WHO COUNTS IN COUNTDOWN to Infinite Crisis? Episode 22 DR. FATE By Bruce! MacIntosh Countdown (to Infinite Crisis) spent a few weeks focusing on Superman-Prime, Eclipso and Mary Marvel, so as the main title focuses on building to its ultimate climax, we'll take a look at some characters in the "Spin-off" series that readers might wonder about their histories and origins. This week, I'll give naysayers a pep-talk, and we'll peer into our crystal ball to tell the fortune of the lead character in Countdown to Mystery, DC's Master of the Mystical Arts, Dr. Fate.
Countdown to Mystery is an oversized eight issue limited series which features the "new" Dr. Fate in the lead story, and Eclipso in the second feature. Word around the Interwebs is that some people are grumbling about DC's supposedly expecting them to buy all these Countdown mini-series. While I'm sure DC really does want you to buy these titles, it isn't merely crass commercialism that inspires them to call this and the several other titles "Countdown tie-ins". If you're reading any or all of these "tie-ins", you realize that some are are more of a 52 continuation (Countdown to Adventure), or are only tangentially related to Countdown (such as Countdown to Mystery), or are simply a branch of the bigger Countdown story. Therefore, these are definitely not "required reading" to know what is going on in the main title. (As Dan DiDio said in every interview and every convention appearance, "Countdown is supposed to be the spine of the DC Universe." So, by reading this title you are getting a feel for everything that is going on: it simply touches on what is going on in titles you aren't reading, and hopefully enhances the reading experience for comics you are getting!)
In fact, DC's current "big event" crosses-over and ties-in to far fewer titles than practically any of their past events. Unlike with Legends, Millennium, Zero Hour (the list is "Infinite" get it?), currently you can figure out what is going on in the main story or the general DC Universe, without having to buy twenty different titles. These mini-series are merely there for your enjoyment: Usually great stories, usually great art fun for the entire family. Buy them if you want but it isn't required: Since they are "minis" they don't require a lifetime investment. The great thing that the editors and creators at DC have done for readers with this big event is not require us to buy every title they publish just to figure out what is going on! (Mmmm, this Kool-Aid tastes good.)
So relax and enjoy the ride. (Here comes Metaphor #1) Countdown (to Infinite Crisis) is a little roller coaster - Sure, it's got some ups and downs and it takes a while to build up to the big climax. And like most roller coaster rides, that thrill will probably be over too soon but, hey! At least you didn't have to wait in line for an hour!
Anyway, Countdown (to Infinite Crisis) is building to the climactic event, and I'm sure it will be a thrilling conclusion. Meanwhile, I hope readers have been enjoying what I consider the best part: The characters. (Stand by for Metaphor #2.) Every week, it's like going to a great party: You meet some new people, reacquaint with old friends you haven't seen in years, or catch up with your constant companions.
Ah, the characters. As I climb down off my soapbox, we'll finally get to this week's "old friend" Dr. Fate. If you aren't familiar with DC's venerable spellcaster and lightning bolt-thrower, you might think the golden helmet wearing mage DC's answer to their rival's more familiar Dr. Strange. While their names, powers and opponents are so similar it's spooky, in truth it was Marvel's main magician who was the knock-off. DC's version had already been around for almost a quarter century before his doppelganger from the House of Ideas first called upon the Hoary Hosts of Hoggath.
Dr. Fate was created in 1940 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman for the anthology adventure title More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). His civilian alter ego was Kent Nelson, the son of an archeologist who died after discovering the tomb of the ancient mystic Nabu in the Valley of Ur. The wizard raised the boy and trained him in the magic arts, and endowed him with the familiar blue uniform, golden cape, and gold helmet covering his face. (Writer Gardner Fox recounted in an interview that although the costume was the artist's conception, Fox designed the helmet after the headgear worn by ancient Greek warriors.)
Nabu resided in the helmet, and while wearing it the wizard took control of Nelson's body, controlling his spellcasting actions against both mystical and mundane foes. After a year, this was modified to a half-helmet covering only his eyes and top of the head. The change deprived Nelson of the majority of his mystical powers, but allowed him to act more human while in his identity of Fate.
The good doctor was a charter member of the Justice Society of America, appearing in most of their appearances from the team's conception (All-Star Comics #3, Winter 1940-41), until interest in the character waned and his own stories disappeared by 1945. Although the rest of the Justice Society limped along for another five years, Dr. Fate completely disappeared.
Until, that is, DC revived the Justice Society along with creating the concept of the Multiverse to team up annually with the Justice League of America. (For a fun analysis of the first of those yearly get-togethers, click this link: Monitoring the Multiverse) He reappeared like one of his magic bolts of lightning in Justice League of America #21 (Aug 1963) in that first "fateful" team-up, and has not been far from the spotlight for the last 40 years.
He was also popular enough with the readers in the Sixties to be featured in the first Golden Age team-up revival in Showcase #55 (Mar-Apr 1965), pairing with his old JSA friend - and another perennial favorite since - Hourman. This led to a succession of appearances over the next decade, teaming with Batman in Brave and the Bold, Superman in World's Finest Comics, and a solo adventure in 1st Issue Special (Issue #9, Dec 1975).
The 1st Issue Special story made some fundamental changes to Dr. Fate's background. (In some ways, abandoning the recent "superhero" elements, and returning him to his mystical origins.) Rather than Kent Nelson being the secret identity of the superhero, now the helmet itself contained the essence of Nabu. When Nelson donned the helmet, Nabu's spirit "possessed" him. In addition, the great portion of his power was derived from the amulet of Anubis he wore on his boxing champion-style golden belt.
