Charles McNider (the original Doctor Mid-Nite and a bearer of the name Starman) is a fictional superhero in DC Comics. The character appeared for the first time in All-American Comics #25 (April 1941). 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.

Fictional character biography

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. 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 who he names Hooty. He 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, rising to the rank of captain. McNider briefly assumes the role of Starman when the original Starman, Ted Knight, has a nervous breakdown and the JSA disbands. 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". In 1953, the Shadower kills McNider's lover, Myra Mason. He rescues a pregnant woman from an attack in Sogndal, Norway and delivers her baby, Pieter Cross. 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 later killed by Extant in Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!. He returns as a Black Lantern in Blackest Night before Mr. Terrific destroys him.

Powers, equipment, and abilities

McNider possesses the metahuman ability to see perfectly in the dark. 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 is 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. McNider is also a superb athlete and fighter, as well as a gifted physician and author.

Other versions

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:

In other media

Television

Film

Charles McNider as 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.

Miscellaneous

Charles McNider as Doctor Mid-Nite appears in Injustice 2 #40. This version isolated himself to Norway, with Ted Grant being the only one who knows of this. Grant brings Batman to McNider to recruit the latter to perform a heart transplant on Superboy using General Zod's heart so the former can leave the Phantom Zone.

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