Detailed explanation of powers/abilities:
Dr Fate:
Doctor Fate possesses a variety of mystical powers. In general, even without wearing the Helmet of Nabu, the host can fly, is resistant to damage, has minor telekinesis, and has greater-than-human strength.
At his most potent, Doctor Fate is an accomplished sorcerer, able to match most other wizards in the DC Universe. He has been credited in DC's Who's Who as being one of the top 12 most powerful heroes in the DC Universe.
Doctor Fate has been observed throwing bolts of mystical energy, teleporting across the universe, crafting solid objects out of energy, and transforming objects into other kinds of matter. The full limits of his magical skills are unknown, and have varied greatly from one appearance to the next depending on the needs of the story. For example: In Swamp Thing #50 (July 1986), he slays the demon Abnegazar of the Demons Three with very little effort. Conversely in Justice League of America #148 (November 1977), the Demons Three control him and set him against his fellow heroes.
At perhaps the peak of his abilities, he was able to take control of Etrigan the Demon, Darkseid, Highfather and Orion and harness their powers to take on the Anti-Life entity. In this instance, he was powerful enough to destroy a reality in order to halt the advance of the entity using a "Mystic Firebreak". As powerful as he is, he has been shown to be on the losing side of drawn out battles with the Spectre, as shown in the recent Day of Vengeance series.
Over time, Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange has evolved to be somewhat similar to Doctor Fate, in that both possess amulets which can emit beams of light, and both live in mysterious abodes filled with mystical books and objects. Fate is considerably more withdrawn from humanity in both demeanor and locale than is the Manhattan-based Strange.
[edit] Helm of Nabu
The helmet that Doctor Fate wears is the focus of the Doctor Fate identity. It originally housed Nabu's spirit and allowed him to possess the current host, it later only allowed him to advise the host instead. The helmet is what provides the link to Nabu and by not wearing it, as Kent Nelson did at one time, Doctor Fate loses much of its power and knowledge.
Putting on the helmet usually results in its wearer being clad in the other raiments of Doctor Fate, unless the one with the actual claim to the helmet wants to prevent it. On several occasions, villains seeking the power of Doctor Fate have stolen the helmet, in which case the result has typically been that the wearer goes insane when they try to put on the helmet.
[edit] Amulet of Anubis
The circular device that adorns the livery collar worn around Doctor Fate's chest and shoulders is the Amulet of Anubis, which gives anyone who wears it vast magical abilities. It holds many similarities to the Amulet of Agamotto of Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange, with both Amulets being capable of revealing and recognizing magical characters. The amulet has also been shown to house the souls of many whom have worn the vestments of Fate. In JSA, the amulet contained the image of a farmhouse with the souls of Kent and Inza Nelson, Eric and Linda Strauss, Jared Stevens and Kid Eternity inhabiting it. This dimension was used more than once as a refuge for the JSA to regroup in battle or access the advice of previous Doctor Fates. Mordru was imprisoned in this dimension for some time.
Dr Strange:
Dr. Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth's Universe. He has unparalleled mastery of the mystic arts, which he uses to defend this reality from otherworldly threats. His primary magical patrons are a group of entities known as "the Vishanti", a trinity of godly beings comprised of Agamotto, Hoggoth and Oshtur. Although he has, on rare occasions, called upon the power of the demon Dormammu, he no longer does so due to fighting Dormammu in his dark dimension early in his career as Sorcerer Supreme.
Strange holds an M.D. in neurosurgery, although his ability to perform such delicate tasks has been compromised due to his accident. He is also an accomplished martial artist, learning martial arts as part of his training to be a mystic. Because of his long life, he has great skill in strategy and has been the leader of many groups throughout his lifetime.
Dr. Strange's powers are all mystical but take several forms. Main manifestations include:
* Personal abilities — As a result of his mystic training, Dr. Strange is capable of a great many abilities such as astral projection, telepathy, hypnotism, and several others. These are put in a separate category because he seems to perform these functions as a telepath would, not needing to manipulate magic to do it. These abilities can be exhausted through over-use but can be amplified by mystic energy (as against Moondragon) or the Eye of Agamotto (done countless times) to afford Strange powerful psychic abilities.
* Universal sources — By manipulating the ambient mystical energy of this universe, Dr. Strange can perform a great many functions. Commonly this is seen as energy bolts that range from low power to planet destroying, transmutation, telekinesis, teleportation, protective shields, etc. He uses this mystical energy to cast spells of a near infinite variety. Dr. Strange has also been shown to amass as much wealth/gold as he desires using magic, as he has done to pay debts.
* Divine sources — Dr. Strange can channel an infinite amount of energy from nigh-omnipotent mystical and non-mystical beings in multiple dimensions to empower his spells. This can take the form of standard spells ("Crimson Bands of Cyttorak") or just stating what he wants to occur and channeling some being to make it happen. This ability to be a conduit to multiversal power sources has giving rise to the phrase "Dr.Strange is as powerful as the god he invokes."
