Doctor Occult

Doctor Occult (Richard Occult, sometimes nicknamed the Ghost Detective, and one time referred to as Doctor Mystic) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (the creators of Superman), Doctor Occult is an occult detective, private investigator and magic user who specializes in cases involving the supernatural.[1]

The character first appeared in 1935 during the Platinum Age of Comic Books. He was published by National Comics Publications and Centaur Publications within anthology titles. Doctor Occult is the earliest recurring, originally featured fictional character still used in the DC Universe. He is sometimes affiliated with the All-Star Squadron and has appeared in paranormal-related stories by DC and Vertigo Comics titles.[2]

Publication history

Fictional character biography

The fictional character's origin was revealed in Secret Origins (vol. 2) #17. (August 1987) by E. Nelson Bridwell and Roy Thomas. They depicted him and a woman (the future Rose Psychic) being kidnapped by a demonic cult to be sacrificed but were rescued by a shadowy group of magicians called "The Seven". Recognizing that both Occult and Psychic had magical potential, the Seven took them away for a number of years to study and learn the mystic arts.

Thirty-six years later, Doctor Occult opened up his own detective agency, specializing in crimes of a mystical nature and during World War II he joined the All-Star Squadron. At some point, Occult and Rose were fused into one being; the exact circumstances vary between stories. Occult's use of sorcery has largely negated his body's aging process, causing him to appear middle-aged despite being born in the late 1800s.[1][15]

In 1991, Neil Gaiman brought the character back into the spotlight with a prominent supporting role in The Books of Magic. In the third issue he acts as Tim Hunter's guide to otherworlds. When visiting Faerie, he takes the form of Rose Psychic. Hunter's other guides are Mister E, the Phantom Stranger, and John Constantine, the last of whom sarcastically nicknames the group the Trenchcoat Brigade. The four would return later at a summons from Hunter, who, having lost everything at that point, needs a new direction in life.[16]

In Day of Judgment, Occult joins the Sentinels of Magic, a group created to prevent artifacts such as the Spear of Destiny from falling into the wrong hands.[17]

Occult appears as a main character in Reign in Hell, where he enters Hell to find and release the soul of Rose Psychic.[17]

In The New 52, Occult is depicted as caretaker of the House of Secrets.[18] In the DC All In series Justice League Unlimited (vol. 2), he joins the expanded Justice League.[19]

Powers and abilities

Doctor Occult has the powers of astral projection, hypnosis, illusion creating, and telekinesis. He wields a powerful talisman, a sphere or disc with a black and white pattern, called the Mystic Symbol of the Seven. It grants him the powers of clairvoyance, exorcism, deflection, and force field projection.

In other media

• Doctor Occult appears as a non-playable character in DC Universe Online.
• Doctor Occult appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[20]

Reception

Bill Reed of Comic Book Resources praised the character saying that DC Comics could portray more of him despite him not having the staying power as other supernatural heroes such as Phantom Stranger or John Constantine.[21]