Doctor Fate (also known as Fate) is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, the character first appeared in More Fun Comics #55 (May, 1940) during the Golden Age of Comic Books. Since his creation, several other characters have served as successor incarnations of the character within the mainstream DC Universe as legacy heroes, with each new version attempting to reinvigorate the character for contemporary audiences.
The original version is archaeologist Kent Nelson, whose encounter with Nabu, a cosmic being affiliated with the Lords of Order, transformed him into the sorcerous superhero, Doctor Fate, by granting him the famous Helmet of Fate. First training him out of pity of Kent following father's death during an excavation, various retellings reconceptualize Nabu's intents and method of training. As Doctor Fate, Kent became a founding member of the Justice Society of America and served in other superhero teams like the Justice League International. As the original (sometimes referred to as Golden Age Doctor Fate), Kent's most reoccurring conflict is his gradual loss of personal agency to Nabu and its effects on his interpersonal relationships, especially with his love interest, Inza Cramer. Since the 1980s, the original version has been subjected to various comic book deaths, with several other successors taking the role at times and Kent either eventually returning to the role in after revivals, making posthumous appearances in storylines, or being in supporting roles to other versions. After being killed off in a 2019 Justice League Dark storyline, he is permanently succeeded by the modern incarnation, Egyptian-American and medical practitioner Khalid Nassour.
While not reaching the same levels of cultural recognition as Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman, Doctor Fate remains as one of DC Comic's most enduring and long-standing characters, known for their distinctive name and design. Being one of the earliest heroes created by DC Comics, the original's Immortal Doctor Fate remain as one of the character's most popular runs. However, creators and critics alike have been critical of aspects of the characters, including elements of orientalism, Nabu's characterization in regards to Nelson's agency, and the character's immense powers poising challenges in creating credible adversaries. Despite this, the original Doctor Fate has made many appearances in adaptations. Nelson first made his live-action debut in the television series Smallville, portrayed by Brent Stait. He also appears in the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam (2022), portrayed by Pierce Brosnan. The character appeared in the DC Animated Universe, voiced by George DelHoyo in the Superman: The Animated Series and Oded Fehr in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Several alternate versions of the character have also been adapted in media, including original creations and those based on other published DC Comics characters.
Creation In a 1987 interview, Fox recalled the genesis behind Fate, stating, "Doctor Fate (I originally called him Doctor Droon, but the name was editorially changed) was one of my favorites. I created him and even sketched out the original costume he would wear – but that costume was changed by artists over the years, for one reason or another. To my knowledge, I wrote all the Dr. Fate yarns that appeared, up until 1968, when I left comic book writing to a great degree. I always liked the supernatural; I read Lovecraft, Derleth, Sax Rohmer, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Whitehead, all the others, Fate was a derivation from my imagination influenced by those writings"
Publication history
Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age of Comics (1940–1985)
The original version of the character, Kent Nelson, first appeared in a self-titled six-page strip in More Fun Comics No. 55 (May 1940), during the Golden Age of Comic Books, created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, who produced the first three years of monthly Doctor Fate stories. Soon after, the character's origin was shown in More Fun Comics No. 67 (May 1941). Stories during the Golden Age included his love interest, Inza, who was known variably throughout the Golden Age as Inza Cramer,More Fun Comics No. 80 (June 1942) Inza Sanders,More Fun Comics No. 75 (January 1942)More Fun Comics No. 77 (March 1942) and Inza Carmer.More Fun Comics No. 76 (February 1942)More Fun Comics No. 78 (April 1942)More Fun Comics No. 89 (March 1943)More Fun Comics No. 90 (April 1943) When the Justice Society of America (JSA) was created for All Star Comics No. 3 (Winter 1940), Doctor Fate was one of the characters National Comics used for the joint venture with All-American Publications. He made his last appearance in that book in issue No. 21 (Summer 1944), virtually simultaneously with the end of his own strip in More 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 in Justice League of America that began in 1963; in World's Finest Comics No. 201 (March 1971 and No. 208, December 1971); an appearance with Batman in The Brave and the Bold No. 156 (November 1979); and a solo story in 1st Issue Special No. 9 (December 1975), written by Martin Pasko and drawn by Walt Simonson. Doctor Fate and the rest of the JSA returned to All-Star Comics in 1976 in issue No. 58, beginning a two-year run that ended with issue No. 74 and Adventure 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.
