Warning! Spoilers for Teen Titans Academy Yearbook 2021 below!
The most powerful hero in DC Comics has a new apprentice, as the newest issue of Teen Titans Academy shows Doctor Fate secretly mentoring a magical student named Stitch. In the series’ yearbook special, Stitch was revealed to be Doctor Fate’s apprentice with the comic possibly also hinting he might be the father of the lovable new hero.
Stitch is one of the new recruits to the Roy Harper Titans Academy, who is a magically animated, gender non-conforming rag doll. Initially, Stitch flies under the radar at the school, as they struggle to make friends as their non-human form makes it hard to connect with their fellow students. But, Stitch (even if they don’t realize it) has a friend in Dane, another magic-user at the academy who’s under the tutelage of Raven. One story in the Teen Titans Academy Yearbook 2021 focuses on Stitch, where their incredible powers are revealed as is a shocking connection to Doctor Fate.
In Teen Titans Academy Yearbook 2021’s “Stitch in Time” story by Tim Sheridan, Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, and Rob Leigh, Stitch’s rise from zero to hero is shown, as the magical youngster gains popularity after saving students as a basketball net nearly collapses on them following a fight breaking out between their classmates. Stitch becomes a favorite among their peers, leading to a visit from Doctor Fate. They tell him of their plans to run for student President (which they win) and fills Fate it on their time at the academy.
Fate takes a considerable interest in Stitch’s training, telling them they’ve made great strides and that sending them to the academy was worthwhile. While Stitch cracks jokes, they urge Fate to leave since it’s time for bed (even though they don’t sleep). As Fate leaves, he wishes his “young apprentice” good night, to which Stitch responds by saying they’ll see him “next week… pops.”
The last page hints at a considerable connection between Stitch and Doctor Fate. Not only has the powerful sorcerer taken on an apprentice, but the fact Stitch calls him “pops” raises a few eyebrows. Is Doctor Fate the father of Stitch? Did he magically construct them somehow? Which version of Fate is this? Those answers will be provided in future issues. But, for now, it sure seems Stitch and Doctor Fate share a father/child-like relationship – and at the very least, he has taken them under his wing to become DC’s next great magic-user.
