Wotan is a fictional supervillain featured in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character, created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, made their first appearance in More Fun Comics #55 in 1940. Wotan is frequently portrayed as the primary antagonist of Doctor Fate. Originally a female who obtained her powers through sorcery, Wotan later underwent reincarnation in a male form. Adopting the name "Wotan" from Germanic and Norse legends, the character developed a strong desire for power, leading to conflicts with Doctor Fate.[1] Following the New 52 reboot, a new version of the character named Karel Wotan was introduced in the Earth 2 universe. Karel shares a similar background and possesses green skin as a result of a scar inflicted by Nabu. Seeking vengeance for this injury, Karel assumes the identity of Wotan. The original incarnation of Wotan briefly reappeared in the DC Rebirth storyline.
Wotan as they appeared in the Post-Crisis universe. (Source: Who's Who in the DC Universe #1)
The being now known as Wotan started out life as a Stone Agewoman who was raped by someone claiming to be a servant of God. She studied the black arts and became such a powerful sorceress that she was worshiped as a goddess. She later learned how to switch from body to body and then to direct her own reincarnation, eventually becoming the male being now known as Wotan.[1] In the Golden Age, Wotan encountered first Green Lantern and then the sorcerer known as Doctor Fate where he became Fate's nemesis.[3]
At one point, he was pulled back in time with other JSA enemies by the time-traveller Per Degaton to assist in capturing the JSA and stop them from interfering in his attempt to change the events of history. Wotan uses his magic aura to hold the JSA captive in caves beneath an island. The plan is foiled by the actions of the All-Star Squadron. When the Spectre is released from the aura and frees the other members, Per Degaton goes back in time, thus erasing everybody's memories of this event and returning them to their proper places.[4]
During the second volume of The Spectre in the eighties, he tries to take over the body of the sorceress Zatanna, but fails.[5] In the early nineties, Wotan discovers the temple where the last body of the being known as Yahweh - God Himself - lay entombed, still seething with mystical power.[1] While fighting the current Doctor Fate and the Justice League, Wotan enters the tower with the intention of absorbing the power, confronting God himself, and supplanting Him. Instead, he emerges blinded, his evil having been burned out by God's power. Declaring that Wotan will never menace anybody again, one of Yahweh's servants spirits Wotan away.[6]
Earth 2
In The New 52 (a reboot of DC's continuity), Wotan is reintroduced in issue #9 of Earth 2 as Karel Wotan. Her original incarnation once again as a woman, Wotan claimed to be "the mage of an organization that seeks to augment its control of magic in the world" although this was later revealed to be a lie.[7] She is portrayed as an ancient sorcerer who started life as a female Viking and later mastered the arts of sorcery, having lived several lifetimes, both male and female. An encounter with Nabu the Wise left her skin forever green and unable to enter the Tower of Fate which held the helmet Wotan desperately sought after.[8]
Powers and abilities
Wotan is a known for their expertise in sorcery, particularly in the realm of black magic. They have acquired extensive knowledge and skill in sorcerous studies over many centuries. Wotan possesses various magical abilities, including the ability to traverse between dimensions, perform intricate spell-casting, and even transfer their own soul into another body, effectively undergoing a form of self-directed reincarnation. At their apex of power, Wotan exhibits formidable abilities that enable them to directly challenge Doctor Fate. Wotan's mastery of black magic grants them significant potency in magical confrontations. Furthermore, Wotan also displays proficiency as a scientist, having demonstrated the creation of highly advanced technologies surpassing anything developed during the 20th century.[9]
However, it is worth noting that Wotan's skills in hand-to-hand combat are limited, and they rely primarily on their magical powers rather than physical combat techniques.[10]
Other versions
In DC Universe, the continuation of DC Rebirth, there is a character called Wotan II who is part of a group of alien children called the Injustice Army. As the group idolized Earth's villains, Wotan II idolized the original Wotan.[11]
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