Midnighter's abilities are presented in the character's first appearance, occurring in Stormwatch (volume 2, issue 4). Midnighter is the product of bioengineered enhancements commissioned by the character of Henry Bendix. It is implied (as in the Midnighter solo series (issues 10–16)) that Midnighter was a normal human before enlisting with Stormwatch Black. Several storylines have featured the deactivation, over-riding, or removal of the character's enhancements to reduce Midnighter's abilities to those of a normal man. The abortive Team Achilles series suggested that Bendix had "designed" Midnighter and Apollo during his childhood.
Typically, Midnighter is presented with superhuman strength, speed and resilience. The character is shown moving faster than both the human and superhuman eye, and in possession of a healing factor that allows him to rapidly recover from injury and illness. Storylines have shown Midnighter surviving a broken neck, broken limbs, holes through his chest and burning; the character is also portrayed clearing "AIDS in six weeks". Midnighter is capable of surviving in anaerobic environments for short time periods and possesses a secondary replacement heart. He also the power to suppress pain so he can keep fighting when pain would stop a normal person.
Many writers have referenced Midnighter's trademark ability to predict the unfolding of a battle before it starts. Early in Ellis's run on The Authority, the character was described as having a mental combat computer, with neural-inductive implants, which he uses to run through a given combat situation millions of times in his mind, almost instantly covering nearly every possible result before the first punch is even thrown. This allows for the perfect response and counterattack, such that if Midnighter can possibly win a battle, he will. Ellis portrayed the Midnighter delivering a monologue on this ability to intimidate opponents; Keith Giffen later had the character distribute a business card to this effect, to save time. Issue No. 7 of the Midnighter solo series, written by Brian K. Vaughan, showed the character using this ability regressively, to visualise the desired outcome of a battle and work backwards logically to achieve it. The stand-alone Authority graphic novel Human on the Inside, by John Ridley, suggested the ability was reactive, and required an opponent to make a first move to define the possibilities for a response. Though this is contradicted by numerous earlier, and later comics. Midnighter was also unable to use this ability against the Joker due to the latter's extreme insanity.
In the new 52 Midnighter's ability are slightly different. His power to predict the outcome of any situation still exists, but appears to have been supplemented by a form of precognition as well as enhanced knowledge. He is able to finish other people's sentences before they have thought about it, and when Stormwatch's map of alien threats to Earth materialised in front of him and Apollo, he instantly knew what it was. He has significant resistance to telepathic attacks, as he was able to resist the Scourge of Worlds' attempt to use the Martian Manhunter's telepathy on him. He mentions that he has carbon-fibre muscles that presumably enhance his strength. Harry Tanner, reputed to be the world's greatest swordsman, struggled to land even a single blow on Midnighter since the latter could predict every move he would make. After a few seconds of fighting, Midnighter immediately knew what Harry's power was. He has demonstrated the ability to move so stealthily that the Manhunter and Hawksmoor could not hear or sense his stalking them until it was too late. His suit enhances his durability; he was able to survive unaided in hyperspace for a while.
At your local comic shop. The trade paperbacks are a good deal, or you could go to eBay and buy them. Highly recommended. Warren Ellis is a genius writer.
I would say probably Ryu. Midnighter's pretty strong and tough, but Ryu is often more so. The battle computer helps, but it doesn't prevent him from getting hit all the time, and a powerful dragon punch could win it.
Ryu accidentally vaporizes Midnighter with a blast that can vaporize a city block, being unused to fighting opponents this weak. He then kills himself in shame.
The manga has Ryu carry around a multi-ton bolder on his back while walking for miles while his energy is being drained, then he gets into a fight with another fighter that trashes several buildings in the process.
The comics have Cammy kick Chun-li 3+stories into the air, then she gets up and hit Cammy with an energy attack that destroys multiple cars and breaks the ground under their feet (scan). While beaten, Cammy's no more than a little daised and bruised and soon recovers, and Cammy's definitely not as tough as Ryu.
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Sep 20th, 2013 02:06 PM
