Welcome to our re-read of the first and greatest superhero team in comics ... and quite a bit more!
My plan is to re-read and discuss the Golden Age Justice Society of America, which ran from All-Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940) to All-Star Comics #57 (February-March 1951), and is currently being reprinted in DC's "DC Finest" line.
But, as ever, I am consumed by context. What events brought us to All-Star Comics #3? What characters did editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox have available from which to choose? What else was competing in the superhero space? To achieve that context, I plan to start the discussion at the publisher's beginning, when Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson launched National Allied Publications Inc. in 1935. That was the first step toward the Justice Society — and to DC Comics as we know it today.
So before we even get to the JSA, I'll re-read and open for discussion all the solo stories starring JSA members, mostly from DC's Archives and Famous First Edition series. Which is actually quite a lot! (Although not as much as I'd prefer. I want it ALL!) I'll be writing about non-JSA superheroes created by National, Detective Comics Inc. and All-American Comics Inc. too, like Crimson Avenger and Doctor Occult. I'll also be tipping my hat to some non-powered characters, principally those who managed to appear outside their parent title, like Slam Bradley and Hop Harrigan. That means no re-read for the likes of "Bart Regan, Spy" and "Speed Saunders." Sorry, fellas, but I had to draw the line somewhere — before I found myself doing a deep dive into the history of Ginger Snap.
But I will be re-reading reprints, or availing myself of online information where reprints don't exist, of 14 of the 17 Golden Age characters who launched or appeared in All-Star Comics #3-57. Those characters include:
- The Atom: All-American Comics #19-46, 48-61, 70-72; All-Star Comics #3-26, 28-35, 37-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Flash Comics #80, 82-85, 87 89-95, 97-100, 102-104; Comic Cavalcade #22-23, 28; Sensation Comics #86.
- Black Canary: All-Star Comics #38-57; Comic Cavalcade #25; Flash Comics #86-88, 90-104.
- Doctor Fate: All-Star Comics #3-12, 14-21; More Fun Comics #55-98.
- Doctor Mid-Nite: All-American Comics #25-102; All-Star Comics #6 (text story), 8-57.
- The Flash: All-Flash #1-32; All-Star Comics #1-7, 10, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Flash Comics #1-104, Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties)
- Green Lantern: All-American Comics #16-102; All-Flash #14; All-Star Comics #2-8, 10, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Green Lantern #1-38.
- Hawkman: All-Star Comics #1-57, Big All-American Comic Book, Flash Comics #1-104, Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties).
- Hourman: Adventure Comics #48-83, All-Star Comics #1-7, New York World's Fair Comics [#2].
- Johnny Thunder: All-Star Comics #2-4, 6-35, 37-39; Big All-American Comic Book; Flash Comics #1-91; New York World's Fair Comics [#2]; World's Best Comics #1; World's Fair Comics #2-3; Flash Comics miniature (Wheaties).
- Mister Terrific: All-Star Comics #24, Big All-American Comic Book, Sensation Comics #1-63.
- Sandman: Adventure Comics #40-102, All-Star Comics #1-21, Boy Commandos #1, Detective Comics #76, New York World's Fair Comics [#1-2], World's Finest Comics #3-7.
- The Spectre: All-Star Comics #1-23, More Fun Comics #52-101, a single panel in More Fun Comics #51.
- Starman: Adventure Comics #61-102, All-Star Comics #8-23.
- Wildcat: All-Star Comics #24, 27; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-2; Sensation Comics #1-90.
The obvious exceptions here are Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. Superman and Batman, called "honorary members" in the text, appeared twice in All-Star Comics, but I don't plan to re-read all their adventures from 1938 to 1951. They are peripheral at best to the Golden Age JSA, and would overwhelm the discussion through sheer volume. This problem extends to Wonder Woman as well, who appears in four titles in the Golden Age (Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman, Comic Cavalcade, All-Star Comics). I'll re-read and report on her JSA adventures, but like Batman and Superman, I'll just note her solo stories in passing with a summary that I'll grab somewhere online. That will keep the discussion abreast of any major developments, like new supervillains, in Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman stories.
Here are their Golden Age adventures:
- Batman: All-Star Comics # 7 (cameo), 36; Batman #1-63 (February-March 1951); Batman 3-D #1; Detective Comics #1-169 (March 1951); New York World’s Fair Comics [#2]; World’s Best Comics #1, World’s Fair Comics #2-50 (February-March 1951).
- Superman: Action Comics #1-154 (March 1951); All-Star Comics #7 (cameo), 36; New York World’s Fair [#1-2]; Superman #1-69 (March-April 1951); Superman 3-D #1; Superman at the Gilbert Hall of Science; Superman Miniature; World’s Best Comics #1; World’s Fair Comics #2-50 (February-March 1951).
- Wonder Woman: All-Star Comics #8, 11-22, 24-57; Big All-American Comic Book; Comic Cavalcade #1-29; Sensation Comics #1-102; Wonder Woman #1-46 (March-April 1951).
