The initial i in the logo was stylized as an exclamation point, but the official name of the imprint was not. After escaping her captors and changing identity, grace briefly worked as a bartender at the ruby. Black lightning was ranked 85th overall on igns top 100 comic books heroes list in 2011. While the existing dctv series focus on more popular characters from the pages of dc comics, black lightnings mythos is a little more obscure, which is why we think a character guide is essential leading up to the premiere. Black lightning creator slams dc after character change. This is a list of black superheroes that lists characters found in comic books and other media. In addition to creating the iconic 70s hero black lightning, he also worked on several cultclassic series like ghost rider and heroes for hire. Lynn later begins to investigate the effects of a new drug called green light and its effects on. Aimed at younger readers, these titles ran against the grim. He is a tailor and trusted friend of jefferson pierce. Black captain america leading comic book diversity.
Launched in 1991, the impact comics imprint made use of the archie comics red circle line of of characters acquired by dc. This puts jefferson pierce on the path of becoming black lightning. Black lightning is set to debut on january 16, so allow us to introduce you to the characters before it all kicks off. The first spinoff book from the newly redone wildstorm imprint is about one of the most bad ass black spies around, michael cray. What a time it is for african americans to be represented in comic book movies, todays most popular film genre. Comics character has been black lightning in a bottle for medinas.
While we dont have the arrowverse to draw from, black lightning has had notable appearances in dc. He hails from the fictional suicide slums, an allegory for modern inner cities and ghettos. Like his comic book counterpart, jefferson pierce is an educator. The myersbriggs type indicator looks at your preferences and things you enjoy, and then assigns you a personality type based on that information. Regardless of the motivations, black panther, black lightning and luke cage suggest that comicbook movies can continue to function as a form of global diversityawareness training. Tony isabella speaks out about dc comics treatment of black lightning. Cress williams as jefferson pierceblack lightning in black lightning the cwbob mahoney black lightning. Black lightning and blue devil by ryan sook comic book characters, marvel. Published in 1897, the yellow kid in mcfaddens flats is considered to be the first comic book, insomuch that it bore the phrase comic book on its back cover. Black lightning s creator was extremely upset with dc comic s portrayal of the character in batman and the outsiders. Much as we did with last years top 100 comic book villains, ign has pulled together a comprehensive list of the greatest heroes to ever grace the pages of the funny books. Black lightning episode 1 is the first of what hopefully could be many episodes. Dc comics first black superhero to star in his own series was black lightning.
This line of comics consisted of the legend of the shield, the comet, jaguar, the fly, the web, and the black hood, with all of the characters from these titles uniting in a team book called the crusaders. After a lot of ups and downs, dc reprinted the original run of black lightning for the first time in. Thunder was a rookie heroine recruited to be in nightwings outsiders. Academic by day, urban avenger by night, jefferson pierce has fought all levels of crime and corruption as a solo hero, a justice leaguer, and an outsider. The ending of avengers endgame strongly suggests the. A crusading school principal gets back into action as the original africanamerican electrical superhero. The impact universe was a reimagining of archie and mlj comics superheroes from the 1940s and 1950s. No info is available as to how many copies of this issue or other may coverdated issues contained the survey. The cultural significance of marvels the black panther. The evolution and impact of the black superhero questionpro. While his origin story has been retconned several times, his current origin story states that he was born in the dc universe. Riddler is one of batmans most famous rogues, but has yet to have a major impact on screen unlike catwoman and the joker. He continued to make guest appearances, was a founding member of batman and the outsiders, and served with the.
With his ability to create electricity, he vows to better his neighborhood and fight for justice. Black lightning jefferson pierce is a superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. While the existing dctv series focus on more popular characters from the pages of dc comics, black lightning s mythos is a little more obscure, which is why we think a character guide is essential leading up to the premiere. Having not read many black lightning comics, i might not be the best source of what characters hopefully make appearances. Comic book pioneers trace the impact of black heroes at dc in. Otherwise, the comic is identical to ordinary copies. And it was important to maintain this aspect of the comics for the shows creators. The cws newest comic book turnedtvseries black lightning is the first africanamerican dc superhero to have his own standalone comic title and premieres jan. That surge has comic book companies are looking to have characters that those fans can relate to, said cheryl lynn eaton, head of the ormes society, which promotes black female comic creators and. Though many may assume otherwise, the black panther comic book character predates the actual black panther party by almost a year.
Launched in 1991, the impact comics imprint made use of the archie comicsred circle line of of characters acquired by dc. Impacts titles featured revamped versions of superheroes licensed from archie comics including the fly, the comet, the shield, the jaguar, the web, and the. Considering their impact on the genre, cultural relevance, their originality. Top rated lists for black lightning 12 items my favorite current comic book tv shows so far 26 items ranking my favorite reallife comicbook tv series seasons. Black lightning tv series alvin pierce new earth alvin rusch new earth. Its interesting that stan calls the riddler one of his favorite characters. When it comes to who is the best superhero, theres no easy answer. Medina resident tony isabella is the creator of comic book character black lightning. The evolution and impact of the black superhero ebony. What a time it is for africanamericans to be represented in comic book movies, todays most popular film genre. Dennis oneil began his career as a comic book writer in 1965 at charlton, where theneditor dick giordano assigned him to several features. Black lightning was dc comics first black superhero with his own series. Black lightnings exwife and the mother of thunder and lightning.
