Warning: Spoilers for Black Lightning #1!Supermantrusts one man to be the Justice League’s problem solver, and it’s not his Trinity mates. 2024 marks the year that the Justice League have officially returned followinga brief hiatus afterDark Crisis. As they head towarda new Unlimited roster, the Man of Steel is certain one person on the team will be the glue that keeps everyone together - but it’s not Batman or Wonder Woman.
Instead,Superman thinks the Justice League’s problem solver will be Black Lightning, as uttered inBlack Lightning#1 by Brandon Thomas, Fico Ossio, Ulises Arreola, and Lucas Gattoni. In his co-signing of Jefferson Pierce and what his friend has already done for the team in their resurgence, it immediately appoints him into a new position within the League - one they’re going to need if the JLA is going to last this time.
Plus, it is a telling sign of the long history that Superman shares with Pierce that he can trust and position Black Lightning into such a big role.
Superman Gives Black Lightning Props for Solving Problems Before They Begin
The Justice League Needs Black Lightning’s Skills
Black Lightning#1 follows up on DC’s latest event,Absolute Power, where Superman and co. decided that the catastrophe kickstarted by Amanda Waller is a sign that the Justice League needs to return. In choosing a new roster, Black Lightning emerged as one of the recruits. This premiere issue of the character’s solo series shows how Black Lightning has already earned his stripes within the League, namely with instituting The Shoebox for the Justice League’s Watchtower.
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As average people like the latest client, Isaac Mitchell, have dormant metahuman genes activated as a direct result ofAbsolute Power, The Shoebox serves as a containment program for these people to understand, test, and train their new powers before they become an issue.Superman takes an opportunity to praise Black Lightning for"being proactive, solving problems BEFORE they blow up in our faces, it’s not something The League has always excelled at.“When readers understand Superman’s history with Black Lightning, it makes all the more sense why he’s convinced Pierce can handle being the Justice League’s problem solver.
Why Superman Trusts Black Lightning at the Justice League’s Problem Solver
Dating Back to their Humble Beginnings Together
Inreintroducing Black Lightning back into canon, DC Comics unveils a lost tale showcasing how Superman and Black Lightning first meet, as displayed inAction Comics#1067. It came at a time when Clark Kent was still relatively young into his superhero career, while Jefferson Pierce was still just a mild-mannered teacher working out of the Suicide Slums of Metropolis. As Kent is interviewing Pierce, an alien invasion interrupts the festivities.Without any powers, Jefferson tries to fend off invaders with his fists, proving to be an eager problem solver before becoming Black Lightning.
While this would be the first meeting between Superman and Jefferson Pierce (and, by extension, Clark Kent and Jefferson Pierce),The Last Son of Krypton wouldn’t come face-to-face with Jefferson’s superhero persona in DC continuity until 1977’sBlack Lightning#5. Black Lightning tries saving Jimmy Olsen in the prior issue, but when Superman arrives to the scene to see Lightning standing over his unconscious best friend, a misunderstanding occurs forcing the two to fight. Everything is cleared up once Jimmy wakes up, and after the fact, Superman seems impressed by Lightning’s resilience in their fight.
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Pierce wouldn’t give up despite being clearly outmatched against Superman. Furthermore, Supes seemed all the more impressed by Black Lightning’s success in cleaning up the Suicide Slums. Fast-forward toJustice League of America#173, where Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow actually come to Black Lightning with an offer to join the League. Pierce would decline in an effort to dedicate his full time to cleaning up the Suicide Slums, butit’s an early sign of the potential that Superman saw in Black Lightning early on. Now, Black Lightning is living up to that potential perfectly.
Black Lightning is Rising Just When the Justice League Needs Him Most
Superman Picked the Right Man for the Job
What’s most telling about Superman’s pep talk to Jefferson inBlack Lightning#1 is when he says that the Justice League hasn’t been great at solving problems before they happen. There is certainly history to that statement, as some readers may recall Batman’s contingency plans while reading Superman’s words. His contingencies existed to have solutions to problems within the League before they happened, but as seen inTower of Babel,The Dark Knight’s strategy created more problems than solutions for the League.Batman lost trust in his attempt at proactivity, while Black Lightning’s endeared him to Superman and the JLA.
Speaking of the League, one can argue that the Justice League’s decision to disband to reevaluate itself was an attempt at being proactive that only created more issues in the long run. While the Titans did an ample job asDC’s premiere superteam in their absence, a world without a JLA was still made all the more defenseless during Amanda Waller’s attack. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman meant well when they came to the decision, but again, it caused more problems than solutions.
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The Titans are officially joining the Justice League, with DC Comics merging the two teams into one and putting them on equal footing at long last.
Black Lightning is exactly the mind needed to keep the team afloat. Justice League Unlimited hasn’t been active long, and Black Lightning has already created a solution to help citizens keep their newfound powers under control. He’s proving to be as effective off the battlefield as he is on it. Not only will that give Black Lightning longevity within the team, but help shape the Justice League into something stronger than they’ve ever been, being proactive beyond just punching aliens. It’s no wonder whySupermantrusts Black Lightning so heavily with his team.
Black Lightning#1 is on sale now from DC Comics
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
