Nite Owl
Nite Owl is a comic book character that first appeared in Watchmen #1
Daniel Drieberg used his superior technical, detecting and fighting skills to follow in Hollis Mason's footsteps as the Nite Owl. However for all his skills and intellect, he remains shy, weak willed and cowardly. Only in his Nite Owl costume can he muster the courage neccesary for vigilantism(among other things).
Hollis Mason
For the history of the first Nite Owl, read about Hollis Mason HERE.
Dan Dreiberg
Dan Dreiberg was the successor to the Nite Owl mantle. Inspired by Mason’s career and his love of predatory birds (especially Owls). With an inherited wealth he purchased and/or designed and constructed a variety of super heroic paraphernalia, notably the Owlship called ‘Archie’ (after Archimedes), Archie was an airship armed with flame-throwers, missiles, and all the other gadgets necessary to begin a war on crime without any sort of metahuman power.
Dreiberg was somewhat self-conscious and clearly liberal, and a sensitively intellectual in his everyday dealings. He would tend to over-think before acting and had an apparent fetish for super heroics and all its trappings. He was most effective when he is in costume, quickly shedding his inhibitions. He was considered to be the most "human" character in Watchmen, which played as a wonderful contrast to Dr. Manhattan. Dan was very romantic in the sense that he adored the little things like Disney and knights in shining armor. In a way he was childish, but all of that would come off once he put on his cape and cowl. Once he did he would "awaken the beast within" who apparently had a big appetite!
Dreiberg asked Mason’s permission in using the Nite Owl name and began his career. He teamed up with Rorschach (Walter Kovacs) and was part of an abortive attempt to form the Crime busters by Captain Metropolis.
In 1977 the Keene Act was passed outlawing vigilantism and Dreiberg retired. Dreiberg quietly mastered in aeronautics and zoology at Harvard, contributing scholarly articles to ornithological journals after his retirement.
In 1985, Dreiberg was contacted by a still very active Rorschach who was investigating the murder of Edward Blake (The Comedian). Rorschach believed it was someone targeting masked heroes and warned Dreiberg out of possibly professional courtesy or maybe because of their history together. Rorschach seemed to genuinely care about Dreiberg and in many repects considered him his only friend.
Soon, Dreiberg was forced to return to vigilantism along with the Silk Spectre II (daughter of the original, Laurie Juspeczyk, who later became his wife), to break Rorschach out of prison and attempt to stop Ozymandias from his scheme to ‘save the world from itself’. They failed. After the incident he and Juspeczyk took the names of Sam and Sandra Hollis and briefly visit Laurie's mother. Dan jokingly brings up the subject of children.
Inspiration
Nite Owl I was inspired by the original Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett. Nite Owl II is inspired by Ted Kord the 2nd Blue Beetle. It is noticed that Nite Owl I's costume bears resemblance to Robin's and Nite Owl II's costume bears resemblance to Batman's; this is proven even more upon watching the film. Other similarities have been drawn between Nite Owl II and Batman, namely the fact that they are both average humans with vast amounts of wealth, and they rely on gadgets and training, rather than superpowers of any kind.
Watchmen movie
Both Nite Owls will appear in the movie. Though there has been some criticism that the second Nite Owl's costume is too cool. While he retains his night vision goggles, utility belt and thick cape from the comic, the brown spandex/leather bodysuit has been replaced with chain mail-type armor because the director wanted him to look scarier. His personality hasn't changed a bit, only Dan's other half has changed physically.
Patrick Wilson portrays Nite Owl (II) in the 2009 film "Watchmen". Wilson heard of Watchmen the graphic novel before receiving the script, but he did not read it until later on. Two years prior to interviews at Comic-Con, Wilson read the comic and thought it was great. He figures that the director did a wonderful job capturing the books essence. He figures that even though some things were cut and others were added, any fan-boy must agree that this is a great film. To create his image, Patrick Wilson gained weight and practiced Dan's manners.
The original Nite Owl is played by Stephen McHattie. it should be noted his death was cut from the film.
| Super Name: | Nite Owl |
| Real Name: | Daniel Dreiberg |
| Aliases: |
Daniel Dreiberg Nite Owl II Sam Hollis |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Gender: | Male |
| Character Type: | Human |
| 1st Appearance: | Watchmen #1 |
| Appears in: | 9 issues |
| Birthday: | |
| Died: |
|
Watchmen
The Watchmen Movie was released in 2009 starring Jackie Earle Haley as masked vigilante Rorschach. It was irected by Zach Snyder. It is based very ...
|
|
Watchmen : The Motion Comic
An "animated" version of the acclaimed graphic novel.
|
