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Doctor Occult (sometimes nicknamed the Ghost Detective, and one time referred to as Doctor Mystic) is a fictional 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] Doctor Occult first appeared in 1935 during the Platinum Age of Comic Books. He was published by National Comics Publications and Centaur Publications within anthology titles. He 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]
| Doctor Occult | |
|---|---|
 Doctor Occult as depicted in Constantine #17 (October 2014). Art by Edgar Salazar and Jay Leisten. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | New Fun #6 (October 1935) |
| Created by | Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Richard Occult |
| Team affiliations | Justice Society of America All-Star Squadron Sentinels of Magic The Trenchcoat Brigade Justice League |
| Notable aliases | Doctor Mystic |
| Abilities |
|
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Mainstream version
Golden Age titles
Doctor Occult first appeared in the sixth issue of the anthology comic books series New Fun in October 1935.[3] (New Fun was retitled More Fun beginning with issue #7 and again to More Fun Comics with issue #20.) The character was credited to "Leger and Reuths" — partial anagrams of Siegel and Shuster's surnames.[4] Later, Siegel and Shuster left the character for the more popular Superman.[1]
Occult was depicted as a supernatural detective whose detecting style was in the style of Sam Spade, but with supernatural abilities. Supporting characters in the strip included Rose Psychic and Occult's butler.[5] Writers such as Les Daniels have cited the character as a prototype of Superman.[6]
Renamed to "Dr. Mystic", Occult also appeared in Centaur Publications' The Comics Magazine #1 (May 1936), with that story continuing in DC's More Fun Comics #14-17. In this story, he travels to a mystic realm where he flies and wears a cape, making him the first caped comic book superhero.[7] Doctor Occult's last Golden Age appearance was in More Fun Comics #32 in 1938.
Bronze Age revival
After years of obscurity, the character was revived in the 1980s, appearing in issues of All-Star Squadron,[1][8] Swamp Thing,[9] and Crisis on Infinite Earths.[10][11]
Modern Age revivals
The character had a featured origin story in Secret Origins #17 (1987).[1] He later appeared in comics such as Neil Gaiman's The Books of Magic (1991),[12] The Trenchcoat Brigade (alongside Mister E, the Phantom Stranger, and John Constantine) (1999),[13] and "Day of Judgement" (1999) as part of the Sentinels of Magic.[14][15]
Reboot
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Doctor Occult appears in Justice League Dark, Constantine, Secret Six, and The Books of Magic series.
Other versions
Doctor Occult appears in comic books outside of the mainstream DC Universe in what is referred to as the multiverse. Many are adaptation tie-ins, including Justice League Unlimited #14, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #9, and Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year 3 Annual #1.
Occult also appears in issue #2 of the Elseworlds comic series Superman & Batman: Generations II.
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The fictional character's origin was revealed in Secret Origins (vol. 2) #17. (August 1987) by E. Nelson Bridewell and Roy Thomas. They depicted him and his partner Rose Psychic being slated as human sacrifices at the hands of a demonic cult, but were rescued by a shadowy group called "The Seven". The two were later trained in the use of occult magics themselves. Thirty-six years later, Doctor Occult establishes a detective agency and joins the All-Star Squadron during World War II. After Occult sacrifices his soul to defeat the Stalker entity, Rose fuses with him to save his life.[11] Doctor Occult has used sorcery to halt his aging, so that he appears in modern comics to still be a man in his late thirties or early forties, even though he was born in the late 1800s.[1][16]
In 1991, Neil Gaiman brought the character back into the spotlight with a prominent supporting role in The Books of Magic. He, Mister E, the Phantom Stranger, and John Constantine act as Tim Hunter's mentor and guide him to become a powerful magician.[17]
In Day of Judgment, Occult appears as a member of the Sentinels of Magic, a group created to prevent artifacts such as the Spear of Destiny falling into the wrong hands.[11]
Occult appears as a main character in the backup story by Keith Giffen in the Reign in Hell mini-series where he enters Hell to find Rose Psychic.[11]
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Occult is depicted as the keeper of the House of Secrets.[18]
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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, fighting exorcism, deflection, and force field projection.
- 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.[19]
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.[20]
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