Hello, there fellow Questers!!
It's T to tha E to tha X back one more time to blow your comicbook-absorbed minds! I hope that life is treating you all, and the ones you love, GREAT! Me and mine are doing more than fine!
It's no secret that Black Panther has shocked the world, breaking box office records left and right, and pulling in more than $450 million worldwide within the first 5 days after its opening! Well, yours truly has seen Black Panther four times, and I have calculated that my family combined has spent close to $300 enjoying Black Panther in the last week. It's easily my favorite Marvel film, unseating Captain America: The Winter Soldier in my heart as Marvel's most thought-provoking, relevant film.
But we're not here to talk about Black Panther.
While Marvel is the king of films, DC rules the small screen with fun, action-packed shows like Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. Constantine was a stellar show that was part of the Arrowverse as well; unfortunately, it did not last past one season. Well, in keeping step with MCU's first film starring a black superhero (the Blade films are not in the MCU proper), DC/Warner launched a television show on January 16, 2018, called Black Lightning! So far, the series has received excellent ratings and it has garnered praise for being relevant, powerful, entertaining and intelligent. But just who is Black Lightning? Check it:
Above, you can see my pristine copy of Black Lightning, vol 1, #1, printed in April of 1977. It features the first appearances of Jefferson Pierce, AKA Black Lightning, his nemesis, Tobias Whale (an albino of African-American descent), and Tobias' gang, the 100. Jefferson Pierce is a high school teacher and former Olympic Gold Medal decathlete, returning to Suicide Slum, his home neighborhood, to teach at Garfield High School. Suicide Slum is a high-crime, high-poverty section of Metropolis that rarely seemed to get much attention from the Last Son of Krypton. Not long after returning, Jefferson finds himself in direct conflict with the 100's agenda, and soon a young, promising athlete who aided Jefferson in his confrontation with the 100 ends up dead. This is when Jefferson heads out to see his old friend and father-figure, Peter Gambi, a local tailor and tech wizard, who joins him in his fight against the 100 and their leader Tobias Whale. Gambi provides Jefferson with a costume, wig, mask, and the Electric Power Belt - a powerful weapon that not only generates a personal force-field but it also allows Jefferson to generate lightning bolts! And so was born...Black Lightning!!
Black Lightning was created by comics legend, Tony Isabella (who has signed several comics for me - Thanks, Tone!), and amazing penciller, Trevor von Eden. Isabella, widely recognized for his stellar run on Marvel's first black superhero in his own title, Luke Cage, was recruited by DC to help them launch their first black superhero title. The series ran for eleven great issues...Until the storied DC Implosion erased the series from DC's publishing line-up. The series has been both praised for its relevance, grittiness, and depth, and it has been criticized for the over-the-top stereotypical behavior of some of the characters. Love it, or hate it, Black Lightning, vol 1, was jam-packed with amazing, expressive art done by a black artist, and tight, emotionally powerful writing inspired by the waning genre of blaxploitation, which was already in its death throes.
Wanna see more great covers? Well, I have the entire series, but let's see what's already scanned to my computer to feed your need...A-HA!! Feast your eyes on Black Lightning #s 4 thru 10:
Ain't they pretty?
On to the fun facts!!!
FUN FACT 1 - You ain't gonna even BELIEVE this one. DC's first black headlining superhero was supposed to be called The Black Bomber. If that isn't scary enough (and terrorist-y), check out the plot: The Black Bomber was a white, bigoted Vietnam vet, who after taking part in camouflage experimentation (to help white soldiers blend into the jungle better), gains the power (?) to change into a black superhero...Who saves blacks, but still hates blacks, even while he is black. Bruh.
I can't make this stuff up. Click here and let famous Fred Hembeck tell ya about it.
FUN FACT 2 - Neither Black Lightning nor Luke Cage was the first black superhero in their comicbook company; however, they both first appeared in their own titles that they were specifically created to lead.
FUN FACT 3 - Tony Isabella wrote Black Lighting until issue #10 when Denny O'Neil took over.
FUN FACT 4 - Black Lightning originally had no powers, and relied on his wits, raw athleticism and Gambi's Electric Power Belt to beat the bad guys. However, after Gambi's murder in Black Lightning, vol 1, #7, Jefferson's rage reveals that he has somehow internalized and amplified the powers of the Power Belt. It has been speculated that Jefferson was born with a latent meta-gene that was activated by the Power Belt.
FUN FACT 5 - It seems like the TV series is a mash-up of Black Lightning, vol 1, and Black Lightning: Year One, published in 2009, written by Jen Van Meter and pencilled by Cully Hammer.
FUN FACT 6 - Black Lightning fathered two daughters, Anissa and Jennifer, who both have an activated meta-gene which led to the development of superhuman powers:
Anissa became the superhero called Thunder.
Jennifer became the superhero, Lightning.
FUN FACT 7 - Black Lightning (in vol 1) as a character has caught a lot of flack due to the fact that he A: wears an afro wig, and B: speaks in an exaggerated Harlem jive to help hide his identity as Jefferson Pierce AND conceal the fact that he is an educated man.
FUN FACT 8 - I love Black Lightning, the character, and the TV show. The TV series is awesome. It's timely, pulls few punches, showcases pretty solid writing, and a great cast with Cress Williams in the titular role. He struggles in his role as a father of two headstrong daughters in a tough inner-city area, a principal trying to give at-risk kids a future, a husband trying to win back his estranged wife, and a superhero trying to make his city a better place.
FUN FACT 8 - Tony Isabella is a talented writer, an often overlooked comicbook treasure, and an all-around stand-up guy. You can catch up with him here at his blog. You can even converse with him. He usually replies to your comments or questions as he finds the time.
FUN FACT 9- Black Lightning was set to appear in everyone's favorite childhood superhero show (over 40), Super Friends. However, due to disputes between DC and Tony Isabella, he could not be used. So, we got the cool knock-off, Black Vulcan instead:
FUN FACT 10 - Black Lightning has developed into a powerful superhero and a tireless, brilliant educator. He has been a member of the Justice League, The Outsiders, and he was even a member of Lex Luthor's Cabinet when he was President of the United States serving as Luthor's Secretary of Education.
Well, that's all for today! Are you digging the Black Lightning TV series? Are you not digging it? Do love or hate Black Lightning? Let me know in the comments!
nice... love the show
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading! I am glad to hear that you love the show. I can't wait to see it every week.
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