Move Over Zatanna and John Constantine, This Is DC’s Best Magical Hero

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DC Comics boasts some truly captivating magic users. While Marvel has characters like Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, John Constantine and Zatanna are in a league of their own. Zatanna represents the more traditional, public-facing side of DC’s magical heroes, consistently facing major threats. Constantine, on the other hand, operates in a darker, more morally grey area, often forced to make difficult choices. Together, these two characters have expanded the DC universe, revealing magical worlds readers might never have discovered otherwise.

Look, when it comes to DC’s magical heroes, everyone talks about Zatanna and Constantine, but honestly, neither of them holds a candle to Doctor Fate. He’s one of DC’s oldest characters, and he really became a legend when he joined the Justice Society. What’s cool is the ‘Doctor Fate’ mantle has been passed down through generations, which is a great storytelling device. There are a lot of powerful magic users in the DC universe, but Fate just feels different. He fills a similar role to Marvel’s top magic users, but he does it with a unique style that makes him, in my opinion, one of DC’s most underrated heroes.

Doctor Fate Has Had an Amazingly Varied History

Let’s be upfront: Doctor Fate appears straightforward, but the character’s history within DC Comics can be quite complex. I’ll start with the basics. Nabu was a tremendously powerful magical being, a Lord of Order, who arrived on Earth in ancient Egypt. He protected the world, battled with figures like Hawkman and Black Adam, and ultimately transferred his essence into the Helm of Fate. This helm grants the wearer incredible power, while also housing the spirit of Nabu who communicates with them.

Kent Nelson discovered a powerful helmet and, like many heroes of the Golden Age of Comics, donning it transformed him into a superhero. At his peak, he was as powerful as Superman, possessing super strength, the ability to fly, and versatile magical abilities. He reappeared during the Silver Age alongside other Golden Age characters, but he was largely a less compelling version of Doctor Strange – often appearing in annual Justice League/Justice Society crossovers to perform magical feats. He never became a central character and faded into the background in the 1970s when DC focused on stories set on Earth-Two.

The character didn’t really find its footing until after the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. The 1987 Doctor Fate miniseries introduced Eric and Linda Strauss, who took over after Nelson’s death. This new version joined the Justice League International and starred in a critically acclaimed series by J.M. DeMatteis and Shawn McManus. Doctor Fate’s power and importance within the magical world were really emphasized (the character’s appearance in the original Books of Magic is particularly memorable), but the role passed between several hosts over time – from the Strausses to Inza Nelson, Jared Stevens, Hector Hall, back to Nelson, and now Khalid Nassour.

It’s understandable if the character’s history doesn’t immediately appeal to you, but the current version is really captivating. The idea of ‘Fate’ as a responsibility or burden is particularly interesting. Nabu is a strong and welcome presence in the stories, and watching Nassour try to embody that legacy is fantastic. This version of Fate has all the classic elements you’d expect from a superhero sorcerer – a magical, dimension-traveling library, the Amulet of Anubis, and the Cloak of Destiny – and it all combines to create a truly compelling character. Fate fits seamlessly into any kind of magical story. I especially enjoy seeing Nassour and Hector Hall portray Fate, as they both grapple with unique challenges that come with the role and its significance.

What I love most about this character is how becoming Doctor Fate impacts the story. We’ve seen Nabu portrayed in many ways – as a helpful guide, a manipulator, and even a villain. Each Doctor Fate has had to navigate these different sides of Nabu while also battling powerful magical forces. In many ways, Doctor Fate is actually a more compelling character than Doctor Strange; he faces similar challenges, but with the added complexity of Nabu’s personality and a much richer magical world. Considering his long history – which is sometimes a bit cheesy but always charming – Doctor Fate truly stands out as one of the best heroes around.

DC Should Push Doctor Fate Again

DC’s Golden Age comics are fantastic, and Doctor Fate perfectly illustrates this. The character began as a fairly standard superhero within the Justice Society, then briefly became a somewhat uninspired magic user trying to emulate Doctor Strange. Eventually, Doctor Fate found its footing and became a surprisingly compelling character with more successes than failures. The DeMatteis/McManus series is a standout, and both the original and current runs of JSA demonstrate the character’s depth and intrigue, offering layers not always found in other heroes.

I think DC Comics has the most compelling magical characters. They’ve built a rich history with magic, leaving plenty of room for exciting stories. Doctor Fate, especially with the new character Khalid Nassour, is the ideal hero to delve into this world today. DC has been successfully highlighting some of its lesser-known heroes and villains recently, and now it’s Doctor Fate’s turn to really shine.

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2025-12-14 21:40