Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)

In a 1987 interview, Gardner Fox recalled the genesis behind Fate, stating: "Doctor Fate (I originally called him Doctor Droon, but the name was editorially changed) was one of my favorites. I created him and even sketched out the original costume he would wear - but that costume was changed by artists over the years, for one reason or another. To my knowledge, I wrote all the Dr. Fate yarns that appeared, up until 1968, when I left comic book writing to a great degree. I always liked the supernatural; I read Lovecraft, Derleth, Sax Rohmer, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Whitehead, all the others, Fate was a derivation from my imagination influenced by those writings".^[5]

 

Kent Nelson as Doctor Fate debuted in his own self-titled six page strip in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940) during the Golden Age of Comic Books. The character was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, who produced the first three years of monthly Doctor Fate stories.^[6] After a year with no background, his alter ego and origins were shown in More Fun Comics #67 (May 1941).^[7] Fate's helmet was modeled after ancient Greek Corinthian helmets.^[8] His love interest Inza was known variably throughout the Golden Age as Inza Sanders,^[9][10] and Inza Carmer,^{[11][12][13][14]} which was amended to Inza Cramer in the Silver Age.^[15]

When the Justice Society of America was created for All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940), Doctor Fate was one of the characters National Comics used for the joint venture with All-American Publications. He made his last appearance in the book in issue #21 (Summer 1944), virtually simultaneously with the end of his own strip in More Fun Comics #98 (July–August 1944).

Aside from the annual JSA/JLA team-ups in Justice League of America that began in 1963, Doctor Fate appeared in other stories through the 1960s and 1970s, including a two-issue run with Hourman in Showcase #55–56, two appearances with Superman in World's Finest Comics (#201, March 1971 and #208, December 1971); an appearance with Batman in The Brave and the Bold (#156, November 1979); and a solo story in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), written by Martin Pasko and drawn by Walt Simonson.

Doctor Fate and the rest of The Justice Society returned to All-Star Comics in 1976 with #58 for a two-year run ending with issue #74 and Adventure Comics #461-462 in 1978, and Adventure Comics #466 related the untold tale of the Justice Society's 1951 disbanding. Doctor Fate's origin was retold in DC Special Series #10, and Doctor Fate again teamed up with Superman in DC Comics Presents #23 (July 1980), and featured in a series of back-up stories running in The Flash from #306 (February 1982) to 313 (September 1982) written by Martin Pasko (aided by Steve Gerber from #310 to No. 313) and drawn by Keith Giffen.^[16]

Beginning in 1981, DC's All-Star Squadron elaborated upon the adventures of many World War II-era heroes, including Doctor Fate and the JSA. The series ran for 67 issues and three annuals, concluding in 1987. Doctor Fate made occasional modern-day appearances in Infinity, Inc. in 1984, the same year which witnessed the 22nd and final annual Justice Society/Justice League team-up.^[17] Doctor Fate also made a guest appearance in a 3-issue 1985 crossover in the pages of Infinity, Inc. #19-20 and Justice League #244. Doctor Fate then appeared in the four-part special America vs. the Justice Society (1985) which finalized the story of the Justice Society, featuring an elaboration of the events of Adventure Comics #466 and a recap of the Justice Society's annual team-ups with the Justice League. In 1985, DC collected the Doctor Fate back-up stories from The Flash, a retelling of Doctor Fate's origin by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton, and Michael Nasser originally published in Secret Origins of Super-Heroes (January 1978) (DC Special Series #10 in the indicia), the Pasko/Simonson Doctor Fate story from 1st Issue Special #9, and a Doctor Fate tale from More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940), in a three-issue limited series titled The Immortal Doctor Fate. Doctor Fate appeared in several issues of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, after which Doctor Fate briefly joined the Justice League.^[18]

In 1987, the first Doctor Fate limited series was released, which changed the character's secret identity and made Doctor Fate a legacy character. Kent Nelson's character was killed off in the original limited series, replacing him with Eric and Linda Strauss. DC Comics would soon begin the first Doctor Fate ongoing comic series by J.M. DeMatteis and Shawn McManus in winter of 1988, where the character's body and name is used by the Lord of Order, Nabu.^[19] Within the 25th issue of the series, William Messner-Loebs and the character was revived from the dead. The later issues of the series saw Kent's wife Inza take over as the new Doctor Fate. The series ended with issue #41 although Kent and Inza made sporadic appearances.^[20] Following the Zero Hour! event, which was used to reconcile continuity issues that emerged from Crisis on Ininite Earths, Kent and Inza would be killed off and replaced by Jared Stevens.^[21] The character's demise would later be revised in the Book of Fate comic book series and Kent continued making posthumous appearances. In 1999, the revival of the Justice Society in JSA allowed the character to be reworked again, creating the Hector Hall version of the character.^[22][23] Although other versions of the character would appear, Kent make sporadic posthumous appearances.

