Midnighter and Apollo, two members of a clandestine global watchdog group of heroes known as the Authority, are lovers.

They have become, over the years, two of the most prominent gay characters in comic books. Midnighter is dressed entirely in black leather, a fierce and brutal fighter who can anticipate the every move of an opponent. As such, he is nearly invincible in battle. Apollo, in contrast, has a costume full of gold and white contrasts–literally light in contrast to his lover’s “midnight” dark persona. Not surprisingly, Apollo has powers fueled by sunlight and tends to be more merciful, but no less efficient in battle.

Midnighter and Apollo have often been called the gay Batman and Superman–and there certainly are parallels. Batman is often portrayed as a brutal fighter and some of Superman’s powers have historically been explained by the radiation of our planet’s yellow sun in contrast to Superman’s home planet’s red sun. There may have been an element of parody in the original conception, but the pair has become increasingly their own distinct characters. And their loving and committed relationship is a big part of what sets them apart. However much a berserker Midnighter is (far more like Wolverine than Batman when you come right down to it), his fierce and even gentle love for Apollo provides an intriguing counterpoint to his character. Their love is as much a part of their personalities as anything else.

The origin of Midnighter and Apollo

Midnighter and Apollo were first introduced in the pages of a Wildstorm comic book named Stormwatch. (Wildstorm characters have since become part of the DC universe.) They were the result of genetic manipulations of the sinister Weatherman, aka Henry Bendix, who wiped out all memory of their past lives. Breaking free of Bendix, they lived an underground existence for several years. Midnighter and Apollo were finally taken under the wing of Jackson King, a new and more benevolent Weatherman at Stormwatch. The pair were given arbitrary civilian identities by King: Lucas Trent for Midnighter and Andrew Pulaski for Apollo. During their years on the run, they had become lovers, a relationship is just hinted at first, but the two are directly identified as gay with Stormwatch #8. When the other Stormwatch agents were killed, the story of Midnighter and Apollo continued in another Wildstorm comic book called The Authority. The Authority was created to be an extra-legal, non-governmental  group of extraordinary individuals who clandestinely seek to oversee the affairs of the world.

Their early adventures with The Authority

The Wildstorm stories were told in a larger than life fashion, more explicitly violent and also daring than what might be found in Marvel and DC comic books at the time. And in the late nineties, a homosexual storyline could still easily be told in a somewhat sensational fashion.

Brutality in the Millar Version of Midnighter and Apollo

In a later Authority storyline, for example, Apollo is raped by a super-villain, though the act is only suggested. Apollo’s attacker is later brutalized in some fashion by a vengeful Midnighter with a drill. (Again, the violent fate of the rapist is only suggested, but the suggestion is unavoidable.) Despite this violence, hard as it may seem to imagine from this description, Apollo, Midnighter and their relationship are generally treated very sympathetically. This makes sense only when you consider the whole tone of The Authority was more violent and over the top than the typical superhero comic book without ever becoming campy.

The final issue of the first run of The Authority comic book, #29, features Midnighter and Apollo’s televised marriage (with Midnighter decked out in white leather), a kiss and the news of their adoption of the little girl who is the embodied spirit of the new century. As the presiding minister says, “By the power vested in me by the Television Network Sponsors, I can now pronounce you guys, ah, well, husband and husband, apparently. You can kiss the groom, boys.”

John Ridley’s Intriguing Take on the Gay Heroes (2004)

John Ridley, a successful novelist and screenwriter, sought to get on The Authority bandwagon, a buzzworthy endeavor to be sure. In the one-off hardcover graphic novel illustrated by Ben Oliver, the first we see of the gay heroes is Apollo watching Midnighter cradle their young adoptive daughter in bed.

“I see you like this, all you can do, all the destruction you can visit…” Apollo begins. “But I see you like this, so softe, so full of caring… and no matter all my abilities…” He pauses, struggling to find the right words for everything he’s feeling. “Do you know, sometimes, how hard it is for me to tell you how much I love you?”

Not long after, the Authority is dispatched by the appearance of the Three Fates and it is only the appearance of an incredibly adept martial artist named Danny Chan to turn the tide. When Midnighter asks for his code name, Chan quips, “How about: Super Tough Karate Action Guy? C’mon, for real, code names are kinda silly, don’t your think … Midnighter?”

Chan, uber confident, kisses and presumably makes love to Engineer and later agrees to spar with a Midnighter who–uncharacteristically feels like he has something to prove. But in forcing Midnighter to make the first move he is able to sidestep his ability to counter any move by an adversary and Chan takes him down with single strike. Pinning Midnighter to the ground, Chan kisses him passionately, saying only, “I win again” and walking away.

Later, Midnighter blurts out uncomfortable truths to his husband. “I’m confused,” he admits.  “I don’t … I’ve never felt like this…”

“What is it?” Apollo wants to know. “What’s the matter?”

“He was so strong… so forceful…” Midnighter reluctantly admits his attraction and Apollo sends him crashing through the wall of their ship. Later, Chan’s arrogance gets the better of Apollo and he grabs Chan by the collor.

“You can’t satisfy your man,” Chan taunts, “don’t get pissed at me.”

Chan turns out to be a bio-technological construct designed to destroy the Authority from within. Revealing himself to Engineer, his biotech match takes him out.

I quote this interaction at length as Ridley creates a complicated but human dilemma and posits what might happen if Midnighter met a man who was his physical better. By story’s end, Midnighter and Apollo exchange a quiet look that suggests that love will likely heal their breach.

Midnighter and Apollo also appear in Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority #2 (9/00) as well as some one shots. (Jenny Sparks is the rapidly aged daughter that the pair adopted.) A homophobic character named Kev is featured in several mini-series. He often makes snarky comments to Apollo and Midnighter but they always come out on top of such exchanges.

Midnighter in his own Comic Book (2006)

Midnighter received his own comic book in 2006, first written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Chris Sprouse.  But very little of it initially revolved around his sexuality or his relationship with Apollo. A gay character had never headlined his own comic book before and the powers that be likely saw that focusing on the kickass nature of the character was a safer route than

A Narrative Reset Lets the Romance Begin (2011)

Midnighter and Apollo became part of the mainstream DC universe with the relaunch of Stormwatch. The narrative resets itself earlier in their history, when they were just becoming intimate and before they got married. After their Stormwatch appearances, Midnighter and Apollo break up for a time. Apollo is seen only briefly in Midnighter’s own 12 issue series, but rejoins his lover by the end of it.

The mini-series Midnighter and Apollo is a celebration of their love and fierce devotion to each other. Apollo appears to have died and is captured by a Satanic figure named Neron. Midnighter must enter the depths of hell to rescue Apollo. Meanwhile, Apollo must protect his very soul from the insidious mind games of Neron. During this series, the couple established a friendship with another gay couple, Extrano and Tasmanian Devil, both of whom have articles on this website.

The Wildstorm: Warren Ellis Reinvisions His Creations

In 2017, Warren Ellis returns to the character he created for Jim Lee’s start-up company named Wildstorm for the first time in over a decade, determined to give them a more nuanced and contemporary look. He also decided to work with a pre-determined end point, in essence creating four six-issue and interconnected graphic novels. His new version of Apollo and Midnighter was saved for the final story arc. Here Midnighter is brown-skinned, and Apollo has grayish black hair–while both have more functional looking garb that still reflects their unique characters and powers. Thus far this alternative universe take on the characters hasn’t been revisited, but it was a satisfying and intriguing alternative version to be sure.

Midnighter and Apollo’s significance as gay characters

As mentioned, Midnighter and Apollo were initially seen by many as only thinly disguised gay doppelgangers of Batman and Superman. Over time this association has diminished. Their stature as the best known members of either the Authority or Stormwatch, their clearly sexual romance, their subsequent marriage and adoption of a child all made their portrayal cutting edge in the world of comic books of the time. Even in terms of sexual politics the pair is subversive, as the macho Midnighter is subtly but clearly portrayed as the “bottom” in their relationship.

This article remains a work in progress. 

Notable appearances of Midnighter and Apollo

Stormwatch vol.2/4-9 (2/98-7/98)

The Authority 1-29 (5/99-7/02)

The Authority Annual: Devil’s Night (2000)

Authority: Kev (10/02)

The Authority: Scorched Earth 1 (2/03)

The Authority vol. 2/1-14  (7/03-10/04)

The Authority: Human on the Inside (2004)

The Authority: Revolution 1-12 (12/04-12/05)

The Authority vol. 3/1-2 (12/06-5/07)

Midnighter 1-20 (1/07-8/08) Apollo appears sparodically

Grifter and Midnighter 1-6 (5/07-10/07)

The Authority: World’s End 1-19 (10/08-4/10)

The Authority: The Lost Year 3-12 (1/10-10/10)

Wildcats 19-30 (3/10-2/11)

Stormwatch 0-30 (11/11-6/14) DC/New 52

Grifter 7, 13-14, 16 Midnighter only (5/12-3/13)

Grayson 1-2, 4-7, 13-14, 18-20 Midnighter only (9/14-7/16)

Midnighter 1-12 (8/15-7/16)

Batman and Robin Eternal 23-26 Midnighter only (5/16)

Midnighter and Apollo 1-6 (12/16-5/17)

The Wildstorm 17, 19-24 (11/18-9/19)

Future State: Superman: World of War 1-2 (3/21-4/21)

Action Comics 1029-1030+ (5/21-6/21+)

Mark Carlson-Ghost