Alternative versions of Doctor Fate

Through the publication history of DC Comics, several alternative versions of Doctor Fate have been created with usage of the codename in DC Comics. Often defined as a legacy hero within the fictional DC Universe, the first character to adopt the codename, Kent Nelson, was created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. Over the character's publication history, several other characters have adopted the name, such as Hector Hall and Khalid Nassour. Alternate versions of the character also exist within the DC Multiverse, such as Khalid Ben-Hassin and Doc Fate.

Mainstream alternate versions

Main article: Doctor Fate

Ancient Egypt champions hosts

Several years after the New 52 reboot, the Doctor Fate character was retroactively established to be a legacy dating back to ancient Egypt. Unlike prior portrayals in which Nabu himself was active solely in human form during that era,^[1][2][3] Nabu's powers were consolidated into the helm overtime at some point and began using human hosts to act. The human hosts acted as conduits for his will, did not utilize the "Doctor Fate" moniker,^[4] were described as champions of Egypt chosen by ancient Egyptian deities rather than the Lords of Chaos and Order during that period.^[2][5]

Name/Alter ego	Description	First appearance
Unknown	Only referred to as "Nabu" or "Nabu-called Fate", this champion was a host whose body was used to battle Khaji-Da and insane god-sorcerer, Arion.[6]	Blue Beetle (2016-2018) #7

Temporary bearers

Within the DC Universe, several characters briefly came into possession of the Helmet of Fate due to various circumstances, allowing them to become Doctor Fate and/or utilize their powers.

Name	Description
Superman	Superman was briefly given the Helmet of Fate by Khalid Nassour to help battle the mystical super-villain, Xanadoth.[7]
Batman	When Nezha gained the Helmet of Fate by defeating Nassour, Batman later usurped it and briefly became Doctor Fate.[8]
Detective Chimp	Detective Chimp was briefly chosen as Doctor Fate but relinquished it due to the overbearing information it placed in his mind.[9]
Sand (Sandy Hawkins)	Sand once placed the helm on his head to allow the JSA to confer with Nabu to explain his Hector Hall's disappearance.[10]
Black Alice	Black Alice was a candidate to becoming Doctor Fate but the helm rejected her in part due to her intentions and forceful nature.[9]
Okeontis	Okeontis was an alien freedom fighter later possessed by an alien fungus. While possessed under the fungus's hivemind, Okeontis gains the Helmet of Fate after the new Ibis the Invincible's intervention. The helm's significant power caused the Presence to send Zauriel to intervene, who succeeds in separating the helm from her persons.[11]

Alternate universe versions

Several other versions of the character exist in alternate versions of the DC Universe often to as the Multiverse. Within these fictional parallel universes, each of these characters appear within their own continuity and stories, often differing from versions depicted within the mainstream comic books. These versions of the character specifically are different characters and incarnations typically disassociated with the mainstream bearers (i.e. Strangefate) and/or possess varying different characteristics despite sharing aspects (i.e. Doc Fate).

Name	Alter ego	Creator(s)	First appearance	Fictional biography
Doctor Fate	Khalid Ben-Hassin	James Robinson[12] Nicola Scott	Earth 2 #9 (April, 2013)	Khalid Ben-Hassin is an Egyptian-American archaeologist and expert on the occult and magic on Earth-2 who encounters the famed Helmet of Fate, a mother box containing the essence of the wizard, Nabu, and dons it to become the superhero known as Doctor Fate, a member of the Wonders of the World.[13]
	Richard John "Dick" Grayson	J.T. Krul Mikel Janin	Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 (August, 2011)	In the Flashpoint timeline, Richard John "Dick" Grayson becomes Doctor Fate following Kent Nelson's (a fortune teller in Haly's Circus and a former hero of the JSA) death and being hunted by Starfire and the Amazons seeking the helm. He is assisted by Deadman.[14]
Brother Fate	Unknown	Phillip Kennedy Johnson	Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1	On Earth al Ghul, a universe within the Dark Multiverse ruled by Bruce Wayne (known as Ra's al Ghul) and his Empire of Shadows, Brother Fate is among the heroes opposing him but is killed by one of his sons.[15]
Doctor Strangefate	Charles Xavier	Ron Marz José Luis García-López Kevin Nowlan	Marvel Versus DC #1 (1996)	Charles Xavier of Earth-9602/Earth-1996 is a mutant and telepath who learns the mystic arts through Nabu the Ancient One. Taking the Helmet of Strangefate and mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, he becomes a powerful but unconventional hero who often assists the Judgement League of Avengers and employs others at his steed despite his power. He is assisted by his servant, Myx.[16] This character is an amalgamation of Doctor Strange and Professor X from Marvel Comics alongside Doctor Fate.
Doctor Fate of the 31st Century	Unknown	Marc Andreyko Kevin Maguire	Supergirl Vol 7 #33 (November, 2019)	This unnamed Doctor Fate resides in an alternate future based upon a new future taking place adjacent to "Prime Earth". A six-armed male alien, this version is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a revered sorcerer known to the United Planets.[17]
	Sofia	Geoff Johns	The New Golden Age #1 (January, 2023)	In an alternate future based upon the original version appearing in the 1958 Legion of Super-Heroes, this futuristic Doctor Fate, named Sofie, is a founding member of the 31st Century iteration of the JSA. Her time as Doctor Fate is fated to eventually be succeeded by an unnamed granddaughter.[18]
Doctor Chaos	Unknown	Andy Schmidt Kieran McKeown	Crime Syndicate #2 (June, 2021)	Not to be confused with villain within the mainstream comics of the same name, this version is native of Earth-3, where alternate versions of the Justice League are villains (known as the Crime Syndicate), and several characters have adopted the codename. One versions is shown to be a member of the Crime Syndicate.
	Joker	Tom Taylor Cian Tormey	Injustice: Year Zero #12 (Digital)(December, 2020)	On Earth-49 (the universe of Injustice: Gods Among Us), Joker becomes Doctor Chaos in tie-in comics after taking possession of its associated artifacts and targets the Justice Society of America due to being inspirations for Batman.

