Papa Midnite (DC)

Papa Midnite is a minor antagonist of the John Constantine: Hellblazer comics published by DC Comics. 
 
He is one of the preeminent authorities in the occult realm, particularly in the domains of curses and necromancy. He has maintained a long-standing "friendly rival" status with DC Comics Superhero, John Constantine.
 
==Biography==
=== New Earth ===
==== Early Life ====
Papa Midnite and Luna, his twin sister, were born in the 1700s. As the second-born, Jack was trained in magic by their mother. They eventually settled in New York City, where they took over a landlord's property and used it as a hub for arms trading. The landlord was rendered catatonic to achieve this. However, a slave named Cuffee hired Midnite to create a magical powder that could deflect bullets, with the intention of overthrowing white dominance in New York, causing complications.Regrettably, the powder Midnite provided proved worthless, leading to the swift suppression of the rebellion and the loss of countless lives among the enslaved. In an act of vengeance, Cuffee and his comrades forced Midnite to behead his sister, thereafter, cursing him with immortality until the day white men no longer ruled over black men on the American continent.
After communing with the African trickster deity Anansi, Midnite devised a plan for a fresh uprising, enlisting Cuffee's son, Fortune. However, Fortune eventually discovered the plan's deliberate flaws: Midnite intended for the brutal suppression of this new rebellion to ignite prolonged rage and years of suffering, ultimately leading to the liberation of black slaves. Realizing that Fortune would expose the truth and jeopardize the plan, Midnite beseeched Anansi to kill him. Yet, the ever-deceptive Anansi turned the tables on Midnite, allowing him to be immolated at the stake. Fortune then took Jack's still-living body and sent him to the West Indies, where he would become a slave himself. 
==== Career ====
Papa Midnite was once a slave in an unknown place, but he freed himself and traveled worldwide. He gathered magical artifacts and developed his skills as a powerful sorcerer. Over time, he became one of the most accomplished figures in the field of magic.
After returning to New York, Papa Midnite quickly took control of the criminal underworld and started operating from a popular nightclub. In 1983, he tried to sell the Ace of Winchesters, a valuable artifact, to John Constantine through an intermediary named Zeerke. However, when Zeerke increased the price, John outsmarted Midnite by stealing the rifle, thwarting his plans. John was able to take $50,000 from Jack in the process. Later, when the demon, Mnemoth, unleashed himself in New York, Midnite came to John's rescue. With his extensive magical powers and an electric chair from Sing-Sing prison, Midnite helped John summon the demon and trap it inside Gary Lester's body, leading to its eventual self-destruction.
However, when John returned to New York and was spotted by Zeerke, Midnite seized the opportunity to exact revenge on John. He cast a spell that banished John's soul to Hell. While in the depths of Hell, Constantine managed to rescue Cedilla from her entrapment. Enraged by these events, Cedilla returned to Earth and compelled Midnite to throw himself off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.
Despite the gruesome fate that befell him, Midnite could not perish. His body reassembled itself despite the dismemberment. He resumed his illicit activities until the spirit of Fortune appeared before him, compelling him to confront his past and resumed his mission of vengeance. Simultaneously, John Constantine sought Midnite's aid in his battle against The Shadow Dog, but Midnite declined the request.
===Wedding of John and Epiphany===
During the wedding of John Constantine and Epiphany Greaves, a figure wearing a top hat made an enigmatic appearance. Whether this figure was Midnite remains uncertain. 
===New 52=== 
Papa Midnite was integrated into the main DC Universe in the New 52 continuity. In this iteration, he serves as an intermittent antagonist and occasional ally to John Constantine, operating as a crime boss and voodoo magician who holds sway over New York. He later became a member of the Injustice League Dark, with severla characters such as Circe, Klarion the Witchboyh, Solomon Grundy and Jason Woodrue
==Personality==
Papa Midnite's unwavering focus remains on the elusive Ace of Winchesters, a rare and mystical antique rifle. Despite his relentless efforts, the prized possession continues to slip through his grasp.
In the DC Comics universe, Papa Midnite is a mysterious and intriguing character. He is highly knowledgeable in the occult and supernatural, considered to be one of the world's foremost experts in curses and necromancy. His spiritual advisor and guide is a sentient skull of his late twin sister, Luna/Cedilla. His desires and motivations drove his obsessions with an ancient arcane rifle called the Ace of Winchesters. He has a complicated relationship with John Constantine, sometimes aiding him when their interests align, but also harboring deep animosity towards him based on past grievances.
Throughout his fictional biography, Midnite's immortality and involvement in dark practices have shaped his character. He has endured immense hardships, including a curse placed upon him that forced him to witness the oppression of Black people until he achieved his vengeance. His emotional bond and dependency on his twin sister reveal a more human and vulnerable side of his personality. Despite being a cunning and ruthless figure, Papa Midnite's potential for unexpected alliances and nuanced relationships make him a captivating and complex character in the DC Comics universe
==Appearance== 
Throughout the series, Papa Midnite has taken on two different forms. In the main Hellblazer series, he appeared as a muscular, bald man who wore well-fitted suits for business engagements and a grass skirt, white jacket, and top hat for rituals. However, in the Papa Midnite mini-series, he had a slimmer appearance, a zig-zag beard, a white suit, and a trilby hat. When John Constantine asked Midnite about the change, Midnite explained that John only saw what he expected to see - a big guy in a grass skirt - rather than Midnite's true form.
== Other Versions ==
===2005 Film===
Papa Midnite made an appearance in the 2005 film Constantine, portrayed by Djimon Hounsou. 
===Arrowverse===
Michael James Shaw portrayed Midnite in the television series Constantine, initially as a primary antagonist and, at times, an unlikely ally to Constantine. Midnite is ultimately liberated by Manny in the concluding events of the series after revealing his role in the Rising Darkness.
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