The title of Sorcerer Supreme has long signified the chief defender of Earth from mystical threats. Amongst those who have held the title have been the most powerful will-workers and magicians that have ever lived.
The first Sorcerer Supreme was the ancient wizard currently known as Nabu. So powerful was he that extended his lifespan for many centuries, earning him the title of "Ancient One". When his physical body finally expired, he transferred his soul into an artifact, the Helmet of Fate to serve as an advisor to the next generation of Sorcerer Supremes.
Each person who donned the Helmet gained the knowledge and power of Nabu. However, Nabu was not content to simply be an observer and bound himself to the spirit of the wearer. In effect, the Ancient One took partial or full control of the wearer of the Helmet.
The last wielder of the Helmet was Kent Nelson. Unlike other Sorcerer Supremes, Kent took on a public identity as the first Doctor Fate. He joined the Justice Society of America and became a household name. After the death of his wife, Kent retired from the world of heroics and the helmet sat dormant for over half-a-century.
Doctor Stephen Strange was a neurosurgeon who lost the use of his hands in a terrible accident. Unable to practice medicine, he spent his fortune on unsuccessful treatments. In despiration, he turned to the occult to find a way to heal his useless fingers. During one ritual he contacted the spirit of Nabu in the Tower of Fate, who took him on as an apprentice.
Strange proved an extraordinary student, mastering the magical lessons at an accelerated rate. Faster than nearly any student the Ancient One tutored, Stephen proved ready to don the Helmet of Fate and take his place as the latest Doctor Fate, Sorcerer Supreme.
His student surprised Nabu when he rejected the Helmet. Stephen seemingly knew that donning the helmet would effectively bind him to Nabu and he would lose his individuality. In an extraordinary move, he claimed the title without the Helmet of Fate, become Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme.
It's unclear how Nabu will interact with Doctor Strange, now that Giovanni Zatara has donned the Helmet of Nabu and become the new Doctor Fate.
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