Wotan (comics)

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Wotan
Wotan (DC Comics).png
Wotan as depicted in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #26 (April 1987).
Art by Mike Mignola.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
Created by Gardner Fox (writer)
Howard Sherman (artist)
In-story information
Place of originAncient Scandinavia
Team affiliations Injustice Society
Partnerships Demons Three
Johnny Sorrow
Abilities
  • Mastery of black magic and acute knowledge of the supernatural; Immortality via selective reincarnation.
  • Gifted scientist and inventor.

Wotan is a supervillain featured in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character, created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, made their first appearance in More Fun Comics #55 in 1940. Wotan is frequently a principal adversary of Doctor Fate. Like his archnemesis, Wotan possess powers that have allowed him to adopt various different incarnations. In his original form, Wotan was a woman of a pre-historic tribe in ancient Scandinavia subjected to sexual assault and nearly beaten to death by male tribe members. Learning sorcery soon after to gain power, she became worshipped akin to a goddess and sought immortality, resulting in her learning to control her own reincarnation cycle with her memories intact. Adopting various forms over the millennia both male and female of varying origins, he eventually settled on the name "Wotan" and pursued more power, eventually bringing him into conflict with Doctor Fate in the 20th century. [1] [2]

Contents

Wotan has made appearances in various forms of media, including adaptations in animated series such as Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Young Justice

Publication history

Wotan first appeared in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940) and was created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. [3]

Fictional character biography

Origin

When Wotan's background and origin was first a deliberate mystery, it was expressed Wotan had lived another incarnation prior to his first encounter with the original Doctor Fate and faced Nabu in a previous lifetime. [2] Later, his origin was revealed as a Stone Age woman from what would later be Scandinavia raped and beaten nearly to death by male tribe members. Inquiring the reason behind human suffering and existence, she came to be trained under a sorceress until her death, taking her place. Growing powerful enough to be revered like a deity, she later learns how to direct her reincarnation, allowing her to take various forms of different sexes and ethnic origins and sought to gain more power. [4]

20th century

In the 1940s Golden Age, Wotan encounters the first Green Lantern and the sorcerer Doctor Fate, becoming the latter's nemesis. [5] Per Degaton summons Wotan, among other villains, to assist in capturing the JSA and stop them from interfering in his attempt to alter history. Wotan uses his magic aura to hold the JSA captive in caves beneath an island. The plan is foiled by the actions of the All-Star Squadron. When the Spectre is released and frees the other members, Degaton goes back in time, erasing everybody's memories of the event and returning them to their proper places. [6]

In the second volume of The Spectre, Wotan unsuccessfully attempts to possess Zatanna. [7] Wotan later discovers the temple where Yahweh's previous body is entombed. [2] While fighting the current Doctor Fate (Linda Strauss) and the Justice League, Wotan enters the tower to confront God. Instead, he is blinded by God's power and teleported away. [8]

In the 2001 JLA: Incarnations series, taking place years prior to his conflict with the Linda Strauss, Wotan attempts to destroy the Justice League; first distracting them using androids programmed with powers designed to specifically counter before dropping a meteor on the team but ultimately failing, he then once more lures them to an island on-top of a active volcano, using his magic powers to emotionally pit the Justice League against the Justice Society of America while subjugating Doctor Fate and Martian Manhunter with mind control, in hopes to distract them long enough for a eruption to kill them. Both teams defeat his mind control and in a ensuring conflict, Wotan ends up encrusted in ash and lava but while neutralized, survives due to his immortality. [9]

21st century

In the DC All In initiative, Wotan appears as a member of Scandal Savage's incarnation of the Injustice Society, helping the team as they target Khalid Nassour's Helmet of Fate. During a meeting with the members, it is revealed the helm is needed for a device created by the villain group, and reassures the group of capturing the Tower of Fate despite Nassour proving to be more capable then anticipated. When Doctor Mid-Nite escapes from her cell, Wotan sends Gentleman Ghost and Solomon Grundy to Hell to assist the Demons Three in going after Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Kid Eternity. After Doctor Mid-Nite escapes from the ISA's headquarters with Obsidian's body, Wotan allows Scandal to pursue her as he takes Doctor Elemental, Fog, Lady Eve, and Red Lantern to claim the Helmet of Fate. After the Tower of Fate collapses, Wotan takes Nassour's helmet and teleports himself and the villains away. [10]

Powers and abilities

Wotan possess a mastery of black magic from centuries of study, possessing a host of magical abilities including the ability to traverse between dimensions, spell-casting, and transferring their own soul into another body, effectively undergoing a form of self-directed reincarnation. [11] Wotan is also an accomplished scientist and inventor, possessing technology surpassing anything developed during the 20th century. [1] However, Wotan possess limited skills in unarmed combat and uses magic primarily. [11]

Equipment and technology

While possessing sorcerous powers, Wotan also utilizes advance technology. [1] Among those include numerous androids individually programmed with varying powers and energies designed to counter the abilities of the Justice League. [12]

Other versions

In other media

References

  1. 1 2 3 Who's Who in the DC Universe #1 (August 1990)
  2. 1 2 3 Doctor Fate (vol. 2) #14 (February 1990)
  3. ↑ Golden, Christopher; Bissette, Stephen R.; Sniegoski, Thomas E. (2000). The Monster Book. Simon & Schuster. p. 196. ISBN   9780671042592.
  4. ↑ Who's Who Update '88 #4 (November 1988)
  5. ↑ Secret Origins (vol. 2) #24 (March 1988)
  6. ↑ All-Star Squadron #1–3 (September – November 1981)
  7. ↑ The Spectre (vol. 2) #7–8 (October – November 1987)
  8. ↑ Doctor Fate (vol. 2) #15 (March 1990)
  9. ↑ Ostrander, John (2019-02-07). JLA: Incarnations (2001-) #1. DC Comics.
  10. ↑ JSA (vol. 2) #1-#6 (November 2024 – April 2025)
  11. 1 2 Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. XXVI. DC Comics. 1987.
  12. ↑ Ostrander, John (2019-02-07). JLA: Incarnations (2001-) #1. DC Comics.
  13. ↑ Robinson, James (2013-10-08). Earth 2 Vol. 2: The Tower of Fate. DC Comics. ISBN   978-1-4012-4844-4.
  14. 1 2 "Wotan Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 6, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  15. ↑ Weisman, Greg (September 2, 2022). "Search Ask Greg: Gargoyles: Station Eight". s8.org. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects – Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN . Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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