew of the original Doctor Fate, is a former psychiatrist who experienced a period of misfortune. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when the Helmet of Fate, after an extensive search across the galaxy, chooses him as its next wearer. As the newly appointed Doctor Fate, Kent faces a formidable adversary in Negal, an old enemy of the original Doctor Fate. Meanwhile, Kent himself grapples with the challenges of mastering his newfound powers.

Doctor Fate (2015 - 2017)

No	Title	ISBN	Release date
1.	Doctor Fate: The Blood Price	9781401261214[7]	March 29, 2016
Paul Levitz (author), Sonny Liew (illustrator)
Khalid Nassour, the son of an Egyptian former physician and an American archaeologist, is selected by the goddess Bastet to assume the mantle of Doctor Fate. Endowed with magical abilities and the Helmet of Thoth, Khalid becomes a champion for the Egyptian gods. Guided by Nabu, the spirit within the helmet, he embarks on a mission to prevent Anubis from reshaping the world according to his desires. Struggling to adjust to his newfound responsibilities, Khalid initially hesitates but ultimately embraces his role as Doctor Fate. He confronts Anubis and successfully defeats the death god, safeguarding the world from destruction. Collected material: Doctor Fate (2015-2017) #1-7 and DC Sneak Peek: Doctor Fate #1
2.	Doctor Fate: Prisoners of the Past	978-1401264925[8]	October 25, 2016
Paul Levitz (author), Ibrahim Moustafa (illustrator), Sonny Liew (illustrator)
Following his victory over Anubis, Khalid faces the ongoing challenge of balancing his life as a medical student and the sorcerous superhero known as Doctor Fate. Throughout his journey, he receives guidance from both archangels and gods. Confrontations with the United Nations and an Egyptian necromancer and general compel him to return to his family's ancestral homeland. In his homeland, Khalid confronts the necromancer as well as the spirit of Julius Caesar, who has been resurrected from the dead. Despite these formidable adversaries, Khalid emerges triumphant. His path eventually leads him to encounter the original Kent Nelson, who reveals himself to be Khalid's great uncle. Collected material: Doctor Fate (2015-2017) #8-12
3.	Doctor Fate: Fateful Threads	978-1401272418[9]	May 9, 2017
Paul Levitz (author), Inaki Miranda (illustrator), Brendan McCarthy (illustrator), Ibrahim Moustafa (illustrator), Sonny Liew (illustrator),
Following the return of Kent Nelson, Khalid finds himself taken under the guidance of his grand-uncle. Together, they join forces to thwart various threats, including afreets, mummies, and the Egyptian deity Osiris. Osiris, mistakenly believing that Doctor Fate has disrupted the cosmic hierarchy by opposing Anubis, seeks to eliminate Khalid. Bastet and several archangels expose Anubis's deceit and reveal his true intentions of surpassing his designated position to Osiris. With these revelations, Khalid is cleared of any accusations and suspicions. In the face of further challenges, Khalid confronts Clothorus, an entity with control over mortal fate who lacks a divine mandate. With the assistance of Thoth, Khalid successfully defeats Clothorus and the creatures under their command. Collected material: Doctor Fate (2015-2017) #13-18

Reception

The Immortal Doctor Fate series, which included the original re-printing of the comics (not to be confused with the collected edition), is highly regarded as one of the character's most popular runs, as noted by Wizard Magazine.^[10] Additionally, the fourth series released in 2015 featuring Khalid Nassour as the protagonist received positive reception. This portrayal of the character was seen as a significant step towards diversity and representation within the comic book industry. Notably, the series was praised for being the first American comic book to feature a Muslim protagonist and held the distinction of being the longest-running title under the DC You imprint.^[11]

Criticisms

Throughout its publication years, the Doctor Fate comic book series has faced various criticisms, which have contributed to its tendency to experience early cancellations and poor sales. According to a Wizard Magazine article, the late writer Steve Gerber expressed his retrospective belief that previous Doctor Fate series suffered from a lack of clear definition regarding the character's abilities and the source of his power. Gerber also noted that the character had been taken in numerous directions and undergone multiple incarnations, resulting in confusion for readers. Additionally, writer William Messner-Loebs mentioned that despite his enjoyment of writing for the series, it experienced limited sales.^[10] The Fate series is generally regarded as the least popular run of the Doctor Fate character. This particular iteration of Doctor Fate, featuring the Jared Stevens incarnation and a significant redesign that leaned towards a demon hunter archetype, received negative reviews. The departure from traditional elements associated with the character necessitated a reboot of the character's background, origin, and abilities the Book of Fate series.^[12]

References