Within the new continuity established during the 2011 New 52 initiative, The character made cameo appearances before his major debut in the fourth Doctor Fate series, where he mentored Khalid Nassour as the new Doctor Fate. Following the series, he appeared in titles like Blue Beetle and participated in crossovers like Dark Nights: Metal. During the Doomsday Clock event, his previous history was restored, revealing Doctor Manhattan's role in altering it, including the exclusion of his Justice Society of America membership.

Kent Nelson continued to be a significant character in the 2017 Justice League Dark series, where his mentorship of Khalid Nassour persisted. It was revealed that although Kent had resumed the role of Doctor Fate, he mentored Khalid with the intention of passing the mantle to him. In a departure from his traditional heroic portrayal, Kent became a victim of Nabu, who possessed his body and acted as an antagonist in the early storylines of the series. Additionally, Kent made appearances in the Curse of Brimstone comic series, which ran concurrently with the Justice League Dark storylines. Eventually, Kent was freed from Nabu's control and expressed reluctance to assume the mantle again, instead encouraging Khalid to take over. He would join the team in an advisory capacity. Khalid would embraced the role in the subsequent storyline, with Kent providing support. Towards the end of the series in 2021, Kent stepped down from his advisory position in the Justice League Dark and distanced himself from Khalid, feeling that he had imparted all he could and desiring to explore the world independently of the Doctor Fate persona. However, Kent returned to aid Khalid and the team in their battle against the villain Upside-Down Man, sacrificing himself to deal a decisive blow.^[24][25][26]

Despite being deceased in the main continuity, Kent Nelson continues to make posthumous appearances that reference past events, including the Great Depression, World War II, and the histories of the Justice Society of America. In the present-day context, the character of Khalid Nassour assumes the role of Doctor Fate. Kent Nelson plays a significant role in the New Golden Age storyline and the initial story arc of the 2022 Justice Society of America comic book series. These appearances reveal notable alterations to his history, such as the inclusion of his protege, Salem the Witch Girl, whose existence was erased from time, causing Kent to forget her. Salem is later revealed to potentially become a future adversary of Khalid Nassour's Doctor Fate. The associated storylines also restore the histories of previous Doctor Fates and introduce the concept that the "Doctor Fate" title was specifically created by Kent, despite there being previous bearers.^[27] These developments align with earlier statements from the fourth Doctor Fate series and other sources that explore the roles of the Egyptian gods and Nabu, who have chosen different champions before Kent Nelson's initial tenure as Doctor Fate.^[28][29]

In his debut appearance in issue #55-56 for More Fun Comics (May–June 1940), Doctor Fate makes his first ecounter with archnemesis Wotan and love interest Inza Cramer, wherein he tries to kill her to defeat the hero. Wotan is beaten but learn he did not pass into the afterlife and encounters him once again, attempting to blow up the Earth. Fate manages to defeat him, placing him in suspended animation and buries him deep within the Earth.^[1]

The character's origin was first revealed in All-Star Comics #3 (1940), written by Gardner Fox, wherein Doctor Fate states that he is not human nor had a childhood, created by elder gods and placed upon Earth to battle the forces of evil.^[30] One year later, the character was given a new origin with the alter-ego, revealing him as Kent Nelson, the son of archaeologist Sven Nelson whom encountered Nabu as a child during an excavation and accidentally kills his father by releasing poisonous gases. Nabu explains he is immortal alien being from the planet Cilia and pities the boy, taking him in to teach him the "secrets of the universe" and raises him into adulthood to become Doctor Fate.^[31]

The1963 "Crisis on Earth-One" and "Crisis on Earth-Two" storylines respectively revealed Nelson and the Justice Society of America's home reality to be of Earth-2 and meets with the Justice League of Earth-1, a superhero team of a parallel world. After years of retirement, Doctor Fate becomes semi-active and helps the teams.^[32][3]