In the early days of north american comics, black characters were generally absent or worse. Lots of people take the test for themselves, but its also fun to apply the different categories to fictional characters. The title has been changed from 24 to 26 characters. Black panther was created at a time when black characters in mainstream comics were either sidekicks or racial stereotypes. Lightning is a fictional superhero appearing in american comic books published by dc comics. Black lightnings creator was extremely upset with dc comics portrayal of the character in batman and the outsiders. Grace choi born may 16, 1991 as shay li wylde is a woman with a troubled past who grew up in the foster system and was apparentely born with a shapeshifting metahuman condition that have caused her to live on the run since she was kidnapped by a child prostitution ring at the age of sixteen. Black lightning star cress williams will make his entry into the arrowverse this week as crisis on infinite earths continues to ramp up and the midseason finale of black lightning, while not. Jefferson pierce grew up poor and with few expectations put on him. Cray is one of the many wildstorm characters getting a new lease on life thanks to warren ellis reviving and methodically setting up. He loved staying up till 4 in the morning watching the worst horror movie he could find.
Not pinpointed with direct reference, lightning first appears in the miniseries kingdom come in 1996, written by mark waid and illustrated by alex ross. Impact comics was an imprint of dc comics that was aimed at younger audiences. Black lightning, based on the dc comics character and starring. The character is given official introduction in justice society of america vol. Heres a list of 20 of the dopest black comics set to. But isabella is not that keen on the characters current portrayal in the current batman and the outsiders series.
In the arrowverse, the precrisis earth never received a canon designation but is popularly addressed as earthbl after the shows initials, mainly because the arrowverse wiki hadnt thought of their temporary universe designation system yet and had to call it something. Black or africanamerican comic book superheroes were nonexistent in the two major comic book companies until the mid1960s. I do see a great future ahead for the black lightning television universe. Black panther was the first black comic book character to have a title of which he was the primary protagonist, outdating the falcon and luke cage of marvel and black lightning of dc comics by years. Black lightning is the best superhero show on tv the. The comics version of the character is also capable of creating massive shock waves by the simple act of stomping the ground, which would make. Characters that might come off as stereotypical feel real. As in an earlier comicbook incarnation, he has two daughters. Black lightning confirms another comic book hero thatll show up. During the 1970s, the major black comic book characters were either african royalty the black.
Cress williams as black lightning in the cws black lightning. The blackness of black lightning is unapologetic, not monolithic. The characters are superheroes depicted as black people. Anissa pierce is thunder, one of black lightning s super powered daughters. During the 1970s, the major black comic book characters were either african royalty the black panther, a brainwashed criminal falcon or a wrongfully convicted ex. If only he could find some way to more powerfully impact all the drug dealing in. A list of characters that appear in black lightning. The list expanded during editing and we added additional entries. Black lightning is not only dc comics first african american superhero, but cress williams will also be the first black man to lead a network tv. It is based on the dc comics character of the same name, created by tony. Black lightning was created a long time ago to pay homage to blacksploitation, and now, hes getting a tv show. Then, in 1966, two white, jewish, firstgeneration american creators, stan lee and jack kirby, revolutionized comic books by introducing the first black superhero.
In this list, well be taking a closer look at ten characters from black lightning and deciding which myersbriggs type applies. Black lightning debuted in 1977 as dcs first black superhero with his own origin and storyline. A guide to fantasy and science fiction made for black. Black lightning was the first africanamerican superhero to have his own solo series. Myersbriggs personality types of black lightning characters. Tony isabella, cocreator of the hero, slammed the company on social media. See more ideas about black lightning, black comics, lightning. The issue spends the first roughly twothirds on heartfelt chats between various pairings of charactersblack lightning and batman, shiva and orphan, black lightning and katanaas they join.
Black lightning is a teacher at garfield high when he crosses some drug dealers who retaliate and end up killing a young talented teenager by the name of earl clifford. Jefferson michael pierce aka black lightning, is a teacher and former olympic gold medalwinning athlete. When black lightning rejects the justice league he is rejecting white supremacy. Explore comic book and film characters from the marvel universe, dc universe, star wars universe, transformers. Tony isabella speaks out about dc comics treatment of. During one battle against robotic foes, he got in an. Black panther 1966 was the first black superhero in mainstream american comics, later followed by characters such as luke cage 1972 and black lightning 1977. Black lightning is an american superhero television series developed by salim akil, airing on the cw. With cress williams, china anne mcclain, nafessa williams, christine adams. Main characters will be listed next to their page, while minor characters. Black lightning 1977 comic read black lightning 1977. The electrifying origin of black lightning is collected in this title featuring the complete 6issue miniseries. Tony isabella is a comic book writer and editor, known for his work at both marvel comics and dc comics.