ELSEWORLD'S FINEST #6
"Nightmare Over Apocolypse!"

Dr. Fate created by Gardner Fox

Written by Jeff Melton

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE: Dr. Fate finds two of the three Tablets, and discovers the dimension where the remaining Tablet is being kept, although the identity of the one possessing the final Tablet is unknown to him. After much effort, he locates the Tablet, and prepares to retrieve it. Before he can reach his destination, however, a swarm of troops from Apocalypse attack him, followed by Kalibak...even as Darkseid, the holder of the final Tablet, looks on...

In the far reaches of the dimension in which Apocalypse resides, Dr. Fate and Kalibak grapple, as the legions of Apocalypse gather in the background, regrouping after being defeated by Dr. Fate earlier.* The power behind the third Tablet has been revealed, and Dr. Fate has to battle through the legions of Darkseid, ruler of Apocalypse and source of all that is good in the multiverse, in order to retrieve it.

"It is obvious now who I am up against," Dr. Fate silently considers, while continuing to grapple against Kalibak, each trying to gain the advantage. "He was masking his presence from me, but sent his troops to stop me when I located the Tablet."

"Father wants the other Tablets in your care, Fate!" Kalibak utters through a guttural growl. "And he will have them...even if he has to take them from your lifeless corpse!"

Dr. Fate delivers a right cross that sends Kalibak backward, while the soldiers gather around the two combatants, encircling them. The appearance of Kalibak was a timely one for the soldiers, who have had a respite and a chance to regroup.

"In my search for the other Tablets, I have seen that they are capable of great good...and great evil," Dr. Fate comments, looking down at Kalibak, who glares back up at him from the ground. "In the hands of someone as evil as Darkseid, the entire universe would have cause for alarm. That day shall never arrive!"

Suddenly, the troops attack, swarming on Dr. Fate, even as his concentration was centered on Kalibak. He is soon buried beneath their great numbers. He sends out mystic blasts at some of them, sending those down, but there are too many and their attack too swift, for Dr. Fate to get them all, as they hail blow after blow on his body, trying desperately to bring him down...knowing all too well the price of failure in Darkseid's legion!

"NOW!" Kalibak calls out, and the some of the warriors disperse, but others still hold Dr. Fate fast, as Kalibak aims his beta-club at Dr. Fate, striking him squarely in the chest with a nerve beam that sends Dr. Fate to his knees, his arms still supported by some of the warriors.

"I am unable to move my limbs," Dr. Fate thinks to himself, while looking through his helmet at Kalibak, who is gesturing towards the warriors. "While I am certain I can overcome this affliction, it will take time."

"Take him!' Kalibak orders the warriors, as a large warrior throws him over his shoulder, while others back up, but watch Fate carefully, cautiously. They have seen what he can do, and are weary of giving him a chance once again. "We now go to Apocalypse!"

A resounding BOOM! is heard, as another boom tube suddenly appears, creating a portal leading to Apocalypse. Kalibak starts through the cylindrical portal, but quickly turns back to the warriors, urging them onward. "Come! We now go to father victorious! He shall be pleased!"

Meanwhile, in a plane above the accessibility of humans, Hawkman, holding in his hands the legendary Spear of Destiny, floats high above the Earth. His body is surrounded by a mystic aura created by the power of the spear. Spectre, who has grown to a huge size, has his hands around the Earth, cradling it, protecting it from destruction. Hawkman channels the Spear of Destiny's powers into the Spectre, and thereby into the Earth.

On the Earth below, a fragile peace exists. People walk about with some degree of normalcy, although the effects of the recent cataclysm are evident from the scenes of destruction around them. There are overturned cars, downed power lines, fallen buildings, and rubble strewn in all directions. The people, however, are just pleased that—at least for the moment—it has stopped, and the rescue crews are able to pick up the pieces during their respite.

