Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult
Doctor Mid-Nite (or Doctor Midnight) is the name of several superheroes published in American comic books by DC Comics. With the original version debuting in All-American Comics #25 (April 1941) and created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier, several other variations of the character was created overtime. As members of the Justice Society of America, the characters are blind legacy heroes with similar powers and origins, serving as premier physicians to various affiliated teams and superheroes in the DC Universe.
The original version, Dr. Charles McNider, was an American surgeon blinded in a accident when operating on a patient targeted by a mobster. Discovering he could see in total darkness, he created modified goggles to regain some sight and became a superhero, particularly with the Justice Society of America and All-Star Squadron. Over time, McNider trained two successors and would be killed off by the villain, Extant. McNider's first protege, African-American Dr. Beth Chapel, would become his successor after a similar accident and gained the same powers, inspired by her mentor. She served as both Infinity, Inc. and the Justice Society of America's physician and scientific expert until she was killed by Eclipso. Chapel was later resurrected and resumed her service. Dr. Pieter Cross, a Norwegian medical prodigy, was similarly mentored by McNider and suffered from a similar accident while privately investigating a drug derived from the Venom substance used by Bane. Gaining similar powers, he used his vast wealth and skills to become a vigilante and later lent his abilities as a physician to the Justice Society and superheroes alike, opening up his own clinic ("All-Stars Clinic") and once mentored the third Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes. Following Chapel's resurrection, she and Cross concurrently act as Doctor Mite-Nite.
One of the earliest examples of a disabled superhero, Doctor Mid-Nite has simultaneously been praised as being one of comic book's positive examples of portrayal of physicians and garnered concerns over representational challenges in regards to the Beth Chapel incarnation. The character has also appeared in several media adaptations, most notably with 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 Anjelika Washington.
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