{"id":4208,"date":"2010-09-23T06:45:40","date_gmt":"2010-09-23T10:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/?p=4208"},"modified":"2010-09-23T02:33:23","modified_gmt":"2010-09-23T06:33:23","slug":"doctor-fate-essential-reading-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/wordpress\/2010\/09\/23\/doctor-fate-essential-reading-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Fate Essential Reading List"},"content":{"rendered":"

As some of you may already know, Doctor Fate is one of my all-time favorite superheroes<\/a>.\u00a0 A buddy of mine, Justin Clarke, recently asked me to recommend some Doctor Fate stories worth reading.\u00a0 I compiled the list and realized this would make a great post!\u00a0 So here is my DOCTOR FATE ESSENTIAL READING LIST!<\/p>\n

If you don’t care about Doctor Fate… indulge me.\u00a0 It’s my birthday today.<\/p>\n

While there are some fantastic Doctor Fate stories out there, there are very few collections.\u00a0 Most of the items on this list would require you to pick up individual issues.\u00a0 Check your local comic shops or order from an online retailers offering back issues.\u00a0 Today I’m just listing the comics worth reading.\u00a0 Another day we’ll talk about the character of Doctor Fate and all the various incarnations.\u00a0 If you need clarification in the meantime, check out the Wikipedia entry on Doctor Fate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SHAG’S DOCTOR FATE ESSENTIAL READING LIST:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) My top pick for Doctor Fate is a three-issue mini-series from 1985 entitled, THE IMMORTAL DOCTOR FATE<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 These issues reprint older Doctor Fate stories, including “The Mummy that Time Forgot” by Martin Pasko and Walt Simonson from 1st Issue Special<\/em> #9 (December 1975).\u00a0 That single story revamped the original Doctor Fate for the Bronze Age and beyond; it was the beginning of the most iconic version of Doctor Fate.\u00a0 Also included in these reprints are the Doctor Fate back-up stories (1981) from the FLASH<\/em>.\u00a0 Reprints featured in this mini-series are by Martin Pasko, Walt Simonson, Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, Steve Gerber, Joe Staton, Gardner Fox, and others.\u00a0 Great stuff!<\/p>\n

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2) Next up are two stories featuring the fourth incarnation of Doctor Fate (Hector Hall).\u00a0 Start with JSA: ALL STARS<\/em> #3<\/a> (September 2003) by Geoff Johns, David Goyer, Barry Kitson, and Darwyn Cooke.\u00a0 Then continue to the DOCTOR FATE<\/a><\/em> five issue mini-series (October 2003 – February 2004) by Christopher Golden, Don Kramer, and Prentis Rollins.\u00a0 Hector Hall made an awesome Doctor Fate and he really shines in these stories!<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.<\/a><\/p>\n

3) You can check out the first appearance of the current Doctor Fate in the trade paperback DR. FATE: COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY<\/em><\/a> (November 2007 – July 2008).\u00a0 This is one of the few items on the list that has been collected.\u00a0 This mini-series was written by Steve Gerber and drawn by Justiniano.\u00a0 Sadly, Mr. Gerber passed away before the series could be completed.\u00a0 Four other writers worked together to complete this mini-series.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a><\/p>\n

Those are the three most critical Doctor Fate works.\u00a0 Beyond that there are some others I’d recommend:<\/p>\n

If you are interested in following the current incarnation of Doctor Fate, he appeared in the REIGN IN HELL<\/em> mini-series and has recently joined the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA<\/em>.\u00a0 You can find him in these trades:<\/p>\n