In Gotham City, the JSA has gathered together to protect their home from the destruction that has been plaguing it ever since the Tablets of Destiny disappeared.* Flash stands in charge of the group, in the absence of their long-time leader, Hawkman.

Batman, the Flash, and Superman stand at the monitor board, as they view the struggle that Hawkman and the Spectre are undergoing.

"Spectre is allowing for this transmission," Superman points out. "He wants us to be sure that we know if he falters, so we can be prepared for the worst. I just wish there was something I could do!"

"I know what you mean, old friend," Batman agrees." I'm not used to just standing by, helpless, while someone else does the work."

"None of us have been doing that," the Flash corrects them, while turning away from them, noticing that his wife, Joan, has returned to the room. "We've all been working around the clock, trying to keep this world together. My metabolism keeps me from exhaustion, but I don't know how some of the others are managing."

Jane walks up to Flash, who puts his arm around her, as he looks back at the screen, hoping for a miracle to develop. Lois and Selena walk into the room, standing behind their husbands, as their eyes are trained to the screen.

Wildcat and Power Girl sit side-by-side, away from the view screen. "I wish I could go out and smash something, Ted!"

"I think there's been too much smashing as it is!" Wildcat says, half-jokingly. "There really isn't much left to smash!"

Power Girl nods, thinking about the scenes of destruction outside their walls. She turns to Wildcat, her expression growing more serious. "If you could change something in your life, what would it be, Ted?" she asks.

"I dunno," Ted replies, caught off-guard by the question. "I've made some mistakes. I guess everyone has. There are times when I think I'd do just about anything to change some things that've happened in the past. But, I know that can't be done. I guess we all have to just live for today."

Power Girl smiles at Wildcat, who looks at her with surprise. She then pulls him to her, kissing him. Wildcat is surprised at first, but does nothing to resist. Soon, this draws the attention of the other gathered heroes, who look on with surprise.

Wildcat looks up, noticing that virtually every eye in the room is on him. His eyes widen with surprise. Wildcat stands up, holding his outstretched hand to Power Girl. "What's the matter with you people?" he asks in mock anger. "Never seen anyone kiss before?"

"Come on, Karen!" he offers, as she rises to her feet with him. "We can't get any privacy around here!"

"Sounds good to me, Ted," she replies, as the two turn and leave the meeting room, as the other members look on and smile, glad to have a moment's distraction from the worries that the world has given them recently.

Meanwhile, in the dark domain of Apocalypse, Dr. Fate is led to Darkseid's palace by two burly warriors, who each carry an arm, dragging the semi-conscious Fate through the court and into the palace itself. Even in his semi-conscious state, Fate cannot help but notice how dark and foreboding this place is. Very little attention has been made to the upkeep of the palace, although there are signs of beauty hidden in the old tapestries and jewels lining the dank walls.

As Dr. Fate makes his way to the crown room, two lines of warriors stand proudly on both sides of the two warriors dragging Fate in. They look on at Fate with a mixture of contempt and fear. Some of them were bested by Fate earlier, and they look at Fate with great trepidation, while others—fresh and not a part of the earlier combat—have more of a look of arrogance and pride in their faces.

Beyond the lines of warriors, the common citizenry look on with great concern at the sight of a warrior of good who has been defeated. Once more, their hopes for freedom from Darkseid's tyranny have been dashed before they could be realized. Their poverty stands in a stark contrast with trappings of their ruler.

At the foot of the stairs leading up to the ornate throne of Darkseid, Kalibak stands, his staff in his hands, as he looks on with pride at the sight of the defeated Dr. Fate being led up to his father for inspection.

Dr. Fate is promptly led to the bottom of the three stairs (but still held fast by the two warriors) leading up to Darkseid, who has watched the spectacle of his arrival with great interest, his eyes never leaving Fate...but pleased with his predicament, and satisfied knowing that his warriors have overcome this threat to his reign. Under his right arm is the third Tablet of Destiny—the Tablet of Control, which Darkseid has used to solidify his control over the people of Apocalypse and to fashion this dreary realm to his wishes. Fate cannot help but notice that, despite the power contained in the Tablet, it has not been used to improve the lives of the citizenry—or even to make the palace more appealing. It has only been used for the sole purpose of controlling others.

