The Midnighter Punches

the verdict: Every issue of Midnighter gets better which is a fantastic thing to be able to say about a series that was already off to an incredible start.

the tl;dr: If a book doesn’t click with you after three issues, chances are you probably won’t continue. This is a third issue that keeps the action going strong, while also continuing to look into Midnighter’s humanity, a perfect balance between everything we’ve aleady seen Orlando was capable of in the first two issues. It has more than surpassed the three issue test - so go buy them all immediately.

I remember that when I came out to my friend John, one of the first things he said to me is, “you gotta read The Authority.” He then went on to tell me about Midnighter and Apollo who were the first openly gay superheroes that I had encountered.

They were first described to me as a gay Batman and Superman, but I soon realized that they were very much their own characters. I read what I could get my hands on and wiki’d the rest and I really enjoyed it. When DC launched the New 52, I waited patiently for a new comic to feature my favourite couple. When the waiting was over, I got an interesting surprise. Midnighter is single.

This run of comics focuses on Midnighter’s quest to retrieve powerful tech as well as stolen files that contain the secrets of his past. Secrets which were taken from him when he was experimented on by Gardener, and became Midnighter. With a computer in his brain that can predict all possible outcomes of a fight in seconds, regeneration, super human flexibility and speed, and a love for violence, Midnighter is a force to be reckoned with. Much better than Batman in my opinion.

I’m really enjoying what Steve Orlando is doing with the character. A lot of gay men like superheroes and their alter egos, because most of us spent time in the closet, so we can easily identify with leading a double life. Midnighter however is unapologetic in they way he carries himself, as a superhero and as a gay man. In this comic he doesn’t use an alter ego and he is a proud fighter for LGBT rights, going so far as to intentionally provoke a group of homophobes in Moscow while on a date, so that he can swiftly kick their asses.

I also like how Orlando is focusing on Midnighter’s search for his stolen past, using his fabrication of a fake past as the catalyst for his break up with Apollo. Midnighter is looking for who he was before his past was stolen, but as one character points out in issue 3, it’s equally important who you are now.

The artwork is beautiful and portrays the action in an interesting way, utilizing dynamic panels to reflect the supercomputer inside Midnighter’s head. The action scenes are violent and gory and the love scenes are intimate and tender, perfectly reflecting Orlando’s story.

Aww snibbits…you really shouldn’t have :) 

Midnighter #6 by ACO

Damn, I happened upon all four trades of Ellis’ StormWatch run in Silver Snail’s discount box two weeks ago and was strongly reminded of the deep, gut-punch love I have for Midnighter and Apollo. Their relationship all the way through to Authority’s last trades made my dried-up, bitter heart warm up with adoration (oh god the balloons why did i think about the balloons), and I was so very underwhelmed by the New 52 versions. It just didn’t have the love anymore.