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{{Short description|Supervillain in DC Comics}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|character_name = Wotan
|image          = File:Wotan (DC Comics).jpg
|caption        = Wotan as depicted in ''Who's Who in the DC Universe'' #1(August 1990).<br>Art by Jay Geldhof (penciller/inker) and Anthony Tollin (colorist).
|publisher      = [[DC Comics]]
|debut          = ''[[More Fun Comics]]'' #55 (May 1940)
|creators       = [[Gardner Fox]] (writer)<br/>Howard Sherman (artist)
|real_name      = Unknown <small>(originally)</small><br>Karel Wotan <small>(Earth 2)</small>
|alliances      = Injustice League
|aliases        = Wotan
|powers         = *Mastery in [[Black magic]]
*Spell crafting
*Soul stealing 
*Spiritual drain
*Eldritch blasts
*Conjuration
*Matter transmutation 
*Mind control
*Illusion casting 
*Astral projection
*Telepathy
*Telekinesis
*Teleportation
*Dimensional travel 
*Immortality
*Reincarnation
*Skilled scientist and inventor
}}
'''Wotan''' is a fictional supervillain featured in [[American comic book|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.<ref name="Doctor Fate #14" />

Wotan has made appearances in various forms of media, including adaptations in animated series such as ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' and ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]''.

==Publication history==
Wotan first appeared in ''[[More Fun Comics]]'' #55 (May 1940) and was created by [[Gardner Fox]] and Howard Sherman.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Golden |first1=Christopher |last2=Bissette |first2=Stephen R. |last3=Sniegoski |first3=Thomas E. |title=The Monster Book |date=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9780671042592 |page=196}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Wotan was originally a [[Stone Age]] [[woman]] who was raped by someone claiming to be a servant of God. She studies black arts and learns to direct her own [[reincarnation]], eventually becoming the male being Wotan.<ref name="Doctor Fate #14">''Doctor Fate'' (vol. 2) #14. DC Comics.</ref> In the [[Golden Age of comics|Golden Age]], Wotan encounters the first [[Alan Scott|Green Lantern]] and the sorcerer [[Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)|Doctor Fate]], becoming the latter's nemesis.<ref>''Secret Origins'' (vol. 2) #24 (March 1988). DC Comics.</ref>

[[Per Degaton]] summons Wotan, among other villains, to assist in capturing the JSA and stop them from interfering in his attempt to alter 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 (DC Comics character)|Spectre]] is released and frees the other members, Degaton goes back in time, erasing everybody's memories of the event and returning them to their proper places.<ref>''All-Star Squadron'' #1-3 (September - November 1981). DC Comics.</ref>

During the second volume of ''The Spectre'', Wotan unsuccessfully attempts to possess [[Zatanna]].<ref>''The Spectre'' (vol. 2) #7-8 (October - November 1987). DC Comics.</ref> Later on, Wotan discovers the temple where [[Yahweh]]'s previous body is entombed.<ref name="Doctor Fate #14"/> While fighting the current Doctor Fate and the Justice League, Wotan enters the tower to confront God. Instead, he is blinded by God's power and teleported away.<ref>''Doctor Fate'' (vol. 2) #15 (March 1990). DC Comics.</ref>

In the ''[[DC All In]]'' initiative, Wotan appears as a member of [[Scandal Savage]]'s incarnation of the [[Injustice Society]].<ref>''JSA'' (vol. 2) #1 (January 2025). DC Comics.</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
A powerful sorcerer capable of challenging Doctor Fate, Wotan possess a mastery of [[black magic]] from centuries of study. With their magic, Wotan possess a number of 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. Wotan is also an accomplished scientist and inventor, possessing technology surpassing anything developed during the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Who's Who in the DC Universe #1 |publisher=DC Comics |year=1990}}</ref> However, Wotan possess limited skills in unarmed combat and utilizes magic primarily than combat techniques.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. XXVI |publisher=DC Comics |year=1987}}</ref>

==Other versions==
===Earth 2===
[[File:Wotan_Earth_2_(DC_Comics).jpg|right|thumb|Wotan as depicted in ''Earth 2'' #12 (July 2013). Art by [[Brett Booth]] (penciler), [[Norm Rapmund]] (inker), and Andrew Dalhouse (colorist).]]
A female alternate universe variant of Wotan from [[Earth-Two#The New 52|Earth 2]] named '''Karel Wotan''' appears in the alternate Earth's self-titled series. This version is an ancient sorceress who began life as a Viking before learning magic and living several lifetimes. Additionally, she was left with green skin following an encounter with [[Nabu (comics)|Nabu]], who prevented her from taking the Helmet of Fate. By the present, she believes herself to be "the mage of an organization that seeks to augment its control of magic in the world".<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (comics)|James Robinson]]|penciller=[[Nicola Scott]]|inker=Trevor Scott|story=The Tower of Fate: Prologue; The Man Who Was Scared|title=[[Earth-Two#The New 52|Earth 2]]|issue=#9|date=April 2013}}</ref><ref>''Earth 2'' #11. DC Comics.</ref>
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===Injustice Army===
An alternate universe variant of Wotan called '''Wotan II''' appears in ''DC Universe'' as an alien child and member of the Injustice Army who idolizes the original Wotan.<ref>''Adventures of the Super Sons'' #7. DC Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* Wotan appears in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'', voiced by [[James Arnold Taylor]].<ref name="btva3">{{cite web |title=Wotan Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Wotan/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
* Wotan appears in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'', voiced by [[Bruce Greenwood]].<ref name="btva3" /> This version is a member of the [[Injustice League]]. During production of the series, he was considered a potential member for the [[List of Young Justice characters#The Light|Light]] before being replaced with [[Klarion the Witch Boy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weisman |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Weisman |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Search Ask Greg: Gargoyles: Station Eight |url=https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=26332 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=s8.org}}</ref>

===Video games===
Wotan appears as a character summon in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Doctor Fate}}
{{Justice League Dark}}
{{Justice Society of America}}
{{All-Star Squadron}}
{{Earth-Two}}
{{Gardner Fox}}

[[Category:Characters created by Gardner Fox]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1940]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters who use magic]]
[[Category:DC Comics scientists]]
[[Category:DC Comics supervillains]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with death or rebirth abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with dimensional travel abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional German people]]
[[Category:Fictional Vikings]]