A list of characters from the comic book Doctor Fate.
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Fate's Legacy
A legacy of sorcerous superheroes who don the Helmet of Fate and other related artifacts, serving typically as both agents for the Lords of Order and the chief mystical guardians of Earth against threats of the supernatural and beyond. In General
- The Archmage: Within the general consensus both in universe and out, the Doctor Fate characters are typically considered to be one of DC Universe's most powerful and premier magic characters due to holding the Helmet of Fate and other assoicated artifacts that grants them extreme power. Some Doctor Fates are noted to be "Sorcerer Supreme" or are hailed as "Earth's Mightiest Sorcerer"
- Amplifier Artifact: The Helm of Fate grants hosts various amount of powers (flight, healing, control over the elements, etc.). The Amulet of Anubis grants him access to necromancy and a pocket universe (although he has yet to use it's capabilities). And finally, the Cloak of Destiny is fireproof and protects the user against chaos magic.
- Pocket Dimension: The chief power of the Amulet of Anubis, among others, is the ability to house it's own universe.
- Animate Dead: Another function of the Amulet of Anubis, befitting for the fact it is named after a death god.
- Elemental Powers: One of the basic powers bestowed to the bearer of the Helm of Fate.
- Amplifier Artifact: The Helm of Fate grants hosts various amount of powers (flight, healing, control over the elements, etc.). The Amulet of Anubis grants him access to necromancy and a pocket universe (although he has yet to use it's capabilities). And finally, the Cloak of Destiny is fireproof and protects the user against chaos magic.
- Anti-Hero: Downplayed, particularly in most modern incarnations. He can be very distant - across all incarnations, from Golden Age to today and answers to higher powers. Sometimes he will just go away from the other heroes, take care of things, and come back as he wishes or is available. He has the helmet of a god , Nabu, who is a temperamental entity who sometimes refuses to help when Doctor Fate asks, or who takes over Kent Nelson (or Hector Hall or other wearers) entirely - making the wearer of the helmet seem disconnected to the needs of his realm. Nabu is a Lord of Order, and basically good, but sometimes his needs or actions bring him into conflict with the needs of the people of Earth (whichever Earth Doctor Fate is active on at the time). It’s a tough deal being the bearer of Nabu’s helmet and it can cut one off from all other mortal relationships. However, in the end, Doctor Fate usually takes the heroic path. For example, he was critical to the defeat of the Shadow Demons and the Anti-Monitor in Crisis on infinite Earths and he helped against the threat of Glorious Godfrey and Darkseid in the Legends miniseries. He also helped form the Justice League after that and face the threat of the Gray Man. Doctor Fate, empowered by Nabu, is also good at convincing other cosmic or magical entities - like the Spectre - to pitch in and help out against dimensional/interplanetary/worldbeater threats.
- Character Shilling: Both the Jared Stevens and Hector Hall versions of (Doctor) Fate has this in spades for their introduction into the role.
- Evil Counterpart: Has plenty of characters who fill this role, including Doctor Chaos, Anti-Fate, The Curse, and Doctor Hate
- Counterpart Artifacts: The Helmet of Chaos and the Helmet of Hate respectively.
- Egypt Is Still Ancient: The patron of Doctor Fate, Nabu, is considered Egyptian despite the fact he is, in fact, Mesopotamian (even when he was, within canon, found in the Valley of Ur in Mesopotamia) and the character has few connections to modern Egypt until Khalid Nassour took on the mantle.
- Good Is Not Nice: Played with. In most cases, Doctor Fate's about as close to Big Good as anyone gets, even Superman. It's just that when someone seriously crosses him, he's not above ruthless measures. More than Mind Control is on the kinder end of the spectrum when he gets angry. And if he feels that something is necessary, orderly... there are very few limits to what he will do.
- Physical God: As Doctor Fate, the physical hosts have borderline Cosmic Entity levels of raw magical power, and physical power to go up against the likes of Superman.
- Collective Identity & Fusion Dance: Versions of Doctor Fate can exist as either one of these; the latter part was a hidden secret by Nabu, as two people combining into one Doctor Fate grants them so much power he cannot manipulate or control them:
- Eric and Linda Strauss were the first to showcase this, both acting independently as Doctor Fate and fusing together in order to become a more powerful version.
- Kent and Inza later would both act as Doctor Fate towards the end of the second series, although they could opt out to fuse with one another.
- After the New 52, both Kent and Khalid acted as Doctor Fate for a time concurrently, being more of the latter and didn't fuse.
- Super Mode: When a male and female Doctor Fate fuse, they become a single Doctor Fate entity.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Doctor Fate's character is widely believed to be this for Marvel's Doctor Strange, but the character is actually older. While this may become almost recursively true in some respects, as Strange became more prominent, only a few Doctor Fates are really similar to Strange (Khalid, Kent V. Nelson). The Inza incarnation is, surprisingly, more comparable to Scarlet Witch.
Introduced in Immortal Doctor Fate
Dr. Kent Nelson
Dr. Kent Nelson aka Doctor Fate I
Alter Ego: Kent Nelson
Aliases: None
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
The first person to bear the mantle of Doctor Fate. While attending a archaeologist expedition with his father, both of them unearthed a tomb containing Nabu although this led to Kent's father being killed. Taking pity, Nabu instead aged the boy to manhood in an instant and taught him the powers of magic before setting him off as a superhero and a agent for the Lords of Order in their never-ending war with the Lords of Chaos.
