History ComicBook / DoctorFate

Doctor Fate is a Creator/DCComics character. Originally created in 1940 by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, he's one of the icons of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks and a founding member of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. Like fellow member ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}, he also has one of the [[ContinuitySnarl screwiest backgrounds]] in the DC canon.

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: This is how most superheroes were depicted in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, and Dr. Fate (along with Superman and the Spectre) was a notable example. Fate would eventually fall prey to PowerCreepPowerSeep depending on the size and focus of the story.

* OrderVersusChaos: An early-[[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] {{retcon}} marks Fate as an agent for the [[SufficientlyAdvanced Lords]] [[EnergyBeings of Order]], while his nemesis, Mordru, is an [[PhysicalGod actual Lord of Chaos]].

* BackFromTheDead: The Jared Stevens Fate was reintroduced in ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'' as a Dr. Fate analog living on Earth-13, a very dark and predominantly magic based universe. He's a member of that world's Franchise/JusticeLeague, the League of Shadows.

* HeroesWantRedHeads: Inza is a redhead whose besmitten love interest is the hero Doctor Fate.

Fate is arguably the most powerful magic-wielding hero in the DC canon (discounting reality-warping demi-gods like the Spectre or [[PowersAsPrograms power-leechers]] like Black Alice), and the direct counterpart to {{Creator/Marvel|Comics}}'s ComicBook/DoctorStrange, whom he predates by several decades. Dr. Fate's powers (ill-defined as they are at times) are largely derived from two objects: the Helmet of Nabu and the Amulet of Anubis. In addition, most of the users were also naturally adept at magic enough to be [[FlyingBrick Flying Bricks]] with low-level telepathy/telekinesis.

He's one of the few non-A-list DC characters to have appeared in ''six'' recent animated adaptations: ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'', and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction''. Additionally, he has appeared in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and the helmet of Nabu had a cameo in the pilot for ''Series/{{Constantine}}''. He also appeared as a major supporting role and playable character in ''VideoGame/Injustice2''. He made his live-action film debut in 2022's ''Film/{{Black Adam|2022}}'', portrayed there by Creator/PierceBrosnan.

* ''[[Film/BlackAdam2022 Black Adam]]''

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''

** The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' version was particularly prone to this.
--> Fear not! Fate has intervened!

--> '''SO FATE DEMANDS!'''

* ContinuitySnarl: It's not particularly clear how the Dr Fate of ''Comicbook/BlueBeetle Rebirth'' (who is [[spoiler: Nabu in his ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'' floating-helmet-and-cloak form, but is somehow powered by a ''very'' reluctant Kent Nelson]]) fits in with the near-concurrent ''Dr Fate'' series (where [[spoiler: Kent can manifest his own duplicate of the Helm of Fate, and therefore doesn't have to listen to Nabu at all, while his nephew Khalid has the real deal]]). ''Comicbook/JusticeLeagueDark'' tries to square this by portraying Khalid as Kent's apprentice, before he learned that [[spoiler: Nabu was running the show]], suggesting ''Dr Fate'' comes before ''Blue Beetle'' and the helmet was transferred back at that point.

* DespairEventHorizon: The original ''Comicbook/TheBooksOfMagic'' miniseries featured a brief glimpse of Nabu/the mask centuries in the future, corroded with cynicism about humanity and believing that utilizing magic and attempting to fight evil were useless wastes of time. He had another one before ''Justice League Dark'' after the war with the Dark Multiverse, coming to believe that magic was in itself a force of chaos and needed to be eliminated.

* LightIsGood: He gains power from a golden helmet, his powers manifest as golden light and an ankh symbol, and is a hero. Played with as some versions of such as in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''VideoGame/Injustice2'', and during most of the 2018 run of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'' are [[LightIsNotGood decidedly ''less'' good]] - in the latter case, after the experience of the Dark Multiverse, he decided that [[spoiler: magic itself was disorderly, and that it, along with the magical realms, should be purged from the universe, enlisting the Otherkind to that end]].

* MagicKnight: Doctor Fate not only wields sorcery of a power and diversity that rivals [[Comicbook/DoctorStrange his nearest Marvel Universe counterpart]] -- he also has the classic power suite of a FlyingBrick, ''above and beyond'' those magical abilities.

