Comic Title: Doctor Fate #1
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: Winter 1988
On Sale Date: October 4, 1988 Shipping Date October 4, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #9

Shipping Date October 6, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #149

Newsstand Date October 29, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #149

Copyright Date October 11, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 32
Editor: Karen Berger

Title: "The Return of Dr. Fate"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Doctor Fate (Eric/Linda Strauss Post-Crisis)

Writer: J. Mark DeMatteis
Penciller: Shawn McManus
Inker: Mark McKenna
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski

Feature Character(s)

• Doctor Fate (last appearance in Doctor Fate #16; next appearance in Doctor Fate #2)
• Linda Strauss (last appearance in Doctor Fate #16; next appearance in Doctor Fate #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Nabu (in possession of the body of Kent Nelson; last appearance in Doctor Fate #16; next appearance in Doctor Fate #2)
• Petey (a small demon; become Eric's dog in this story; not named in this story; next appearance in Doctor Fate #2)

Villain(s)

• Several demons (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Andrew Bennett (first Post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Doctor Fate #2)

Other Character(s)

• Joachim Hesse (an occultist; first appearance; next appearance in Doctor Fate #7)

Comments:
Though technically Eric and Linda Strauss merge to form Doctor Fate, Linda will be listed as a separate character until such time as she becomes the primary host body for Doctor Fate. It should be recognized that in Doctor Fate's appearances outside his own title, that Linda is actually present in merged form. However, she will not be listed separately unless she actually appears in her unmerged state.

Synopsis:
Doctor Fate arrives at the home of Joachim Hesse, a dabbler in the occult who has summoned several small demons. Doctor Fate banished the demons and warns Hesse to stop his activities. Fate then returns home and separates into Eric and Linda Strauss. They seek the counsel of Nabu who now inhabits the corpse of the original Doctor Fate, Kent Nelson. Nabu is enjoying the pleasures of living a human existence for the first time.

One of the demons from the occultist's house follows Doctor Fate home. When Linda sees it, she and Eric reform Doctor Fate and press the attack. Nabu calls them off sensing that this demon is friendly. It wants to remain on Earth and uses its shape-shifting abilities to take the form of a pet dog.