On the whole, I feel well. Better than I ever have. Maybe, like the rest of Portsmouth City, I'm just relieved to know there is some cure for this... modern malaise. With the help of someone who truly cares. The doctor is in. 
- — Camilla Marlowe src
Camilla Marlowe was a patient of Dr. Pieter Cross, and his first ally as the second Doctor Mid-Nite.
History
Camilla was born with a rare allergy to UV light; when she was four, the sun so severely burned her scalp that most of her hair fell out. At twelve, she took to smoking after being encouraged by another child with the same condition as a way to take "control" of the hot, bright lights they were forced to stay away from.
In adulthood, she moved to Portsmouth for a better quality of life and found decent success as a marketing designer, creating advertisements and websites for local businesses. However, the stress caused her to turn to drugs to stay happy and "functional." She also began seeking steroids to reduce her light sensitivity and was offered the mysterious drug "A39".[1]
The Midnight Doctor
Seven years after the move, she met Dr. Pieter Cross in the dark of night while waiting for her local dealer. Caught off-guard by his presence, she assumed him to be also looking for drugs and was stricken with fear when he later confronted her with his assistants Nite Lite and Ice Sickle. He explained that he was investigating the distribution of A39, which was stolen from a government lab and is a derivative of the infamous (and easily abused) Venom. After realizing he only wanted to help, she accompanied him to the northeast part of the city, where she was blown away by his unusual and compassionate aid to its poverty-stricken residents as their "midnight doctor."
Some days later, Dr. Cross was unknowingly drugged heavily with A39 and caused a fatal accident that also took his eyesight. When he went into a reclusive depression, Camilla came to help him recover and discovered that his vision had become "negative," allowing him only to see the lower spectrums of light. Seeing the circumstances as an opportunity to further help people that need him, Camilla became the first witness as he decided to take on the identity "Doctor Mid-Nite."[1]
Aiding Dr. Mid-Nite
It became difficult for Camilla to keep track of Dr. Cross as he increased his vigilante activities and continued his crusade against A39, although he still relied on her for assistance. They began aiming their sights at the Praeda Corporation, which had been deepening the city's unemployment and homeless crisis by buying up homes and businesses in an already financially devastated part of town. When Dr. Cross went undercover at Praeda headquarters to hack into their database, he was captured and nearly gassed to death; in the meanwhile, an operative was sent to kill Camilla. With Nite Lite's help, she was able to escape and retrieve Dr. Cross.[2]
The duo isolated Praeda's unusual ownership of a waste facility using their stolen data and discovered that it was collecting toxic waste to unleash it in all but one part of the city -- the area they had purchased. People would be forced to pay exorbitant rent to remain in the area. Camilla, Doctor Mid-Nite, and federal agents manage to defeat Praeda, although the toxic waste managed to spill into the sea and needed to be cleaned.
With Doctor Mid-Nite's help and her new purpose in life, Camilla stopped using drugs and became much happier with time. She began publishing a serial based on her experience with Dr. Cross titled "The Adventures of Dr. Midnight," eternally grateful for the experience of helping and being helped by someone who truly cares about others.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Visual Design: Camilla is a professional advertisement designer.
- Computer Operation: Camilla uses computers in her professional and vigilante work.
- Investigation: As Doctor Mid-Nite's go-to investigator, she conducted extensive research for leads that the Doctor may act on.
Other Characteristics
- Allergy to UV Light
- Clinical Depression
- Drug Addiction (Formerly)
Notes
- Camilla's genetic disorder is referred to as the fictional "xenoderma pigmentosa", which is identical in its symptoms to the real-life disorder xeroderma pigmentosum.
Trivia
- Camilla's dream was to become a mystery writer.[1] After her experiences with Dr. Cross, she began publishing a web series that became a massive hit.[3]
Recommended Reading
Related
- 3 Appearances of Camilla Marlowe (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Camilla Marlowe (New Earth)
- 1 Quotations by or about Camilla Marlowe (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Camilla Marlowe (New Earth)
Footnotes