Midnighter

Background

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Powers and Abilities

Physically a border-line superhuman, the Midnighter has been mentally enhanced to create an extremely effective combat machine. His mind calculates combat variables at an incredible speed, allowing him to run through all possible scenarios in a moment. In effect, the Midnighter knows what his opponent will do before he does himself.

The Midnighter’s other tactical enhancement include:

• The ability to see beyond the human visual spectrum.
• Telescopic vision.
• The ability to see and analyse metahuman modifications at close range.
• The ability to survive for a limited period in vacuum or underwater.

He also repeatedly displayed the ability to survive grave wounds and recover in a matter of minutes (up to and including a broken and twisted neck).

History

Apollo and Midnighter were originally with StormWatch, The Authority’s predecessor.

Henry Bendix, StormWatch’s director, recruited a number of superhumans to a covert strike team. Apollo was a field officer and Midnighter a field agent. Apollo and Midnighter were among volunteers for a black ops mission. The mission was secretive that all records of it and the existence of the team were destroyed.

The covert team was teleported into the facility to carry out its orders, a smash and grab. What they were completely unprepared to find was that this facility was guarded by Daemonites. Unknown to the team, Bendix had altered the teleporter to allow them to return only if they were in possession of the items. With nowhere to go, they fought hard against the Daemonites.

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Contact lost with our covert team

Only two survived the onslaught. Apollo and Midnighter escaped due to their abilities.

Both Apollo and Midnighter rebelled against Bendix. For the next five years they lived on the fringes, fighting crime on the street. That lasted until they were rescued by a new StormWatch under the guidance of Jackson King. They were given new identities, and it seemed were ready to leave this world behind until Jenny Sparks came into play with a new team.

Apollo and the Midnighter became a strong part of Spark’s team, the Authority. They performed admirably during their various missions. The fact that they were a couple had a strong media impact, and even made the cover of a tabloid.

Shortly thereafter, however, the writing of the Authority went kablooie, and all of the old characters were callously killed off. The Midnighter died sacrificing his life, while trying to hurt a foe of the Authority that had invaded the Carrier.

Personality

In combat: commanding and witty.

Out of combat: shy and morose.

Quotes

“I won this fight before you even showed up.”

“I’m what soldiers dream of becoming. I am what children imagine when they first think of death…”

“I love being me.”

“Hello. We’re here to hit you.”

“Shut up. You whine like an old woman.”

Foe: “You ain’t dead !! But… I broke your neck !”
Midnighter: “You obviously haven’t seen my morning workouts.”

DC Universe History

Midnighter was directly derived from Batman, and Apollo from Superman. In the DCU, they would have been deliberately engineered by Bendix to resemble the World’s Finest. In fact, the undercover team they were a part of would have been engineered to resemble the JLA.

The raw material would probably come from Cadmus-like research in cloning, using stolen genetic samples from the old JLA satellite. If you wish, some of the Midnighter’s and Apollo’s compatriots may have escaped the Daemonite alive, resulting in further JLA-like operatives roaming the streets.

By Phil Dixon.

Helper(s): Sébastien Andrivet, Hart!, William Peterson, Chris Gordon, Mark Ayen, Roy Cowan, Wyrdling, most of the history provided by the Gay league .

Source of Character: StormWatch / The Authority.