Beth Chapel

Dr. Elizabeth "Beth" Chapel is a fictional superheroine in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is the second character to adopt the Doctor Mid-Nite (or Doctor Midnight) codename and is the successor of the original, Charles McNider. The character is later succeeded by Pieter Cross after her death at the hands of Eclipso. However, following the events of Doomday Clock, the character is resurrected. Similar to her predecessor, the character possesses the same abilities as Charles and primarily functions as one of the superhero community's renowned physicians. She serves as the official physician for both Infinity, Inc. and the Justice Society of America.

Beth Chapel's portrayal of Doctor Mid-Nite marks her initial appearance in media within the television series '' Stargirl'', portrayed by Anjelika Washington.

Fictional character biography

As the aging McNider spent less time in action, Beth Chapel, a medical doctor, stepped into the role of Doctor Midnight. Beth Chapel was a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, with a pastor father, a mother who sang in the church choir, and four brothers. Chapel first appeared when Jade of Infinity, Inc. was rushed to her hospital for treatment after encountering Mister Bones' cyanide touch. During the onset of the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', Beth was blinded by an oxygen explosion, only to be rescued by Hourman's son Rick Tyler, who had taken his father's Miraclo to enhance his strength. Dr. McNider performed emergency surgery on Beth, and while he was unable to restore her day vision, he did give her his ability to see in the dark. Beth and Rick assume the mantles of their predecessors as Doctor Midnight and Hourman, with her mother crafting a super hero costume from a choir robe. Along with a new Wildcat, Chapel and Tyler applied for membership in Infinity, Inc, eventually gaining admission; however, the association was short-lived, as Infinity, Inc. disbanded shortly thereafter, though Chapel and Tyler began a romantic relationship during their tenure.

Doctor Midnight and Wildcat were subsequently recruited by the U.S. government for a mission to defeat the supervillain Eclipso, only for Chapel to die on the mission along with Wildcat, the Creeper, Commander Steel, Peacemaker, and Major Victory.

In '' Doomsday Clock'', Beth Chapel was revived alongside the Justice Society when Doctor Manhattan undid his prior erasure of them and the Legion of Super-Heroes. Afterwards, she opens a metahuman medical clinic called the All-Star Clinic where Ronnie Raymond is receiving treatment.

In "The New Golden Age", Doctor Mid-Nite is among the Justice Society members who fight Per Degaton throughout time.

Power, abilities, and equipment

Beth Chapel, like her predecessor, possesses the unique capability to see in darkness despite being blind in normal light. This extraordinary vision is made possible by an ocular implant. Furthermore, Beth excels as a highly skilled physician and displays a notable level of physical strength. Her proficiency in combat is also recognized, marking her as a skilled fighter. Beth's arsenal includes a variety of gadgets, among which are "blackout bombs." When deployed, these devices release clouds of pitch black gas, effectively blinding her adversaries. However, due to her unique vision, Beth is able to navigate and perceive her surroundings clearly within the cover of the gas, granting her a significant advantage over her opponents.

Other versions

In the new Earth-2 created in the wake of ''Infinite Crisis'' and 52, a version of Beth Chapel is shown to be a member of the Justice Society Infinity.

In other media

* Beth Chapel appears in '' Stargirl'', portrayed by Anjelika Washington. This version is a socially awkward and antisocial high school student who becomes Doctor Mid-Nite and joins Stargirl's Justice Society after obtaining Charles McNider's goggles and befriending its A.I., which she nicknames "Chuck". In the second season, Chapel discovers McNider was trapped in the Shadowlands and helps rescue him. She discovers her parents are getting a divorce, only for them to discover her secret identity as Doctor Mid-Nite and become her biggest supporters. In the third season, she tries to dissuade her parents from getting involved in her superheroics, but later accepts their help. 10 years later, she and Rick Tyler are revealed to be getting married.
** Ahead of the series' premiere, Chapel and the JSA made a cameo appearance in the Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths" via archive footage from the ''Stargirl'' episode "The Justice Society".
* Doctor Mid-Nite appears in '' Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths'', voiced by Cynthia McWilliams.

References

External links

Beth Chapel
at DC Wiki

{{Infinity Inc.
African-American superheroes
Characters created by Roy Thomas
Characters created by Todd McFarlane
Comics characters introduced in 1985
DC Comics female superheroes
DC Comics metahumans
Fictional blind characters
Fictional characters from South Carolina
Fictional physicians
Physicians with disabilities