* By force of will, Dr. Strange can "take" the power of another entity. This does not require the use of a spell. He uses this ability against Captain Universe[citation needed] as well as against Arioch and Shuma-Gorath in Strange Tales Volume 2. This is considered black magic and as such, he rarely employs this. Also, when taking the powers of ominpotent entities, he can absorb their mind and assume their duties and roles in the dimension in which they exist. But, if his will falters, he can lose all sense of self.
In the Marvel Universe canon, virtually any human is capable of learning and harnessing magic — considered simply another form of energy within continuity — through training; however, each person has a different potential.
Strange's own power is often amplified by the numerous magical artifacts that are in his possession or by artifacts that he uses in the course of his adventures. The two artifacts he carries with him at all times are the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation:
* The Eye of Agamotto (which resides within the Amulet of Agamotto worn at Dr. Strange's throat) is a powerful and valued artifact that has many functions. Using the Eye, Strange can see through any lie, deception or illusion, send the eye out at lightspeed to intercept and absorb massive amounts of any type of energy and free others that are trapped in their own illusions. It is often used to amplify his mind's eye, giving psychic abilities that rival the most powerful of telepaths. It is also often used to play back an area's past events and open dimensional portals. When used offensively, no being can withstand its light for long; due to its lethal effect, it is often used as a weapon of last resort. The amulet can only be used by a being with a pure heart and a clean soul.
* The Cloak of Levitation allows him to fly, and responds to his thoughts. Strange has used it many times as a "third set of hands" to attack a foe when his own body has been incapacitated. The Cloak is nearly indestructible, often escaping damage during even the most violent confrontations. The cloak has acted indepentantly from Strange as though it may have a will of its own.
It has been nearly destroyed on at least three instances, however:
* Strange Tales vol. 1, # 157 — During a battle with Zom at Stonehenge. Strange was able to reconstruct it in a display of power to prove to The Living Tribunal that Strange was worthy to set right the cosmic events recently unleashed.
* Doctor Strange vol. 2, # 77 — During a battle with the minor demon KHAT while Strange was in the slow decline of his white-magical powers. The cloak was repaired by Enitharmon the Weaver, the former master of Strange's second apprentice, Rintrah. While the damage to the Cloak on this occasion was not as severe as previously, Strange was unable to repair it himself.
* The third instance is convoluted. During his attempt to garner a new power-base for himself, after foregoing the powers and protections of the Vishanti, Strange went underground to create his new power forge, and when he was finished he was rejuvenated, younger-looking and wearing a new costume (including a mystical black body suit) and he had transformed the Cloak into something more resembling a Kimono or robe (Doctor Strange vol. 3, #76), however, soon he was drafted into the War of the Seven Spheres by the Vishanti. After battling for a nearly a millennium in another dimension, Strange was returned to Earth (at a time mere months from when he was spirited away) a tattered shambles (issue #80). His magical abilities depleted and his new Robe/Cloak shredded.
He soon incorporated elements of the cloak (the gold trim, mostly) into what would be called the "Overcoat of Levitation"; a red trench-coat with the Cloak's gold trim along the collar. However, soon enough, the usage of that overcoat was discontinued and the traditional Cloak was returned, without explanation
Other artifacts include the Orb of Agamotto, which he uses daily to monitor the surrounding dimensions for trouble; the Wand of Watoomb, which amplifies his power; and the Book of the Vishanti, which contains some of the multiverse's most powerful and secret spells and counter-spells. He owns countless other artifacts he can bring out in times of need. As a result of being a member of the Illuminati, he has also come into possession of the "Soul" gem of the Infinity Gauntlet.
For a brief period, research from the Vishanti library led Strange to tap into "catastrophe magic" by invoking a syzygy of all the planets, but this source of magic was limited and he ceased using it specifically as a source of his power.
The mansion where Dr. Strange lives, his Sanctum Sanctorum, is located at 177A Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, which in this universe was the actual address of the apartment building in which the series writer at that time actually lived. Strange has imbued the mansion with several spells (mostly protective, some pro-active). (In the comic, "Steven Sanders" was shown reading a telegram
Dr. Strange often conjures specific magical effects for specific purposes. Among them are:
* Bolts of Bedevilment (as an offensive weapon)
* a Conjurer's Cone (to transport an enemy away to another realm)
* The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak (to bind someone)
* The Flames of the Faltine (as an offensive weapon)
* The Images of Ikonn (to create duplicate images of himself or others to confuse an enemy)
* The Light of the All-Seeing Eye of Agamotto (to disperse an assailant's spell, to reveal the truth or to destroy an enemies' actual soul)
* The Shield of the Seraphim (as a protective barrier)
* The Vapors of Valtorr (as an obscuring fog)
* The Winds of Watoomb (as an offensive weapon or transportation)
* Chains of Krakkan (constricts an enemy in strong chains)
* Seven Suns of Cinnibus (an energy blast that is as hot at seven suns)