- Adventurer Archaeologist: Has shades of this according to his niece and fellow archaeologist, Elizabeth, who mentioned his adventures seemed almost unreal when told to her.
- The Ageless: In more recent stories, Nabu's magic can keep him appearing in his prime even after nearly a century. In the past, both he and Inza had a new, young bodies created for them and left behind their old ones.
- The Archmage: Typically considered to be the most powerful sorcerer on Earth, even more so than Zatanna - though she is considered to be more naturally talented.
- Broken Ace: Indeed, the Kent Nelson version of Doctor Fate is considered the most powerful out of any known incarnation but admitted to hating being Doctor Fate (except when it's done in tandem to Inza) due to his relationship with Nabu.
- Cool Uncle: Is this to both Elizabeth and Khalid, the former being inspired by him so much she became an archaeologist.
- Disappeared Dad: In at least some stories, it's because Nabu himself killed him.
- Dr. Jerk: In the third Doctor Fate series he was referred by an old colleague of his while posing as his own grandson (as he was currently in a younger body and a former enemy Lord of Order inhabited his older body), who remarked that he was a brilliant archaeologist but was quite arrogant and annoying to be around.
- Badass Bookworm: While he may not consider himself powerful on his own with magic, he still has a ton of first-hand expereinces and teachings from Nabu that help him as Doctor Fate and sets him apart from all other bearers.
- Kung-Fu Wizard: During the Bronze and Silver Age, he had magical powers but could still engage in a fist fight. He was mentioned to be skilled in Jujitsu.
- Loss of Identity: There was a period wherein Nabu would take over his body whenever he put on the Helmet of Fate (while retaining Nelson's memories), so Kent fashioned a less-powerful version of the Helmet which he would use for normal superhero work, only donning the true helmet in extreme circumstances.
- Not That Kind of Doctor: Varies.
- Prior the New 52 reboot, Nelson had a doctorate in both medicine and archaeology, though he vastly preferred the latter in most continuities.
- From the New 52 onward, Nelson is fully a archaeologist proper and isn't a medical doctor any longer, yet seemingly still possesses a doctorate in archaeology.
- Science Wizard: Kent Nelson is both a medical doctor and archaeologist, depending on continuity.
- Unskilled, but Strong: Post-Crisis. Contrary to popular belief, he considered himself this and states that talent doesn't really matter when you're still among the most powerful beings in the universe thanks to the Helm of Fate.
- He admitted in the second Doctor Fate series that he can only perform a limited amount of spells on his own without the helm. Furthermore, he stated in the same series that Inza is actually much more talented than him.
- Averted from the New 52 onward; Nelson can now wield magic even without the helmet and is depicted as being far more competent than he was in past stories without the helm.
- With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: His perspective to being Doctor Fate. This is contrasted with Inza's version of Doctor Fate, who cares less for the Black-and-White Morality and dilemmas.
Inza Nelson (nee Cramer)
Dr. Inza Cramer
Alter Ego: Inza Nelson (nee Cramer)
Aliases: None
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940)
The girlfriend and later wife of Kent Nelson, the original Doctor Fate, who was rescued by Kent while being held hostage by Wotan early in his career. An adventure seeker, Inza would join as his partner and the two gradually fell in love with one another. Inza has also worn the helmet of Nabu at times and acted as Kent's successor as the fourth Doctor Fate. Inza is a sorcerer in her own right and a trained nurse. When Wonder Woman gathered a group of women to face off against Brain Wave she was quick to suit up to help rescue the men of the JSA and had already used her occult knowledge to research the villain. Inza spent much of her adult life in the Tower of Fate, separated from the rest of humanity save her husband.
- Back from the Dead: Inza died after being rapidly aged to her true age, but was brought back in a younger body and became the new Doctor Fate.
- Badass Bookworm: Also has a doctorate degree in archaeology and her studies in the Tower of Fate while her husband was Doctor Fate helped her later.
- Beware the Nice Ones: While she is generally much more friendlier and community focused than Nelson ever was, she's also not above abusing her powers for the benefit of others; she once punished a greedy corporate business owner whose actions led to a decline in the neighborhood by erasing his company and people's knowledge of him, making him have never existed, to teach him a lesson. She also had no problem telling the US Government and their attempts to earn her loyalty that she is far too powerful for them to ever believe they can hold sway over her and turned them to newts when they pissed her off.
- Damsel in Distress: Inza's first few interactions with Doctor Fate involved her being rescued from evil magic users.
- Entropy and Chaos Magic: Unlike any other version of Doctor Fate, Inza's Doctor Fate was noted for using this kind of magic, as she was revealed to be empowered by a Lord of Chaos, making her an outright Reality Warper.
- Good Samaritan: Wants her approach to Doctor Fate to not only be limited to the supernatural but use her near-godlike magical powers to help others even with more mundane problems. She eventually comes up with a solution with the Globes of Power.
- Prior to finding out her identity, Inza's best friend accused Inza's incarnation of Doctor Fate's intentions to border something else and guessed her to be a white woman underneath it.
- Haunted Fetter: After Inza's final death her soul remained in the Amulet of Anubis.
- Hot Witch: When she's not wearing the helmet, she's still a capable spellcaster.
- Lady of Black Magic: Her powers as Doctor Fate allow her to create supernatural effects by imagining it; if she images it, it just is. This is the case even when she later loses her Lord of Chaos patron and supplements it with life energy from the Earth.
- No Immortal Inertia: When the powers of the Tower of Fate, which she had been living in for decades and which had been keeping her physically in her prime, were reduced during the Kali Yuga her body became rapidly older and she perished. Her connection to the objects of Fate allowed her to be later brought back as the new Doctor Fate.
