The CW’s Black Lightning is approaching the end of its four-season run in the Arrowverse. Fans of the series looking for more Black Lightning stories may find some solace in the pages of his many comic book appearances, going back to the late 1970s. Beyond his storied past, he also has an intriguing future, based on his powerful appearance in the recent Future State comics.
Black Lightning has a critical and consequential history in DC Comics and comics in general. He also has a deep connection to many other characters in the larger DC Universe that could pay dividends in future film and television adaptations.
First African-American DC Superhero To Star In A Comic
Black Lightning has the distinction of being the first African-American superhero to headline his own title at DC Comics. He was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eeden, debuting Black Lightning #1 in 1977. The character was one that Isabella had been kicking around for a while and pitched to DC editorial when they were seeking to introduce an African-American hero.
He followed in the footsteps of the first African-American DC hero, John Stewart, and Marvel’s Sam Wilson, The Falcon, who had debuted in Captain America #117 in September 1969.
The DC Implosion
The original run of Black Lightning only lasted eleven issues before falling victim to what became known as the DC Implosion. Rising costs combined with falling sales led DC to abruptly cancel 24 of its ongoing titles, including Black Lightning, which represented about 40% of the line at the time.
The company had been losing market share to Marvel Comics for some years at this point, but Marvel wasn’t immune to rising inflation and production costs either. Only the massive success of Star Wars comics in 1977 and 1978 saved the company.
Evolving Origins
As with nearly all comic book heroes with any history behind them, especially DC characters like The Atom, Black Lightning has seen his origins evolve over time. Originally, Jefferson Pierce is a teacher in the Suicide Slum of Metropolis. He gets his unique electrical powers from a special belt he wears.
Later versions, in particular the post-Crisis On Infinite Earths version, retcon his origin so that he’s a truly powerful metahuman like many other DC heroes, generating his powerful electrical field and energy bursts.
The Outsiders
Black Lightning would make sporadic appearances through the years after the cancellation of his first ongoing title. In the early ’80s, he became part of The Outsiders. This team, led by Batman in one of his strangest alliances in the comics, was formed after The Dark Knight broke ranks with Justice League Of America.
Black Lightning has been a key part of the team in virtually all its incarnations through the years. He’s been part of the unit in recent years in the comics and is also the leader of the screen version in the Black Lightning television series.
The 100
One of Black Lightning’s longtime foes in the comics is The 100. This ancient gang ruled the criminal underworld in the Suicide Slum, and their interests collided with Black Lightning’s almost from the moment he appeared on the scene. The 100 originally hail from Spain, traveling to America in the 15th century.
Many of them are still alive, thanks to their interest in magic and other mystical means to keep themselves alive. As such, one of Batman’s greatest villains, Rah’s Al Ghul, considers them a serious threat to his own immortal ambitions.
Tobias Whale
Every great hero has a great villain and Black Lightning’s nemesis in the comics is Tobias Whale. He appears in the show as well, though in the comics, Whale is more of a Kingpin-like figure in terms of his stature. He’s a giant of a man, and early versions depicted him with a conical-shaped head.
Jefferson Pierce actually becomes Black Lightning because the drug trade Whale operates in the Suicide Slum leads to the tragic death of one of Pierce’s students. They would go on to become bitter enemies in the years that followed.
Part Of The Luthor Administration
One of the more unlikely periods of Black Lightning’s comic book history is when he served in the administration of President Lex Luthor as the Secretary of Education. Jefferson Pierce took the chance to try and do some good in the position, putting aside his deep reservations about Luthor to try and improve people’s lives.
He didn’t last long in the role, though. When his true identity as Black Lightning was revealed to the public, Pierce was forced to resign from office.
Turned Down The Justice League Of America
Early on in his career at DC Comics, Black Lightning is offered membership in the Justice League Of America. He turns it down, saying he has more than enough work on his own defending the people of Suicide Slum. He may have also been put off by the manner in which the offer was made.
In Justice League of America #173, the team decides to test Black Lightning to see if he’s worthy of membership. They do this by disguising themselves as villains (the Green Arrow becomes the Swashbuckler) and it doesn’t make a lot of sense. He would later be part of some JLA teams in the modern era.
Powerful Daughters
As with the television show, Jefferson Pierce eventually has two daughters who become heroes in their own right. Thunder and Lightning have some differences in the comics, though. Lightning, or a version of her, actually first appears in the mid-90s Kingdom Come mini-series by writer Mark Waid and artist Alex Ross.
Thunder is lesbian in the show, unlike the comics, and she grows up to become a member of a more recent version of The Outsiders.
Static Shock
Though Black Lightning may be leaving television soon, he could return to the big screen as a small part of the upcoming Static Shock movie. That’s because Jefferson Pierce has a connection to the Milestone Comics icon from the ’90s both in the comics as well as Static’s animated series.
Static is revealed to be a huge fan of Black Lightning in the Teen Titan comics and Jefferson Pierce comes to mentor Virgil Hawkins. It’s possible this relationship could play out on screen in the near future.
