In the pages of both Marvel Comics and DC Comics, few heroes are more powerful than their most-magical sorcerers, Doctor Strange and Doctor Fate, respectively. Both Doctors are known for using their magical abilities and artifacts to unleash insane levels of power. However, one sorcerer is stronger than both of them: Doctor Strange Fate.
Doctor Strange is Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. The Master of Mystic Arts resides in the Sanctum Santorum and uses powerful artifacts like his Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto to assist the Avengers and keep the universe safe. Meanwhile, Doctor Fate is one of DC’s oldest and arguably most powerful heroes. The Helmet of Fate was created by the mystical Lord of Order Nabu and grants the wearer immense power in sorcery. The two characters are both among the most OP in their respective universes, but in the Amalgam Universe, the wizards combined to create one singular hero.
Doctor Strange Fate was created as part of the Amalgam Universe, which combined both the Marvel and DC Comics characters following a crossover series that ended with the two universes merging into one. There were a number of combined heroes, including Darkclaw (Batman, Wolverine), Spider-Boy (Spider-Man, Superboy), and Doctor Strange Fate. In the merged universe, Strange Fate was one of two characters. alongside Access (Marvel and DC’s only shared character), that was aware the universe wasn’t as it should be. Donning Doctor Strange’s cloak and Doctor Fate’s helmet, Doctor Strange Fate is described as the most powerful being in the Amalgam Universe.
In the Doctor Strange Fate #1 one-shot by Ron Marz, José Luis García-López, Kevin Nowlan, Matt Hollingsworth, and Chris Eliopoulos, the sorcerer realizes that if Access gets two special keys and reforms the Marvel and DC Universes, his universe will be destroyed. He sends out a crew of combined characters including Skulk (Hulk and Solomon Grundy) as well as White Witch (Zatanna and Scarlet Witch) to retrieve him. After confronting Access, he realizes he can’t save the universe – and he takes off his helmet to reveal he’s actually Charles Xavier.
Ultimately, Strange Fate was a cool concept that was fabulously executed by Garcia-Lopez and Nowlan. He was extraordinarily powerful and looked awesome. The Xavier reveal is more shock value than relevant, but it’s fun to see the comic world’s two best sorcerers combine for arguably Amalgam’s best character. The crossover ended with Strange Fate living in his reality in a pocket universe. While it would be cool to see Doctor Strange Fate return, a Marvel and DC crossover like this seems unlikely to ever happen again, sadly.