In 1975, the storyline from 1st Issue Special #9 reveals more of Nelson's earlier years, pitting him against the mummy sorcerer Khalis while dealing with a frustrated Inza, whom he has married since fifteen years after becoming Doctor Fate. The story also retroactively changes aspects of his origin, revealing Nabu altered young Kent's mind to erase his grief and pain, establishing him as twelve years old during the incident and would slowly possess him as Doctor Fate when he was an adult.^[1][33] Three years later in 1978, Paul Levitz's revisions alternatively depicting Nabu as a cosmic being of the Lords of Order and sought to use young Kent, whom he aged to adulthood and imparted into him his mystical knowledge in the process.^[34]

From 1981 to 1982, Nelson appears in backup issues in The Flash #306-313. In both stories, Nelson continues to face foes from the Lords of Chaos while a marital rift between the pair grows due to Inza's envy over Nabu's presence and Nelson's duties as Doctor Fate taking precedent over her and their marriage. In one instance, Totec weaponizes her envy against Nelson. In another, while Nelson battles a renegade Lord of Order and Lord of Chaos whom team up, Inza nearly commits to infidelity with a museum curator until Nabu intervenes. Sensing the rift to be potentially damaging to Nelson's mind, he allows the pair to both mend their marriage and later merges her with Kent temporarily, formulating a powerful new Doctor Fate transformation that both defeats the renegade Lords and grants Inza a higher understanding of the role of Docor Fate.^[1]

In 1985, the character later appears in the Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover series, merging both Earth-1 and Earth-2 realities within the multiverse altering event, with all past definitive histories histories having been said to happen on this composite universe ("Earth").^[3] The stories from his first appearances (More Fun Comics #55), his origin story (More Fun Comics #67), 1st Issue Special #9, DC Special Series #10, and all his backup stories in The Flash #306-313 are considered definitive adventures and stories for the character in which were reprinted whereas older Golden Age and Silver Age stories were no longer considered canonical to his new universe.^[29][3][1]

In the late-1980s, an older Kent Nelson appears as a key member of the Justice League International but is killed off in 1987 within J. M. DeMatteis's Doctor Fate miniseries, which introduced the origin of his successors Eric and Linda Strauss.^[35][3][29] However, in 1991 during the second half of the Doctor Fate series after the deaths of Eric and Linda, Inza and Kent are revived in younger bodies and take residence in an apartment he inherited from Sven. Circumstances makes Inza the primarily Doctor Fate and reverses the dynamics for the characters for a time. With Inza's focuses on heroism addressing social class issues and in equality alongside the supernatural, Kent advises her but clashes on her ethical use of her powers while he attempts to reconcile his own history in the eyes of the law and seeks a teaching position in archaeology, posing as his own grandson for a time.

During the "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!" storyline in 1994, the pair merge to become Doctor Fate^[36] but are defeated by Extant, and are rapidly aged and their artifacts are transported, leaving the pair powerless.^[37] The married couple are killed shortly after, having hired smuggler Jared Stevens to retrieve them but are killed by demons. With the pair dead, circumstances also leads Stevens to claim the mantle, albeit in his own unique manner as "Fate".^[38] When Steven's origin was rebooted in 1997 by Keith Griffen, circumstances are different with Kent and Inza, the latter whose mental health were compromised in her brief time as Doctor Fate. Kent manages to trick Stevens into the role, allowing the both of them to ascend into the afterlife while Stevens is burden with the mantle of "Fate".^[39]

In 1999, an issue of DC's Secret Files and Origins establish various points in time: Nelson becoming Doctor Fate in 1940, the events of Eric and Linda Strauss's time as Doctor Fate took place four years prior to the book's timeline (1995) and Jared Steven was chosen as Fate one year prior to the book's timeline (1998).^[40] Another SF&O issue reinforces Nelson's first time as Doctor Fate in 1940, Eric/Linda's time being four years prior to the book's timeline (1995) Jared being chosen one year ago (1998). However, Inza's activities (coinciding with his appearances in that point) during War of the Gods is references to taken place two years prior (1997).^[41]