- Older Than They Look: For a long time, Kent and Inza were kept magically young by Nabu. This ended when Extant forcibly aged most of the JSA during Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, which resulted in the now-elderly Kent and Inza seeking out Jared Stevens as a replacement.
- The Power of Love: Kent is more powerful when he and Inza are together and their love for each other is not in question, and later the two of them merged to become a stronger Doctor Fate.
- Rapid Aging: When the powers around the Tower of Fate waned Inza's body rapidly aged to it's true age and she died. When Extant forcibly seperated her and Kent from the objects of Nabu after she was brought back her physical body was once more quickly aged and she became senile before being killed by demons.
- Samaritan Syndrome: While Kent believed he should only use his powers after becoming aware of evil threats, Inza ardently believed in proactively fighting crime and disorder.
- Taking Up the Mantle: Due to a plot by the Lords of Chaos, only Inza could become Doctor Fate for a time, making her take the mantle while leaving Kent Nelson mostly depowered.
- With Great Power Comes Great Perks: Her approach to Doctor Fate on account her magic (while unaware of it initially) comes from Chaos Magic and is powered by her imagination.
Lords of Order
A group of magical beings dedicated to the upholding of cosmic order within the DC Universe and maintaining a direction of raw magic.
- Eldritch Abomination: Though they weren't always, as the 2018 series of Justice League Dark reveals, with Nabu reminding his colleagues of this. While they typically appear in this manner, due to many Lords being immensely powerful cosmic beings made up of magical energy, Nabu points out that they were originally immensely powerful human sorcerers who used stories and belief to carve out a place as godlike beings.
- God of Order: Their core function in the DC Universe even if some of them have varying points of origin. Current continuity has it that they were very powerful sorcerers whose magic burned out their bodies and who inhabited enchanted objects to keep going, positioning themselves as higher beings to carve out a place in the Sphere of the Gods.
- Light Is Not Good: Nabu serves as a good example of this, as demonstrated most clearly in the second Justice League Dark series, where he's out to wipe out all magic, seeing it as a force of disorder, unleashing the Upside-Down Man and the Otherkind to that end. And he's not alone...
- No Biological Sex: This may not be the case for all Lords of Order but a collective mind of them considered themselves as this, stating they're beyond sex. Ironically, Nabu simply finds this annoying.
- The Omniscient Council of Vagueness: Typically depicted as this in Doctor Fate-related titles.
Nabu
Nabu
Aliases: Nabu the Wise, Doctor Fate, Fate,
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #67 (May 1941)
A Lord of Order and cosmic entity who descended onto Earth thousands of years ago to fight the Lords of Chaos. He is chiefly known to be the patron entity behind Doctor Fate.
- The Ace: Out of all the Lords of Order, Nabu is considered to be likely among the most powerful of all the other Lords of Order although several characters affiliated with the mystical group also rival him such as Arion.
- Adaptational Wimp: On his own, Nabu is one of the few Lords of Order capable of matching with Spectre. In the Young Justice animated series, he is decidedly less powerful despite being the "Sorcerer Supreme", having been overwhelmed by the show's version of Child and his frequent foe being Klarion the Witch Boy. Although it's said he's at his best when he's worn with mystic affinity, which made Aqualad, Zatanna, and Zatara better hosts than Wally West.
- Grand Theft Me: Frequently pulls this on Kent Nelson during his lifetime. His Young Justice version pulls this on every single hosts as a requirement.
- Mentor Archetype: Is this to both several Doctor Fates, including Kent Nelson, the Strauss family, Hector Hall, and Khalid Nassour. His mentoring ways varies depending on the character in question with the exception of Inza, Jared, and Kent V. Nelson, as he is not present as a mentor to them.
- To Kent Nelson:
- Fair-Weather Mentor: His relationship with Kent Nelson ended up steering towards this eventually, seeing him only as a tool to be used in his war against the Lords of Chaos. As Kent puts it in Rebirth, he remade Kent in his preferred image both in mind and body.
- To Khalid Nassour
- Eccentric Mentor: To Khalid, he started out as this in his respective Doctor Fate series as well as being a Spirit Advisor.
- Rebuilt Pedestal: Later, he ends up embodying a this when his ways pitted him in direct conflict with Khalid but felt genuinely remorseful. It certainly helps that Khalid is capable of giving him a brutal What the Hell, Hero? and Khalid is certainly Nabu's favorite host by far.
- To Kent Nelson:
- Mistaken Nationality: Writers apparently keep forgetting Nabu is actually Mesopotamian and not Egyptian.
- Sex Is Evil: Explained to Amethyst that Lords of Order are supposed to view sex as this and claims that Lords of Order do not fall in love. However, that is definitely not the case.
Wotan
Alter Ego: Unknown
Aliases: None
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #55 (May, 1940)
"Nabu! Fate! Nelson! Whatever it is you're calling yourself these days— hear my words— and heed the summons of Wotan! Answer my call to battle! Come to me... now— or, I warn you, innocent lives will be lost!"
The being now known as Wotan started out life as a Stone Age woman who was raped by someone claiming to be a servant of God. She studied the black arts and became such a powerful sorceress that she was worshiped as a goddess. She later learned how to switch from body to body and then to direct her own reincarnation, eventually becoming the male being now known as Wotan. In the Golden Age, Wotan encountered first Green Lantern and then the sorcerer known as Doctor Fate where he became Fate's nemesis.