Fortunately, Jeff of Earth-J is already doing a re-read of the Golden Age Superman. Jeff isn't doing a re-read of all Batman books, but he is compiling "The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told," by which he means "all of them." Recently he's begun re-reading other major Bat-villains, which he discusses in Riddler - Prinze of Puzzles, The Crimes of Two-Face and Catwoman: Nine Lives of a Feline Fatale.
I should note that my methodology changed over time, as realities required. For instance, I initially lumped books together by cover date, but complications ensued for books without them, like quarterlies and specials. As the number of quarterlies and their importance increased, I ended up going by on-sale dates as the primary organizational tool. (Which aren't available for all books, but that's a lesser devil than chronologically misplacing Batman or All-Star Comics). Initially I only included mention of others strips in anthology books if they were of some importance, like Slam Bradley, but eventually I started including all of them. Here and there I would try to improve the format. And so forth. In some imaginary "someday" I'll go back through and make them all consistent.
I've tried to be comprehensive, relying on a variety of sources, from online to reprints to "companion" books. A tip of the cowl to a Luke Blanchard post in what amounts to an outline for this discussion. But I'm sure I've left out tons, especially stories I don't have or can't find, which may be at hand in your collection. I hope folks will do re-reads of stories I've left out, as well as comment on what I've written. So let's hear what I've missed Legionnaires — and what you think!
Replies
ACTION COMICS #36
Cover date: May 1941
On-sale date: March 21, 1941
Cover: Superman smacks a robot, by Fred Ray
Superman
Untitled is by Jerry Siegel and Wayne Boring (13 pages).
Where I read it: Superman: The Action Archives Vol. 2 (1998).
GCD: "The Volunteers for Peace try to stir up anti-rearmament talk among their members, hoping they will help sabotage strategic centers in the U.S. thereby paving the way for an invasion by a "Nation X". But Superman intervenes, stopping that invasion and saving Lois' life in the process!"
See: Jeff of Earth-J's Superman from the Beginning.
Last Clip Carson in Action Comics. Next appearance in More Fun Comics #68 (June 1941). Continuing: Pep Morgan, Three Aces, Black Pirate, Mr. America and Zatara.
'MORE FUN COMICS' #67
Cover date: May 1941
On-sale: March 26, 1941
Cover: Another giant Spectre, by Bernard Baily
The Spectre
Untitled by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily (10 pages)
Where I read it: Golden Age Spectre Archives Vol. 1
A supernatural crime wave in Cliffland make The Chief think The Spectre is behind it all. (He always thinks The Spectre is behind it all, but at least this time it looks like the Grim Ghost's M.O.) Spectre chases some crooks who disappear, and he knows they've gone to another dimension. (It's not explained, but he's The Spectre, so he would probably know these things.) He follows, and is threatened by a black cloud. "I warn you ... do not meddle ... or you will be destroyed!" He returns to our dimension and becomes Corrigan again.
A man calling himself Deeja Kathoon tells the Chief he can catch The Spectre, and Chief takes him up on it. Corrigan thinks it will be amusing, but during a seance Kathoon forces him to change into Spectre, and paralyzes him. The Chief snaps the cuffs on his nemesis! With a "great mental effort," Spectre disappears and leaves the cuffs.
He investigates Kathoon, and discovers he is using spirits from the afterlife to steal for him. Spectre disguises himself as one of the spirits, which conveniently for reader identification, means being totally white while wearing a green hood and robe. Apparently all spirits in the afterlife sort of look like The Spectre, and have the same fashion sense. Spectre steals a ruby for Kathoon, in service to his undercover effort, which sounds really stupid to me, but I'm not a ghost, so.
It turns out Kathoon can do all this because he has unexplained "mental powers without limit" and those powers reveal The Spectre to him. So he commands the Ghostly Guardian to publicly destroy a hospital to ruin his reputation and destroy his effectiveness on Earth.
Spectre grows to giant size and is about to destroy the hospital but stops, locked in combat with himself. Kathoon's spirits, meanwhile, go on a robbery spree. Then Afterlife Avenger loses his mental battle and sends death rays at the hospital But the Ring of Life appears and bounces the death rays back at Spectre, who shrinks to normal size and falls unconscious. Some patrolmen find him, and throw him in a paddy wagon. When he awakes he escapes, of course.
Spectre pursues Kathoon and destroys his body. When Kathoon's spirit tries to escape with the loot, Spectre throws it into a nebula. He returns the loot, via little wings on each part of it. The Chief seems to be reconsidering his position on Spectre, but Corrigan pipes up, unprompted, with "The Spectre is a menace to the law and I promise not to rest until I put him behind bars!"
Takeaways
At left is The Specre in mental combat with himself. Either that, or else he's really constipated.
Other than that. the art on this episode is remarkably improved, especially Spectre's musculature. My first thought was that someone with a better grasp of anatomy inked it. But GCD just lists Baily. Maybe he's upping his game.
