The Destiny of Doctor Fate
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, Doctor Fate made his DC Comics debut 85 years ago in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). Throughout his comic history, the character has appeared in various incarnations, with the name Doctor Fate applying to a succession of sorcerers in the DC Universe. The first Doctor Fate, Kent Nelson, was on expedition with his archaeologist father when he opened the tomb of Nabu the Wise. In opening the sarcophagus, his father released a poisonous gas and died instantly. Nabu took pity on Kent and spent the next 20 years teaching him the skills of a sorcerer before gifting him a mystical helmet, amulet, and cloak.
After making his way to the US, Kent began a career fighting crime and supernatural evil as the sorcerer and superhero Doctor Fate. He later helped co-found the Justice Society of America, became a physician, joined the army to serve as a Paratrooper in World War II, resigned from the JSA to become an archaeologist and later co-founded a new Justice League. Over the years, after the multiple deaths and resurrections of Kent, multiple people have assumed the title of Doctor Fate. The new Doctor Fate, a merged Eric Strauss and his stepmother Linda, appeared in Dr. Fate #1 (July 1987). Shortly after their debut, Eric was killed in a battle with Desaad and Linda became Doctor Fate on her own. This solo endeavor was short-lived as she was killed by the Lords of Chaos not long after.
In a later storyline, Inza, Kent’s wife who had been resurrected briefly, became the latest Doctor Fate to don the helmet of Nabu. Additional Doctor Fates include smuggler Jared Stevens, a recently reincarnated Hector Hall, Kent’s grandnephew Doctor Kent V. Nelson, Earth-2’s Khalid Ben-Hassin, and Earth-0 medical student Khalid Nassour. Each Doctor Fate gains their power from wearing the helmet of Nabu, also known as the “Helmet of Fate.” This mystical artifact transforms its wearer into a master of magic, with powers including spellcasting, flight, superhuman strength, invulnerability, telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, and lightning manipulation. Did you know the helmet of Nabu is making its way into the ranks of the Legion of Superheroes?
The Destiny of Doctor Fate
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, Doctor Fate made his DC Comics debut 85 years ago in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). Throughout his comic history, the character has appeared in various incarnations, with the name Doctor Fate applying to a succession of sorcerers in the DC Universe. The first Doctor Fate, Kent Nelson, was on expedition with his archaeologist father when he opened the tomb of Nabu the Wise. In opening the sarcophagus, his father released a poisonous gas and died instantly. Nabu took pity on Kent and spent the next 20 years teaching him the skills of a sorcerer before gifting him a mystical helmet, amulet, and cloak.
After making his way to the US, Kent began a career fighting crime and supernatural evil as the sorcerer and superhero Doctor Fate. He later helped co-found the Justice Society of America, became a physician, joined the army to serve as a Paratrooper in World War II, resigned from the JSA to become an archaeologist and later co-founded a new Justice League. Over the years, after the multiple deaths and resurrections of Kent, multiple people have assumed the title of Doctor Fate. The new Doctor Fate, a merged Eric Strauss and his stepmother Linda, appeared in Dr. Fate #1 (July 1987). Shortly after their debut, Eric was killed in a battle with Desaad and Linda became Doctor Fate on her own. This solo endeavor was short-lived as she was killed by the Lords of Chaos not long after.
In a later storyline, Inza, Kent’s wife who had been resurrected briefly, became the latest Doctor Fate to don the helmet of Nabu. Additional Doctor Fates include smuggler Jared Stevens, a recently reincarnated Hector Hall, Kent’s grandnephew Doctor Kent V. Nelson, Earth-2’s Khalid Ben-Hassin, and Earth-0 medical student Khalid Nassour. Each Doctor Fate gains their power from wearing the helmet of Nabu, also known as the “Helmet of Fate.” This mystical artifact transforms its wearer into a master of magic, with powers including spellcasting, flight, superhuman strength, invulnerability, telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, and lightning manipulation. Did you know the helmet of Nabu is making its way into the ranks of the Legion of Superheroes?