Darkseid gets out of his throne, walking to the top of the stairs, looking down at Dr. Fate with contempt. Dr. Fate has risen to his knees, and looks up at the sinister features of the evil Darkseid, his helmet betraying nothing.

"I knew you would have to come, Fate," Darkseid comments through his low, guttural tone, as he glares down at Dr. Fate. "I have been expecting you since the Tablet was first delivered into my hands by a poor fool who did not know the power it contained."

Darkseid makes a single step down, to the top step, as Dr. Fate continues to look up at him, his eyes hidden behind his helmet. "Our fates are forever linked, Dr. Fate," Darkseid explains, while involuntarily tightening his grip on the Tablet. "I see that now. It was inevitable that we should meet here this day. You are my opposite number."

"I have known for ages that you were tied into the continuum," Darkseid explains, while continuing to watch Fate for any reaction to his words, but somewhat disappointed that he finds none. "Could Fate have really been overcome so quickly...so easily?" he wonders to himself. Ignoring that for the moment, he continues: "I have known that you played some part in the cosmic drama. It has taken my quite some time to discern your role, however."

Suddenly, Darkseid's tone grows more aggressive, as anger explodes from his very being. "It is your duty to unseat me from my throne, just as it is my duty to keep you from doing so!" he explodes angrily, looking at Fate with seething hatred. "Thus, our battle has been written in stone for ages," he continues, calming himself.

Darkseid looks away briefly, turning back to his throne, surveying what is his by right of conquest. "The table has turned full circle," Darkseid comments. "The moment is now."

"It looks as though my ploy was successful," Fate silently considers, as his eyes light up with a sudden burst of energy. "Kalibak's nerve ray looked as if it had harmed me, although it did not. Apparently, DeSaad made some significant modifications on the device, making it more powerful than ever. However, it was not sufficient to get through my mystical shields."

Dr. Fate effortlessly breaks away from Darkseid's warriors, throwing them into the crowd of warriors lined up on either side of him. With one fluid motion, Dr. Fate lunges at their leader before Darkseid is fully aware of what has happened, and before the warriors have an opportunity to regroup.

"The time has indeed come, Darkseid!" Dr. Fate comments, as he lunges forward at the stunned Darkseid.

Dr. Fate delivers a punishing blow to Darkseid's face, which sends him to the ground in pain. "The time for your reign of evil and chaos to end!" Dr. Fate continues, as he sends out another blow to Darkseid, which sends him back, still reeling from the surprise of Dr. Fate's attack. Before he can deliver a third blow, however, Darkseid sends out his energy beams from his eyes, blasting Fate in the chest.

Kalibak strikes Dr. Fate from behind, surprising him with the sheer intensity of the assault. Darkseid tries to rise to his feet, fueled again by his son's intervention. "NO!" Kalibak exclaims, striking Fate to the back of the head, driving him forward, off-balance. "I beat you before and I will do it again!"

Dr. Fate turns quickly, sending out a closed-fist back-hand that sends Kalibak into the stairway, smashing the surface of the stairway, sending debris flying in all directions, as his face pounds against the ungiving marble surface.

As Kalibak starts to rise, Dr. Fate delivers a swift kick to his chin, jerking the villain's head back violently, sending him reeling from the blow. "Do not be a fool, Kalibak!" Dr. Fate replies in a corrective tone. "Your attack did nothing to me—other than allowing me to reach my objective far quicker, and with far less intervention, than I could have done on my own."

Dr. Fate sends out a mystic blast, striking Kalibak's upper body, as the villain rears back in pain, and falls to the ground, unconscious. "Perhaps I should be grateful to you for that," Dr. Fate comments coldly.

