Warning: Spoilers for Black Lightning #1!DC Comics is ready for revitalization Black Lightning for a whole new chapter. The character is undergoing something of a renaissance in the modern DC Universe. As part of its All In initiative, the comics publisher has selected a handful of supporting superheroes to reach the forefront of its roster. Among these heroes is Black Lightning, who has been chosen to join the new iteration of the Justice League.
Black Lightning #1 by Brandon Thomas, Fico Ossio, Ulises Arreola and Lucas Gattoni is the first step for DC to bet everything on the character. In recent months, DC has reintroduced Black Lightning back into canon, revealing his first encounter with Superman. Now, Black Lightning is presented in a different way than it has been seen before. a new miniseries that puts Jefferson Pierce’s family at the center.
Black Lightning #1 highlights the title character not just as a hero, but as a father, presenting new challenges that instantly make this a must-read for any fan of the character.
Black Lightning #1 is a powerful story about recovering from a traumatic event
Jefferson’s PTSD is the Core of Black Lightning #1
Black Lightning Issue #1 got off to a raucous start, largely due to the narrative elements introduced in this issue. Much is introduced here that is not only convincing, but will probably have important ramifications on the previous questions, notably with regard to Jefferson’s all-encompassing PTSD about what happened during Absolute power by Mark Waid and Dan Mora. The fact that his personal conversation with his friend and ex-wife, Lynn Stewart, about his pain and guilt is what kicks off the issue suggests that this could be one of the biggest themes of this new series.
The series could force Black Lightning to not only face the pain he refuses to talk about, but also to redeem himself to find closure.
This PTSD comes back in a big way at the end of the issue, when Black Lightning watches his daughters fall again, jumping at the chance to save them. The series could force Black Lightning to not only face the pain he refuses to talk about, but also to redeem himself to find closure. These final moments could be seen as redemption, but as he deals with his daughter’s unexpected rise in power after Absolute power shook powers across the DCU, saving his two daughters in a new way may finally help him move on of how he feels he failed as a father on the day it mattered.
What happens in Black Lightning #1?
How DC bets everything on a classic hero
Black Lightning #1 directly follows the events of Absolute powerwhere Amanda Waller becomes a true supervillain with an all-out attack on the world. She strips several heroes of their powers (some even switch powers) and captures them, even Superman. In the case of Black Lightning, he temporarily loses his powers and almost loses his daughters, Lightning and Thunder. The threat was averted, Waller was defeated, and Jefferson’s powers were returned, but He is still visibly shaken by the eventsas he passes them on to his ex-wife to initiate the matter.
The consequences of Absolute power are felt everywhere Black Lightning #1, with most of the plot focuses on how random citizens are exhibiting powers and having dormant metahuman genes activated. This new development puts Black Lightning and Lightning in front of Isaac Mitchell, a Garfield High student who would have spontaneously combusted inside the school if Black Lightning hadn’t intervened. He takes the boy to the new Justice League Watchtower to run diagnostic tests on him and train him to control his powers.
Absolute Power also affected Black Lightning’s daughters, with Anissa (Thunder) moving to New Orleans after the fact – or so the Pierce family thinks. Anissa’s struggles reach their peak in the final pages, when Black Lightning receives news of yet another wave happening in Favelas Suicidas (or Southside Heights, as the iconic Metropolis neighborhood has been renamed). This mysterious person has powers identical to Jennifer Pierce’s Lightning powers. Lightning and Black Lightning investigate and are shocked to discover that the metahuman in question with uncontrollable powers is Anissa.
Black Lightning’s family suffers after the events of Absolute power
Just like the DC Universe as a whole
It will be interesting to watch the development of Anissa’s power upgrade – not just because of how it affects Black Bolt’s daughter and his relationship with her, but for the way it emphasizes the importance of Absolute power as an event. Absolute power It’s DC’s biggest event in yearsnot just in terms of seriousness, but in terms of consequences, as it even removed Prime Earth’s access to the multiverse. As evidenced by Jefferson’s PTSD, the effects of the event will dominate Black Lightning’s story going forward.
The beauty of Absolute powerinfluence on the new Black Lightning series is double. It only shows how interconnected the DC Universe is to each heroand reinforces the strength of Absolute power as a starting point for telling new stories. The best stories are the ones that can make other stories even better in retrospect and vice versa. Black Lightning works with the power of Absolute powerand seeing how Jefferson is affected by Absolute power in turn strengthens Absolute power in new ways by rereading the monumental event.
Black Lightning #1 attacks in unexpected ways, offering a new take on a classic hero
The series’ action is driven by story and character
What is perhaps most impressive Black Lightning #1 is how this entertains and holds the reader with minimal action. It’s easy to miss a first read, but save the flashbacks to Absolute powerthere are little to no action sequences in this issue. The story comes close to some devastating battles, but never reaches a full-on action moment. A SWAT team almost takes down Isaac, but nothing happens when Black Lightning arrives. Readers get small glimpses of Lightning and Isaac testing their powers, but minimal action as Lightning and Jefferson track Thunder.
In any other story, the lack of action might be a criticism, but in Black Lightning #1, this lack really strengthens the story. The hidden tension, whether through unspoken words and feelings or diffuse altercations, makes the story feel like there’s always a pin waiting to drop, but it’s never clear when or if that will happen. That sense of nervousness creates even more excitement to keep reading future issues to see when the pin finally drops — because when it does, it will sound and feel like an atomic bomb. Black Lightning Issue 1 sets the title hero up for immense character growth that’s worth watching in real time.
Black Lightning #1 is now available from DC Comics.
Black Lighting is a live-action sci-fi superhero drama developed by Salim Akil. It stars lead Cress Williams as he takes on the mantle of Jefferson Pierce, a high school principal who used to be the enigmatic superhero Black Lighting. The series revolves around Pierce being forced out of retirement and once again exploring his superhero persona.