Doctor Midnight

Doctor Mid-Nite (or Doctor Midnight) is the name of multiple superheroes published in American comic books by DC Comics. The original version of the character was first created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier in 1941, debuting in ''All-American Comics'' #25 (April 1941). All versions of the character are depicted as blinded superheroes capable of seeing in darkness and serve as physicians of normal and metahuman superheroes of the DC Universe. As a blind character, Doctor Mid-Nite is widely regarded as the first superhero in comics to exhibit a physical impairment, pre-dating the creation of Daredevil of Marvel Comics by more than twenty years.

The first version of the character was Charles McNider, a surgeon who was blinded but discovered abilities that allowed him to see solely in the dark. Donning special goggles and becoming a crime fighter, he became the first Doctor Mid-Nite and is an important member of the All-Star Squadron and Justice Society of America. The second version was Elizabeth "Beth" Chapel, McNider's African-American protege aware of his heroic dual identity and who is similarly injured during an explosion from an oxygen tank while helping a patient although her vision is partially restored. Also able to see better in dark conditions, Beth eventually adopts her mentor's codename and legacy, acting as official physician of the JSA's adjacent team, Infinity Inc. She later becomes a member of the Justice Society of America. The third version of the character is Pieter Cross, Norwegian medical prodigy who was delivered as an infant by McNider and is his second protege. Blinded after a car accident while drugged with a variation of the venom drug, he is also able to see at night and becomes the next Doctor Mid-Nite, serving as the Justice Society's de-facto medic and mentoring heroes such as Jaime Reyes. In recent publications, both Cross and Chapel concurrently serve as Doctor Mid-Nite.

Doctor Mid-Nite has made several appearance in media adaptions, most notably the Charles McNider version making his live action debut in the second season of ''Legends of Tomorrow'' played by Kwesi Ameyaw. McNider also appears in '' Stargirl'', portrayed by Henry Thomas in season one and Alex Collins in season two. Beth Chapel also appears in the series, portrayed by actress Anjelika Washington.

Publication history

The original version of the character first debuted in ''All-American Comics'' #25 (April 1941), created by Charles Reizenstein and Stanley Aschmeier.

Character overview

While there been three different Doctor Mid-Nites, all versions share the uncanny trait of possessing abilities that allows them to see in total darkness and serve as premier medical specialists for superheroes within the DC Universe. While Beth Chapel is the second person to serve as Doctor Mid-Nite both within the stories and publications, some sources also claim Pieter Cross to be the second Doctor-Midnite.

Characterization

Charles McNider

Dr. Charles McNider is the original Doctor Mid-Nite and is a common member of the Justice Society of America. As a young surgeon, McNider was blinded when a grenade went off in front of him caused by gangster "Killer" Maroni, but he found that he could see in the dark. He made special goggles that allowed him to see in the daylight, and decided to use his special power to fight crime. In his civilian identity, he became an author of an opinion column. Overtime, throughout his life, he eventually becomes the mentor to both successors Beth and Pieter at different times while an advisory member of the Justice Society. McNider is eventually killed during the Zero Hour crossover by Extant.

Elizabeth "Beth" Chapel

Dr. Elizabeth "Beth" Chapel, the first protege of McNider, is an African-American born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Held in high esteem by her mentor, she is aware of his dual life even before he reveals it to her himself, and she first encounters the JSA while treating the hero Jade. Chapel is blinded following an explosion from an oxygen tank while treating a patient during the Crisis on Infinite Earths but has night vision powers like McNider. She eventually succeeds her mentor, acting as an official team member of Infinity, Inc. with a focus on her medical career. Subjected to comic book death, she is eventually resurrected and continues as a member of the Justice Society.

Pieter Anton Cross

Dr. Pieter Anton Cross is a Norwegian prodigy and second protege of McNider who was delivered as an infant by him during McNider's more active years as a hero. Moving to America, Cross becomes a physician himself and studied under his idol. Cross also becomes more involved in rooting out crime but is blinded while investigating a Venom-derived drug. Due to an unexpected side-effect, Cross could see in the dark and would become the third Doctor Mid-Nite. Like McNider and Chapel, he served as primarily a Justice Society member, physician for superheroes, and mentors Jaime Reyes.

Owl sidekicks

Both Charles McNider and Pieter Anton Cross train owls as sidekicks; McNider trains the same owl which crashes through his window, an event that leads to the discovery of his powers. This owl named "Hooty" (sometimes "Hootie") shares many adventures during the Golden Age. Cross keeps company with an owl named "Charlie". The bird is named after the original Doctor Mid-Nite Charles McNider. Charlie keeps a mini-camera around his neck that can feed video directly to a display in Cross's goggles.

