- Every journey -- even one to the edge of existence and realms beyond -- must come to an end. Whether the terminus is a place on a map, a marker on the path of life, or a state of being, every traveler gets there... sooner or later. By intention or fluke. By serendipity or misfortune. Through random chance, or inexorable -- Fate.
- — Narrator
Countdown to Mystery #1 is an issue of the series Countdown to Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 2007. It was published on September 19, 2007.
Synopsis for "More Pain Comics (Part I) - Descent into the Psychosphere"
Fate had been good to psychiatrist Dr Kent Nelson. He had a lovely wife and daughter, a well-heeled practice, recognition in the community, and taught an annual seminar at the university. This made Kent's affair with a university student reckless in the extreme. To compound the situation, he left the evidence lying around; when his wife found out, she left him, taking their daughter with her. Kent slid into depression, barely able to care about his patients any more. He pretended he was listening, faked giving them his attention, but even that began to pall eventually. Ultimately, it was this lack of attention which led to his final downfall.
One of Kent's patients, a man who claimed he was being tormented by an unearthly creature, had a psychotic episode, driving his car along the Las Vegas Strip, running people down. Thirteen died, and many more were injured. Kent, aware he'd failed the man, used his family gift, the ability to see into others' minds, to find out what had driven him to it. What Kent saw shook him so badly, he shut the memory out, trying desperately to forget it. Kent was blamed for the deaths, standing by and doing nothing when his patient went off his meds. He was sued by the victims' families for negligence and wrongful claims - and by his patient's family for malpractice. He lost his house and his job. His wife divorced him, and his lover left him. Several months later, Kent had ended up a derelict on the streets, taking part in bumfight videos for money. After being left in a dumpster to "sleep off" his second fight, he fumbled around for something he could use to cover himself against the storm overhead.
He finds the Helmet of Fate, which had landed in the dumpster after traveling through the realms of existence. Thinking only of how he could use it to cover his head, Kent put it on - only to find the Helmet taking him on a mental tour of its recent past, from the end of the Day of Vengeance onwards, after Captain Marvel had hurled it into space. Then, much against Kent's will, it took him on a tour of his /own/ recent past.
Refusing to relive his past, Nelson removes the Helmet but at that same moment a hellhound attacks him. Shocked by the sudden attack, Nelson puts the Helmet back and this time, he is transformed into a being of incredible power, capable of eliminating the hellhound with a special magic ability. As Nelson contemplates the corpse of the beast, a voice from behind talks and refers to him as "Doctor Fate". When Nelson turns around, he is confronted by a demonic figure sitting on a diabolical horse. The Demon talks to Doctor Fate and informs him that he is going to execute him for killing one of his valuable animals.
Appearing in "More Pain Comics (Part I) - Descent into the Psychosphere"
Featured Characters:
- Doctor Fate (Kent V. Nelson) (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Black Alice (Flashback only)
- Blue Devil (Flashback only)
- Captain Marvel (Billy Batson) (Flashback only)
- Detective Chimp (Flashback only)
- Enchantress (Flashback only)
- Ibis (Danny Khalifa) (Flashback only)
- Nightmaster (Flashback only)
- Phantom Stranger (Flashback only)
- Ragman (Flashback only)
- Sargon (David Sargent) (Flashback only)
- Thoth (Flashback only)
- Zatanna (Flashback only)
- Zauriel (Flashback only)
Antagonists:
- Negal (Cameo)
Other Characters:
- Nabu (Behind the scenes)
- Laryn Nelson (Flashback only)
- Marissa Nelson (Flashback only)
- Mister Keenan (Flashback only)
- Russell Keenan (Flashback only)
Locations:
Items:
- Helmet of Fate
- Ibistick (Flashback only)
- Ruby of Life (Flashback only)
Synopsis for "A Syzygy in Plastic, Part One: Occultation"
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.
Appearing in "A Syzygy in Plastic, Part One: Occultation"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- William Hanson (First appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Father Cooper
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- None
Notes
- Countdown to Mystery is an eight-issue limited series that ties in with the weekly Countdown title.
- The events from this issue coincide with events chronicled in Countdown #32.
- Includes DC Nation #79 editorial by Dan DiDio.
- This issue contains flashbacks to events that took place during the Day of Vengeance limited series and the five Helmet of Fate one-shot specials.
Trivia
- Originally, Doctor Fate was scheduled to debut in his own ongoing comic book series slated for April of 2007. Due to health reasons, Steve Gerber was unable to commit to the project at that time, and it was repackaged as the primary story-arc for the Countdown to Mystery series.