DC’s Historic BLACK LIGHTNING Returns to Canon, Proving His Powers Aren’t What Make Him a Superhero

Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1067!

After years of inactivity on the page, Black Lightning is brought back to the forefront of the DC Universe. The character is rich in history at DC and is perhaps best recognized by those who saw the CW televsision adaptation of his stories and world. However, the character’s role in the Arrowverse wasn’t clear until Crisis on Infinite Earths, which may also explain why the character’s been largely absent from the comics.

Thankfully, Black Lightning returns in a major DC “flashback” story in Action Comics #1067’s “Challenge from the Stars: Part One” by Gail Simone and Eddy Barrows, an alien invasion tale set very early in Superman’s career. This appearance effectively brings Jefferson Pierce back into DC’s main continuity.

Black Lightning’s recent appearances have been in non-canon works like DC vs. Vampires, but this latest appearance supplants him right in DC’s official world and right next to DC’s biggest hero. This appearance opens the door for a future where Black Lightning is back to being a firm staple of the DC Universe, which he deserves given his legacy.

Who Is Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning?

History, Origins, and Powers

For readers not familiar with Black Lightning or only familiar with the CW version of the character, it’s important to trace his significance in DC history back to his very beginnings. Having debuted in Black Lightning #1 by Tony Isabella, Trevor von Eeden, Frank Springer, Liz Berube, and P.G. Lisa, Jefferson Pierce is cited as the first official Black superhero to premiere under the DC banner. Pierce was introduced as a teacher working in his childhood neighborhood: the Suicide Slums, an overlooked neighborhood within Metropolis.

Following a confrontation with a local street gang, the 100, they killed one of Jefferson’s students, star athlete Earl Clifford, as a warning. Feeling guilty, Pierce decides that not only does he want to avenge Earl’s death, but that something needs to be done to clean up the Suicide Slums, which not even DC’s most prominent heroes frequented. Jefferson decided to become hisown hero: Black Lightning. With help from his tailor, Peter Gambi, Black Lightning opted to protect his identity with a suit, mask, and wig so that no one else affiliated with Mr. Pierce would face retaliation for his actions.

How Black Lightning Has Changed Since His Debut

His Powers Become More Natural in Time

In his earliest adventures, the former Olympic athlete’s power would come from his Electric Power Belt, which allowed Pierce to generate electricity. It could produce enough voltage to knock out a grizzly bear. It’s also worth noting that, because it was the 1970s, Pierce’s Black Lightning character purposefully talked a stereotypical jive speak that differentiated from his own speech patterns to throw off suspicion. Both facets of the character were disposed of in later Black Lightning stories and appearances.

In more recent times, Jefferson Pierce’s backstory has been revised to re-frame him as a metahuman born with the power to produce electricity throughout his veins. It’s admittedly a simpler way of explaining how Black Lightning is able to protect the city, but in any case, his skills allow him to be a hero to the Suicide Slums when they desperately need one. While other DC heroes are too focused on global threats like aliens and giant robots, Black Lightning stays grounded on the streets to directly produce change in his community and help regular citizens in need of a hero.

Black Lightning’s Impact on the DC Universe

His Relationships with Other Heroes

Black Lightning’s efforts to salvage the Suicide Slum did not go unnoticed, as not only did the strides he made as a street hero get him noticed by the Justice League, but it got him an offer to join the team. Ultimately, as seen in Justice League of America #173 and #174 by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin, Dick Giordano, and Frank McLaughlin, Black Lightning declined the offer multiple times, as he wanted to stay a solo hero to focus on the Suicide Slums, though he did agree to become a reserve member of the Justice League. He later became a member of the League’s main roster during Brad Meltzer’s run on the title.

Truthfully, as much as getting an offer to join the Justice League of America was a major step in boosting Black Lightning’s credibility, turning down the JLA was just as helpful. Obviously, Black Lightning had a commendable reason to turn them down, but being the hero too good for the Justice League adds a special, unique aspect to Black Lightning’s character that not many heroes can lay claim to. Regardless, there was a time when Black Lightning was highly favored and beloved by the hero community in the DC Universe, even joining Batman’s Outsiders, the team he’s now most closely associated with.

Where Has Black Lightning Been the Past Few Years?

Why Is Now the Right Time to Re-Introduce Him?

Other than co-starring in some short-lived Outsiders stories, Black Lightning has been largely absent from DC Universe stories, and even more absent from stories within DC’s main canon. Perhaps his biggest recent appearance was in DCeased and DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War. Neither of these stories are canon to DC’s main continuity. It’s hard to pinpoint the reason why Black Lightning has been so absent from DC’s primary continuity; maybe his onscreen television show is a reason, or maybe because his character is so rooted in ’70s culture. Maybe it’s because the character doesn’t have an ongoing series.

Regardless of the reason, now is the perfect time for Black Lightning to be reintroduced into DC’s official canon. Action Comics #1067 depicts what appears to be the first meeting between himself and Superman — or rather, between Jefferson Pierce and Clark Kent. Given the upcoming revampe of the Justice League and DC’s major titles with the DC All In initiative, this flashback story could be step one of reacclimating readers to Black Lightning in current comic stories. There is far too much history and significance to the Black Lightning character to keep him dormant in the background while DC is in the midst of change.

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Why Being an Educator Is Important to the Black Lightning Character

And Important to His Reintroduction

What makes Action Comics #1067 all the more significant in how it reintroduces Black Lightning is that it puts an emphasis on Jefferson Pierce’s role as an educator. Not for one panel is Jeffeson Pierce seen in costume, but that doesn’t stop him from being a hero. The story also shows how his impact in the classroom is just as profound as his impact on the streets as a superhero. When his students see their teacher in distress, they do not hesitate to fight a horde of aliens on his behalf. Clearly, he’s as impactful a teacher as a superhero.

Black Lightning’s educational background is deeply rooted in his superhero lore and informs his reasoning for becoming a superhero in the first place. Action Comics #1067 shows how DC’s superheroes and civilians alike adore the man in and out of costume. He’s so beloved that the Justice League reached out to him multiple times to join them — after he had already turned them down. Black Lightning is too incredible of a superhero with too much history to be wasted on the sidelines of DC, so hopefully, DC finally recognizes the potential he offers the modern generation during its new era.

Action Comics #1067 is available now from DC Comics.

ACTION COMICS #1067 (2024)
	Writer: Gail Simone, Rainbow Rowell Artist: Eddy Barrows, Cian Tormey Inker: Danny Miki Colorist: Rex Lokus, Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Dave Sharpe Cover Artist: Eddy Barrows, Danny Miki, Tomeu Morey

Black Lightning

Black Lighting is a live-action Superhero and Sci-Fi drama that was developed by Salim Akil. It stars frontrunner Cress Williams as he takes on the mantle of Jefferson Pierce a high-school principle that used to be the enigmatic superhero Black Lighting. The series revolves around Pierce being forced to leave retirement and once again exploring his superhero persona.

Cast

Chantal Thuy , James Remar , China Anne McClain , Nafessa Williams , Jordan Calloway , Cress Williams , Damon Gupton , Christine Adams , Marvin “Krondon” Jones III

Release Date

January 16, 2018

Seasons

4

Writers

Salim Akil

Directors

Salim Akil

Showrunner

Salim Akil

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