Warning! Spoilers for The Flash #776 by DC Comics
In the DC Universe, there are few heroes more powerful than Doctor Fate and the magical hero just showed off an incredible new power: the ability to break the fourth wall. In The Flash #776, Doctor Fate leads the Flash on an exciting new mission, where he calls on the reader’s assistance in helping them find their way home.
In his current ongoing series at DC Comics, the Flash just faced off against the vampire villain, Starbreaker, who became possessed by Eclipso after lifting a mysterious glaive that felt to Earth like Thor’s hammer. Immediately after dealing with the chaotic scene, Doctor Fate arrived and grabbed Wally West through one of his ankh portals. The powerful sorcerer brought Wally to a mysterious reality, telling the speedster the fate of the universe rested in his hands. Naturally, Wally joked that his hands aren’t his “best feature.” Now, DC Comics revealed the Flash, and Doctor Fate went on an interactive, fourth-wall-breaking adventure.
In The Flash #776 by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Jeremy Cox, and Rob Leigh, Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour) informs the Flash that they’re chasing after Eclipso to an unnamed realm as foul beasts come closer and closer. Furthermore, Fate tells Flash that the readers of the comic will be assisting them in their adventures, breaking the fourth wall and showing the hero that they are being watched (well, read). The Flash is shocked by Doctor Fate’s revelation and asks the Justice League Dark member how they are being watched. Unfortunately, Nassour explains he doesn’t have time to explain demons have tracked them down.
The Flash #776 turns out to be an absolute blast thanks to Doctor Fate’s new fourth-wall-breaking powers, as he tells the reader to believe in his words and gets them to turn the comic around to shift their perspective. Doctor Fate even gets the readers to blow on the pages to snuff out torches as a group of demons approaches them. Then, after getting tossed and turned around, Fate tells readers to touch his magic book in a specific pattern, freeing them to Gemworld with the rest of the Justice League Dark.
To our knowledge, Doctor Fate has never broken the Fourth Wall before. But, considering his vast magical power, it actually makes sense that he’d figure out a way to get comic awareness like Deadpool or Ambush Bug. In this case, DC’s most powerful hero used the readers of The Flash #776 to help guide him and Wally West through a tough situation. The incredible Doctor Fate/The Flash team-up issue is available in comic book stores now.