On the other hand, why does a ghost need to be really buff?
Once again Spectre is far from omnipotent. In this issue he is not only mentally overcome by a mere human, but is seen in handcuffs and in a paddy wagon. Maybe Siegel is trying to up the threat level, even though he once agains resorts to the formula of having Spectre fail in his initial fight with the bad guy, before winning with ease on the last page. I also have to note with chagrin that the standing Deus Ex Machina, the Ring of Life, saves Spectre's hash again.
Remember the black cloud? Well, even though Spectre thinks, "That evil cloud! I have a hunch we'll meet again!" he doesn't. At least not in this issue. Maybe we're to assume it's Kathoon.
Fun fact: The last panel is a house ad for Starman.
Doctor Fate
Untitled by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman (6 pages)
Where I read it: Justice League of America #95 (December 1971)
Summary
"In the Valley of Ur, in the year 1920 or thereabouts," archaeologist Sven Nelson tells his young son Kent that he means to find out who built the pyramids. "What those Egyptians knew that our present scientists do not is unthinkable! I've a theory that people from another planet built them!" Because of course, ancient people couldn't build them! They were stupid!
Sven and Kent, who seem to be the only members of their expedition, have a pyramid to explore. I should mention, just for accuracy, that Ur is now in what is called Iraq, in the Tigris-Euphrates valley, where many ancient civilizations thrived, including Chaldea, Sumeria, Mesopotamia and Babylonia. But it's not in Egypt, which is pretty far away by camel or horse. And there are no pyramids there.
Nelson finds an entrance to the pyramid, and a language that isn't Egyptian, Chaldean or Babylonian. Kent explores on his own, and finds a perfectly preserved man. The figure telepathically instructs Kent to pull a lever (illustrated as light rays from the figure's eyes). The lever releases a gas that re-animates the figure, who says he's Nabu the Wise and he's a half million years old, because he knows "the secret of molecular control of one's body!" He says he's from the planet Cilia.
Unfortunately, Kent's father has died from a poison-gas booby trap. The story doesn't say if it's the same gas that re-animated Nabu, but one suspects it is. Anyway, Nabu promises to teach Kent the "secrets of the universe" to make up for the loss of his father. Fast forward about 20 years, and Kent is a young man. He demonstrates that he has learned levitation, and to make inanimate objects obey him. Nabu says Kent's mission is "to bring good to those on Earth who use the ancient magics to do evil!" He is to be called Doctor Fate. Nabu gives Kent "garments," and what we can see is the helmet, a medallion and gold cloth that is probably the cloak.
Then the narrator says Kent meets Inza in Alexandria, but doesn't say how.
And now we're back in the present. Kent and Inza see a nervous man at a nightclub and ask him his story. He says he signed a pact with other men to help them come back to life if they died first, and they did die first, so now they're after him for his "life-spark." Kent has Inza take him home while he changes to Doctor Fate. A wraith comes for the man, but Fate banishes it. (Spectre could learn a trick or two from Fate about dealing with ghosts.) Fate and Inza go to "the charnel regions" to stop a re-occurrence. They find Black Negal, who runs the place, and Fate threatens to "destroy you and yours" if he doesn't cut it out. Negal agrees.
Takeaways
Fun facts
Continuing: Detective Sergeant Carey, Captain Desmo, Radio Squad, Lance Larkin, Sergeant O'Malley of the Red Coat Patrol. Last Biff Bronson appearance. He had 25 adventures and appeared in All-Star Comics #1. Last Congo Bill appearance in More Fun Comics. He will next appear in Action Comics #37 (June 1941).
Tomorrow: The many origins of Doctor Fate!
"Dad, I found a half-naked man!"
Doesn't Kent Nelson destroy Nabu's body as his last test? Maybe that causes Nabu to inhabit the helmet?
Since Kent presumbly has been isolated for the last twenty years, could Inza's role be to guide and educate him on the current world? That might explain the "inhuman being" as Kent may see himself as alien as Nabu is.
As we'll see tomorrow, sometimes Kent grows up naturally, and sometimes he is aged up to twentyish unnaturally. The last origin story I re-read has his expedition in 1940, not 1920 -- and he is aged up unnaturally. (Secret Origins #24, 1988). If there are subsequent changes, I don't remember them. Either way he's probably pretty unsocialized.
The destruction of Nabu's body is an addition that came along in 1978, but was included in all subsequent re-tellings. If that's your adopted dad, you are probably pretty messed up!
I got all five Fate origins out!
I doubt that he'll come up again so here's my memories and thoughts on SARGON THE SORCERER:
The first time that I saw Sargon was either his reprinted stories from Batman #238 (Ja'72) as a back issue or Wanted The World's Most Dangerous Villains #6 (F'73) versus the Blue Lama, a villainess. I wonder if they ever had a Batman/Catwoman type relationship? He didn't even make the cover and I was more interested in the Starman and Wildcat stories.
