Dr. Fate by J. M. DeMatteis (writer), Keith Giffen (penciller, mini-series), Shawn McManus (artist, issues #1-11, 13-15, 17-20, 22-24), Val Semeiks (penciller, issue #12), Jim Fern (penciller, issue #16), Joe Staton (penciller, issue #21), Dave Hunt (inker, mini-series), Mark McKenna (inker, issues #1-6), Mark Buckingham (inker, issues #12, 21), Jeff Albrecht (inker, issue #16), Anthony Tollin (colorist, mini-series), Lovern Kindzierski (colorist, ongoing), Agustin Mas (letterer, mini-series), John Costanza (letterer, issues #1-10), Todd Klein (letterer, issues #11, 13-24), and Tim Harkins (letterer, issue #12). I AM going to tell you about a forgoten gem of a series that was overlooked by so many and forgoten to time. Dr. Fate is an interesting character in that he is tied closely to DC’s Golden Age but he has never really been an A-list hero. Therefore, when DeMatteis and Giffen began their mini-series in the summer of 1987, they could basically tear down everything about Dr. Fate and rebuild him. Everyone had a vague recollection of Kent Nelson and Nabu, but not to the point where anyone would miss them. So DeMatteis took the idea of Nabu animating someone who should be dead and ran with it, highlighting the dichotomy and symmetry between Chaos and Order, and creating his own version of Dr. Fate, one that could hew more closely to his ideas of reincarnation and redemption. DeMatteis had a grand story to tell, and Dr. Fate was the perfect vehicle. we need to remember one flaw of the comic reader is they overlook these bold ideas often.it was a bold series that was ahead of its time in storytelling. it had goofy fun moments yes it just added to layers of storie the book told the reader monthly. this touching image is one example of its layers of storytelling that seemed to continue to come monthly form dc comics. it began with the mini series which told about fates rebirth to the world. it brought the idea of Kali Yuga to comics a interesting idea which would play into the comic series. the idea that order and chaos are same side of same coin was bold idea too for its time. a series where some moments are goofy but expresss emotions on a scale like doctor fate series did it greatly. i loved the idea of that we see death in such a light too where it is not sober sadness but rebirth of things. it applies to eastern ideas which doctor fate suits perfectly. Eric’s death takes the book in an interesting direction, as DeMatteis digs further into his grand themes: reincarnation, redemptive love, suffering and how it builds us up and is only suffering if we allow it to be, and forgiveness. Linda and Eric take separate journeys, naturally. Linda believes that she can bring Eric back, and goes into the spirit realms to find him. Instead she meets “the Guide,” a spirit who shows up often in the latter half of the book to show the characters where they need to go. Linda wants nothing to do with the Guide, but he leads her to Eric’s spirit, but Eric doesn’t want to go back to life. He shows Linda what she needs to see: that many souls travel through each incarnation alone, but some travel in pairs because their love for each other is so strong. He and Linda are one such pair, and he reveals that in all their lives, they are linked in some way – even as enemies who hate with a passion akin to love. Linda still doesn’t want to accept it, but the Guide kisses her on the forehead, and suddenly she realizes that Eric was staying behind in the spirit realm – a kind of halfway house for souls – to ease Linda’s suffering, even though he should have moved on. It is enough for her to come to grips with Eric’s death, and he is able to move beyond.In the final third of the series, DeMatteis again shifts to Eric and his journey. We meet Eugene and Wendy Di Bella and their daughter Raina. Eugene is a bright and happy soul who has faith that the universe is a good place. Wendy is frightened because she’s pregnant and they don’t have enough money. Eugene thinks everything will work out, but then he is in a horrific car accident and he ends up in a coma. This is where Eric comes in. The Guide is with him because this is the end of his lifetimes, and the Guide will take him back to merge with God. At the last moment, though, Eric realizes that love is no good unless it is expressed. He thinks as he is about to be absorbed, “To reach the journey’s end, to be that love, to smile that smile is one thing; oh, but to begin the journey anew in order to share those precious gifts … that’s the only dance worth dancing!” Without Linda, his destination is hollow, and he wants more than anything to share what he’s learned with her. And so he returns and enters Eugene’s body, while Eugene’s soul goes off with the Guide. Linda immediately senses this, setting up the final act of DeMatteis’ epic. The final act involves some juggling of the canon, because DeMatteis, through DC editorial intervention or because he just wanted to make sure the next writer had something to work with, decides to bring back Kent and Inza Nelson. This time, as Nabu told Eric and Linda, they will be free to form the synergistic male/female yin/yang of Fate together, without Nabu’s interference. Nabu sends Jack Small and Petey into the amulet of Dr. Fate to retrieve the souls of the Nelsons. So for the final seven issues of the DeMatteis run, we have three interlocking stories: Jack and Petey trying to find the Nelsons and running into problems because of it; Eric inhabiting the body of Eugene Di Bella and discovering that Raina is a key in the “new humanity” that Darkseid was trying to snuff out; and Dr. Benjamin Stoner once more becoming the Anti-Fate so that Order and Chaos can destroy this new humanity. Stoner defeats Dr. Fate (Linda melded with Nabu this time), but in the process, he touches the tomb of the Avatar, where Fate has brought them. This allows him to transcend the petty notions of Order and Chaos, just like Andrew Bennett and Wotan before him did. Stoner also joins the growing group of disciples around the tomb, and he and Wotan help ease Linda’s pain as she, like Eric, dies. Meanwhile, Eric, in Eugene’s body, learns from the Phantom Stranger about the new model for humanity that he and Raina will help shepherd into existence, just before Wendy, Eugene’s wife, also dies. She joins Eugene’s soul as they go off to rejoin the Smile, and Linda’s soul enters Wendy’s body, reuniting her with Eric. Nabu joins with Wendy’s unborn fetus, as he still rejects returning to Order and instead chooses humanity. Kent it is odd series at times which was miles ahead of its time in tone and nature of storytelling. dc comics has never revisited this type of tale again after the series cause its nature was so radical for the times. we have a book which mixed humor with wit and charm and ideas of eastern religons in a stew that made the book feel so orginal and ahead of its time. dc comics. As is the case with far too many of its titles, DC has decided to sweep this book back into the corner and pretend it doesn’t exist. Therefore, none of it is available in trade paperback, not even the mini-series that started it. It’s truly a shame that this book isn’t recognized more as a magnificent achievement, because it takes everything that DeMatteis tries to do in other series and blends them perfectly, with an artist who is matched ideally to the subject matter. It should not be too hard to find nor that expensive, and it is certainly worth reading. You will not be disappointed if you take the time to get these issues. it should be read by everyone. i know you may look and laugh at me now for suggsting such an idea to read such a diffrent title out there then the normal titles. you will thank me when u read and understand the nature of the fates and see the idea of comics being more then silly things. dc comics with new 52 should revisit ideas like dr fate and give new readers a chance to see what it is like to be a true comic book fan. dr fate had amazing art and story and nature of its tale crafted what would become jsa and many other books in the future of dc comics. i will go off saying more forgoten gems are to come form me.