In between 2000 and 2015, the character was deceased and would make sporadic appearances in flashbacks. A similarly named Kent V. Nelson, created by Steve Gerber, would eventually take up the Doctor Fate mantle, revealed to be his grandnephew named after him.^[42][39] During the Blackest Night event, Kent is briefly resurrected as a member of the Black Lantern Corps^[43] and in The Brave and the Bold #3 (Feb. 2010), a past spiritual version of Kent Nelson appears to help Green Lantern Hal Jordan from his ring. He learns of his death but uses his power to save Hal instead of changing the future.^[44]

Years after the Flashpoint crossover led to the retroactively rebooted continuity the DC Universe with The New 52, a newer version of Kent Nelson would appear during the DC You initiative, which also reboots the character's past history and erased all versions that debuted as Doctor Fate in the previous reality.

In the 2015 Doctor Fate series, Nelson appears in the second major storyline of the book, revealing Khalid Nassour as another grandnephew through his maternal line and the previous Doctor Fate.^[45] This reality also establishes a different past, revealing Nelson to having an unnamed younger brother who fathered Elizabeth (Nassour's mother) and became a Christian preacher. Neslon also was an influence on her life, inspiring her towards archaeology and was remarked to be his favorite niece.^[45] The elderly Kent mentors Khalid and the pair act concurrently as Doctor Fate, having learned to draw power from them even without having them physically. The pair would encounter both an Ifrit set to destroy New York and Osiris, who unleashes the undead and seeks retribution for Anubis's defeat by Nassour sometime prior to Nelson's revelation towards Khalid.^[45]

Nelson eventually takes precedent within the role, with Nabu also briefly usurping it to battle Arion and assist the Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes),^[46] and appears in crossovers such as 2017's Dark Nights: Metal.^[47] From 2017 to 2019, Kent is featured in James Tynion IV's run in Justice League Dark alongside Khalid and Nabu. The pair are trapped by Nabu, who uses Nelson's body and conspires with other Lords of Order to destroy the source of magic following the piercing of the Source Wall. Their plans are interrupted by Wonder Woman's newly created Justice League Dark and their allies. Enlisting the power of chaos magic from Mordru, Kent is freed of Nabu's control and the team prevails in defeating the Lords of Order. Wonder Woman asks Nelson to don the helmet once more, who refuses due to his disillusionment and recommends Khalid, who then declines. The pair enlist themselves as consultant members of Justice League Dark but when the team is pitted against Circe's Injustice League Dark, Khalid becomes the sole Doctor Fate and assists in their defeat, prompting a concern Kent.^[24][48][25]

With Nassour now the new Doctor Fate, Nelson leaves the team with intent to retire once more and believes himself unable to train Nassour further. Nelson later appears for the final time as Doctor Fate during the team's battle with Upside-Down Man, when Nabu summons him. Nelson sacrifices himself when the pair unleash a critical blow at the villain, killing him and depleting the helm of its power. As Nassour sees his death as a personal failure, Detective Chimp asserts he made the sacrifice with high hopes in his grandnephew's abilities.^[26]

Although deceased in current times, the character makes posthumous appearances in which expands on his history in the new reality following the New 52 reboot.

Geoff John's "The New Golden Age" storyline in 2023 reinforced several key storylines in past realities. Due to Degaton's time manipulations, he has several instances his life where he vaguely remembers a girl name Salem, his arrogant sidekick whom he encountered and took in for four years until her disappearance from time in 1944. Her removal from time erased his memories, only getting vague impressions at select times he could not figure out as a side effect. He also has visions of the death of various Doctor Fates and JSA members across time at different points, even warning Catwoman of the eventual targeting of her future daughter years before his death. A past version of Nelson is later brought by Nassour to seal Degaton, who has become a time paradox.^[49][50] In the "Knight Terrors" story arc, it is implied that in the past, Nelson knew about the Nightmare Stone before anyone else of the Justice Society did based on a conversation between Deadman and a recently resurrected zombified Wesley Dodds.^[51]

In 2024, aspects of past incarnations' histories are restored by Geoff Johns.^[49] Among other appearances includes him being present when Wesley Dodds was recruited into the JSA,^[52] assisted Flash (Jay Garrick) alongside the JSA and the Boom (Garrick's daughter) in battling Doctor Elemental,^[53] and aiding Green Lantern (Alan Scott) when attacked by a group of similarly powered villains known as the Crimson Hosts.^[54][55]

 

Doctor Fate's secret identity is Kent Nelson, who has been portrayed as both an archaeologist and physician,^[7] the former being more prevalent in most depictions of the character. While having been born during the early 1900s, the magical adventures of the characters has marked a complicated chronological history of the character within the universe. Regarded as a brilliant archaeologist whom has a doctorates degree, some have noted how Kent (and Inza) retain a youthful appearance despite their true ages being much older while unaware of Nelson's dual life as a sorcerer.^[1] Subsequent portrayals from the New 52 beyond expressed Nelson to be exclusively an archaeologist^[4] who eventually retired at some point.^[56]

Nelson's version of Doctor Fate is typically depicted as a highly regarded and accomplished magic practitioner, often considered among the most formidable incarnations of the Doctor Fate character.^[57][58][59] Due to the character's long-lived life in both publication history and within the DC Universe, he is also considered an "elder statesmen", in which the character is sought by even experienced magic users for advice^[25] and is portrayed as a respected elder superhero within comic titles taking place in more contemporary times prior to his death.^[48]

The original version of Doctor Fate, Nelson is considered one of DC Comic's most powerful heroes whose reoccurring conflict involves both the overwhelming responsibilities associated with being an agent for the Lords of Order, its profound effect on his interpersonal relationships (notably with his love interest, Inza Cramer), and Nabu's gradual possession of him, robbing him of personal agency in their efforts to combat against the forces of evil.^[60] Nelson is also sometime depicted as being disillusioned with the role over time, preferring to instead guide his successors and is more supportive of them within it (i.e. Inza and Khalid).^[49][56]

Kent Nelson's portrayal is marked by his complex and antagonistic relationship with Nabu, which sometimes differ in media adaptations. Within the comics, Nabu's relation with Kent is marked by his frequent scheming of overriding Nelson's will with his own, which is depicted as being gradual throughout his life. This manipulation impairs his relationship with Inza, who desires a more socially actively life not afforded by being confined to the Tower of Fate as his assistant.^[1] This capacity of manipulation is revealed to be intentional on Nabu, as the pair could fuse into a singular entity that could not be controlled by Nabu and thus, he suppressed Inza's role. This fact was only realized by Kent nearing the end of his first lifetime in which was later embodied by Eric and Linda Strauss's approach to Doctor Fate.^[61] Alternatively, this manipulation is portrayed instead a result of a cold and indifferent mentorship of Nabu, whom seeks to make him a suitable vessel mentally and physically to the point he visually bears similarities to Nabu's human-like forms in the past. Consequently, Kent believes these manipulations unfortunately made him more akin to his mentor than he would prefer.^[48]

In context of Doctor Fate as a legacy hero, the character is depicted as having several reoccurring views and characterization of the role, such as belief of Doctor Fate's powers best suited for more grander and cosmic problems. In his role as a mentor or guide to incarnations of other Doctor Fate, this viewpoint is sometimes juxtaposed with the successor's contrasting viewpoint in question.^[56] The character is often disillusioned with the role of Doctor Fate over time, with varying explanations ranging from Nabu's manipulations making it impossible to suddenly dissociate the role or the role being deemed too important in the grander scheme of things. At times, Kent has been depicted as attempting to reassert his own agency in the role to little success or relinquishing the role to another, even resorting to outright trickery.^[39] In more benevolent examples, he is instead more forthcoming and supportive of the concept of heroes inheriting legacies of their predecessors.^[49]

Nelson's family relations play an important role in the character's background. Being both of Swedish and American origin, Kent's father, Sven, was a Swedish archaeologist dealing with professional difficulties due to his origins whose expeditions and ultimate fate left an impact on Kent.^[62] The second Doctor Fate comic title revealed more of his maternal lineage. Celestine Babscock was a spiritual medium and native of Salem whose older brother, Aaron, imprinted his spiritual powers upon her to subconsciously avoid further disapproval of their father. It is expressed Celestine died after birthing Kent,^[63] which eventually making it more culpable for Nabu to manipulate the boy with the death of his father. Kent's character would also be implied to have siblings, one which resulted in his grand nephew Kent V. Nelson, named after Kent himself and coincidentally became a later successor to the Doctor Fate legacy.^[64] However, the character's connection is later depicted to be questionable, with his true relation to the original Kent uncertain.^[65]

Within the New 52 onward, it is established Kent has another unnamed younger brother who became a Methodist preacher and fathered Elizabeth, whose impact on her life inspired her to pursue a career in archaeology.^[56] She would later Mohammed Nassour, an Egyptian and Muslim physician, and the pair would birth his great nephew, Khalid Nassour. Khalid's relationship with Kent was minimal during their childhood but as an adult, the pair are surprised to learn of their shared identities as Doctor Fate. At times, the pair work concurrently as Kent mentors Khalid into the role, with Kent believing the pair to be similar in many ways but differences still occur, such as Khalid's inclination to use his powers locally versus Kent believing such powers is best used for grander problems,^[56] a position he's also adopted previously with Inza Cramer in the role. The pair foster a deep connection with one another, cumulating with a disillusioned Kent to rather having Khalid take the role of Doctor Fate,^[26] giving the role a fresh accommodation.^[66] Kent later sacrifices his life in place of Khalid during a decisive battle with a powerful foe, an act Detective Chimp claimed was possible because of his faith in Khalid's abilities.^[24]

Granted various mystic enhancements by Nabu, Kent possess heightened invulnerability, an extended lifespan, and peak human mental and physical capabilities. He also possess Nabu's vast arcane knowledge and expertise.^[57][48] While lacking in true magical abilities on his in earlier iterations, more recent stories granted Kent magical abilities on his lonesome and can draw power from the helm without it on his persons.^[56] The character is also a skilled renowned for his brilliance in the archaeology, holding a doctorate degree.^[67] Early iterations of the character also depicted him as a practitioner of jujutsu and a medical doctor with a medical degree.^[68][69][70]

As Doctor Fate, Nelson is classified as a "sorcerer", employing magical artifacts to access a wide array of magical abilities and provide protection against the inherent risks associated with magic.^[71] Together with various artifacts at his disposal, flight, teleportation, precognition, illusion casting, and spell-casting abilities widely regarded as being nearly unrivaled.^[4][3][71] Chief among those artifacts, he often dons the Helmet of Fate, a potent artifact that grants him the ability to perform virtually any known magical feat.^[57] Initially, the source of this power was explained as having a scientific basis, involving the conversion of matter into energy and vice versa.^[72] However, it was later established that his abilities were predominantly supernatural in nature. The helmet essentially allows Nelson to embody the essence of the Lords of Order, enabling him to wield magic through the power of imagination and merge with a female bearer into a more powerful entity.^[73] This retroactively allowed him to cast spells, particularly drawing from Egyptian cultural influences.^[1] The Amulet of Anubis is another notable artifact bestowing upon its wearer a diverse array of abilities. These include the power of mind control, offering protection against psychic or astral probing, and amplifying the wearer's magical capabilities,^[74] necromancy,^[75] and contains its own universe.^[76] Nelson also dons the Cloak of Destiny, a magical cloak with mystic properties that make it fireproof.^[77]

Nelson also once used a self-created half-helmet that allowed him to operate as Doctor Fate while concealing his identity and avoiding mental interference from Nabu. Later within the second Doctor Fate series, it is bestowed magical powers from the Lord of Order, Shat-Ru, but allows him to retain his own agency. Possessing similar abilities to the Helmet of Fate, his magical powers stem from its ability to channel magical energies by drawing upon the forces of the Lords of Order, similar to how witches utilize familiars in their magic.^[78] He also used the Orb of Nabu, a non-magical device used to detect and locate threats. It resembles a scrying glass, allowing him to uncover hidden information and peer into other realms. The orb's crystals, sensitive to radio signals, interact with Kent's brain. Doctor Fate combines its use with his magical abilities to reveal concealed truths.^[79]

Wearing the Helmet of Fate makes him vulnerable to possession by Nabu, the ancient being associated with Doctor Fate. While wearing the helmet, Kent struggles to recall events from his time as Doctor Fate, retaining only key moments in his memory. When separated from the helmet, his powers significantly decrease.^[1] He remains vulnerable to human weaknesses such as gas attacks and the need to breathe without the assistance of the helmet's magic.^[80] Nelson's incarnation is also said to be bound by the "rules of magic." This limitation prevents him from casting counter-spells to nullify another spell after it has been cast. Instead, he can only utilize his powers to shield himself from the effects of the spell once it has taken effect.^[3]