I didn't see his two Flash appearances until I was an adult. I had a beat-ip copy of Justice League of America #99 (Ju'72) where they said that he was an honorary member though it would be years before I had #98.
Then there was this page from Limited Collectors Edition #C-41 (Ja'76) where Sargon was included with the JLA but not Adam Strange or the Phantom Stranger.
After that, he fought Wonder Woman in Adventure Comics #462 (Ap'79) aka "The Death of Batman" issue and was the second "Whatever Happened To..." feature in DC Comics Presents #26 (O'80) aka the FIRST appearance of the New Teen Titans!
He popped up a few times in All Star Squadron, most importantly to confirm that his Ruby of Life was connected to the Spectre's Ring of Life and finally helped the JLA again in Justice League of America #220 (N'83) to admit that he travelled from Earth-Two to Earth-One but never said why.
Sargon was asked to join a mystic gathering in Swamp Thing #50 (Jl'86) where I'm sure that he had a good time.
Despite seeing him far less than Sargon, I preferred IBIS THE INVINCIBLE who Sargon may have been patterned on if not Zatara or any other fictional magician.
But hey, Sargon was still DC's sixth greatest magical character of the Golden Age!
I doubt that he'll come up again ...
That is correct.
Then there was this page from Limited Collectors Edition #C-41 (Ja'76) where Sargon was included with the JLA but not Adam Strange or the Phantom Stranger.
That Super Friends story shows Metamorpho, Plastic Man, Robin, Mera, Supergirl, Zatanna and Batgirl. Does the story say they're Justice Leaguers? Because I don't think any of them were in 1976, although Batgirl had guest-starred and Metamorpho had been invited (and famously said no). As you say, Sargon becomes an Honorary Member in 1972, so that's accurate. But Zatanna didn't officially join until 1978. Most of them do become Justice Leaguers at some point, because like with the Avengers, everybody becomes a member sooner or later.
But I guess Super Friends happens in alternate universe, so I'm getting worked up over nothing.
Also, when Sargon went bad, the official explanation was that "shards" of the Ruby of Life had been used by evil people, which had influenced him. Since the Ruby and Ring are related, is it possible that at one time there was an enormous ruby that Sargon's ruby and Spectre's ring was carved from? Which left shards, and perhaps other Items of Life out there? If I cut open the Ibistick, am I going to find a ruby in there?
But hey, Sargon was still DC's sixth greatest magical character of the Golden Age!
Bwah-ha-ha!
The story says they helped the Justice League on occasions. Plastic Man made an appearance in the first season of SUPER FRIENDS. The rest were in the comic. And Robin guested twice in JLA.
I just thinking about all the kids who read that Super Friends tabloid and had no idea who Sargon the Sorcerer was and wouldln't for a while as he didn't show up again until 1979!
And Hawkgirl joined in 1977.
BONUS! THE MANY ORIGINS OF DOCTOR FATE!
"We know through the records of the prolific Gardner Fox that his original name for the characters was 'Doctor Droom' — a name that, by sheer coincidence, would by used by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at Timely/Marvel two decades later for another hero likewise steeped in mysticism. But someone — prboably editor Whitney Ellsworth — must've decided that the meaningless syllable 'Droom' wasn't such a hot name for a super-hero. For reasons we'll probably never know, his moniker was change not to "Doctor Doom' (which would have subtly altered comic book history 22 years down the line) or even to 'Doctor Destiny' (which would have been alluringly alliterative), but to 'Doctor Fate.' " — Roy Thomas, Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives Vol. 1
Doctor Fate's origin in More Fun Comics #67 gave us Nabu the Wise and explained who the heck that blonde guy was in More Fun Comics #66! But that wasn't the end of the revelations about Kent Nelson and Inza Cramer. As the years rolled by, more and more was added to the mythos (while some things were redacted). Here's how those origins progressed:
'SHOWCASE' #55
March-April 1965
On-sale date: Jan. 28, 1965
The ever-observant Philip Portelli pointed out this one. Doctor Fate joins Hourman (and Green Lantern, to a degree) to battle Solomon Grundy in this unexpected but totally awesome JSA team-up! "Solomon Grundy Goes on a Rampage!" was by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, and is just as good as it sounds. But that's not important now! It's the text piece at the back we're currently concerned about, which gives a summary of Fate's origin and status quo. Readers of More Fun Comics #67 or the reprint in Justice League of America #95 won't learn anything new, but it's a nice recap of what was true about Doctor Fate, circa 1965.
'1ST ISSUE SPECIAL' #9
December 1975
On-sale date: September 18, 1975
Cover: Doctor Fate, by Joe Kubert
By Martin Pasko and Walt Simonson (18 pages)
More Fun Comics #67 is probably the most important Doctor Fate story ever published, as it introduces solid parts of the mythos in the form of Nabu the Wise and Kent Nelson. But this is easily the second-most important issue.
I don't think there was much progress in Fate mythology in the Silver Age. Commander Benson and others can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think when 1st Issue Special #9 shipped, Fate was pretty much where he had been in his Silver Age debut in Justice League of America #21 (August 1963). He was full helmeted (as opposed to the half-helmet he was wearing at the end of his Golden Age adventures) and tended to be formal, mysterious and enigmatic. But as far as the Li'l Cap'n knew, that was just Kent Nelson's personality.
1st Issue Special kicked all of that into a bucket.
Summary
A mummy comes to life in a museum, and Fate's powers have alerted him, so he is already on the way. (He is surfing a wave of magic, a pretty cool visual.) The mummy is Khalis, a servant of Anubis. That's the jackal-headed God of the Dead, and Simonson draws him in heiroglyphic form, which is also way cool. Khalis kills two people on awakening, and when Fate arrives, attacks him. Fate refers to a "prophecy" that Khalis would come to life, and later adds that the prophecy was from Nabu, who warned Fate that someone would someday come for the Amulet of Anubis.
"At last we meet ... student of Nabu ... and since the wise one's mind ... is linked to yours ... so do you recognize me!" Khalis sucks up Fate's power, beats him handily and steals his amulet.
Weakened, Fate returns to his tower, and says to Inza, "I have returned your husband to you." Aha! Now we're into the meat of it! The following scene establishes that Fate and Kent are two separate beings. Nelson has no idea what he does when he's Fate, and Fate doesn't tell Inza anything. And she doesn't like it. While he sleeps, she decides to leave him/them.
Nelson wakes up and studies his ancient books and scrolls, and eventually finds the story of Khalis. He was a follower of Anubis, who destroyed an ancient Egyptian city named Bubastis. The God of the Dead rewarded him with the Amulet of Anubis. But he was defeated by Nabu and mummified alive. Nabu took the amulet.
Then we get a flashback to Doctor Fate's origin in More Fun Comics #67, where his father died and Kent Nelson was adopted by Nabu. Here's what's new: "That day, half of Kent Nelson died, too ... but not as his father had died ... for the dead half was reborn ... as a being whom Nabu taught the magic secrets of the universe! ... As a being dedicated to preserving the natural order! ... A being called Doctor Fate!"
Later, Inza has a change of heart, and goes to the museum where Khalis appeared in search of something to help. She finds a part of his sarcophagus, which turns out to be helpful. She gives it to Kent/Fate, and then tries to chat.
Inza: "Honey, listen -- What I said earlier, Kent -- I mean -- Dr. Fate -- I mean -- Oh, never mind! I keep forgetting there are two of you ... my husband ... and Dr. Fate!"
Fate: "You've been a great help, Mrs. Nelson! Thank you."
Heh. "Mrs. Nelson." Classic.
Fate uses the seal and an incantation to destroy Khalis. "This was the test ... Nabu had planned for me ... and I'm sure he knows ... wherever he is ... that I passed it ...!"
Inza decides that it took all three of them to defeat Khalis, so maybe she can live with Doctor Fate after all.
Fun facts
Takeaways
Nicknames
Mystical References
'DC SPECIAL SERIES' #10
[April] 1978
On-sale date: Jan. 31, 1978
By Paul Levitz, Joe Staton and Michael Netzer (8 pages)
It's only three years after "The Mummy That Time Forgot," but already more changes are in store.
Summary
The story is narrated by Inza, who is lamenting in her diary that her husband is sometimes not her husband. She recounts Fate's origin for us. And that's pretty much it. But the words Levitz picks add a lot to the lore.
What's new:
This version specifies that the gas released when Kent awoke Nabu was, in fact, the gas that killed Sven.
Inza writes that Kent being orphaned was "exactly as the Lords or Order wished it." This may be the first mention of the Lords of Order in DC Comics. (Lifted from Michael Moorcock, no doubt.)
Kent grows from a 12-year-old boy to a man in a few days. The story doesn't specify the year of the Nelson expedition, but presumably it's around 1940.
Inza writes that Kent is "almost beyond normal cares, weakness and aging — and since the day we met, some of that has been reflected on me." I assume Levitz is dealing with the aging issue. Boy, DC wrestled with that a lot.
The Big Change
"Nabu, or what had been in Nabu, described himself as an exiled Lord of Order, a being created fully developed — knowing no childhood — a guard condemned to Earth for eternity." Which sounds a lot like the famous line from All-Star Comics #3.
In this telling, the "guardian" is the Lord of Order, while Nabu is a human host, or maybe something created to cart the guardian around. We're told the guardian couldn't operate on this plane without a human form for focus.The distinction isn't terribly important, because in later versions Nabu is himself the Lord of Order. I'm trying to be precise, because I know we all have memories of variations in the origin, and I wasn to acknowledge those.
So why was Nabu in the pyramid? Because the power was too much for the host, which began to burn out after three millennia "in almost constant combat." It went to sleep for 2,000 years to heal. That still wasn't enough, so it jumped into Kent Nelson. Then "Nabu" crumbled into dust.
Takeaway
That's a lot of changes for 8 pages. Of course, I can't be sure without a massive re-read if some of those changes were maybe established elsewhere -- like in the All-Star Comics revival, which started in 1976. Or in one of the JLA/JSA team-ups. But I suspect most of the new stuff was established right here, probably to clarify what happened in 1st Issue Special, and to set Fate up for a new series.
Levitation
Speaking of things that are repeated a lot ...
Nearly every Doctor Fate origin story has.a scene depicting Kent mastering levitation. These scenes are from (clockwise) More Fun Comics #67, Secret Origins #24, All-Star Squadron #47 and All-Star Squadron #23. 1st Issue Special #9, uniquely, does not have such a scene.
'THE FLASH' #306
February 1982
On-sale date: Oct. 20, 1981
By Marty Pasko, Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt (9 pages)
This one is courtesy Luis Olavo de Moura Dantas. It's the first in a new backup series for Fate, following a guest appearance in The Flash #305. The main plot is that the Aztec god Totec returns to Earth and Dr. Fate tries to stop him. But there's also a lot of argument, as Inza complains about having to share Kent with Fate. Once again, she writes in her diary, and recaps Fate's origin.
Some changes:
This story is continued, but we're past the part that's pertinent to our conversation. Fate continues as a backup in The Flash until issue #313.
'ALL-STAR SQUADRON' #23
July 1983
On-sale date: April 5, 1983
By Roy Thomas, Jerry Ordway and Mike Machlan (17 pages)
A lot happens in this issue that isn't related to Fate's origin, including the introduction and origin of Amazing Man, and the rest of the All-Star Squadron having dialogue/characterization in the midst of the conflict with Ultra-Humanite (which goes on for quite a few issues). But in the middle, Fate relates to Atom why he switched helmets.
First, Fate relates his origin. Two points that differ from some other tales:
Then Fate explains the helmet business.
"One night last summer, I suddenly sensed the truth about the helmet. When I donned it, I ceased being Kent Nelson — and instead became another being. The heir of Nabu — perhaps even Nabu himself." This was right after "the Justice Society adventure the world's not ready to learn about now."
That could be a reference to All-Star Squadron Annual #3, which the JSA agreed to keep private. But that won't be published until September 1984, so perhaps Fate is referring to some other adventure I'm not thinking of right now.
Then, Kent needs Inza's help to get the helmet off. "Thank God! Only your touch ... " Once again, Inza is uniquely important in this business.
She says, "I should have warned you, darling — I've seen this coming for months — you becoming less a man, and more like some alien creature!"
Again, if we squint, we can imagine that More Fun Comics #55-66 showed us only the Doctor Fate scenes, where he's an inhuman creature who doesn't eat and is immortal — and Inza was just playing along with Nabu's weird comments. Presumably, Fate would take his helmet off in between issues of More Fun Comics, and Inza would hold her tongue about how weird Kent would get when playing Doctor Fate. That is, until Kent himself realized what was happening around More Fun Comics #70, and fashioned the half-helmet. That's my head canon, anyway.
And it's what happens here:
Inza: "Maybe the world needs Doctor Fate, but I need Kent Nelson!"
Kent: And from now on — you'll have him! I'm finished with this thing! ... No more, honey! I thought I could be both myself and a stand-in for Nabu ... but I was wrong! From now on there'll be a Dr. Fate who is master of his own destiny ... or there'll be no Dr. Fate at all!"
Presumably this flashback occurs just after More Fun Comics #70, All-Star Comics #7 and All-Star Squadron Annual #3, where Fate is full-helmeted, and just before More Fun Comics #71 and All-Star Comics #8, where the half-helmet comes into play.
Fun Fact
In All-Star Squadron #27 (November 1983), Hawkman explains to Wonder Woman the difference in the two Fate helmets. "He's a different person — literally — when he wears the earlier helment, which he hasn't done since before you came to America." All-Star Squadron, the series, begins in December 1941, after Fate has already switched to the half-helmet.
'ALL-STAR SQUADRON' #47
July 1985
On-sale Date: April 2, 1985
Cover by Todd McFarlane and Tony DeZuniga
By Roy Thomas, Todd McFarlane, Mike Clark and Vince Colletta (24 pages)
Doctor Fate, now in the half-helmet, tells his origin to Jonathan Law ("Tarantula"), who is writing a book on mystery men. It recaps his origin (with new bits, and confirming old bits) and establishes an early run-in with Wotan, along with Inza's "origin."
Interesting Bits
A caption on the title page reads, "also utilizing previous materials by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton, Mike Nasser, Marty Pasko and Walt Simonson." That is precisely the lineup of creators for 1st Issue Special #9 and DC Special Series #10.
We learn a little more about the Nelsons than we had before. For example, Sven Nelson mentions that Kent's mother is dead, which we knew — Inza declared Kent an orphan after his father's death in DC Special Series #10. But I think this is the first direct reference. It's good to know he had a mother, and his birth wasn't some sort of Nabu shenanigans.