Alternate mainstream variations

Kent Nelson's alternative variations

Name	First appearance	Designation/Storlyine	Fictional biography
Doc Fate	Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1 (October, 2008)	Earth-20	This version of Nelson is an African-American gunslinger and occultist in a pulp-fiction influenced world. Possessing the Helmet of Fate, he is based out of a windowless Manhattan skyscraper, he leads a team of heroes known as the Society of Superheroes.[19] This character serves as an amalagamation of Doctor Fate and Doc Savage.
Doctor Fate	Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1 (August, 2011)	Flashpoint	In this reality, after the JSA disbanded, Nelson works as a fortune teller in Haly's Circus and has a vision of Dick Grayson's death, revealing it to co-worker and trapeze artist Boston Brand. He is killed shortly by the Amazons seeking the Helmet of Fate. Boston and Dick Grayson manage to escape with the helmet, with Grayson becoming the next Doctor Fate.[20][21][22]

Khalid Nassour's alternate variations

Name	First appearance	Designation/Storlyine	Fictional biography
Doctor Fate	Future State: Justice League #1	Future State	In a potential future, an older Khalid Nassour manages to re-empower the Helmet of Fate under Hauhet and sees all potential futures, experiencing them in order to find a way to defeat an evil Merlin, who seeks to control magic.[23]
	The New Golden Age #1	New Golden Age	In an alternate reality and future based upon Prime Earth and a variant of the timeline featured in the 1958 Legion of Super-Heroes, in approximately near 2050, Khalid Nassour is among the older, active members of the JSA in and one of the few who bears the legacy of a founding member. This future variant alongside his reality is later erased due to Helena Wayne's temporal interference on Prime Earth.[24]
	Batman: Full Moon #1	Batman: Full Moon	In this alternate reality, Nassour is seen among the members of the Justice League Dark.

Villain counterparts

Name		Creator(s)	First appearance	Fictional biography
Doctor Chaos	Burt Belker	Martin Pasko Kurt Schaffenberger	The New Adventures of Superboy #25 (1982)	Burt Belker is a wealthy, college student studying archaeology and an assistant of Lewis Lang (father of Lana Lang) who briefly dated his daughter. Discovering a "Sumerian" helm revealed to be the Helmet of Chaos, he dons it and is taken over by the personality within it and comes into conflict with Superboy.[25]
	Unknown	Steve Orlando Hugo Petrus	Justice League of America (2017) #18	A new unnamed version of Doctor Chaos serves a protector of Chaos Realm, home of the Lords of Chaos. He is ambushed and seemingly killed by the villain, Queen of Fables.[26]
Anti-Fate	Dr. Benjamin Stone	J.M. DeMatteis Keith Griffen	Doctor Fate #1 (1987)	Dr. Benjamin Stone is a lead doctor in Arkham Asylum driven insane by Typhon, a Lord of Chaos. Targeting an aged Kent Nelson, Typhon uses him to battle Kent and his successor, Eric and Linda Strauss, with a dark variant of the Helmet of Fate as the adversary, Anti-Fate.[27]
Doctor Hate	Rachel Roth / Raven	Joshua Williamson Howard Porter	Knight Terrors: Night's End #1 (August, 2023)	Raven is the infamous daughter of Trigon and a superhero often portrayed with empathic and sorcerous powers. Sometime after the aftermath of Lazarus Planet, the dark reflect of the Helmet of Fate, the Helmet of Hate, is created. Raven's demonic self separates from her whole self and becomes independent, donning the helm and the Nightmare Stone. As Doctor Hate, she has powers comparable to Doctor Fate and the power to manipulate minds.[28]

See also

• Doctor Fate
• Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)
• Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour)