Like ancient mystics and medieval alchemists, the adept seeks immortality through insight and skill. On the journey to achieve this ultimate knowledge, adepts follow the footsteps of Buddha, Socrates, Jesus and Mohammed. The path to enlightenment has three milestones. First, know thyself: a true adept recognizes his strengths and weaknesses, for it is our flaws that reveal our true nature. Second, master thyself: potential must transform into practice. Third, embrace death: physical existence is merely a shadow – immortality is gained by passing on a legacy to future generations.

The earliest adepts are practioners of magic and possessors of secret knowledge. Despite their immense power, these witches (~700 BCE: Circe and Medea) and magi (~1136: Merlin) do not take center stage, opting to advise and aid heroes in their epic quests. In the Renaissance, writers create dramatic figures from the allure of alchemy and specter of witchcraft. The Devil grants a doctor (~1500: Faust) divine knowledge in exchange for his eternal soul; a cautionary tale of the dangers inherent in pursuing things man was not meant to know. An exiled duke (~1610: Prospero) rules an island kingdom, but eventually decides to abandons magic to return to his earthly domain. The Victorian Age gives birth to a crime fighter (1887: Sherlock Holmes) who possesses no true supernatural ability, but rather superhuman intelligence, perception and martial prowess. This archetype returns in the Pulp Age (1933: Doc Savage) and provides the template for one of Batman’s many titles: the world’s greatest detective.

In comic books, the evolution of the adept parallels the literary tradition. The adepts of the Golden Age are primarily heroic magicians (1934: Mandrake; 1940: Doctor Fate) and villainous mad scientists (1940: Lex Luthor; 1940: Hugo Strange). In the Silver Age, newfound power amplifies the ambitions and flaws of adepts, driving them to help or enslave humanity. Magicians become criminals and scientists, heroes. A vain Easter European monarch (1962: Doctor Doom) dreaming of world domination, blames his disfigurement on a brilliant, but aloof, engineer (1962: Mr. Fantastic). A disabled inventor (1963: Niles Caulder) forms a crime-fighting team of outcasts to show the world that being different is no impediment to doing good. After suffering inoperable damage to his hands, an arrogant surgeon (1963: Dr. Strange) initially seeks a cure from a Tibetan mystic, but ends up seeking enlightenment from his new mentor. The popularity of the martial arts in the Bronze Age generated adepts of the Eastern arts (1973: Shang Chi; 1974: Richard Dragon; 1974: Iron Fist). The Modern Age introduced anti-hero sorcerers (1985: John Constantine; 2005: Black Alice) who are pragmatic and morally ambiguous.