* OlderThanTheyLook: For a long time, Kent and Inza were kept magically young by Nabu. This ended when Extant forcibly aged most of the JSA during ''Comicbook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'', which resulted in the now-elderly Kent and Inza seeking out Jared Stevens as a replacement.

* TokenEvilTeammate: The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' version of Nabu is alarmingly close to this. After [[spoiler: what happened with Zatanna and Zatara]], Captain Marvel firmly believes he doesn't even belong on the League and is thoroughly horrified by Nabu's casual MindRape of his friend and her father. Others on the League seem inclined to agree with him, before Nabu himself remarks that [[spoiler: Zatara]] wants him on the League's roster. When the League is justly sceptical, Nabu elaborates that [[spoiler: Zatara]] wants him on the League because he doesn't trust Nabu in the slightest and wants him kept an eye on.

He's one of the few non-A-list DC characters to have appeared in ''six'' recent animated adaptations: ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'', and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction''. Additionally, he has appeared in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and the helmet of Nabu had a cameo in the pilot for ''Series/{{Constantine}}''. He also appeared as a major supporting role and playable character in ''VideoGame/Injustice2''. He is currently scheduled to appear in the ''Comicbook/BlackAdam'' film starring Creator/DwayneJohnson, portrayed there by Creator/PierceBrosnan.

* ''Black Adam''

* ''ComicBook/LegendsDC'' (1986)

* ''ComicBook/Millennium1988'' (1988)

* ''ComicBook/Millennium1988'' (1988)

* ''ComicBook/{{Millennium}}'' (1988)

* ''ComicBook/{{Millennium}}'' (1988)

* UpgradeArtifact: For anyone who is able to wear the Helmet of Fate. ''Anyone''. Even [[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys Detective Chimp]]. Just not evil people, because, [[MindRape well...]]

* AbortedArc: Less was done with Kent V. Nelson as Doctor Fate because of the death of his creator Steve Gerber.

* NinetiesAntiHero: Jared Stevens, a grave robber, stole the helmet, melted it down into a knife, and was simply known as ''Fate''. Can you say '''''[[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Fatejaredstevens.jpg GRIMDARK]]'''''?
** On the other hand, despite his appearance, Stevens didn't act like a NinetiesAntiHero at all. Many fans even pointed out in the letter columns how he had a certain "Indiana Jones" charm.

* BlueIsHeroic: Nabu wears a blue costume with yellow accessories in all iterations and is a heroic magic user.

* RealityWarper: There were times Dr. Fate would be so powerful that it can warp reality through will alone. Like the time Inza resurrected someone by literally yanking them out of Death's hands.

!!Dr Fate has appeared in:

!!Tropes involving these characters:

* YouCantFightFate: A firm believer in it. Those who "defy fate" and attempt to imbalance order are his enemies. That may even include other superheroes, depending on what he decides their fate to be.

** In the ''Young Justice'' cartoon, Nabu basically ''is'' Fate, with his vessel mostly watching from the inside. As the team learns, it's not easy to convince Nabu to let go once you've accepted the helmet. He does the same in [[spoiler: the 2018 run of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'', now possessing Kent Nelson - though Kent can exert some limited influence from within, enough to prevent Nabu from killing an eavesdropping Khalid Nassour outright. He stays like that for some time, though after finally being detached, Khalid talks him into letting Khalid be in the driving seat as Fate]].

* DespairEventHorizon: The original ''Comicbook/TheBooksOfMagic'' miniseries featured a brief glimpse of Nabu/the mask centuries in the future, corroded with cynicism about humanity and believing that utilizing magic and attempting to fight evil were useless wastes of time.

* TokenEvilTeammate: The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' version of Nabu is alarmingly close to this. After [[spoiler: what happened with Zatanna and Zatara]], Captain Marvel firmly believes he doesn't even belong on the League and is thoroughly horrified by Nabu's casual MindRape of his friend and her father. Others on the League seem inclined to agree with him, before Nabu himself remarks that [[spoiler: Zatara]]. When the League is justly sceptical, Nabu elaborates that [[spoiler: Zatara]] wants him on the League because he doesn't trust Nabu and wants him kept an eye on.

* BlueIsHeroic: He wears6 a blue costume with yellow accessories and is a hero.

* ''ComicBook/ZeroHour'' (1994)

* OlderThanTheyLook: For a long time, Kent and Inza were kept magically young by Nabu. This ended when Extant forcibly aged most of the JSA during ''Comicbook/ZeroHour'', which resulted in the now-elderly Kent and Inza seeking out Jared Stevens as a replacement.

