Doctor Fate (Image via DC Comics)
20. Doctor Fate
No, not Doctor Strange. We’ve already talked about him, remember? Besides Doctor Strange is firmly a Marvel character. Doctor Strange, meanwhile, hails from the DC camp.
Now, to be fair, there are some similarities between the characters. Both are doctors of some sort. Both fight evil using mystical, magical powers. And both Doctors Fate and Strange have a taste for dramatic capes.
Despite these similarities, there remain some significant differences. For one, Doctor Strange is his own man. He is able to take on his own training and make his own decisions. Doctor Fate, however, is actually the subject of possession.
Unsurprisingly, there has been a long succession to the title of “Doctor Fate”. Instead of superheroes switching titles or ascending to a new role, a succession of hosts are possessed by Nabu, an mysterious and ancient entity. Someone who is possessed by Nabu gains considerable powers, such as flight, super-strength, and magical abilities.
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How do they get these cool powers? They simply need to don the distinctive full-face helmet. With this gold helmet on, a subject is controlled by Nabu and goes on to do various good deeds. They also need a cloak and amulet, of course, along with a bright blue body suit. It’s striking, like any other classic superhero outfit, but also deeply intriguing and strange in concept.