- Arch-Enemy: Dr. Fate's most frequent and persistant foe.
- Astral Projection: Wotan is capable of astral projection.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Wotan has green skin.
- Beard of Evil: Wotan has a forked beard.
- Body Snatcher: Seeking to escape death, she learned how to extend her life by transferring her soul into another body, and finally to direct her own reincarnation into other bodies (or controlled re-birth, as Wotan named it).
- Deflector Shield: Wotan can magically produce force fields.
- Devilish Hair Horns: Wotan wears his hair in spikes to emphasis his devilish appearance.
- Dimensional Traveler: Wotan possesses various magical abilities, including the ability to traverse between dimensions.
- Evil Sorcerer: Wotan is an immortal master of ancient sorcery, who can fly and travel through dimensions and can also project powerful mystical bolts.
- Eye Scream: In the 90s, after uncovering the resting place of God Himself, he had his eyes burnt out.
- Flight: Wotan's magic enables him to fly.
- Gender Bender: Ages ago, the sorcerer now known as Wotan was a prehistorical woman who lived in a cold, dark wasteland. Seeking to escape death, she learned how to extend her life by transferring her soul into another body, and finally to direct her own reincarnation into other bodies (or controlled re-birth, as Wotan named it). After thousands of incarnations, becoming both male and female, the sorceress eventually becoming the male sorcerer Wotan.
- Hand Blast: Wotan can project powerful mystical bolts from his hands.
- Life Drinker: Wotan can reduce a person to a soul-essence and consume it.
- Luke, I Might Be Your Father: Wotan's first incarnation might have been the woman who gave birth to the Curse.
- Master of Illusion: Wotan creates magical illusions.
- Meaningful Name: Wotan is named after Odin, the Norse god of magic and knowledge and rage. note .
- Science Wizard: Wotan also displays proficiency as a scientist, having demonstrated the creation of highly advanced technologies surpassing anything developed during the 20th century.
- Weak, but Skilled: Wotan is a magician on parallel with Doctor Fate, but his combat skills are no more than normal.
- You Are What You Hate: She was once a woman who got raped; aeons later she has taken the body of a man.
Introduced in Doctor Fate (1987)
Eric Strauss
Eric Strauss
Alter Ego: Eric Strauss
Aliases: Eugene DiBellia
First Appearance: Doctor Fate #1 (July, 1987)
The second person chosen by Nabu to become Doctor Fate, who is aged up in a process similar to Kent and is then tutored by Nabu. Unlike Kent, however, Eric is also joined by his step-mother, who becomes Doctor Fate alongside him as a partner and can combine their bodies to become even more powerful.
- Abusive Parents: His father, a rich entrepreneur.
- Creepy Child: Was this prior to becoming Doctor Fate; having enhanced mystical awareness and knowledge, he was chosen as an agent for the Lords of Order in the future. This also caused him to be more emotionally distant from other kids his age.
- Manchild: Moreso because unlike Nelson, even Eric makes it clear that he is still a twelve year old kid in mind and not body.
- Powerful, but Incompetent: Having the Helm of Fate and being altered by Nabu would do this, yet, his child-like mind still holds him back considerably, as he's easily frustrated.
Linda Strauss
Linda Strauss
Alter Ego: Linda Strauss
First Appearance: Doctor Fate #1 (July, 1987)
The third person to become Doctor Fate. Both she and Eric work concurrently as Doctor Fate and can combined themselves into one entity capable of handling more powerful threats. She is also the first female Doctor Fate.
- Gold Digger: She admits the reason she originally got with Eric's father, despite being older, was because she wanted his money in a moment of weakness. She would come to regret this later in their relationship.
- Mama Bear: Has shades of this for Eric early on, as she was willing to stay with Eric's father for his sake on account of lacking a mother and later learning Henry having cancer. This changes a bit when the two end up in a relationship in their reincarnated lives.
- Mistaken for Pedophile: Linda found herself unusually drawn to Eric even before becoming his step-mother and was conflicted by this herself. This fascination with him was later revealed to be due to the fact the two were destined to become Doctor Fate by fusing with one another.
- Taking Up the Mantle: Had to become the sole Doctor Fate when Eric seemingly died by Darkseid's hand (which was retconned into Desaad.)
- Unskilled, but Strong: Drawing power from the Helm of Fate (and later wielding it herself) makes her a real force to contend with but she herself and Eric admitted themselves to being considered a "footnote" to the legacy of Doctor Fate. Linda also had no special skills without the helm or magic derived from it and was a completely normal woman.
- Unwanted Spouse: Feels this way sometime into her relationship with Eric's father, who is revealed to be both physically and sexually abusive. She only ends up remaining with him for Eric's sake, as his biological mother committed suicide and she suspects his treatment of her is why.
Typhon
Alter Ego: None
Aliases: Jack C. Small
First Appearance: Doctor Fate #1 (July, 1987)
Typhon is one of the Lords of Chaos. When Eric Strauss was training to become the new Doctor Fate, Typhon battled him and tortured him while he was in Arkham Asylum. While there, Typhon was able to get Dr. Benjamin Stoner to put on the helmet and amulet, creating Anti-Fate.
- Demonic Possession: When the Lords of Order attempted to use Andrew Bennett to destroy all of creation, Typhon possessed lawyer Jack C. Small and allied himself with Doctor Fate.
- Enemy Mine: When the Lords of Order attempted to use Andrew Bennett to destroy all of creation, Typhon possessed lawyer Jack C. Small and allied himself with Doctor Fate.
- Super-Empowering: Typhon was able to get Dr. Benjamin Stoner to put on the helmet and amulet, creating Anti-Fate.
Introduced in Doctor Fate (1988)
Shat-Ru
Aliases: Kent Nelson, Kent Nelson Sr.
First Appearance: Doctor Fate Vol 2 #25 (February, 1991)
Shat-Ru is a Lord of Order who was a enemy-turned-ally of Inza Cramer and Kent Nelson.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Does not appear outside the Doctor Fate series he debuted in despite becoming a powerful patron for Kent Nelson.
- Equal-Opportunity Offender: Will claim to be this and unlike most people who say this, is truly more likely to embody this due to being a actual cosmic being and hates all of humanity. Initially.
- Fantastic Racism: As a Lord of Order, he holds a very low opinion of humanity and will proclaim it with no hesitation. Kent Nelson finds this annoying, especially given Shat-Ru poses as his grandfather on account he occupied his old, elderly body. Eventually, however, he becomes Intrigued by Humanity, enters a relationship with a human named Dorothea, who finds his denouncement of humanity inspiring. Her looking up to him genuinely begins to affect his perspective.
- Racist Grandma: When posing as Kent Nelson's grandfather in his aged body, he comes off as this when spouting insults about the human race.
- Replacement Pedestal: Kind of ends up this to Kent Nelson. Compared to Nabu, Shat-Ru is far more kind and nicer to him despite starting out as a foe and after receiving some character development with the Nelsons.
- Sex Is Interesting: Ends up feeling this way when he and Dorothea had sex while he still occupied in Nelson's body and began a relationship with her.
Anti-Fate
Anti-Fate
Alter Ego: Benjamin Stoner
First Appearance: Doctor Fate #1 (July, 1987)
Doctor Benjamin Stoner was a chief medical authority at Arkham Asylum until he was chosen by Typhon, the greek monster that fought the Olympian Gods centuries ago. Now a Lord of Chaos, Typhon has turned Dr. Stoner into an agent of chaos. While under the possession of Typhon, Dr. Stoner can transform into the Anti-Fate. He was destroyed with the coming of the 10th age of magic.
- Clothes Make the Maniac: The Lords of Chaos fashioned their own warped version based upon the Helmet of Fate for Dr. Stoner to use, making him an agent for the Lords of Chaos.
- Evil Counterpart: Doctor Benjamin Stoner was a head doctor at Arkham Asylum who was chosen by the Lord of Chaos named Typhon to act as a soldier of Chaos. Possessed by Typhon, Stoner became the Anti-Fate and was manipulated into battling the second Doctor Fate, Eric Strauss.
- Evil Sorcerer: As an agent of Chaos, Dr. Stoner possess the magical abilities of the Lords of Chaos.
- Psycho Psychologist: Doctor Benjamin Stoner was a head doctor at Arkham Asylum who was chosen by the Lord of Chaos named Typhon to act as a soldier of Chaos
Introduced in Fate
Jared Stevens
Jared Stevens
Alter Ego: Jared Stevens
Aliases: Repairman of Reality
First Appearance: Fate #0 (October, 1994)
The fourth person to inherit the Doctor Fate legacy, although he instead drops the "Doctor" title and just calls himself "Fate". He was a thief who would inherit the Helm of Fate and related artifacts after attempting to pilfer the Tower of Fate and became a reluctant super hero.
- '90s Anti-Hero: A grim, gritty reinvention of Fate as a bad-tempered mercenary.
- Almighty Janitor: Feels as his role is basically this, much like Kent Nelson before him.
- Anti-Magic: His chief power as Fate coming from the fact that his powers are derived from both Lords of Order and Lords of Chaos, making him virtually immune to the DC Universe's version of magic.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: Has this with Zatanna.
- Character Shilling: Jared's early introduction claimed for him to be powerful enough to be immune to magic and something not even proficient magicians like Alan Scott or Zatanna can contain. Later stories instead humbled the character's power level before being killed off by Mordru.
- Darker and Edgier: Although the world of Doctor Fate itself is pretty dark on it's own, Jared's Fate incarnation was this compared to his others, complete with a redesign with the in-universe explanation that the Helm of Fate was repurposed into ankh shaped knives and the Cloak of Destiny wrapped in a bandage-like manner to inhabit his chaos-transformed arm.
- The Dreaded: To the Lords of Chaos and Order and other magic characters alike, albeit for different reasons; for the former, neither Lords are able to hold power over him normally. For the latter, while his immunity to most forms of magic is annoying enough, many simply do not like dealing with Jared.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Killed off in the opening issue of JSA by Mordru, so that the Helm could return to its original shape.
- Hunter of Monsters: His primary function as Fate is basically this.
- Magic Knight: Compared to other incarnations of Doctor Fate, Jared is more or less this kind although he himself doesn't really cast spells and instead has enhanced abilities from mystical sources.
Kingdom
Other Aliases: Andrew Winterhalter
First Appearance: Fate #0 (October, 1994)
Kingdom was a demonic entity who controlled a dimension known as the Dreadlands. He attempted to gain control of the artifacts that empowered Doctor Fate and his minions killed Fate's former hosts Kent and Inza Nelson, but Kingdom was thwarted by their successor, Jared Stevens AKA Fate. He later attempted to gain access to Earth's dimension by using Jared's ex-wife Holly Marsh as an interdimensional gateway.
- Dimension Lord: Kingdom was a demonic entity who controlled a dimension known as the Dreadlands.
- Hero Killer: His minions killed Fate's former hosts Kent and Inza Nelson.
Introduced in Doctor Fate (2003)
Hector Hall
See Infinity, Inc.
The Curse
The Curse
Alter Ego: Unknown
Other Aliases: Justin Guilder
First Appearance: Doctor Fate Vol 3 #1 (October, 2003)
Having long forgotten his given name, the Curse was born long ago from the byproduct of a Babylonian war god and a human mother, the latter raped by the former. Throughout his long lifetime, he was given the name "Curse" by his followers in Mesopotamia, was worshipped akin to a god, and was recognized as the cruelest mage of his time. Looking to expand, he eventually set his sights onto Egypt and encountered Nabu, a Lord of Order who manages to defeat him with help from other Egyptian sorcerers. While his physical body was destroyed, his spirit was bound to his battle helm and all records of his existence was erased by Nabu, who feared his mighty power. In the present day, the helmet wound up in the private collection of Mr. Fenton. A group of cultists knew of the helmet's location and hired Justin Guilder, a thief from Salem, Massachusetts, to steal the helmet. Guilder managed to get past Fenton's security and witnessed a ritual ceremony being held by Mr. Fenton. The ritual backfired on Fenton and the spirit of the Curse killed Fenton. The spirit became aware of Guilder's presence and immediately bound its essence with Guilder's physical form. With Justin Guilder as its vessel, the Curse sought to destroy the new Doctor Fate Hector Hall.
- Child by Rape: The Curse was born long ago from the byproduct of a Babylonian war god and a human mother, the latter raped by the former.
- Deflector Shields: Curse can conjure shields that disallows communication, mystical or otherwise, around Salem.
- Demonic Possession: Similarly to Nabu and Doctor Fate, the Curse can possess people through his battle helm. However, he becomes one with his hosts.
- Divine Parentage: The Curse was conceived at the dawn of civilization when a Babylonian War God (quite possibly Nergal) raped a young woman (quite possibly Wotan's female self) and the Curse was the end result of that violation.
- Evil Sorcerer: Curse was a powerful mage whose level made him a threat to Nabu, who doubted his new incarnation of Doctor Fate could contend with him properly.
- Possessing a Dead Body: The Curse destroyed Justin Guilder's essence and bound itself into his physical form.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Nabu destroyed Curse's physical form and trapped him in a metaphysical helm.
Introduced in Doctor Fate: Countdown to Mystery
Kent V. Nelson
Kent V. Nelson
Alter Ego: Kent V. Nelson
Aliases: Sorcerer Supreme
First Appearance: Countdown to Mystery #1 (November, 2007)
The sixth person to become Doctor Fate. Like the current version, Khalid, Kent V. is the grand-nephew of Kent Nelson and a former psychiatrist who went into depression following his wife finding out he cheated on her with a young college student. He ends up becoming Doctor Fate and reforms himself.
- Ancestral Name: To the Nelson family, the "Kent" name serves as this.
- The Archmage: Oddly enough despite being completely new to the role and lasting only three years into the role in publication, he is acknowledged as a "Sorcerer Supreme" in the JSA books outright towards the very end of his publication life.
- Callousness Towards Emergency: His depression after his divorce ended up making him a variation of this, as he started being unable to remember details of his patients enough to misdiagnose them and would not see warning signs of a another patient on the verge of breaking down, eventually causing him to take someone's life. When an investigation into the patient revealed Kent's malpractice, he is fired and loses his medical license.
- Not That Kind of Doctor: Inverted although no longer practicing; he is the only Doctor Fate without murky continuity that marks him as a explicit doctor.
- Pragmatic Hero: After becoming Doctor Fate and learning more about the previous legacies, Kent tries to maintain the reputation of the figure to the point he is willing to lie to enemies pretending to be more experience and powerful than he really is.
- Retgone: He was the standing Doctor Fate when Flashpoint happened, and while the original Kent has since returned, Kent V. has been superseded by Khalid.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Is a much more closer contender for this than most Doctor Fates for Doctor Strange.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Kent had this with a student while he taught seminars at a university and ended up having an affair with her. This is what led to his divorce with his wife after she figured out he cheated on her. She didn't exactly know the details of it but could careless.
- The Trickster: Of the Doctor Fates; while he did lie to get into the JSA, he does use this to his advantage by using his famous legacy mantle's status to break up fights.
- Unskilled, but Strong: Is really this for the most part, as the Helm of Fate grants him so much power but without it (in the world of superheroes), he remarks he is virtually useless. Averted towards the end of his publication history when he is considered a Sorcerer Supreme.
Introduced in Doctor Fate (2015)
Khalid Nassour
Khalid Nassour aka Doctor Fate II
Alter Ego: Khalid "Kent" Nassour
Aliases: Young Fate, Son of the Pharaohs
First Appearance: Convergence: Aquaman #2 (July 2015)
Egyptian-American medical student, great-nephew of Kent Nelson (the original Doctor Fate) and the previous Doctor Fate. He is chosen by the Egyptian Gods, particularly Bastet, and the archangels to become the next Doctor Fate and later becomes Kent Nelson's apprentice before graduating to a full-fledged Doctor Fate.
- The Ace: Not starting out but eventually in his appearance in Justice League Dark alongside Zatanna in both the traditional Justice League and Justice League Dark.
- Adaptational Diversity: Both the comic and Young Justice animated version is Muslim but the latter leans on it far more. In that continuity, rather than his bloodline being connected to pharaohs, his bloodline and magical potential comes from his descent from Arion and ancient Atlantis.