Meanwhile, Darkseid has recovered from the blows that Dr. fate dealt him and is now lunging at Fate. He hits Dr. Fate on the back of the head, catching him by surprise.

Dr. Fate retaliates by sending out a crushing right to Darkseid's granite jaw, sending him crashing back to the ground, demolishing a likeness carved in his honor! Dr. Fate quickly bends over, picking up the Tablet that Darkseid dropped as a result of the blow. Dr. Fate quickly places it with the other two Tablets. Once they are together, they shine with a brilliance that dazzles the assemblage. Warriors and citizens alike are held aghast by the image of the three Tablets. Darkseid stands back cautiously, as he watches Dr. Fate in possession of the tablets.

Dr. Fate holds the Tablets above his head, as all of the soldiers fall to the ground. All around, those who would otherwise interfere with the battle fall before the power of the Tablets, channeled by the experienced hand of Dr. Fate.

With a precision of a master of the mystic arts, and will cool calm, Dr. Fate surrounds the Tablets in a mystical force field, and sends the force field, with the Tablets, high above him. Dr. Fate then turns his attention to Darkseid, who has returned to his feet, prepared to continue their battle.

"I have watched the Tablets at marveled at their sight." Darkseid silently considers, advancing towards Fate, while glancing up with a sinister design on the Tablets. "They possess power rivaling—and perhaps even surpassing—that of the anti-life equation, which I have ever sought to control. With them, I could rule the entire cosmos, as I am destined to do."

Before Dr. Fate can turn his attention towards Darkseid, the evil monarch delivers a blow to the side of Dr. Fate's face, driving him back. "With your death, I shall inherit the universe entire!"

Relentless in his desire to gain control of the Tablets and the power they represent, Darkseid unleashes bolts of his dark energies at Dr. Fate, who is sent sprawling, being hammered by their power. "I have dreamed of this hour, and you—Dr. Fate, so-called 'protector of the universe'—have delivered it to me!"

Dr. Fate raises his mystic shields, deflecting the energy with a quickness that surprises Darkseid. "That day will never come, fiend!" Dr. Fate counters.

The two powerful combatants each unleash their own respective mystic energy at one another, as the beams deflect from the other, sending pools of energy in all directions and lighting up the perpetually dark realm of Apocalypse with more light than it has ever beheld.

Darkseid's energy starts to falter, as he is pushed back by Dr. Fate's onslaught. "No!" Darkseid urges silently, while feeling his defenses weaken. "I cannot be over-powered by one such as he! I must fortify my shields...!"

Dr. Fate's face betrays no emotions as his cold, unmoving visage is locked behind the gaze of his metal mask, even as he continues his assault on Darkseid, breaking through all of Darkseid's shield, striking the man beneath with full force, sending him flying through the palace wall, onto the streets of Apocalypse, where his subjects merely look on wordlessly with hollow expressions.

Darkseid returns through the palace wall, a look of utter disgust etched on his granite visage. With a sudden wild rage, Darkseid flies over to Dr. Fate, who stands awaiting his arrival, as Dr. Fate's cape flows with the breezes allowed in by the gaping hole in the palace wall.

As Darkseid reaches Dr. Fate, the protector of order quickly moves to one side, delivering an elbow to Darkseid's face that sends the villain back against the palace wall. As he hits the wall at the base, streamline cracks shoot up from the point of impact along the wall.

Dr. Fate quickly flies over to Darkseid, as he is rising to his feet. Darkseid's grim face betrays his desperation, as he withdraws a familiar weapon, aiming it at Dr. Fate.

"I must use the omni-beam, despite its taxation and risks!" Darkseid thinks, as he watches Dr. Fate approach. "Victory must be won this day...at all costs!"

The omni-beam darts out towards Fate, who instinctively puts up his mystic shields to block the ray from striking him. However, the omni-beam breaks through the mystic shields, striking Fate and sending him crashing to the ground outside the palace on a pile of rocks surrounding a small lake.

Darkseid walks outside the palace, pleased to see his opponent sprawled out against the rocks, unmoving. "My ploy has paid off, though it has left me drained," Darkseid comments, looking around cautiously at his unmoving subjects.

Apprehensive, he walks over to Dr. Fate, carrying the omni-beam, which still radiates power through the residue of the energy blast it generated, in his hand. "But now, the final blow must be made!" Darkseid remarks, looking down at the still-unmoving form of Dr. Fate. "With the power of the Tablets, I can re-shape the universe in my image."

Pointing the omni-beam at Dr. Fate, he prepares to fire it a final time. "Never have I felt such power!" the villain continues to consider the Tablets and the way he plans to use them to enslave all of worlds he has ever seen. "It must be mine! It is my destiny!"

However, while Darkseid's mind is lost in images of great power, Dr. Fate suddenly moves, grabbing the villain's leg and sending him off-balance. Darkseid quickly falls to the ground, the omni-beam flying from his hands, skating across the street until it lands amid some dark clay on the shore of the lake.

"I think not!" Dr. Fate replies, as he gets to his feet, even as the stunned Darkseid looks on with disbelieving eyes.

Dr. Fate continues his advantage by delivering a powerful blow to Darkseid's jaw that sends the dark lord flying into a building long ago condemned. The force of the impact causes the building to collapse on Darkseid while he is still in it. Dr. Fate walks over to the scene, as Darkseid lumbers out of his near-crypt. Dr. Fate stands looking at his opponent emerge from the rubble of the almost completely annihilated building, separating only by a narrow street. Their eyes meet, surging with mutual contempt.

Darkseid lunges at Dr. Fate, grappling with him, as the two continue the battle for the fate of the universe. Dr. Fate quickly gains the advantage, sending out a devastating upper-cut that sends Darkseid flying through the shattered remains of the building, finally crashing down on a cluster of rocks on the opposite side of the rapidly-accumulating debris. All around, the citizens of Apocalypse look on with the blank expressions borne out of years of subjugation.

Dr. Fate walks over to Darkseid, who is even now struggling to rise to his feet amid the rubble. Darkseid glares at Dr. Fate, as he unleashed a blast of energy from his eyes, striking Dr. Fate across the chest and sending him back slightly; but Dr. Fate stays on his feet. The champion of order quickly recovers from the blast and launches his own mystic assault against Darkseid, striking him in the upper body, and sending him back against the rocks.

Dr. Fate looks down at the barely conscious Darkseid. "Your time is over, Darkseid," Dr. Fate comments evenly. "No longer will you have the Tablet of Control working for you."

Darkseid has managed to lift his head slightly above the rocks, as he and Fate exchange glances. "You have used the Tablet to make yourself an emperor over these subjects," Dr. Fate comments, while alternately looking at Darkseid and back at the subjects. "We shall now see what you are without it."

Darkseid glares at Dr. Fate, as he rises slightly, holding himself up on his right elbow. "Curse you, Fate!" he exclaims with undying hatred. "I will never forget this!" Dr. Fate merely watches as the villain collapses, overcome by unconsciousness.

"I leave you now to the justice of your people," Dr. Fate says, looking down at the prone form of Darkseid, who is lying unconscious against the rocks. "I have no right to deliver your punishment. It is their right, and theirs alone. Without the Tablet of Control, the Hunger Dogs will most likely attain the freedom they have always sought."

With that, Dr. Fate walks away from the scene, leaving Darkseid behind, unconscious on the rocks, as the tattered and long-subjugated people approach him for the first time, no longer afraid of his wrath. Their eyes show the light of freedom for the first time...which contrasts with the dark expressions of anger and resentment for their years of subjugation.

