Definitive Dr. Fate? Suggestions, please

[Dave in the basement]

Hello all,

I don’t know anything at all about Dr. Fate, but I would like that to change. :smile: Please suggest some of the best or definitive Dr. Fate stories that I should be able to get my hands on. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can provide.

Dave

Edit - First post. Woo hoo!

[Sean Walsh]

Walt Simonson and Martin Pasko did a great DR. FATE miniseries back in the late 1970's. I've never read it, but I've seen pieces of the art and it's quite fascinating.

[Zomling]

If you can afford it buy the original 1940s stories recently re-printed by DC.

They are a little dated, but give a good intro to the character.

If you don't want to do that then I suggest any of the mini series from the 80s-90s or the DeMatteus run which was a different take but worked.

Avoid the Fate series (either of them) like the plague. Didn't work and added little to the character, it was a lame attempt to boost popularity by making Fate darker and more violent.

Dr Fate is one of my favourite DC characters as you can probably tell.

[Desaad]

I've read every serious Dr. Fate mini/ongoing they've made, and so I can say with authority that with a very few exceptions, the best Dr. Fate stuff was done in team books.

Firstly, track down the aforementioned Marty Pasko/Walt Simonson back ups. It wasn't a mini, it was small stories done in "First Issue Special" from back in the day. Simonson just did, I think, 3 of them and then Keith Giffen took over and did a good job as well.

I thought the DeMatteis mini and ongoing was pretty awful, and the Loebs run that followed was likewise mediocre.

The "Fate" and "Book of Fate" series' were not good, though I thought "Book of Fate" was stronger than "Fate".

His appearances in JSA were a lot of fun, for that.

The mini, by Golden and Kramer, was okay but ultimately pretty mediocre. Not really bad, per se, but I could take it or leave it.

The old All Star Squadron/JSA stuff was also pretty good usually.

Finally, "Countdown to Mystery's" "More Pain Comics" by Steve Gerber (prefaced by "4 or 5 Helm of Fate one shots") was probably the best work ever done with the concept and character, and it was recent. I would highly recommend that one.

Really strong characterization, really strong exploration of the nature of magic and the mind.

[rwe1138]

I really liked how Hector was used as Dr. Fate in JSA.

I need to read Gerber's issues...

[Walter Simonson]

I've read every serious Dr. Fate mini/ongoing they've made, and so I can say with authority that with a very few exceptions, the best Dr. Fate stuff was done in team books.

Firstly, track down the aforementioned Marty Pasko/Walt Simonson back ups. It wasn't a mini, it was small stories done in "First Issue Special" from back in the day. Simonson just did, I think, 3 of them and then Keith Giffen took over and did a good job as well.

I thought the DeMatteis mini and ongoing was pretty awful, and the Loebs run that followed was likewise mediocre.

The "Fate" and "Book of Fate" series' were not good, though I thought "Book of Fate" was stronger than "Fate".

His appearances in JSA were a lot of fun, for that.

The mini, by Golden and Kramer, was okay but ultimately pretty mediocre. Not really bad, per se, but I could take it or leave it.

The old All Star Squadron/JSA stuff was also pretty good usually.

Finally, "Countdown to Mystery's" "More Pain Comics" by Steve Gerber (prefaced by "4 or 5 Helm of Fate one shots") was probably the best work ever done with the concept and character, and it was recent. I would highly recommend that one.

Really strong characterization, really strong exploration of the nature of magic and the mind.

Actually, Marty and I did only a single issue of FIRST ISSUE SPECIAL. The series itself ran about 13 issues. The issue we did was a Doctor Fate story, and was--I believe--the first time Dr. Fate who dated back to the 40's ever had a complete issue story of his own.

However, a lot of the stuff we did in the issue was picked up and used in subsequent Dr. Fate stories. Which was kind of cool. <g>

Best/Walter

[Mundungus]

Not that it really matters anymore, but during 52 I thought it would be intriguing if Ralph Dibny had become Detective Fate.

[dancj]

Personally I really like the JM Dematteis mini (with Keith Giffen doing the best art of his career) and the ongoing that followed had good runs by both Dematteis and Bill Messner Loebs.

[marshal99]

You can also try the spectre annual 1 : year one - chronicles the first time dr. fate and the spectre first met and team-up.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77672618310.1.gif

[professorj]

The "First Issue Special" story and Flash back-ups were reprinted in a 3-issue miniseries called Immortal Dr. Fate. They should be relatively easy to find in back issue bins...

[Karl O'Neill]

I like how he was protrayed in Johns JSA series. read some of Gerbers issues in countdown to mystery which were pretty good.

[Babylon23]

My personal favourite depiction of Dr. Fate is from the 4-issue JM Dematteis/Kieth Giffen 80's miniseries. I thought this story was amazing. It's noe I still have in my collection and I dust it off every year or two for a follow-up reading.

The ongoing that DeMatties wrote was solid, with some cool Shawn McManus artwork, but it didn't quite grab me as much as the miniseries did.

Gerber recent work was also very good. It's a shame that he passed away before compelting the series.

[Dave in the basement]

Thank you for all of the replies, everyone. It seems like I have a few nice choices to select when getting my feet wet. I'll probably check him out 'solo' and then see how he fares in the team books.

Thanks again. :smile:

Dave

[Series5Ranger]

My personal favourite depiction of Dr. Fate is from the 4-issue JM Dematteis/Kieth Giffen 80's miniseries. I thought this story was amazing. It's noe I still have in my collection and I dust it off every year or two for a follow-up reading.

The ongoing that DeMatties wrote was solid, with some cool Shawn McManus artwork, but it didn't quite grab me as much as the miniseries did.

Gerber recent work was also very good. It's a shame that he passed away before compelting the series.

Ya I really enjoyed the DeMatteis / Giffen Mini. It was a way to to try and Modernize the Dr. Fate Concept w/o Nabu being in control and thus too overly powerful.