Origin

The Night Man is also known as Johnny Domino, a gifted San Francisco saxophonist. When A San Francisco cable car, out of control, crashes into Johnny's car a fragment of shrapnel is embedded in his brain. Miraculously Johnny lives and he acquires the ability to hear evil thoughts of those around him. In addition his eyes are permanently dilated, allowing Johnny incredible night vision. Finally the "sleep center" in Johnny's brain has been forever altered, another after effect of his accident, allowing for prolonged insomnia that is often self induced as The Night Man adjusts to the night and his new surroundings.

Character Evolution

Through the first twelve issues (and beyond really) The Night Man was written with a 'Year One' approach that has garnered much popularity since the 1980s. Each time Johnny Domino went out into the night as The Night Man he learned something about why he was doing what he did and was often able to adapt that knowledge into how he continued his mission.

The Night Man came out the other side of Black September as two distinct people. On the one hand, he was the new, more magical character, while the original version of the character was now lost in the Marvel Universe, where he fought Wolverine. Both were real. Johnny was now living two separate lives in two separate universes. He had developed as one being until Black September, but now that one being was facing two separate sets of circumstance, and each would develop differently thereafter.

Major Story Arcs

The Night Man (Comic) V1

Johnny became a carpenter when it became clear he'd need to do a little remodeling in his home to hide his costume and gear. He became a machinist when it became clear he'd need to hide a duplicate costume inside his sports car somewhere and decided to open up a portion of the floor board and install a panel behind the wheel well. The Night Man began broadcasting 'pirate radio' most nights in order to help build up the mythos of The Night Man and allow Johnny to vent when needed.He'd often adapt and change his costume and gear as needed depending on where he was going, what he'd be doing, and how his gear performed the last mission out.

Johnny Domino was on a quest to 'rule the night' and be it's champion. He was taken a back by little that he found lurking in the shadows, often waiting for him in particular, and took the night head on.

The Night Man (Comic) V2/3

This Johnny Domino was a bit different. Relying more on magic and Celtic mysticism than high tech gear and gadgets this Night Man didn't become the night's champion, he surrendered to it and became one of it's creatures. As this version of The Night Man progressed Johny found him self giving into the wants and desires of other creatures he shared the night with to become more like them. At one point he finds him self actually needing to feast on others in order to sustain him self.

This version of The Night Man, eventually intermingling with the Marvel Universe, never really looked at himself differently than the first version of The Night Man, simply a man in a different time and place withe different opportunities offered to him, taking him down different paths in a new life from that of his past life.

Other Media

Television

The Nightman

A low-budget television series was created, supposedly based on Night Man, although it bore little resemblance to the comic character. This Nightman (one word) developed telepathy after a lightning strike, then took possession of an armored battle-suit that allowed him to fly and see in the dark. A battle suit that had been stolen from a DOD contractor, moonlighting as an illegal arms dealer, by the sole surviving member of a quintet of pacifistic scientists!

He also had Manimal as a guest star.

Animation

The Nightman

Night Man guest starred in an episode of the Ultraforce animated series.