Later, after Dr. Fate has returned the Tablets to their proper location and Hawkman has returned, he rejoins his friends and allies—the legendary Justice Society of America—in their meeting room to celebrate the successful completion of his quest. All of the JSAers are present, as well as the Guardian, Harlequin, Batwoman, Bat-Girl, Dian Dodds, Jane Garrick, Larry Lance, and Mary Pratt.

Dr. Fate shakes Hawkman's hand, as he is surrounded by Dr. Mid-Nite, Superman, the Batman, and Green Lantern, who are all patting him on the back.

"You did it, Fate," Hawkman says in a congratulatory tone. "You saved the universe."

"I could not have done so without your help, my friends," Dr. Fate replies in his usual emotionless way. "This is surely the greatest group of heroes ever assembled."

"Merlin might argue that point," Green Lantern chimes in, with a board smile. Harlequin stands behind him, looking on with interest. "But we appreciate the sentiment."

Suddenly, the ghostly image of the Spectre appears, enveloping all of the heroes and assembled guests. Looking down at the heroes, who are surrounded by his cloak, he fixes his gaze on Dr. Fate.

"I have come to congratulate you on the successful completion of your mission," the Spectre says in his eerie, unearthly voice. "Would that I could have accompanied you on your quest, but my presence was needed here, to hold the very fabric of the universe together."

"My thanks, Spectre," Dr. Fate comments. "It is as I suspected. The Earth would immediately feel the effects of the missing Tablets, and the problem would spread throughout the universe entire."

The Spectre disappears as abruptly as he has come, to conduct the duties that are allotted to him, leaving the others without another word.

"I know you have all worked very hard in the time that I was searching for the Tablets," Dr. Fate offers, glancing at the assembled heroes. "And I appreciate your efforts. Never has the world seen your like."

"But now," Dr. Fate comments, while looking at the heroes and guests one final time, as he starts to float effortlessly above them. "I must return...home." Dr. Fate is surprised himself by the choice of words chosen, but does not let it show to the others.

"We understand, Fate," Superman says, nodding, as Dr. Fate continues to rise above them.

"Don't be a stranger!" Larry Lance chimes in, holding a beer in his hand—one of many he's held in his hand since their celebration began.

As Dr. Fate enters like a wraith through the walls of his Salem home, Inza rushes from the couch to meet him.

"Kent!" she exclaims, throwing her arms around him. "Oh, Kent! You're back!"

Inza backs up slightly, looking at the cold, emotionless helmet that Fate wears. "Oh, thank you for bringing Kent safely home." she says excitedly.

Dr. Fate removes his helmet, as Inza looks on with teary eyes.

Dr. Fate then puts the helmet down on the end table, as Inza continues to look on with growing anticipation.

Inza embraces Kent, who smiles at long last, free of his obligations for the moment...and able to live once again as a man. The two embrace in a passionate kiss, as Kent feels the soft body of the woman he loves once more, his hands roaming up and down her back.

"I'm so glad to have you back," Inza offers, smiling at her husband, as the two break their kiss momentarily. "I thought I'd...!"

"I'm glad to be back, Inza," Kent replies softly, looking at his wife, lost in her beauty as if for the first time. "I thought about you the whole time. And now...!"

Kent lifts Inza in his powerful arms, as the two start to walk towards their bedroom, kissing her once more. "It's time to pick up where we left off."

Elseworld's Finest #1-5

Featuring Doctor Fate

by Jeff Melton

Woohoo! We're back to the script-format! Well, at least for the first four issues anyway. You know, just a couple days ago, I was hating this format, now I find myself sulking that #5 was done in a more common short story-format. It's quite odd. Anyhow, if anything, that has to be my first complaint. Inconsistency. I realize that perhaps the script-format takes longer to write (never done it myself, so I don't know, but it looks that way) and that perhaps it's also harder to write (ditto here) or maybe Jeff just didn't plain like it. However, I really think that if you start in one format you really should finish at least the arc in that same format. Quite insignificant really, especially when the quality of the story is this high, but I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, and little things like that tend to bug me. Sorry.