Fictional history

Enemies

Each incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite has fought different enemies:

* "Gallows" Gallagher - A gangster who had his brother take his place in prison with help from a corrupt prison warden.
* "Hands" Hannigan - A gangster who wanted to take advantage of Regis Morgan's telescopic vision and make him a lookout for his gang.
* "Killer" Maroni - A gangster who was responsible for the grenade that blinded Charles McNider and became Doctor Mid-Nite's first opponent.
* Banshee -
* Big Mouth - The leader of a gang who worked with Jasper to set up hallucinations to frighten Jasper's aunt Martha Yates and his uncle Ambrose Yates.
* Doctor Light - A villain who uses light technology.
* Dr. Gamwell - A man who used a home for the blind as a front for his criminal activities.
* Fisherman - Kurt Hartmann is a fisherman-themed criminal.
* Hans - A Nazi demolition diver.
* Herman Gherkin - A Nazi general.
* Ice Ingram -
* King Cobra - A hooded gangster.
* Madame Zara - A criminal who operated as a psychic.
* Malcolm Mumm - An inventor who invented a sound-nullifying device and operated as the self-proclaimed Master of Silence. He used his invention to cover up the sounds related to his bank vault robberies.
* Mister Nitro -
* Slim - A mobster that planned to sabotage the games of the Yellow Jackets football team.
* Tarantula - A crime lord whose minion Logger suspected that Charles McNider and Doctor Mid-Nite are the same people.
* Terrible Trio - The members in the aliases of Fisk, Shackley, and Volper run Praeda Industries.

Other versions

* In 1965, DC Comics had no plans to revive Doctor Mid-Nite. DC editor Julius Schwartz gave M.I.T. student and comic book letterhack Rick Norwood permission to publish a Dr. Midnite story in his fanzine, ''Five''. The story written by Norwood and illustrated by Steve Sabo features a doctor named Tom Benson who is blinded in battle. He discovers that his other senses are super-sensitive and dons the Doctor Midnite costume to fight crime.
* Another version of the character was shown in Dan Jolley and Tony Harris' '' JSA: The Liberty File'' as a World War II United States intelligence agent code-named the Owl. This character, though a playboy, resembles other Doctor Mid-Nite representations. Though derided for his dalliances with the ladies, McNider was trusted as a valued field operative.
* '' Batman: Holy Terror'' depicts an America ruled by a religious theocracy as a result of Oliver Cromwell living for a decade longer than he did in reality. McNider was a member of the underground resistance against the government years ago, working alongside Thomas Wayne, but they were discovered, with Thomas and his wife being killed while McNider was blinded and his own wife executed. McNider offers some advice to Thomas's son Bruce when he discovers the truth about his parents' deaths, leading Bruce on the path to begin his own resistance against the government.
* In the ''Tangent: Superman's Reign'' series, a version of Doctor Mid-Nite his body completely covered by a black cloak is briefly seen.
* In the new Earth-2 created in the wake of ''Infinite Crisis'' and 52, a version of Beth Chapel is shown to be a member of the Justice Society Infinity.

In other media

Television

* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite appears in a painting depicted in the ''Smallville'' two-part episode "Absolute Justice".
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite makes non-speaking appearances in ''Justice League Unlimited'' as a member of the Justice League.
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite appears in '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'', voiced by Corey Burton.
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite appears in the '' Mad'' segment "That's What Super Friends Are For", voiced by Kevin Shinick.
* Pieter Cross appears in ''Young Justice'', voiced by Bruce Greenwood.
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite appears in the second season of the Arrowverse series ''Legends of Tomorrow'', portrayed by Kwesi Ameyaw.
* The Charles McNider and Beth Chapel incarnations of Doctor Mid-Nite appear in '' Stargirl'', portrayed by Henry Thomas (season one) and Alex Collins (season two) and Anjelika Washington respectively. The latter takes up the mantle after the former is seemingly killed in battle against the Injustice Society.
** Ahead of the series' premiere, Chapel made a cameo appearance in the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths".

Film

The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite makes a cameo appearance in the opening credits of '' Justice League: The New Frontier'' as a member of the Justice Society of America.

Merchandise

* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite and Hooty received an action figure in wave twelve of the DC Universe Classics line.
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite and Hooty received an action figure from DC Direct in 2001.
* The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite and Hooty received action figures in Mattel's ''Justice League Unlimited'' toy line in November 2011.

References

External links

JSA Fact File: Doctor Mid-Nite I


at Don Markstein's Toonopedia.

{{GoldenAge

All-American Publications characters
Characters created by Roy Thomas
Characters created by Todd McFarlane
Comics characters introduced in 1941
Comics characters introduced in 1985
Comics characters introduced in 1999
DC Comics female superheroes
DC Comics martial artists
DC Comics metahumans
DC Comics male superheroes
DC Comics titles
Earth-Two
African-American superheroes
Fictional blind characters
Fictional physicians
Fictional surgeons
Golden Age superheroes
Physicians with disabilities