During the Bronze Age, the character's origin was retold in DC Special Series No. 10, and Doctor Fate again teamed up with Superman in DC Comics Presents No. 23 (July 1980). He later featured in a series of back-up stories running in The Flash from No. 306 (February 1982) to No. 313 (September 1982) written by Martin Pasko (aided by Steve Gerber from No. 310 to No. 313) and drawn by Keith Giffen. In 1981, DC's All-Star Squadron elaborated upon the adventures of many World War II-era heroes, including Doctor Fate and the JSA. Doctor Fate made occasional modern-day appearances in Infinity, Inc. throughout 1984, the same year which witnessed the 22nd and final annual JSA/JLA team-up.Justice League of America #231–232 (October–November 1984) In 1985, DC collected the Doctor Fate back-up stories from The Flash, a retelling of Doctor Fate's origin by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton, and Michael Nasser originally published in Secret Origins of Super-Heroes (January 1978) (DC Special Series No. 10 in the indicia), the Pasko/Simonson Doctor Fate story from 1st Issue Special No. 9, and a Doctor Fate tale from More Fun Comics No. 56 (June 1940), in a three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Doctor Fate.Doctor Fate later appeared in several issues of Crisis on Infinite Earths, joining various heroes from the DC Multiverse in battle against the Anti-Monitor and, later, Amethyst.Legends No. 6 (April 1987) 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.
Modern Age (1985–2011) In 1987, the Doctor 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.Doctor Fate #1–4 (July–October 1987) A subsequent ongoing series focusing on Eric and Linda followed in the winter of 1988, with the first 24 issues written by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Shawn McManus. The series' premise featured the pair under the guidance of Nabu, who had inhabited Kent Nelson's body and taken his identity. The series also established a supporting cast for the characters and the concept of Kali Yuga among the Lords of Chaos and Order, a period where chaos reigns and order is defeated. It further established that the incarnations of Fate are the result of reincarnation cycles. During DeMatteis's run, the series experienced limited sales. Doctor Fate would also appear in several other crossovers and miniseries at the time, including Millennium and Cosmic 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,Doctor Fate (vol. 2) No. 41 (June 1992). DC Comics and following Zero Hour, both Kent and Inza were killed off.
A new incarnation, Jared Stevens, was introduced in a series called Fate, launched in the wake of Zero Hour in 1994.Fate No. 0 (October 1994) 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. Considered an unpopular reimagining of the character, the series was canceled after 23 issues in September 1996. The character then starred in The Book of Fate, written by Keith Giffen, which ran from February 1997 to January 1998 for 12 issues as part of DC's "Weirdoverse" imprint, and which rebooted the character's origins and adventures.
However, the revival of the JSA title in 1999 allowed an opportunity for the Doctor Fate character to be reworked, with Jared Stevens subsequently killed off.JSA No. 1 (August 1999)JSA No. 4 (November 1999)
The next incarnation of Doctor Fate would come in the form of Hector Hall, the son of the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who is reincarnated due to the machinations of Mordru. A fan-favorite incarnation, the character was featured in the JSA title and a five-issue Doctor Fate limited series in 2003.Dr. Fate (vol. 3) #1–5 (October 2003 – February 2004) Hector Hall was killed in the Day of Vengeance limited series in 2005 as part of the lead-in to the 2005 company-wide event crossover, Infinite Crisis.Day of Vengeance #1–6 (June–November 2005)
In early 2007, DC published a bi-weekly run of one-shots depicting the search for a new Doctor Fate. These were intended to be followed by a new Doctor Fate ongoing series in April 2007, written by Steve Gerber and illustrated by Paul Gulacy, featuring the new Doctor Fate. However, the series was delayed due to extended production and creative difficulties. Gerber said in an interview for Newsarama that the story intended for the first arc of the Doctor Fate ongoing series had been reworked to serve as the main story for Countdown to Mystery, a dual-feature eight-issue miniseries with Eclipso as the second feature. The first issue of Countdown to Mystery, with art by Justiniano and Walden Wong rather than Gulacy, was released in November 2007. Following Gerber's death, the seventh issue was written by Adam Beechen using Gerber's notes. The final issue was written by Beechen, Gail Simone, Mark Waid, and Mark Evanier, who each wrote a different ending to the story. The character then appeared in the Reign in Hell miniseriesReign in Hell #1–8 (Sept. 2008 – April 2009) 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, writer Marc Guggenheim described Doctor Fate's role as a powerhouse but intended to flesh out the character.
The New 52 and beyond (2011–present) Following the events of the Flashpoint mini-series in 2011, DC's continuity was rebooted. As part of The New 52 initiative, an alternate version of Doctor Fate named Khalid Ben-Hassin was created by writer James Robinson and artist Brett Booth. The character was featured in the Earth 2 ongoing series from No. 9 (February 2013) onwards.