• An alternate version of Nelson, known as Doc Fate, is shown to exist on the pulp fiction-influenced world of Earth-20.^[81][82] Doc Fate is an African-American gunslinger and occultist named Kent Nelson who is based in a windowless Manhattan skyscraper. Doc Fate forms and leads a team of adventurers known as the Society of Super-Heroes, which includes the Immortal Man, the Mighty Atom, the Blackhawks and the Green Lantern Abin Sur.^[83]
• After Mister Mind "eats" aspects of the fifty-two realities that make up the Multiverse, one of them, designated Earth-2, takes on visual aspects similar to the pre-Crisis Earth-Two, such as the Justice Society of America being this world's premier superteam.^[84] This version of Doctor Fate (based upon the Kent Nelson version of the character) along with the Spectre, suspects something is awry with Power Girl's mysterious reappearance.^[85]
• In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Kent Nelson works as a fortune teller in Haley's Circus. Kent tells his co-worker, trapeze artist Boston Brand, of his vision of Dick Grayson's death.^[86] The circus is then attacked by Amazons who are looking to steal the helmet. Kent is impaled and killed by an Amazon before the circus workers escape with the help of Resistance member Vertigo.^[87] With Boston's help, Dick escapes the Amazons' slaughter of the other circus workers and meets up with the Resistance, using the helmet as the new Doctor Fate.^[88]

Within his Immortal Doctor Fate series, Kent had a small cast of supporting characters:

• Inza Cramer: Kent's confidante and chief love interest whom he later marries. Over the course of their marriage, it is tested by the activities of Doctor Fate, with Inza constantly worried for his life, desiring a more stable social life, and to be included more in Doctor Fate's adventures. She also harbors a strong disdain for Nabu.^[1]
• Nabu: Kent's mentor and Lord of Order patron who asserts his influence over him when Nelson becomes Doctor Fate by donning the Helmet of Fate although at times, he allows Kent to reconcile his relationship with Inza when he believes it risks adversely affecting Nelson's mental health.^[1] Outside the series, their relationships evolves over time.
• Vernon "Vern" Copeland: A curator insecure about his age and other in regards to dating. Copeland becomes infatuated with Inza and invites her to help prepare a lecture series in place of Kent, which becomes a ploy for him to seduce Inza. Although Vern manages to kiss Inza, he is knocked out by a Nabu-controlled Doctor Fate, who intervenes before the situation evolves.^[1]

The second Doctor Fate ongoing comic series features several supporting characters:

• Shat-Ru / Kent Nelson Sr: A Lord of Order who initially sought to destroy Nelson as Doctor Fate, but instead fought against Inza's version and is sealed into Kent's old body from prior his rebirth. Shat-Ru eventually becomes an ally of the pair and poses as his Kent's grandfather for a time for Kent himself to reconcile his history legally and secure a job as an archaeology teaching assistant.
• Tilda and Tooly Wilson: African-American neighbors of Kent and Inza following their resurrection from the Amulet of Anubis. Their niece is Debby Niles, a New York police officer who befriends Inza. Both are supporters of Inza's Doctor Fate, believing her to be a force of good helping the disadvantaged.
• Debby Niles: An African American police officer who is the niece of Kent and Inza's neighbors, Tilda and Tooly Wilson. Skeptical of Doctor Fate (Inza)'s intentions, she learns the pair's identity following a near death experience which inadvertently exposes Inza's identity and the become close friends.

Outside series featuring Nelson, several characters are notably tied to Doctor Fate:

• Salem the Witch Girl: Kent's first protege who proved one of the few people immune to her bad luck curse powers. Fostering a close relationship with her, she is later removed from time and Nelson enlisted the Justice Society Dark to help find her. His memories of her are eventually erased although at various points in his lifetime, due to timeline manipulation from Per Degaton, he recalls vague memories of her at times.^[49] Although she eventually returns to the modern era, she appears during Nassour's time and when Nelson was killed.^[50]

Within the Immortal Doctor Fate series, several antagonists emerge from the comic:

• Wotan: A sorcerer who rivals Doctor Fate and is considered his archenemy.^[89] Originally a woman from a primitive tribe who was raped and beaten by her tormentors, she learned magic from an old sorceress and became determined to understand the purpose of humanity and its suffering. She later learns how to transfer her soul into other bodies and takes the name "Wotan", adopting the Germanic and Norse mythology despite having no association with it. Wotan uses both magic and scientific skills in their pursuit of power and curiosity.
• Anubis: The Egyptian deity of the afterlife.^[1]
  • Khalis / Hetepkheti Tefnakhte : A powerful priest and servant of Anubis who was the original owner of the Amulet of Anubis until it was taken by Nabu. Mummified, he later appears in the 1940s as an enemy of Doctor Fate. With Inza's help, Nelson defeats Khalis and seals him away.^[1]
• Totec / Malferrazae: A fictional depiction of the Aztec god Xipe Totec. Within the comics, "Totec" is the name given to the Lord of Chaos, Malferrazae, who is alternatively identified as the Aztec god of war. After losing power due to conquistadors massacring the Aztecs, he uses the remainder of his powers to sacrifice others and grow in strength. Malferrazae comes into conflict with Doctor Fate and attempted to weaponize Inza's jealousy from believing Nelson prioritizes his duties over their relationship into a demonic manifestation in an attempt to kill him.^[1]

Nelson also has significant enemies outside his comic book series:

• Ian Karkull: A scientist who gained the power of sorcery and a shadow form.^[90]

• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU):
  • Doctor Fate first appears in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "The Hand of Fate", voiced by George DelHoyo.^[91] After initially refusing to aid Superman against Karkull due to being disillusioned by his endless fight against evil, Fate changes his mind after seeing Superman head off to battle Karkull despite knowing he will almost certainly die and helps Superman defeat him.
  • Doctor Fate makes further appearances in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Oded Fehr.^[91] As of the latter series, he has joined the Justice League.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate and Inza Nelson appear in the Smallville two-part episode "Absolute Justice", portrayed by Brent Stait and Erica Carroll respectively.^[92] This version of Kent is a member of the Justice Society of America who primarily operated in the 1970s. In the present, he meets with Hawkman and Stargirl after Icicle II kills fellow JSA members the Star-Spangled Kid and Sandman. After restoring Martian Manhunter's powers, Fate is killed by Icicle II, who steals the Helmet of Fate from him.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Greg Ellis.^[91] This version is a member of an aged Justice Society of America.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Young Justice, voiced by Ed Asner.^[93] This version is a retired member of the Justice Society of America and mentor to Zatara who inspired Khalid Nassour.^[94] After Klarion the Witch Boy kills him, Kent's spirit resides in the Helmet of Fate until Nabu releases him.^[95]
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Justice League Action,^[96][91] voiced by Erica Luttrell as a child.^[97]
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Stargirl as a member of the Justice Society of America who was killed by the Injustice Society.

• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in the opening credits of Justice League: The New Frontier as a member of the Justice Society of America.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.^[91]
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High, voiced again by Kevin Michael Richardson.^[91]
• An alternate reality variant of Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Justice Society: World War II, voiced by Keith Ferguson.^[91] This version is a codebreaker from Earth-2.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Black Adam, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan.^[98] This version is a member of the Justice Society and close friend and confidante to Hawkman.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, voiced again by Keith Ferguson.^[99][91]

• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as an NPC, later a playable DLC character, in DC Universe Online, voiced by Robert Newell.^[91]
• Doctor Fate appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[100]
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.^{[citation needed]}
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as a playable character in Injustice 2, voiced by David Sobolov.^[101][91] In the story mode, Fate confronts the Green Arrow and Black Canary, but they remove the Helmet of Fate, allowing Nelson to regain control and warn them of an incoming threat to Earth. However, the Lords of Order force him to put the helmet back on and confront Superman and Batman on Brainiac's ship to ensure Brainiac's attack succeeds as it will restore order to the planet. After Superman and Batman defeat Fate, the former destroys the helmet, severing Nelson's connection to the Lords of Order. He attempts to warn them to end their feud, but Brainiac kills him.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains.^{[citation needed]}
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as a playable hero in DC Legends.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears in DC Battle Arena, voiced by Nicholas Andrew Louie.^[91]
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate appears as a NPC character in DC Heroes & Villains.
• Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate will appear as a playable hero in DC: Dark Legends.

• Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Grand Comics Database: Doctor Fate entries
• Showcase #55: The Glory of Murphy Anderson