Doctor Fate has always been one of my favorite heroes, almost entirely based on a cool costume and a mysterious presence. I mean that helmet – come on!
It’s hard not to compare DC’s ultimate magic wielder to Marvel’s Doctor Strange, but nonetheless, I’ve always felt Dr. Fate is less to be trifled with than his competitive rival.
That said, the availability of collected comics has been a strong differentiator between Strange and Fate throughout the 2000’s, with Dr. Fate reigning as one of the most woefully uncollected comics stars of the DC pantheon.
Nonetheless, I’ve done the grunt work of compiling the collected Dr. Fate experience for the DC magic enthusiast. Below you’ll find a complete guide to Dr. Fate comics in the DC Universe, from his origins in the Golden Age through his appearance in Dark Nights Metal.
Doctor Fate Reading Order
Golden Age Doctor Fate Archives Volume 1
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Collects: More Fun Comics #55 To #98
Kent Nelson meets Nabu for the first time and becomes Dr. Fate! Created by Gardner Fox with Howard Sherman, Fate’s first comic book appearances is in 1940’s “More Fun Comics” issue #55.
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 1
Collects: All-Star Comics #3 To #6
All Star Comics Archives, Vol. 2
Collects: All-Star Comics #7 To #10
All Star Comics – Archives, Volume 3
Collects: All-Star Comics #11 To #14
All Star Comics – Archives, Volume 4
Collects: All-Star Comics #15 To #18
Collects: All-Star Comics #19 To #23
Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 1
Collects: Justice League Of America #21-22, #29-30, #37-38, And #46-47
Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 2
Collects: Justice League Of America #55-56, #64-65, #72-73, #83-84
Dr. Fate Reborn!
Collects: 1st Issue Special #9 (1975)
Collects: All Star Squadron (1981 To 1987)
Issue #47 in particular is the secret origin of Doctor Fate!
Doctor Fate in Flash (Backups)
Collects: The Flash #306 To #313
Dr. Fate’s early 80’s modern appearances are slight, but he did run as the backups to The Flash with Keith Giffen involved.
Collects: The Immortal Doctor Fate (1985) #1 To #3
Written by Martin Pasko with art by Walt Simonson
Last Days of the Justice Society
Collects: Last Days Of The Justice Society Of America #1
Collects: Legends #1-6
Collects: Justice League #1-6 And Justice League International #7
Doctor Fate is a founding member of the all-new, post-Crisis Justice League (soon to be Justice League international)
Collects: Cosmic Odyssey #1 To #4
Doctor Fate goes toe to toe with Darkseid (at least in a staring contest)
Collects: Doctor Fate (1987) #1 To #4
The post Crisis on Infinite Earths Dr. Fate miniseries by JLI team J.M DeMatteis and Keith Giffen establishes the new inheritor’s of the Dr. Fate legacy, and the *ahem* fate of Kent Nelson and Nabu!
Collects: Doctor Fate #1 To #13, Annual #1, #14 To #41
Dr. Fate in The 1990’s!
Collects: Fate #1 To #23
The 90’s comes hard for Fate, with Jared Stevens in the new role!
The Book of Fate (1997 to 1998)
Collects: The Book Of Fate #1 To #12
Collects: Graphic Novel
Meet fate, a Kent Nelson-less Nabu working with Batman and co.
JSA and a New Doctor Fate
Collects: Jsa #1 To #5
Collects: Jsa 6-15
Collects: Jsa All-Stars #3
“Challenging Fate”
Collects: Doctor Fate #1 To #5
The Hector Hall era begins!
JSA, Vol. 3: The Return of Hawkman
Collects: Jsa 16-25
Collects: Jsa 26-31 & Material From Jsa: Secret Files 2
JSA: Stealing Thunder – Book 05
Collects: Jla #32-37
Collects: Day Of Vengeance #1 To #6
Countdown to Infinite Crisis
Collects: Helmet Of Fate #1 To #5
Five one-shots about a variety of DC characters trying on the helmet of Nabu.
Doctor Fate Reincarnated
Dr. Fate: Countdown to Mystery
Collects: Countdown To Mystery #1-8
Collects: Reign In Hell #1 To #8
Justice Society of America: The Bad Seed
Collects: Justice Society Of America #29-33
Justice Society Of America: Axis Of Evil
Collects: Justice Society Of America #34-40
Justice Society of America: Supertown
Collects: Justice Society Of America #44-49
Collects: Injustice Comics
Doctor Fate plays a major supporting role in these shockingly excellent comics based on the non-shockingly terrible video game premise!
Doctor Fate In The New 52
Earth 2 Vol. 2: The Tower of Fate
Collects: Earth-2 #0, 7-10
The New 52’s Dr. Fate
Collects: Earth 2 #13-16, #15.1 And Earth 2 Annual #1
Collects: Earth 2 #17-20, Earth 2 Annual #2
Earth 2 Vol. 5: The Kryptonian
Collects: Earth 2 #21-26 And Earth 2: Futures End #1
Collects: Earth-2 #27-32
Doctor Fate Vol. 1: The Blood Price
Collects: Dr. Fate#1-7 And Dc Sneak Peek: Doctor Fate #1
The DCYou era reinvents Fate with a story by Paul Levitz and Sonny Liew
Doctor Fate Vol. 2: Prisoners of the Past
Collects: Dr. F Ate #8-12
Doctor Fate Vol. 3: Fateful Threads
Collects: Doctor Fate #13-18
Collects: The Society of Super-Heroes #1 (for Doc Fate action!)
Doctor Fate in DC Rebirth
Blue Beetle Vol. 1: The More Things Change
Collects: Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1, Blue Beetle #1 to #5
Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Hard Choices
Collects: Blue Beetle #6 to #12
Collects: Dc Metal Event
Dr. Fate is a supporting character throughout Metal.
Justice League Dark (2018) Vol. 1: The Last Age of Magic
Collects: Justice League Dark #1 to #3, #5 to #6
Justice League Dark (2018) Vol. 2: Lords of Order
Collects: Justice League Dark #8 to #12, Annual #1
Justice League Dark (2018) Vol. 3: The Witching War
Collects: Justice League Dark #14 to #19
Justice League Dark (2018) Vol. 4: A Costly Trick of Magic
Collects: Justice League Dark #20 to #28
Justice League Dark (2019) Vol. 5: The Great Wickedness
Collects: Justice League #59 to #71, Justice League Dark 2021 Annual #1
Dr. fate deserves more comicbook than this. hopefully the live action movie balck adam will make writers do moredr. fate comicbooks.