- Adaptational Wimp: Compared to his comic book counterpart whereas he is the current and one-true Doctor Fate, powerful enough to break the fourth wall, a peer of Zatanna, and has his own apprentice, Khalid is instead cast in the Young Justice television series as Zatanna's apprentice and is just one of the four people rotating between being Doctor Fate's host.
- Badass Bookworm: He graduated from Brooklyn College with top marks. While this doesn't much help him in most situations dealing with magic, it does give him some practicality. His grasp on Egyptian history from study with his father does also enable him to solve some problems in the series. Later, he's shown to be a very adept magical student, with Nabu himself considering him a fine apprentice. Of course, given that Nabu was about to kill him after Khalid had refused a Join or Die offer (the 'die' part only being foiled by Kent's resistance, resulting in Nabu turning Khalid into a vase instead), Khalid's response was... mixed.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: In Flash #776, Khalid became the only Doctor Fate to achieve this, likely due to the new patron of the Helm, Hauhet, who was revealed to have since replaced Nabu (as the helm has not been inhabited by Nabu since Justice League Dark's A Costly Trick of Magic storyline). However, this was not explicitly stated as the reveal of Hauhet came out a week later (In the 2021 Justice League Dark Annual) after the release of the Flash issue.
- Blood Magic: Can use his blood to power his magic. Due to his Pharaoh heritage, his blood is magical in nature and, when powered by it, is strong enough to hurt gods.
- Brought Down to Badass: Due to Kent Nelson's sacrifice with Nabu, the Helm of Fate became broken, causing Khalid to lose the powers associated with the helm and having to rely on his own magical powers for a time. Luckily for him, one trait that sets him apart from other Doctor Fates (besides Inza) is that he possesses considerable magical powers even without the helm.
- Combat Medic: He's both a sorcerer and a former EMT studying to become a Doctor.
- Expy: Of Peter Parker and Dr Strange. The creators have cited Steve Ditko, co-creator of both those characters, as an influence on Khalid.
- Heroic Build: Subverted; Sonny Liew intentionally created Khalid with a more average build, as he felt a magical character wouldn't necessarily require a bodybuilder physique. After the end of the Doctor Fate comic book series and Khalid became the main Doctor Fate, some artists have since drawn Khalid with both a lean-toned build and a build more similar to the Kent Nelson incarnation.
- Heroic Lineage: Not only is Khalid related to Kent Nelson, but his ancestry is of the Egyptian pharoahs.
- The Chosen One: Due to his pharaoh bloodline, he is seen as this by Bastet and the Gods of Egypt destined to stop Anubis from flooding the world and taking over the Egyptian Pantheon.
- The Chosen Zero: With that said, Khalid initially struggled because he knew next to nothing about the magical world of the DC Universe and had no formal training in the first two
- The Every Man: Despite his vast powers in magic, Khalid is just a young man trying to become a doctor, keep up his grades, and hang out with his girlfriend.
- Friendship Favoritism: To Nabu, Khalid is this. He definitely treats him far more kindly and respectful than any of his prior hosts. He's also the only host he willingly lets have agency by REQUEST.
- Mistaken for Thief: Between Anubis's claim he doesn't deserve the Helm of Fate and later a necromancer General assuming he stole the Amulet of Anubis, he lampshaded the fact he is tired of being assumed to be some kind of thief.
- Not That Kind of Doctor: Well, not yet. He isn't actually a practicing medical doctor, but he's working towards it.
- Older Than They Look: Despite his appearance outside his series and being the shortest incarnation of Doctor Fate, he is actually in the same age range as Titans characters.
- Who You Gonna Call?: Is considered this for the DC Universe in regards to magic, although other popular characters, such as John Constantine and Zatanna, also serve in ths role for various reasons.
- Writers Cannot Do Math: By his introduction in DCYou, the character is expressed to be 22 by the creator himself and in medical school, making him a year older than Dick Grayson. Despite this, he's often drawn looking like a teenager, and is often referred to as a boy even when he should be in his mid-to-late twenties. Other stories make mention of him being a "new Doctor Fate" despite having been acting as such for years, now being the second longest running incarnation of Doctor Fate in publication.
Elizabeth Nassour
- Adventurer Archaeologist: Subverted; Elizabeth speaks about her uncle, Kent Nelson, being this and an inspiration for Indiana Jones. She herself isn't this.
- Don't Tell Mama: In a more heroic version of this, Khalid attempts to do this when he hides his secret identity from her, fearing she may overreact with worry, a sentiment which is shared by his father. However, Elizabeth pieces it together on account of his absence and is supportive of him as a superhero.
- Happily Married: To Mohammed.
- Shipper on Deck: Has teased Khalid to being with Akila despite having Shaya as his girlfriend. She warms up to Shaya when she learns her personality reminds her of herself in her youth.
Other
Hauhet
'''First Appearance: "Future State: Justice League" #1 (2021)
A goddess of eternity who becomes Khalid Nassour's patron.
Ian Karkull
Kulak
First Appearance: All-Star Comics #2 (September, 1940)
For aeons Kulak, high priest of the world Brztal, used his sorcery to destroy civilizations on many worlds. Under unknown circumstances he was imprisoned millennia ago in a tomb on Earth. After archaelogists discovered the tomb, Kulak awoke and attempted to destroy the earth but was thwarted by the Spectre. Months later, Kulak stole the Spectre's powerful Ring of Life and put the Spectre under his control. Still intent on destroying Earth, Kulak defeated Doctor Fate and took from him the mysterious helmet of Nabu the wise. Donning the helmet, Kulak attempted to cast a spell with the third eye, but the spell turned back on him, hurling him into distant dimensions and breaking his hold over the Spectre.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Kulak has blue skin.
