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]
