Broken Frontier

As the Blackest Night spreads across the DC Universe, Broken Frontier unearths the histories of several of the players in the event.

SPOILER WARNING: Read no further if you’ve not had the chance to dig into your most recent Blackest Night titles…

Wesley Dodds, a wealthy inventor, first appeared as Sandman in Adventure Comics #40 (July 1939 – although some sources cite evidence that his first appearance may have come slightly earlier).  Utilizing a sleeping gas gun based on designs by the Crimson Avenger (Secret Origins #7, October 1986), the Sandman straddled the line between pulp fiction mystery man and superhero.  Haunted by prophetic dreams (Sandman Midnight Theatre, September 1995), Dodds tended to fight darker enemies in an effort to bring a balance and peace to the world.  Initially aided by the love of his life, socialite Dian Belmont, Sandman was welcomed into the fraternity of superheroes known as the Justice Society of America, as a founding member (All-Star Comics #3, Winter 1940).  Although Dodds and his sidekick, Sandy (Dian’s nephew), briefly sported “superhero costumes” (Beginning in Adventure Comics #69, December 1941), he relatively quickly returned to his trench coat and gas mask disguise.

As a new generation of heroes began to take up the heroic legacy, Sandman remained active thanks in part to having been exposed to a mystical energy that retarded the aging process (All-Star Squadron Annual #3, 1984).  Following a brief exile to limbo (The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special, 1986), Dodds returned to semi-active duty (Armageddon: Inferno #4, July 1992), although he found his body had begun to come much closer to his true age.  After a disastrous mission against the time-controlling villain known as Extant (Zero Hour #3, September 1994), Sandman was aged into his eighties, effectively ending his career.  Months later, an encounter with Jack Knight (the son of Starman, one of Sandman’s comrades in the Justice Society – Starman #20-23, July-October 1996) reignited Wesley’s passion for life.  He and Dian liquidated all of their assets, vowing to spend their final years exploring the Orient. 

Following Dian’s death, Dodds uncovered evidence pointing to the resurrection of Dr. Fate - a powerful mystical force in the DC Universe.  Sending the clues back to America, Dodds was confronted by Mordru, an evil mage, seeking to wrest the information from Sandman’s mind.  Rather than be used by the mage, Wesley Dodds threw himself from a mountain peak to his death (JSA Secret Files & Origins #1, August 1999).  Wesley’s sacrifice not only prevented Mordru from co-opting Fate’s power, but also led to the formation of a new, modern Justice Society of America (JSA #1, August 1999).

Dr. Charles McNider first appeared in All-American Comics #25 (April 1941), rushing to save the life of a witness against gangster “Killer” Maroni.  Although it appeared McNider’s efforts were going to be successful, a well-timed explosion from Maroni’s mob insured the witness was silenced permanently.  McNider survived the blast, but was left blinded.  One night during his recovery, an owl crashed through the window of McNider’s house.  Shocked, McNider tore the bandages covering his wounded eyes away and discovered that he was able to see in the dark.  Blessed with “inverted vision,” McNider was blind in the light, but had perfect vision in the dark.  Adopting the costumed identity of Dr. Mid-Nite, McNider and his owl friend (Hooty) brought Maroni to justice.

Mid-Nite adventured throughout the Golden Age, both in solo adventures and as one of the earliest recruits to the Justice Society of America (beginning in All-Star Comics #8, December 1941).  Following the Justice Society disbanding in the 1950s, McNider briefly assumed the role of Starman when his ally was incapable of protecting Opal City (Starman #77, May 2001).  Mid-Nite continued to adventure infrequently, but during this time inspired two sucessors – Dr. Beth Chapel (who became Doctor Midnight in Infinity Inc. #19-21, October-December 1985) and Dr. Pieter Cross (in Doctor Mid-Nite #1-3, 1999).  McNider was one of the Justice Society members who stood against Extant during Zero Hour, but did not survive the encounter (Zero Hour #3, September 1994).

A child prodigy, Terry Sloane (first appearance, Sensation Comics #1, January 1942) was already an Olympic champion, millionaire and genius by the time he was in his 20s.  Believing life held no further challenges for him, the depressed young man contemplated suicide.  Seeing a young woman throw herself of a bridge spurred Sloane to action, and he rededicated his life to helping others.  Operating as a crusader for fair play, opposing juvenile delinquency and occasionally aiding the Justice Society of America (beginning with All-Star Comics #24, Spring 1945), Mr. Terrific remained a relatively minor hero of the Golden Age.

Later stories have fleshed out Sloane’s superheroic career, establishing that one of his primary rivals was the Spirit King, a serial killer and occultist.  Sloane eventually defeated and captured the Spirit King, planning on having the killer stand trial.  Despite Mr. Terrific’s protests, his ally in the Justice Society, the Spectre, banished the Spirit King to Hell (JSA #60, June 2004).  The Spirit King returned years later, prompting Mr. Terrific to return from retirement.  Using his ability to possess the bodies of others, the Spirit King took control of the Flash, and murdered Mr. Terrific (Justice League of America #171, October 1979). 

While Terry Sloane made small, positive impacts during his life, his two greatest victories came following his death.  His spirit served as a mentor and guide for the children of Starman (Starman #37, December 1997) and his legacy inspired future Justice Society chairman, Michael Holt, to become the new Mr. Terrific (Spectre #54, June 1997).

Recently, all three of these heroes were raised by Nekron and Black Hand as Black Lanterns.  With Blackest Night: JSA debuting this week, Dodds, McNider and Sloane (and other Black Lantern JSAers) will square off against their modern day successors….