Five of My Favorite Comic Book Doctors

Doing something a little different this time around.  Physicians are everywhere in comic books and it's always fun to see the medicine (good and bad) intertwined in the stories.  These are not necessarily the best doctors in the comics, just my personal favorites.

#5 - Thor

Thor's debut in Journey into Mystery #83.
Art by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott

Yes.  That Thor.  Originally, Thor's origin had Odin placing Thor into the body of partially disabled medical student, Donald Blake (the series finale to House, in my opinion, would be awesome if he found Mjolnir and became Thor).  If the name Donald Blake sounds familiar, there were references made to him in the Thor movie as being Jane Foster's ex-boyfriend.  Originally, Jane Foster was a nurse that worked with Blake and the two become involved.  Can you blame her?  "Hey there baby, not only am I a doctor but I am also the Norse god of thunder."  In the magic of retcons, this origin for Thor is no longer official continuity and Foster has become a doctor, herself.







#4 - Dr. Thomas Wayne

Thomas Wayne in Batman: The Long Halloween #9
Art by Tim Sale

Bruce Wayne's dad seems to have been a very well respected surgeon in the DC Universe, not to mention a renowned philanthropist (which is something given he lives in a city that epitomizes the dark side of any urban environment).  I've enjoyed Paul Dini's expansion of Gotham's old families in his Hush stories (another comic book physician, but one I find annoying at times).  Dini has portrayed a young Thomas Wayne as a womanizing, party-boy who is changed by his meeting with his future wife Martha Kane.

In current continuity (I think), Dr. Wayne was actually the first Batman, wearing a bat-themed costume at party one evening and stopping a crime.  The costume he wore hung in the Batcave until it was stolen by Dr. Simon Hurt who is also a doctor and actually a devil-worshiping Wayne ancestor also named Thomas (thanks to Grant Morrison).  Of late, Dr. Wayne has been revealed to be the Batman in the latest DC event, Flashpoint.  I hear good things about it but I am personally tired of these large story arcs.

Thomas Wayne as Batman in Flashpoint #1; Art by Andy Kubert and Sandra Hope

#3 - Dr. Soranik Natu

Soranik Natu in Green Lantern Corps: Recharge # 5; art by Patrick Gleason

This one may be one of my more obscure selections and proof I read way too many comics.  Natu is a neurosurgeon from Korugar, the home planet of Sinestro, former Green Lantern and later archnemesis of Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth (don't ask me what his status is now, I didn't read Brightest Day).  Dr. Natu has also been revealed as the daughter of Sinestro and the niece of Abin Sur, the Green Lantern who gave the ring to Hal Jordan.  Last I heard, Natu was dating Kyle Rayner, another Green Lantern from Earth.  I think I like Natu because 1) how many times do you see an alien physician? and 2) how could would it be to be a physician with a Green Lantern ring?  I really hope Natu survives the upcoming revamp of the DC Universe.  She's good for Kyle and definitely one of the more interesting supporting cast in the Green Lantern saga.

#2 - Dr. Strange

Dr. Strange by Gabriele Dell'Otto

Dr. Stephen Strange was (yet another) neurosurgeon who was (yet again) arrogant and needed a lesson in humility.  Strange's hands are crippled in a car accident, ruining his ability to perform surgery.  Trying everything he can to get his hands fixed, Strange ends up in the Himalayas where, after proving the good in himself, he is taught the mystic arts by the Ancient One.  Strange is one of my favorite characters in the Marvel universe and definitely one of the most fun to play in Marvel Ultimate Alliance.  I love the following image from Let's Be Friends Again which nods to House.

Dr. Strange ala House, MD; art by Chris Haley of Let's Be Friends Again

#1 - Dr. Mid-nite (Pieter Cross).

With respect to former Dr. Mid-nites, Dr. Charles McNeider and Dr. Beth Chapel, Dr. Pieter Cross has been the greatest to hold the title of Dr. Mid-nite.  In a mini-series by Matt Wagner (one of my favorite comic writers), Cross is a physician/ urban crusader that reminds me of both the fictional Dr. Thomas Wayne and the real Dr. Paul Farmer.  After going after the Terrible Trio (a set of Batman villains) who are pushing a new drug on the streets, Cross is injected with the drug and gets into a car accident.  Initially believing he was blind, Cross finds that he can see in the dark (conveniently like the former Dr. Mid-nites) and assumes the Mid-nite mantle.  Later, he joined the JSA and has since become the DCU's go-to medical guy.  Mid-nite has had stories written by some of my favorite writers including Matt Wagner, Scott Beatty, and Geoff Johns (before his head got bigger than Hector Hammond's).

Dr. Mid-nite from the cover of JSA Classified #19; art by Rags Morales