The newest Black Adam trailer has hyped us all up for the movie’s upcoming launch, however it’s additionally raised some query. For instance, why is James Bond carrying a cape and helmet? (What can I say, generally you go from a Goldeneye to a golden dome.)
For many who don’t know, Pierce Brosnan will likely be enjoying the spellcasting superhero Physician Destiny. He won’t have the title recognition that Superman, Batman and Marvel Lady have, however Physician Destiny is definitely some of the highly effective heroes within the DC Universe. To get us prepared for his large display debut in Black Adam, let’s get to know the Justice Society’s resident sorcerer.
There have been a number of totally different incarnations of Physician Destiny over time, however let’s give attention to Kent Nelson, since he’s the unique and the model we’ll be seeing in Black Adam. A few of Kent’s magic skills stem from his time finding out beneath the cosmic being Nabu, whereas some have been augmented by his magic artifacts. For instance, the Amulet of Anubis holds a whole lot of energy—it may possibly lure souls and it harbors its personal pocket dimension. The Helmet of Destiny can grant its wearer cosmic consciousness and improve their magical skills, however donning it comes with a worth—it’s important to share your physique with Nabu (extra on that association later).
Now, earlier than we go any additional, I do know what a few of you’re considering. A sorcerer superhero with a cloak, an amulet and a physician moniker? Effectively, earlier than you rush to judgement, you need to know that Physician Destiny predates that marvelous but unusual superhero by over twenty years. In actual fact, Physician Destiny first appeared in 1940, predating a lot of DC’s most iconic heroes and villains. Take into account him an elder statesman inside the DC Universe.
Physician Destiny first appeared in Extra Enjoyable Comics #55, in a narrative which additionally launched his love curiosity, Inza Cramer. Physician Destiny’s debut journey was written by Gardner Fox and illustrated by Howard Sherman. Likelihood is you’re conversant in Fox, but when not, he was the co-creator of the Flash, Hawkman, Batgirl, the Justice Society, the Justice League and lots of different DC pillars.
Destiny’s introductory story doesn’t reveal his actual title and he’s by no means pictured with out his helmet. In it, he takes on the evil sorcerer Wotan in a battle that ends with Physician Destiny tossing Wotan out of a high-rise widow. Golden Age heroes didn’t fiddle. Destiny additionally transforms himself and Inza into wind so they might journey between areas sooner. That’s proper, Superman flies via the air—Physician Destiny turns into the air itself.
Shortly after his first look, Physician Destiny would grow to be a founding member of the Justice Society of America in All-Star Comics #3. Through the group’s first assembly, Johnny Thunder would ask about Destiny’s background and get an uncommon reply. “As you already know, I’m not human,” Destiny explains. “I by no means was a toddler. I had no youth. The elder gods created me simply as I’m now and positioned me right here on Earth to battle evil sorcery.” Nonetheless, as was widespread on the time, this is able to be contradicted and forgotten rapidly. Perhaps Destiny was simply hazing his new teammate?
After a yr of pulp-style adventures, Physician Destiny’s origin and actual title have been revealed in Extra Enjoyable Comics #67 (reprinted in 1971’s Justice League of America #95). As a toddler, Kent Nelson traveled to Egypt along with his father, hoping to find proof that aliens constructed the pyramids. Whereas looking via an historic temple, Kent awakens a robust being generally known as Nabu. Kent and Nabu quickly uncover that the elder Nelson has been killed by the temple’s toxic gasoline. In response, Nabu presents to take the orphan beneath his wing, instructing him all the things he is aware of about magic. After Kent reaches maturity, he’s given the Helmet of Destiny and different particular clothes. He then units out into the world because the superhero Physician Destiny.
After studying this, you would possibly assume that Nabu seems like a swell man, however it seems Extra Enjoyable Comics #67 wasn’t telling the entire story. Later retellings would reveal that Nabu used the Helmet of Destiny to own Kent’s physique. 1st Concern Particular #9 revealed that Nabu had emotionally manipulated Kent as a toddler, magically erasing the grief from his father’s loss of life so he may commit his full focus to his sorcery research.
Even worse, DC Particular Sequence #10 revealed that Nabu hadn’t been forthcoming about his first assembly with Kent. It seems that Nabu had engineered the occasions that lured father and son to the temple and had Kent’s father killed in order that his son may grow to be Nabu’s subsequent host.
On account of Nabu’s affect, now proven to be extra malevolent than Kent realized, Physician Destiny would generally grow to be a unique particular person when he wore the Helmet of Destiny. This difficult his relationship with Inza Cramer, who later grew to become his spouse.
Kent Nelson largely operates out of the Tower of Destiny, a sprawling construction in Salem, Massachusetts. Due to a magic enchantment, no one can enter or depart the tower besides Kent and Inza Cramer. Like many long-existing superheroes, Kent Nelson has been killed and resurrected a number of instances. His most up-to-date loss of life occurred in 2020’s Justice League Darkish #27 after a confrontation with the Upside-Down Man. Others have taken on the Physician Destiny mantle over time, together with Kent’s spouse Inza and his great-nephew Khalid Nassour.
Whereas Black Adam will likely be Physician Destiny’s large display debut, it gained’t be the primary time he has appeared in reside motion. Brent Stait portrayed Physician Destiny within the 2010 Smallville episode “Absolute Justice.” The episode additionally featured different members of the Justice Society, who teamed up with a younger Clark Kent. Physician Destiny was killed by Icicle, however the Helmet of Destiny would proceed for use by different characters all through the collection.
Talking of the JSA, whereas Physician Destiny doesn’t straight seem within the Stargirl tv collection, he’s seen a number of instances in images that depict the unique Justice Society. Like his JSA teammates, Physician Destiny was killed throughout the occasions of the pilot episode’s opening flashback. Animated variations of Physician Destiny have additionally appeared in varied collection, together with Superman: The Animated Sequence, Justice League Limitless and Younger Justice.
As you’ll be able to see, Physician Destiny is a good particular person to have in your aspect. The query is, does he have what it takes to beat Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam? Even when the Rock’s model of the character is extra of an antihero than an outright villain, it’s clear that he’ll very a lot be butting heads with the Justice Society. What occurs when sorcery clashes with energy, stamina and stubbornness? We’ll discover out when Black Adam hits theaters, however let’s hope that helmet does its job!
Black Adam, that includes Pierce Brosnan as Physician Destiny, hits theaters Friday, October 21. For all the newest information, options and trailers from the movie, go to our official Black Adam hub.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, films and comics for DCComics.com, is an everyday contributor to the Sofa Membership and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Observe him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