We're told Sven was born in Sweden and Kent is half-Swedish, and half-American. Which means his unnamed mother was an American ... and presumably not from the planet Cilia.
The origin proceeds mostly as we expect it to, beginning with the Nelson expedition to Mesopotomia. The time is 1920 this time, and the location is still Ur. But the existence of a pyramid isn't a mistake this time — it's a plot point! Sven says, "[I] wish you could understand how astonishing this all is, Kent. A pyramid — here in the Tigris-Uphrates Valley, hundreds of miles from where any pyramid should be!"
We learn why the two are alone in the pyramid: The locals refuse to enter.
Sven mentions his theory that the pyramids were built by aliens. Seriously, that is lifted straight out of More Fun Comics #67! It just isn't mentioned very often, because it makes ol' Sven look like a nut.
Anyway, there's big Nabu, the lever, the poison gas. Once again, Nabu promises to teach Kent some cool stuff to make up for his dead dad. (Which, according to DC Special Series #10 might have been on purpose. That isn't mentioned here.) Nabu is explicitly a Lord of Order, not just the human host. And he did come from Cilia, but that's incidental to his true nature. (Roy keeping us honest!)
Contrary to the last two origin stories, Kent grows up normally, albeit not on any map. (The pyramid disappears, too.)
When Kent "graduates," Nabu gives Kent a helmet, the amulet and a cloak. That's starting to be consistent.
Nabu sends the newly christened Doctor Fate to Alexandria, where he will find "the single secret worth having for a lifetime unending." I think we're supposed to believe that means Inza, and love. But Thomas will say something different in just three years.
The New Story
Wotan detects some connection between Inza Cramer, a Columbia University student on vacation in Egypt, and his old enemy Nabu. He doesn't know the connection, but kidnaps her anyway.
On the way to Alexandria, Fate notes that his aging has already slowed down. he also realizes he hasn't had any human contact for two decades, reinforcing his normal aging to that point (instead of the accelerated aging in the last two origins).
Fate confronts Wotan. He doesn't remember Wotan, but Wotan remembers him. I guess we're to assume that Nabu went by "Doctor Fate" at some point, and fought Wotan. It isn't expressly stated as such.
Inza becomes aware that Kent acts like a "zillion-year-old wizard" with the helmet on, but is "little more than a boy" with it off. He is defeated, but revives when a tear from Inza splashes on his cheek. Then he trashes Wotan easily (by disintegrating him). She says, "I think you need my humanity — or at least somebody's — just as much as the world needs a Dr. Fate." Thus setting up the status quo of More Fun Comics #55!
Fate repeats what he'd said previously in the series, that he'd gone to the half-helmet because Nabu was taking over. Maybe he just needed someone to cry over him more.
Takeaway: I have loathed Todd McFarlane's art since the first time I flipped to the credits in Infinity Inc. to see who the artist was, because I thought the art so awful. I found McFarlane's command of anatomy and perspective to be wholly absent, but covered up by lots of doodling. I thought that was true in Infinity Inc., and I thin it's true here. YMMV.
Fun fact: Wotan had a tower in Alexandria with no windows or doors. Fate must have thought it was cool (before he destroyed it), because he built one in Salem just like it. Nothing like that is stated, so maybe it was a whim on the part of the writer for Wotan to have a similar tower.
'DOCTOR FATE' #1-4 (1987)
This miniseries attempts to start a new, post-Crisis Doctor Fate, who is a combination of newcomer Linda Strauss and her artifically aged stepson Eric. Inza is already dead when the series starts, and Kent dies in issue #4. Where it applies to this discussion is that Kent realizes Nabu killed his father, and is finally able to grieve. Also, Kent realizes that Fate was always meant to be a combination of Kent and Inza, only Nabu had prevented it to maintain control. And Nabu is a Lord of Order here, and always has been.
I bring it up, because Roy Thomas takes another crack at Doctor Fate's origin in 1988, taking these new elements into account.
'SECRET ORIGINS' #24
March 1988
On-sale date: Nov. 17, 1987
Cover: Keith Wilson and Sam de la Rosa
By Roy Thomas, Michael Bair and Bob Downs
This story recaps the origin, including Fate's first fight with Wotan from All-Star Squadron #47. Then it recaps More Fun Comics #55-56 with new details. That's a lot of Wotan! Especially since he narrates this story.
On the first page, Nabu is confirmed as a Lord of Order.
So is Wotan, then, a Lord of Chaos? "Wotan serves no one," he says. "My greatest desire would be to conjure up a plague on both order and chaos — then dance naked among their cosmic corpses." So that's a "no," then.
But he hates Nabu, his "sworn and ancient enemy." I don't think we've ever learned how far back their enmity goes, or what started it.
