| Doctor Mid-Nite | |
|---|---|
 Cover toJSA: All-Stars #6. Art byJohn Cassaday and Mark Lewis. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | McNider: All-American Comics #25 (April 1941) Chapel: Infinity Inc. #19 (October 1985) As Doctor Midnight: Infinity Inc. #21 (December 1985) Cross: Doctor Mid-Nite #1 (September 1999) |
| Created by | McNider: Charles Reizenstein Stanley Josephs Aschmeier Chapel: Roy Thomas Todd McFarlane Cross: Matt Wagner John K. Snyder III |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Place of origin | Orangeburg,South Carolina(Chapel) Sogndal,Norway(Cross) |
| Team affiliations | Justice Society of America McNider: All-Star Squadron U.S. Medical Corps Black Lantern Corps Justice League Chapel: Infinity, Inc. Shadow Fighters |
| Notable aliases | Doctor Mid-Nite Doctor Midnite Midnight Doctor |
| Abilities | Each version of Doctor Mid-Nite possess abilities that allows them natural night-vision, able to see in complete darkness. They also commonly are physicians specializing in treating superheroes, normal and metahuman alike. |
Doctor Mid-Nite (orDoctor Midnight) is the name of multiplesuperheroes published inAmerican comic books byDC Comics.[1] The original version of the character was first created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier in 1941, debuting inAll-American Comics #25 (April 1941).[2] 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 theDC Universe.[3] 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 ofDaredevil of Marvel Comics by more than twenty years.
The first version of the character wasCharles McNider, a surgeon who wasblinded 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 theAll-Star Squadron andJustice Society of America.[4] The second version wasElizabeth "Beth" Chapel, McNider'sAfrican-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.[5] She later becomes a member of theJustice Society of America. The third version of the character isPieter 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.[6] 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 thesecond season ofLegends of Tomorrow played by Kwesi Ameyaw. McNider also appears inStargirl, portrayed byHenry Thomas in season one and Alex Collins in season two. Beth Chapel also appears in the series, portrayed by actressAnjelika Washington.
The original version of the character debuted inAll-American Comics #25 (April 1941), created by Charles Reizenstein and Stanley Aschmeier.[2]
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 theDC Universe.[3] 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.[6]
Dr. Charles McNider is the original Doctor Mid-Nite and is a common member of theJustice Society of America.[1] 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.[7][4] 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.[5][6] McNider is eventually killed during theZero Hour crossover by Extant.[3]
Dr. Elizabeth "Beth" Chapel, the first protege of McNider, is anAfrican-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 heroJade. Chapel is blinded following an explosion from an oxygen tank while treating a patient during theCrisis on Infinite Earths but has night vision powers like McNider. She eventually succeeds her mentor, acting as an official team member ofInfinity, Inc. with a focus on her medical career.[5] Subjected tocomic book death, she is eventually resurrected and continues as a member of the Justice Society.[8]
Dr. Pieter Anton Cross is aNorwegian 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 mentorsJaime Reyes.[3][6]
Both Charles McNider and Pieter Anton Cross trainowls assidekicks; 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.
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Each incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite has fought different enemies:
The Charles McNider incarnation of Doctor Mid-Nite makes a cameo appearance in the opening credits ofJustice League: The New Frontier as a member of the Justice Society of America.