Papa Midnite

PAPA MIDNITE

Real Name: Linton Midnite

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Voodoo priest, club owner, criminal

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: unnamed sister (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: NYC, NY

First Appearance: Hellblazer #1 (January, 1988)

Powers: Midnite was a powerful magician with a serpent familiar named Gerald and an army of zombies at his disposal

History: (Constantine: The Hellblazer #8 (fb, BTS)) - Papa owned the Midnight Club, a hotspot for thje secret supernatural underworld of NYC. Magician John Constantine came to NYC for the first time, and Midnite kidnapped him, bringing him to his high-rise penthouse. He told Constantine to look out over the city, and Papa said he owned everything John could see. Constantine accidentally unleashed a hunger spirit, and Papa was there when he sacrificed his best friend to keep it from devouring the city.

(Constantine: The Hellblazer #7-9) - In an effort to increase his profits Midnite had signed over his club to shadowy bankers, and they voted him out. Midnite kidnapped John Constantine's boyfriend Oliver to get get John's help reclaiming what was his, knowing he needed someone as tricky as Constantine. John laughed at Papa, refusing to help him now that he no longer had control over the Midnight club or an army of zombies. Papa would not tolerate his insolence, and had his serpent familiar bite Oliver, telling him the antidote was in his old penthouse on top of the club. Constantine disguised himself and Papa as demons to gain entry to the club, and Papa thought he was playing fast and loose. John was scared when he learned that Neron was the new owner of the Midnight, a powerful Arch-Duke and the last person he wanted as an enemy. Papa never figured out how Constantine got through his defenses to reach his penthouse, his rooms of hungry zombies, lost souls, flames that burnt away the mind, and trials that stripped the souls of humans. John showed him a back stairway that avoided the elevator and main entrance. A Hellgate powered the pocket dimension the club existed in, and John knew that was why Neron wanted the club. Neron worked with the demonic banker Mister rumor, and they'd been buying up great sections of NYC, and were responsible for the recent increase in supernatural activity. Rumor saw through Constantine's illusion, and removed it as demons crowded around John and Papa. Neron had John and Midnite taken to the city of Dis in Hell to be tortured by demons until they broke and sold their souls. Neron revealed his plans to make NYC into an infernal marketplace, opening wide the world and powers of magic to those who paid him in souls. John was defiant, and Midnite said he would not forgive Neron not dealing directly with him instead of stealing from him. John's old friend Blythe showed up with a deal, she'd help John and Midnite escape a side-gate in Hell if they brought her with them. Walking through Dis John gave himself away by smoking a cigarette, and they had to speed things up. Blythe used a blood signal to open the gate, and when Midnite told her to take her time John reminded him that Oliver's life was at stake. Midnite said voodoo took a price, so he didn't really poison Oliver, he just tricked John. John said everyone treated him like a commodity, and entered the gate, closing it behind him. He was confronted on the other side by angry Faeries.

Comments: Created by Jamie Delano & John Ridgway.

PAPA MIDNITE (pre-Flashpoint)

Real Name: Linton Midnite

Class: Human magic-user

Occupation: Voodoo priest, club owner, criminal

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Cedella (sister, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: NYC, New York, formerly Haiti

First Appearance: Hellblazer #1 (January, 1988)

Powers: Papa Midnite was a voodoo priest capable of creating zombies. He needed sacrifices to perform spells, and drew his power from many sources, including the feelings of blood lust in others. He communicated with the skull of his dead sister for advice, and she had intimate knowledge of Hell and its denizens.

History: (Hellblazer #1) - Papa Midnite was a Haitian heavyweight voodoo priest who made himself a name in NYC as a crime boss. His very presence and knowledge of voodoo inspired fear in all who knew him. He opened the Midnight Club as a front for gambling and illegal arena fighting. Midnite often consulted the skull of his beloved dead sister for advice, and he communicated with her when Mnemoth, demon of hunger, started making attacks in NYC. He received a visit from John Constantine, and his "friend" Gary Lester, who accidentally unleashed the demon in the states. Midnite had no love for Constantine, who once swindled fifty thousand dollars from his casino, but he agreed that Mnemoth was bad for his business. Constantine played up to his vanity in asking for his help, and Midnite said he'd consider it. John left Gary with the magician for safekeeping. They planned to sacrifice Gary to Mnemoth, and after starving him of his favorite drug, heroin, his longing called out to Mnemoth. Gary finally realized he was being sacrificed, and begged John to stop, but the plan was already in motion. Mnemoth entered Gary, and John tattooed him with the binding marks. John put Gary into a cell and waited for the demon and him to consume each other. Gary screamed in pain, begging for a merciful death, and John got completely drunk. Gary died, and Midnite told him that grief was a luxury they couldn't afford, and that a true magician had to rid himself of his humanity. John disagreed, and stormed off, disturbed by their decisions.

Comments: Created by Jamie Delano & John Ridgway.