Doctor Polaris

Doctor Polaris
Neal Emerson as Doctor Polaris, Art by Phil Jimenez.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Emerson) Green Lantern vol. 2 #21, (June 1963) (Nichol) Blue Beetle vol. 2 #31, (November 2008)
Created by	(Emerson) John Broome (writer) Gil Kane (artist) (Nichol) Brad Meltzer (writer) Gene Ha (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Neal Emerson John Nichol
Team affiliations	(Emerson) Cadre Secret Society of Super Villains (Nichol) Intergang
Notable aliases	(Emerson) Repulse
Abilities	Magnetism manipulation, Genius-level intelligence, Ability to manipulate electromagnetic fields, Flight through magnetic fields, Immortality

Doctor Polaris is an alias used by two fictional supervillains, comic book characters published by DC Comics.

Neal Emerson first appeared as Doctor Polaris in Green Lantern #21 (June 1963), and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane.

The second Dr. Polaris, John Nichol, first appeared off-panel in Justice League of America #11 (September 2007), before receiving a full introduction in Blue Beetle vol. 2 #31, (November 2008). Nichol's origins in this issue were developed by Matthew Sturges and Andre Coelho.

Neal Emerson and his brother John were raised by an abusive father (although a later flashback shows him raised by an abusive aunt). This apparently drove Neal Emerson within himself and led to the creation of the personification of his own dark side. Emerson left the United States for a year and returned to find he was an uncle. His brother John and sister-in-law Katherine had adopted a baby and named him Grant. Emerson was not around much for his nephew over the years, but he was quite fond of the boy.

As a medical student, Neal Emerson develops a fanatical interest in magnets, despite the teasings of his classmates. Emerson is convinced exposure to magnetic fields will give him more energy. He later holds crowd-drawing lectures on "Health via Magnetism." Due to his medical background and belief in magnetism, Emerson adopts the name "Doctor Polaris." He even designs a special costume and mask to wear for his public appearances.

After time Emerson came to believe he had absorbed too much magnetic energy, and unsuccessfully tries to drain off the excess energy. In desperation, Emerson tries to make a public appeal at a charity event to Green Lantern, believing Green Lantern's power ring can help him. Unfortunately, putting on the costume causes the evil persona of Doctor Polaris to take over Emerson, and he robs the box office of the proceeds instead. Polaris tries to draw a magnetic gun on Green Lantern, but is knocked unconscious by the Lantern instead. At the hospital, Green Lantern probes Polaris' mind, and learns of Emerson's evil side. Shortly thereafter, Polaris recovers and attacks Green Lantern from hiding with girders and other metal objects. The Green Lantern manages to draw Polaris out into the open and defeat him. Doctor Polaris is remanded to police custody; during that time, his "good self" resurfaces.