The Nelson expedition now takes place in — drumroll, please — 1940! Nabu ages Kent from boyhood to adulthood in days, like in DC Special Series #10 and The Flash #306, but unlike More Fun Comics #67 and All-Star Squadron #47, where he ages normally. I suppose it doesn't make much difference, since Nelson was considered dead when this story was written. (He got better, then got dead again.)
But maybe back then Thomas was thinking it would help explain Kent's longevity better if he was born in 1928 instead of 1908. And J.M. DeMatteis had used the artificial-aging trick in the miniseries, so it was pretty fresh and maybe Thomas wanted to stay consistent.
Anyway, the expedition is still in Mesopotamia, so some things never change.
Everything proceeds as expected, although Wotan does mention that we're in "the Kali Yuga ... the fourth and final age of man!" The Kali Yuga was a thing in a lot of DC titles in the '90s, like Kobra, Suicide Squad, Hawk and Dove and, of course, the Doctor Fate miniseries. TBH, I don't remember if it ever amounted to anything. It appears we survived it.
So, just like last time, Nabu gives Kent an outfit (only the helmet is mentioned specifically), gives him the name "Doctor Fate" and sends him to Alexandria to find "the single secret worth having for a lifetime unending." It was only three years previous that the line was used, and it seemed a straightforward interpretation that Nabu meant "love." But it means something new this time, thanks to the miniseries.
"Bless Nabu's heart," Wotan says. "He spoke in obscurities — because he did not want his protege to learn the full secret. ... [He] had been corrupted by his desire for control ... as he could do only when Dr. Fate was one person. Thus he did not tell Nelson that 'Dr. Fate' was always meant to be two people — man and woman — not one. Thus, this Dr. Fate's power, though great, would never achieve its true potential."
Well, now. On the one hand, this is coming from Wotan, who's not exactly a reliable narrator. On the other hand, that was the idea that drove the J.M. DeMatties Doctor Fate series. Eric and Linda Strauss joined to become Fate, and later Inza and Kent (long story) did the same. On that first hand again, currently Doctor Fate is a single person, Khalid Nassour. None of these Fates, joined or unjoined, seem to be substantially more powerful than any other version. The current JSA series (the only place Fate regularly appears) doesn't seem concerned about Nassour having no female counterpart. Maybe something was established between 1988 and 2025 that I didn't read, or forgot.
Anyway, after the Alexandria affair, Wotan gives us his version of More Fun Comics #55-56. I have no idea how he survived being disintegrated in All-Star Squadron #47, but then again, I have no idea what he is. I mean, why is he green?
Anyway, we see how he found Inza in New York, which we didn't know before, and now we know why he was looking for her, which we kinda knew before. The idea of sending some guy to kill her, and then setting the building on fire, makes a bit more sense now that we have Wotan's point of view, since it's obvious now he was just winging it. He hadn't expected Nabu to appear (evidently More Fun Comics #55 really is Kent Nelson's first adventure), and he sure didn't expect Doctor Fate to find him so fast (and throw him off a building).
There is a scene between Inza and Fate that wasn't in the original, but has been added to reflect the 1975 development that Fate and Kent have always been two different people.
Inza: "You frighten me when you talk like that, Kent. It's as if — you were a different person —!"
Fate: "I have told you before — Dr. Fate is not Kent Nelson. I but inhabit Nelson's body when he dons the Helmet of Nabu."
We get to the part where Wotan sends apes to fight Doctor Fate, which is a pretty strange (but very Golden Age) thing to do. But here we learn that they are "apes of Ishtar" and have been trained for 5,000 years. OK, that makes them slightly more impressive apes. But they're still apes.
Oh, and in the original, Fate sent his power into Inza to protect her when she was almost suffered Death by Ape. Wotan tells us that was no accident. "Even he did not understand why he chose that method of rescue." Because, duh, they're supposed to be joined? We get it, we get it.
Then comes the recap of More Fun Comics #56, when Fate and Inza go to the land of the dead to get a clue to Wotan's whereabouts. Again, we're told that Inza is tagging along because she is really important to Fate. Hint, hint! But also, we're told that all the stuff we saw down there in 1940 — like Charon, and the Seven Gates and so forth — was because Inza had studied classical mythology. "Each mortal would see this world as he expected to see it," intones Doctor Fate. That jibes with the afterlife in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, so cool.
When Fate and Inza confront Wotan, the events of More Fun Comics #56 play out as expected. But there is one added scene: Wotan demands Fate's helmet in exchange for Inza's life. Fate hands it over, and the helmet itself takes Wotan down. Because there's a booby trap. "Do you think us idiots?" Fate asks. I kind of prefer that ending, as opposed to the original, which was a sock to the jaw.
The adventure ends with Fate musing about Inza. "In truth, our very destinies are bound together from this time forth," he says, "in ways that even Dr. Fate may not know ...!" OK, OK, we get it! She's important! Sheesh!
I'm going to give each book its own entry. It's simpler that way.
1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #9 (D'75)
DC SPECIAL SERIES #10 (Ap'78)
-
91
-
92
-
93
-
94
-
95
of 95 Next