Charles McNider
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Stanley Josephs Aschmeier
| Charles McNider | |
|---|---|
.png) Charles McNider as the original Doctor Mid-Nite, as he appeared on the cover of Smash Comics #1 (March 1999). Art by Dave Johnson | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | All-American Comics #25 (April 1941) |
| Created by | Charles Reizenstein Stanley Josephs Aschmeier |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Dr. Charles McNider |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Justice Society of America All-Star Squadron Black Lantern Corps Justice League |
| Notable aliases | Doctor Mid-Nite Starman |
| Abilities |
|
Charles McNider (the original Doctor Mid-Nite and a bearer of the name Starman) is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1] The character appeared for the first time in All-American Comics #25 (April 1941).[2]
Like many Golden Age heroes, the original Doctor Mid-Nite appeared as a member of DC's Justice Society of America.
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.
Doctor Mid-Nite made his live-action debut on the second season of Legends of Tomorrow, portrayed by Kwesi Ameyaw. He also appears in Stargirl, portrayed by Henry Thomas in the first season and by Alex Collins in later seasons.
Charles McNider is a surgeon who is enlisted to remove a bullet from a witness set to testify against mobsters. Mobster Killer Maroni throws a grenade into the room, killing the witness and blinding McNider.[2] McNider later discovers that he can only see in darkness and develops a special visor to let him see in the light. He then becomes the superhero Doctor Mid-Nite and adopts an owl whom he names Hooty.[3]
McNider later joins the Justice Society of America (JSA) and the All-Star Squadron. In 1942, McNider enlists in the U.S. Medical Corps as a physician during World War II,[4] rising to the rank of captain.[volume & issue needed] McNider briefly assumes the role of Starman when the original Starman, Ted Knight, has a nervous breakdown and the JSA disbands.[5]
According to Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, "his opponents include the minstrel the Baleful Banshee, the hypnosis-wielding Doctor Light, the angling-themed Fisherman, and the gang lord Tarantula".[6]
In 1953, McNider's lover Myra Mason is murdered by the Shadower, a foe who had learned Doctor Mid-Nite's secret identity.[2] McNider later rescues a pregnant woman from attack in Sogndal, Norway and delivers her baby, Pieter Cross, who becomes the third Doctor Mid-Nite as an adult. McNider is among the JSA members who are captured and placed in suspended animation by Vandal Savage before being freed by the Flash.
McNider is killed by Extant during the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! event.[7][8] He has remained dead since, appearing as a spirit and in flashbacks.[9][10] Furthermore, McNider was temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern in the Blackest Night event.[11]
Powers and abilities
McNider possesses the metahuman ability to see perfectly in the dark. McNider is also a superb athlete and fighter, as well as a gifted physician and author.
Equipment
Utilizing special infrared lenses, McNider can see in light. Later in his life, his lenses become more ineffective as his eyesight continues to deteriorate even further, inhibiting his daylight vision. McNider also employs "blackout bombs" which release pitch-black gas that blinds villains yet allowing McNider to see. For a time, he used a weapon called a "cryotuber" which can either control the nervous system of an opponent or fire bursts of heat or cold. He is also a brilliant doctor and a mathematician. In All-Star Comics #13, he was able to communicate with a Neptunian using mathematical equations. As Starman, McNider uses various star-themed gadgets, including an airship designed by the Red Torpedo.
Other versions
- An alternate universe version of Charles McNider appears in Kingdom Come.
- An alternate universe version of Charles McNider appears in JSA: The Liberty File. This version is an intelligence agent code-named the Owl.
- An alternate universe version of Charles McNider appears in Batman: Holy Terror. This version is a friend of Thomas and Martha Wayne who lost his sight as punishment for rebelling against the government.
Collected editions
The original Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) is one of seven JSA-related heroes whose solo appearances are collected in an anthology entry in the DC Archive Editions series:
| Title | Material collected |
|---|---|
| JSA All-Stars Archives Vol. 1 HC (2007) | All-American Comics (1939 series) #25-29 |