Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / DC Studios
DC‘s new Absolute Universe setting is built upon death and entropy. Various heroes have been killed or confirmed dead in this dark timeline born of the will of the tyrant god Darkseid. However, the latest chapter of Absolute Superman reveals that this reality’s Doctor Fate (best known from the DCEU movie Black Adam) died at the hands of a surprising superhero.
Written by Jason Aaron, with art by Juan Ferreyra, Absolute Superman #16 pits Kal-El of Krypton against another hero. At first, Superman thinks the costumed man who confronts him wants to socialize. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the mystery man sees the Man of Steel as a threat. More, he intends to kill him, and confesses to killing several other superheroes, including Doctor Fate.
Who murdered Doctor Fate in DC’s Absolute Universe?
(Image Source: DC Comics / Juan Ferreyra)
The killer in question is Hawkman, who previously killed Oliver Queen before he became Green Arrow in Absolute Evil #1. That special detailed the deaths of several DC superheroes in the Absolute Universe. This included The Sandman and Iron Munro. However, the fight between Superman and Hawkman confirms that Carter Hall was responsible for those deaths, as well as murdering Doctor Fate.
The revelation that Hawkman killed Doctor Fate is a rather big deal. Even ignoring the DCEU reality, the two are usually portrayed as work colleagues or friends in the comics. This is due to both Kent Nelson and Carter Hall being archeologists, and their mutual ties to Ancient Egypt. However, in DC’s Absolute Universe, they share no such connection or comradery.
(Image Source: DC Comics / Juan Ferreyra)
Absolute Superman #16 reveals that this version of Hawkman is also an archeologist. However, he is apparently not the reincarnation of a pharaoh cursed to be reborn forever. Instead, he is a tomb raider, who acquired an arsenal of alien weapons and armor from various Egyptian sites. These are said to be from the planet Thanagar, in a nod to the home planet of DC’s Silver Age Hawkman.
It is unclear just how powerful this Carter Hall and his artifacts are relative to Absolute Superman. The power level of Hawkman in the comics is inconsistent, even ignoring his complicated continuity. However, it is generally agreed that he is one of the most skilled combatants in the DC Universe, thanks to his many lifetimes as a warrior on multiple worlds. This gives him an edge against the relatively green Kal-El, regardless of how much damage his alien mace can do.
Absolute Superman #16 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