The first issue was quite interesting. I'm not quite sure where the start of this story is, but we jump right into a mess where the Tablets of Destiny are missing and Fate has to start off on his quest to retrieve them. Three of them if I'm not mistaken.

Doctor Fate is a solemn character, who knows what his role is and so he does it, methodically, using logic, always seeming calm and collected. Does that sound about right? Well, it's exactly the way Jeff is writing him. Or at least it's the way it came off on me.

On the down side for this issue, I'm kinda lost. What happened? Why are the Tablets dispersed? What are the consequences to them being lost? All questions that I'm sure will be answered later on in the series, but I really would have liked to see it in the first issue. If these things are that important, I kind of want to know why.

It's a good thing I read the "What Has Gone Before" box in issue 2, because I can't help but feel like I missed something. Did I? When was it explained that the Tablets each controlled one aspect of reality? And when was the King's name given? This is info that I'd like to know before I read that "What Has Gone Before" box which I frequently skip.

Okay, once I got past that, I absolutely, totally and completely LOVED this issue! Doctor Fate is Guardian of Order and it seemed so perfectly natural that instead of fighting a mystical battle which he probably could have won anyhow, that he try and resolve things with reason, trying to make the king see how things really were. And in the end, the promise that he would return, it just sounded so... real? Have I ever mentioned how much I love realism in comics?

The highlight of the third issue was the scene with Inza and Dinah. There's so much unexplored potential in Inza's character, and it's good to see that Jeff has decided to prod around a little more in that area. I hope that if this mini drags on longer or if (dare I hope it?) it becomes an ongoing, we'll get to see more of the Kent/Fate relationship, which I

think has not been seen enough.

The fourth issue comes back to where the second left off defining Fate's personality flawlessly in the way that he conducts himself in trying to retrieve the tablet. Jeff just writes him so well, I'm glad he's in the pages of All-Star just so I'll be able to get a regular dose of him.

Also in this issue, the meeting of the JSA. I thought there were a few too many jokes cracked at this meeting considering what's been happening, I also found it odd that there was no objection in trying to find something to counter the effects of the Tablets. I say that because I see it as somewhat of a lack of faith on the part of the JSAers. They know that Fate should be perfectly capable of doing what needs to be done and that had he thought that there was an alternative that was quicker and more efficient than retrieving the Tablets, he would have done it. Despite this, it was a still a fun interlude, seeing how the heroes on Earth were dealing with this crisis.

Issue 5 smashes doors wide open without resolving much of anything! We find out who the mystery villain is and Hawkman gains control of the Spear of Destiny! This issue is just a beautiful setup for a final issue that promises to be all that the first 5 issues were and more! I'm at the edge of my seat... really... okay, so that's just the way I sit, but still,

I'm quite excited.

And there you have it. Good work Jeff.

Later,

Adam Di Stefano

Dear Editor:

This problem with this series is that the issues end too quickly. In no time, it'll be #6 and it'll be over. The writing on this book is too exceptional to be limited to a mere six issues.

This issue continues to portray the cosmic significance of Fate's quest to not only the Earth, but to the universe (particularly by the Spectre's intervention). This is really shaping up to be a storyline of epic proportions.

No sign of "figure" or "vassal" this time (#4). Since it has been brought to my attention that, by "giving life" to "vassal", "figure" meant he would allow "vassal" to live, I can stick with my original guess that they are Darkseid and DeSaad. I guess everyone will see for sure next issue.

Dr. Fate has long been one of my top favorite characters. He has long deserved a regular series too. DC's destruction of him was needless, pointless, and a blasphemy. We need Jeff Melton's stories to make up for it. I wouldn't mind seeing Dr. Fate team up with J'onn J'onzz myself. Perhaps B'Rett could join forces with Wotan or maybe...no Karnang! Being a sorcerer, Karnang would be perfect to fight Fate. Don't let it end, Jeff!

Danny DeAngelo