* LightIsGood: He gains power from a golden helmet, his powers manifest as golden light and an ankh symbol, and is a hero. Played with as some versions of such as in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''VideoGame/Injustice2'', and during most of the 2018 run of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark'' are [[LightIsNotGood are decidedly ''less'' good]] - in the latter case, after the experience of the Dark Multiverse, he decided that [[spoiler: magic itself was disorderly, and that it, along with the magical realms, should be purged from the universe, enlisting the Otherkind to that end]].

He's one of the few non-A-list DC characters to have appeared in ''six'' recent animated adaptations: ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'', and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction''. Additionally, he has appeared in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and the helmet of Nabu had a cameo in the pilot for ''Series/{{Constantine}}''. He also appeared as a major supporting role and playable character in ''VideoGame/Injustice2''. He is currently scheduled to appear in the ''Comicbook/BlackAdam'' film starring Creator/DwayneJohnson.

* NotThatKindOfDoctor: Subverted by Kent Nelson, in that he did obtain a medical license and enter an internship at one point in his life, and Khalid Nassour, in that he's currently a med student. Played straight with the rest, although magic healing powers are part of the gig.

->- Linda and Eric Strauss, mother and son, whose run as the character included a ''Doctor Fate'' title (1988-1992).

* ScienceWizard: Some of the characters who have worn the mantle of Dr. Fate have been this. Kent V. Nelson was a psychologist, while Khalid Nassour is a medical student.

* AbortedArc: Less was done with Kent V. Nelson as Doctor Fate because of [[AuthorExistenceFailure the death of his creator]] Steve Gerber.

* CurbStompBattle: When he cuts loose, he's good at throwing these down. Swamp Thing is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, but in ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark - Nabu fought Swamp Thing, John Constantine and the Egyptian god Anubis and squashed them like bugs. In a later run of the same comic, he pulled the same on the ComicBook/PhantomStranger of all people.

He's one of the few non-A-list DC characters to have appeared in ''six'' recent animated adaptations: ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'', and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction''. Additionally, he has appeared in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and the helmet of Nabu had a cameo in the pilot for ''Series/{{Constantine}}''. He also appeared as a major supporting role and playable character in ''VideoGame/Injustice2''.

** In the ''Young Justice'' cartoon, Nabu basically *is* Fate, with his vessel mostly watching from the inside. As the team learns, it's not easy to convince Nabu to let go once you've accepted the helmet.

* CosmicEntity: What Dr. Fate is during the times when it's directly channeling Nabu's power and personality. Nabu is a Lord of Order and before New 52's retcon, the Lords of Order and Chaos are [[Creator/MichaelMoorcock Moorcock-style gods]] [[AnthropomorphicPersonification that are primordial beings of the universe and were one of the major sources of magic in the universe]]
* CurbStompBattle: When he cuts loose, he's good at throwing these down. Swamp Thing is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, but in ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark - Nabu fought Swamp Thing, John Constantine and the Egyptian god Anubis and squashed them like bugs.

* GoodIsNotNice: Played with. In most cases, Dr. Fate's about as close to BigGood as anyone gets, even ComicBook/{{Superman}}. It's just that when someone seriously crosses him, he's not above ruthless measures. MoreThanMindControl is on the kinder end of the spectrum when he gets angry.

* LightIsGood: He gains power from a golden helmet, his powers manifest as golden light and an ankh symbol, and is a hero. Played with as some versions of such as in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' and ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' are [[LightIsNotGood are decidedly ''less'' good]].

* TokenEvilTeammate: The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' version of Nabu is alarmingly close to this. After [[spoiler: what happened with Zatanna and Zatara]], Captain Marvel firmly believes he doesn't even belong on the League and is thoroughly horrified by Nabu's casual MindRape of his friend and her father. Others on the League seem inclined to agree with him, before Nabu himself remarks that [[spoiler: Zatara]] wants him on the League because he doesn't trust Nabu and wants him kept an eye on.

->- Khalid Nassour, an [[ButNotTooForeign Egyptian-American]] medical student and the Doctor Fate of the ComicBook/DCYou's main Earth, who first appeared in a ''Doctor Fate'' title (2015-ongoing).