- Evil Sorcerer: In some stories, Kulak's power levels surpass those of Spectre.
- Eye Beams: All Kulak's powers are focused through his third eye.
- Hate Plague: Using the Whispering Death Ritual, Kulak could make everyone on a planet hate each other.
- Heroic Willpower: Kulak was capable of using the Helmet of Nabu without being controlled by Nabu.
- Necromancer: Kulak can summon the long-dead Brztalian warriors to fight as their zombie slaves.
- Omnicidal Maniac: For aeons Kulak, high priest of the world Brztal, used his sorcery to destroy civilizations on many worlds.
- Religion is Magic: Kulak was high priest of the world Brztal.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Kulak first fought the Spectre.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Under unknown circumstances he was imprisoned millennia ago in a tomb on Earth.
Mister Who
Alter Ego: Unknown (last name may be Who)
Aliases: None
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941)
“That’s the trouble with you boys – all you think of is rough stuff! There’s more money in doing things cleverly, and that’s just what I am!”
He was once a handicapped but genius child, who suffered bullying and mockery. This led him to develop Solution Z, a formula which granted him super powers.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: Mister Who eschews spandex and wears a spiffy double-breasted green suit and cape.
- Combo Platter Powers: He created Solution Z, a formula based on adaptive creatures, which empowered him with a whole suite of super powers, including phasing, invisibility, shape-shifting, size-shifting, limb-regeneration, amphibianism, and youth.
- Cure for Cancer: Solution Z can cure any sickness.
- Cut Lex Luthor a Check: While capable of great scientific achievements, Mister Who always used them in the pursuit of petty thefts.
- Evil Cripple: The mysterious Mister Who was born a cripple and was teased by other kids while growing up. He worked hard and by the early 1940s he had become a brilliant scientist, but due to his bitterness from years of abuse, he developed into a criminal mastermind.
- Fountain of Youth: Solution Z can make the user temporarily younger.
- Genius Bruiser: On taking Solution Z, Mister who is transformed from a Genius Cripple into a genius bruiser.
- Genius Cripple: The mysterious Mister Who was born a cripple and was teased by other kids while growing up. He worked hard and by the early 1940s he had become a brilliant scientist, but due to his bitterness from years of abuse, he developed into a criminal mastermind.
- Green and Mean: His costume is a green suit and cape.
- Healing Factor: Solution Z enhances Mister Who's healing ability, including allowing him to regenerate limbs.
- Invisibility: Solution Z allows Mr. Who to become invisible.
- Intangibility: Solution Z allows Mr. Who to phase through solid objects.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Would later fight Captain Marvel
- Sizeshifter: Solution Z allows hiw to grow or shrink at will.
- Super Not-Drowning Skills: Solution Z allows Mr. Who to breathe underwater.
- Super Serum: He created Solution Z, a formula based on adaptive creatures, which empowered him with a whole suite of super powers, including phasing, invisibility, shape-shifting, size-shifting, limb-regeneration, amphibianism, and youth.
Negal
Negal
Alter Ego: None
Aliases: Black Negal, Negal of Charn
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #67 (May, 1941)
Negal is the ruler of Charn, the underworld realm of the dead. Negal came into conflict with Doctor Fate, when he and the forces of his dark realm threatened mankind.
- The Bus Came Back: Negal returned as the Big Bad in the Countdown to Mystery miniseries in 2007.
- Carry a Big Stick: Negal carries a hige studded club.
- Dimension Lord: Negal is the ruler of Charn, the underworld realm of the dead.
- Demon Lords and Archdevils: Negal is the ruler of Charn, the underworld realm of the dead.
- Loincloth: Negal's only clothing.
- Master of Illusion: Negal can cast illusions.
- Necromancer: As lord of the realm of the dead, Negal can raise the dead as his servants.
Xanadoth
Xanadoth
Alter Ego: None
Aliases: Lord of All Chaos
First Appearance: Superman Vol 5 #23 (September, 2020)
"Ah! I see it now—you're a knight. A guardian. A protector."
Xanadoth was a powerful Lord of Chaos who ruled over her brethern until they and the Lords of Order banded together to seal her away in a magical artifact. It was found thousands of years later by D.E.O agent Veronica Bissette, who unwillingly became her host.
- Defeated and Trophified: Xanadoth did not entirely destroy her opponents but instead looked to enslave them so that she could assign another function to them. In fact, she enjoyed the idea of claiming great warriors and making them serve her.
- Demonic Possession: Possessed the body of D.E.O agent Veronica Bissette.
- Evil Sorcerer: A Lord of Chaos, Xanadoth possess a high breath of magical power at a level beyond the Justice League Dark, Doctor Fate, and Zatanna.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: With her power and agenda being too extreme even for her fellow Lords, both the Lords of Chaos and Order banded together to cast her away and erasing all records of her. They sealed her within a relic that took the form of a spike which had been forged from powers that were no longer in existence. The spike was then buried on Earth where Xanadoth was forgotten where her power and control over the Lords of Order and Chaos had ended.
- Summon Magic: She was capable of summoning mystical monsters that she could send after her quarries.
- Super-Reflexes: Xanadoth is fast enough to react to Flash.
- Super-Strength: Xanadoth has enough strength to incapacitate Black Adam.
- Super-Toughness: Xanadoth is powerful enough to shrug off lightning attacks from Black Adam.