In the 1980s, Fate was included in Roy Thomas' All-Star Squadron comic series, featuring the Justice Society at the beginning of WWII, and then in his own solo series in the back of The Flash #305 - #313 (Feb 1982 Sep 1983). This series (later reprinted in 1998 in a three-issue series, The Immortal Dr. Fate) amalgamated Nelson and his wife Inza into the mystical Dr. Fate. Talk about a close relationship!
In 1987, the character was finally featured in his own series, a four-issue mini-series written by J.M. DeMatteis and illustrated by Keith Giffen. Nelson died of old age, and the responsibility for being Dr. Fate passed to Eric and Linda Strauss, who would merge to become the mystical hero. Nabu reanimated Nelson's body to train the couple. In a complicated set of stories, first Eric then Linda died and their spirits were placed in other bodies, and the pair was a key to saving the world. In the meantime and in-between time, Eric was prevented from acting as Fate, and then Linda couldn't don the helmet so Nabu himself was Fate alone.
DC followed up the limited series with the ongoing Doctor Fate in 1988, written by DeMatteis for the first two years, followed by William Messner-Loebs, who ultimately replaced the Strausses with the resurrected and rejuvenated Inza as the magic do-gooder. Kent Nelson's soul continued to occupy the amulet and tried to guide the proactive and impetuous Inza in her mission to protect the people of Earth from mystical menaces. This caused tensions between the couple and they ultimately "separated". Although Nabu had previously been determined to be a Lord of Order, a Lord of Chaos had snuck into the helmet and been influencing Inza's actions. Kent returned to Inza and helped her defeat the forces of Chaos. After this, either of the Nelsons could manifest as Dr. Fate, or they could merge as usual.
In the 1994 Zero Hour event, Dr. Fate pitched in to defeat the super-villain Extant. In DC's effort to bring order to the chaos of inconsistent time-lines (especially the JSA from the past and the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future) the Nelsons and several other characters were greatly aged into doddering old superheroes. The helmet, amulet and cloak no longer had an occupant and Dr. Fate (temporarily) ceased to exist.
Doctor Fate was canceled after less than four years, and consistent with that era of early-90s comics DC retired the classic character in favor of a dark and edgier version. Now the name was truncated to Fate (followed after two years by The Books of Fate until its cancellation after another year) and featured a mercenary who used new 90s-versions of the helmet and amulet as his weapons. Jared Stevens found the helmet, amulet and cloak and "repurposed" them into a knife and throwing darts. Unfortunately, he met up with the Nelsons, which resulted in their deaths and souls returning to the amulet.
A more traditional version of the sorcerer returned in the late 90s with the new JSA series. Only this time, the part of the doctor was played by a reincarnated Hector Hall, originally the son of the Golden Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl. This time, he had been born of Hank Hall and Dawn Granger, the former team of Hawk and Dove. (They were, respectively, agents of Chaos and Order making their offspring Hector an agent of balance. Don't ask, I never could figure any of this out, either.) Hector and his wife Lyta disappeared from the mortal plane after a major conflict and subsequent deal with their son, Daniel - the Lord of Dreams
His JSA teammates were unaware of Hall's "fate", and traveled to the Tower of Fate hoping to enlist the good doctor's assistance in finding Jakeem Thunder. The team arrived to find Fate's empty helmet and amulet, which Sand (the modern version of the Golden Age Sandman) donned to speak to Nabu and learn the incantation to send them to the Fifth Dimension to locate Jakeem. Nabu was now able to manifest as Fate without a host body, and assisted in defeating the villain Mordru over the course of several battles and issues. The JSA offered Nabu membership, but he declined and disappeared sensing his presence and abilities needed elsewhere to confront the impending (Infinite) Crisis.
Nabu called together all the DC Universe magicians to deal with the Spectre in the Day of Vengeance series that led into the 2005 company-wide event, Infinite Crisis. Nabu died in the confrontation with the Spectre which resulted in the ending of the Ninth Age of Magic. Before dying, Nabu passed the helmet on to Detective Chimp to find the proper recipient of the helmet to bring about the dawning of the Tenth Age of Magic. The helmet and amulet would still contain some power, even without the power of Nabu.
Reminiscent of Cinderella's wicked stepsisters, once Detective Chimp determined that his head would not fit the helmet, he asked Captain Marvel to throw it down to Earth to find the appropriate wearer. I won't spoil it for that one person who hasn't read 52, but it appears Ralph Dibny (the former Elongated Man) carried the helmet around for almost a year.
Next the helmet made a whistle-stop tour in the 2007 Helmet of Fate one-shots. Various DC magical types were all given a chance to determine if they should be the next Dr. Fate, including Detective Chimp, Ibis the Invincible, Sargon the Sorcerer, Zauriel and Black Alice. DC's plan was to follow these one-shots with a new Doctor Fate title, written by Steve Gerber and penciled by Paul Gulacy. However, production was delayed on the series, so DC decided to combine it with the Eclipso spin-off from Countdown, in what we now know as Countdown to Mystery.
Which brings us back to doe.
Posts: 21381 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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I've always been a fan of the early Fate (Inza and Kent). the others left a bad taste in my mouth (especially that crappy one with the sword). I've been very happy with Countdown to Mystery. Dr Fate rules!
-------------------- Never attribute to malice anything that can be attributed to stupidity Posts: 19 | From: Louisville, KY | Registered: Jun 2003
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