Midnight Sun (character)

For unrelated Marvel characters, see Marvel's Midnight Suns and Midnight Sons.

Midnight Sun
M'Nai battles Shang-Chi in his first appearance.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Special Edition #16 (Feb. 1974)
Created by	Steve Englehart (writer) Jim Starlin (writer & artist) Al Milgrom (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	M'Nai
Team affiliations	Legion of the Unliving
Notable aliases	Midnight
Abilities	Expert in martial arts and stealth Superhuman strength, durability, agility, and reflexes Ability to travel and survive vacuum of space

Midnight Sun (M'Nai) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

He first appeared in Marvel Special Edition #16 (February 1974), and was created by Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin, and Al Milgrom.

Fictional character biography

Midnight

Midnight Sun was originally M'Nai, an African child from a village which Zheng Zu was using as his headquarters. After the British Armed Forces attack the village, scarring M'Nai and killing his family, Zu adopts him and raises him alongside his son Shang-Chi. Taking the identity of "Midnight", M'Nai wore a mask at all times to hide his facial scar. Although he and Shang-Chi sometimes came to blows, they grow up as friends, a relationship which ends when Shang-Chi rebels against his father. ^[1]

Midnight continues to work as Zu's agent until he is ordered to assassinate Shang-Chi. Their friendship unravels during the mission, as Midnight mocks Shang-Chi's attempts to convince him to renounce their father's villainy. Midnight proclaims that his past has given him an unending hatred for humanity and renounces his friendship with Shang-Chi. The two battle before Midnight falls to his apparent death. ^{[1] [2]}

A time-traveling Kang the Conqueror later rescues Midnight shortly before his death and recruits him into the Legion of the Unliving to fight the Avengers. After the Legion is defeated, Immortus returns Midnight to his own time, allowing him to die. ^{[1] [3] [4]}

The Kree later obtain Midnight's body and place him in cryogenic storage. Scientist Kar-Sagg later places his brain in a clone body and empowers him to battle the Silver Surfer. It is at this point that he was renamed "Midnight Sun". ^[5]

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun battles the Silver Surfer alongside the Kree and ambushes him several times. However, the Surfer eventually detects him and uses his board to trap Midnight Sun, until an assault from a Kree vessel forces him to flee. The two fight one-on-one when the Kree send Midnight Sun to protect their home planet of Hala from the Surfer, but the Surfer defeats him again. Because the Kree's alterations leave Midnight mute, Silver Surfer never learns his name or background, and is unable to communicate with him. ^[5]

Midnight Sun battles the Silver Surfer.

In one of Midnight Sun's multiple battles with the Surfer, he interrupts a conflict between the Kree and the Skrull. ^[6]

It is later revealed that the Kree removed most of Midnight's memories to make him a more effective fighter. However, he ultimately regains some of his memories, rebels against the Kree, and is taken to the Inhuman city of Attilan for treatment. ^{[7] [8]}

Midnight Sun later returns to fight Shang-Chi once more, recognizing him due to residual memories. Unable to speak with Shang-Chi, Midnight communicates via carvings made with circular discs and ultimately gives up his grudge against him. ^[9]

Midnight Sun later regains his memories and speech through unknown means and returns to his old costume, giving up his metallic armor and discs. After learning of Zheng Zu's death, he seeks to fulfill his dream of world conquest before the spirits of the triad leaders he had killed imprison him in another dimension. ^[10]

Midnight Sun eventually escapes via unknown means and leads Shang-Chi's enemies Razor Fist, Shen Kuei, Death-Hand, Shadow Stalker, Tiger-Claw and Shockwave in ambushing him and Domino in Hong Kong. ^[11] Shang-Chi defeats Midnight and warns him not to attack again. ^[12]

Powers and abilities

As an agent of Zheng Zu, Midnight was a highly trained martial artist and espionage agent. He was a master of unarmed combat and many martial arts weapons, particularly daggers, nunchaku, and shuriken. His specialty was vanishing into shadows and ambushing his opponents. He has had years of experienced in the disciplines of Kung Fu, and is an accomplished Kung Fu practitioner.

When Kar-Sagg transformed him into a Kree agent, he transferred Midnight's brain into a powerful cloned body. His new body has superhuman strength, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. Most notably, silver discs were grafted to the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet, which provide propellant force that allows him to travel through space. He often used these discs to bash his enemies using his martial arts skills. His body was also modified to allow him to survive outer-space conditions, and he appears to have no need for food or rest. He is also mute. Although the exact extent of his superhuman strength, speed, and toughness are unknown, he was capable of causing pain to the Silver Surfer, and surviving the Surfer's repeated attacks without serious injury. His superhuman attributes were made more formidable by the fact that he retains all of his martial arts skills and affinity for darkness, even after suffering amnesia.

References

1. Dodge, John (November 9, 2022). "Who Was Marvel's Original Midnight Sun – And Where Did He Go?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
2. Marvel Special Edition #16, February 1974
3. The Avengers #130-131
4. Marvel Special Edition #16, February 1974
5. Silver Surfer vol. 3 #29
6. Silver Surfer vol. 3 #30 (Nov. 1989)
7. Silver Surfer vol. 3 Annual #4
8. Silver Surfer vol. 3 #60
9. Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu (2009 Black & White one-shot) #1
10. The Deadly Hands of Kung vol. 2 #4
11. Domino vol. 3 #4. Marvel Comics.
12. Domino vol. 3 #5. Marvel Comics.

External links

• Midnight Sun at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• http://www.marvel.com/universe/Midnight_Sun