Alternative versions of Doctor Fate

Last updated

Doctor Fate / Fate / Doctor Fate of the 31st Century
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
Created byGardner Fox, Howard Sherman

Through the publication history of DC Comics, several alternative versions of Doctor Fate have been created with usage of the codename in DC Comics. Often defined as a legacy hero within the fictional DC Universe, the first character to adopt the codename, Kent Nelson, was created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. Over the character's publication history, several other characters have adopted the name, such as Hector Hall and Khalid Nassour. Alternate versions of the character also exist within the DC Multiverse, such as Khalid Ben-Hassin and Doc Fate.

Contents

Mainstream versions

Alternate versions

Several other versions of the character exist in alternate versions of the DC Universe often to as the Multiverse. Within these fictional parallel universes, each of these characters appear within their own continuity and stories, often differing from versions depicted within the mainstream comic books. These versions of the character specifically are different characters and incarnations typically disassociated with the mainstream bearers (i.e. Strangefate) and/or possess varying different characteristics despite sharing aspects (i.e. Doc Fate).

Doctor Fate

Alter egoCreator(s)First appearanceDescription
Khalid Ben-Hassin James Robinson, [1] Nicola Scott Earth 2 #9 (April, 2013)Khalid Ben-Hassin is an Egyptian-American archaeologist and expert on the occult and magic on Earth-2 who encounters the famed Helmet of Fate, a Mother Box containing the essence of the wizard Nabu, and dons it to become the superhero known as Doctor Fate, a member of the Wonders of the World. [2]
Richard John "Dick" Grayson J.T. Krul, Mikel JaninFlashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 (August, 2011)In the Flashpoint timeline, Richard John "Dick" Grayson becomes Doctor Fate following Kent Nelson's (a fortune teller in Haly's Circus and a former hero of the JSA) death and being hunted by Starfire and the Amazons seeking the helm. He is assisted by Deadman. [3]

Doctor Fates of the 31st Century

Alter egoCreator(s)First appearanceDescription
Unknown Marc Andreyko Kevin Maguire Supergirl Vol 7 #33 (November, 2019)This unnamed Doctor Fate resides in an alternate future based upon a new future taking place adjacent to "Prime Earth". A six-armed male alien, this version is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a revered sorcerer known to the United Planets. [4]
Sofie Geoff Johns The New Golden Age #1 (January, 2023)In an alternate future based upon the original version appearing in the 1958 Legion of Super-Heroes, this futuristic Doctor Fate, named Sofie, is a founding member of the 31st-century iteration of the JSA. Like Khalid Nassour, Sofie is Egyptian-American and sports a similar helmet design. [5] She first appears as among Per Degaton's casualties as he seeks to kill Doctor Fate and the JSA across history, targeting the former due to the helm's ability to block his precognition. Sofie's existence is later saved by Nassour, who pulls her from her moment of death to help the past and 2020s JSA iteration seal away Degaton. [6] Her time as Doctor Fate is said to eventually be succeeded by her granddaughter. [6]

Other versions

CodenameAlter-egoCreatorsFirst appearancesDescription
Doctor StrangefateCharles Xavier Ron Marz

José Luis García-López Kevin Nowlan

Marvel Versus DC #1 (1996) Charles Xavier of Earth-9602/Earth-1996 is a mutant and telepath who learns the mystic arts through Nabu the Ancient One. Taking the Helmet of Strangefate and mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, he becomes a powerful but unconventional hero who often assists the Judgement League of Avengers and employs others at his steed despite his power. He is assisted by his servant, Myx. [7] This character is an amalgamation of Doctor Strange and Professor X from Marvel Comics alongside Doctor Fate.

Villain counterparts

NameCreator(s)First appearanceFictional biography
Doctor ChaosBurt Belker Martin Pasko

Kurt Schaffenberger

The New Adventures of Superboy #25 (1982)Burt Belker is a wealthy, college student studying archaeology and an assistant of Lewis Lang (father of Lana Lang) who briefly dated his daughter. Discovering a "Sumerian" helm revealed to be the Helmet of Chaos, he dons it and is taken over by the personality within it and comes into conflict with Superboy. [8]
Unknown Steve Orlando

Hugo Petrus

Justice League of America (2017) #18A new unnamed version of Doctor Chaos serves a protector of Chaos Realm, home of the Lords of Chaos. He is ambushed and seemingly killed by the villain, Queen of Fables. [9]
Anti-Fate Dr. Benjamin Stoner J. M. DeMatteis

Keith Giffen

Doctor Fate #1 (1987)Dr. Benjamin Stoner is a lead doctor in Arkham Asylum driven insane by Typhon, a Lord of Chaos. Targeting an aged Kent Nelson, Typhon uses him to battle Kent and his successor, Eric and Linda Strauss, with a dark variant of the Helmet of Fate as the adversary, Anti-Fate. [10]
Doctor HateRachel Roth / RavenJoshua Williamson

Howard Porter

Knight Terrors: Night's End #1 (August, 2023) Raven is the daughter of Trigon and a superhero often portrayed with empathic and sorcerous powers. Sometime after the aftermath of "Lazarus Planet", the dark counterpart of the Helmet of Fate, the Helmet of Hate, is created. Raven's demonic self separates from her and becomes independent, donning the helm and the Nightmare Stone. As Doctor Hate, she has powers comparable to Doctor Fate and the power to manipulate minds. [11]

See also

References

  1. Truitt, Brian (March 4, 2013). "'Earth 2' writer puts a new twist on Doctor Fate". USA Today. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  2. Robinson, James (2014). Earth 2: The Tower of Fate. DC Comics. ISBN   978-1-4012-4614-3.
  3. Johns, Geoff (2011). Flashpoint. Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, Jesse Delperdang, Alex Sinclair, Nick Napolitano. Burbank, CA. ISBN   978-1-4012-3337-2. OCLC   742511266.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. Bendis, Brian Michael (2021-01-19). Legion of Super-Heroes (2019-) #12. DC Comics.
  5. Olortegui, Diego (October 28, 2025). "Diego Olortegui's X Post".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 1 2 Johns, Geoff (2022). The New Golden Age #1. DC Comics.
  7. Doctor Strangefate #1 (April 1996)
  8. The New Adventures of Superboy #25 (January 1982)
  9. Orlando, Steve (2018). Justice League of America. Vol. 4, Surgical strike. Kelley Jones, Hugo Petrus, Stephen Byrne, Michelle Madsen, Clayton Cowles, Josh Reed. Burbank, CA. ISBN   978-1-4012-8058-1. OCLC   1014090846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. DeMattis, J.M. (1989). Doctor Fate #1-#4. DC Comics.
  11. Taylor, Tom (2024-01-23). Titans: Beast World (2023-) #5. DC Comics.