“My hand is killing me!”
Doctor Strangefate
Amalgam (DC Comics; April, 1996)
“The Decrees Of Fate” WRITER: Ron Marz PENCILER: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez INKER: Kevin Nowlan COLORIST/SEPARATIONS: Matt Hollingsworth LETTERER: Chris Eliopoulos EDITOR: Dan Thorsland
You may have been wondering where Access, the guy unwillingly at the heart of this story, has gotten to. He’s in New Gotham City, running from the Abominite. He learns he can teleport. Meanwhile, Doctor Strangefate wants to destroy the shards that could reform the DC and Marvel universes at the cost of the Amalgam universe. He sends his agents–Bruce Banner (Skulk), Wanda Zatara (White Witch), and Frankie Rayner (Jade Nova)–to track him down…only to learn that the shards are elsewhere (the answer coming in DC Versus Marvel #4). Access escapes, and Doctor Strangefate, Charles Xavier, must live with his failure.
What they got right: I’m glad they didn’t forget Axel Asher is part of this event. Somebody decided to show what he was doing in this new continuity and learning his new powers as the Access.
What they got wrong: The only problem I have with this is in the primary amalgamation, so let’s get right to him:
- Doctor Strangefate (Doctor Strange/Doctor Fate/Professor X): It’s that last one I don’t get. Was Marz hoping for a twist for fans? Strangefate isn’t two amalgams, he’s three, and the use of Charles Xavier feels unnecessary. Doctor Fate’s side alone would allow him the knowledge he needed of the origins of the Amalgam universe. Using Professor X is unnecessary. Also, fate (no pun intended) to his universe aside, Strangefate isn’t very nice to his charges, and while he does sort of apologize to Access for torturing him to find the shards, he’s still kind of cold about it. The Arkham Tower holds, I guess considering the characters, supernatural evils of some kind. He’s not very likable is what I’m saying.
- Skulk (Hulk/Solomon Grundy): I guess Grundy was the closest the DCU has to the Hulk…since I’m assuming they would have merged Swamp Thing and Man-Thing (possibly as Man-Swamp or something). It looks like he controls the change because Banner doesn’t seem to be angry when he shifts forms. The Grey Hulk was possibly the Hulk of choice for this amalgamation. Not much to say about him.
- Jade Nova (Jade/Nova): Using the Green Lanterns and Nova as a fusion was kind of obvious. Going with Jade (who has Kyle’s last name) was unexpected, although her powers are closer to DC hero Fire. The “Iron Lantern” idea wouldn’t surface until the next series of Amalgam comics, after All Access, the second part of what I call the Access trilogy. (DC Versus Marvel/Marvel Versus DC being the first), so this is a lucky break for that series. Her personality is closer to a female version of Guy Gardner. In other words, Frankie Rayner seems to be a fusion of the two active Green Lantern heroes of the time, plus Jade, and very little of Nova. She ends up being an original character and one that could be explored.
- White Witch (Zatanna/Scarlet Witch): She has Wanda’s ability to use magic via her “metamutant” power, but there’s little of Zatanna on display. She’s apparently very…well, she hit on Doctor Strangefate and Myx, then took out Access by making out with him. You be the judge. Still, an interesting character.
- Myx (Mxyzptlk/Wong): From the way Myx describes his servitude, I think he’s not there willingly. I know little about Wong, but he’s lacking Mxyzptlk’s spark.
- Abominite (Abomination/Hellgrammite): I’m not sure why they made this fusion. I’ve only seen the Hellgramite once, and it wasn’t in regular DC continuity. Abomination is Hulk’s enemy but there doesn’t seem to be a connection to Skulk. Combining Hellgrammite with the Lizard might have been a better choice.
Would I buy this series: Honestly, I wouldn’t have bought the comic if it wasn’t for Access appearing in it. As it turns out that was a good move, because Strangefate will return in the next storyline, which I couldn’t have known at the time. I don’t usually bother with the supernatural wing of the DC or Marvel universes.
Recommendation: If you’re following all three Access Trilogy miniseries, this is a must. Even following this one is kind of a must. It’s a decent story otherwise so still worth a curiosity look.
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