More Than Enough Dr. Fates

"More Than Enough Dr. Fates" from Dr. Fate vol.3 #22 (DC, 1990) by J.M. DeMatteis and Shawn McManus

The Eric & Linda Strauss Dr. Fate series was one of those things I picked up in bulk when I moved to a town with a comic book shop, along with Animal Man, Doom Patrol and LEGION. What they all had in common was being unlike anything I'd read from the spinner racks where I came from. Dr. Fate didn't go Vertigo, like my first two examples, but it might have done. A mystical hero, a literate approach, and Shawn McManus who would eventually work on Sandman. Perhaps it was Petey the Demon and other comedy characters that kept it from attracting the imprint's attention. Of course, like a lot of DeMatteis stuff - including Moonshadow, which he did for Vertigo - it goes all metaphysical and pretentious at the end. After 2 years' worth, Fate's mantle was passed on to Inza, and to William Messner-Loebs. I read it, but it was nowhere near as memorable for me.