Welcome back to yet another installment of Demanded Characters. Magic is a big theme in the DCU over the past few years. It is something that is central to most of the story lines – heck it can even hurt the Man of Steel! Last week we got a look at Zatanna, a member of the JLA, so this week let’s look at one of the JSA’s magical members, Dr. Fate.
Looks like the corset Zatanna took the top of the pile in last week’s poll, but I think we all agree as long as she is in fishnets and a tails we will buy her.
Dr. Fate is one of those characters that change every few years, giving him a very difficult history to write about. Most people’s exposure is from the cartoon or the old super powers line, but the costume is eye catching and really should be part of the DCUC line. There were various incarnations of the character but for this line we limit the character to the old yellow and blue costume.
The first person to become Dr. Fate was Kent Nelson. Young Kent was the son of an archaeologist, who discovered the temple of Nabu. During this discovery Kent’s father was killed and the spirit of Nabu trained the boy in mystic arts. Older and wiser, Kent returned from the tomb and took up residence in Salem, Massachusetts, carrying with him the helmet of fate, in which Nabu resided. Like most heroes of the time Kent used his powers to combat crime and eventually help found the Justice Society of America. Kent would fight side by side during the 1940’s with the JSA, but would also team up from time to time with the likes of Batman and Superman. Kent and his wife met their end after the events of Zero Hour.
After Kent died the Nabu started to search for a new host for the power of fate. This time Nabu chose a couple, Eric and Linda Strauss, who had to bond to become Dr. Fate. Through many battles Eric died, leaving Linda the sole controller of the Power of Fate. Though Linda was the only living host Nabu created a place in the helmet for others to advise her on powers, and issues which arose from being Dr. Fate. Linda died in battle as Fate.
Following the footsteps of previous Dr. Fates, the next Dr. Fate had more than the mantel of fate to link him to the JSA. Hector Hall’s history is quite confusing to those outside the comic world. Hector Hall is the son of Carter Hall and Shiera Hall, the Golden Age Hawkman and HawkGirl. However, the Body which he inhabits today is the son of Hank Hall and Dawn Granger, better known as Hawk and Dove. After gaining the powers from Nabu, Hector was reunited with Carter Hall, his father, and one of his main goals was to save his wife, Lyta. During the Crisis the two were banished by the Spectre to hell, where they are trapped frozen at the top of a mountain, though their minds entered a dream world. They may return some day as their family is so linked with reincarnation.
Currently the mantel of fate is in flux, due to the upheaval of magic in the DCU.
So what version of Fate do you want the most in the DCU line?
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