Jefferson Pierce (UE-20)

Jefferson "Jeff" Pierce is the principal of Garfield High School and a vigilante active in Freeland known as Black Lightning.

Early life
At some point, Jefferson gained powers and became a Meta-Human. Later, he became the vigilante Black Lightning and led a team.

Since 1991, Jefferson has been the foster son of Peter Gambi.

Crisis on Infinite Earths
In 2020, Jefferson met Martian Manhunter whom restored his Pre-Crisis self's memory into this body. Later, Jefferson went to S.T.A.R. Labs to assist them. After a Shadow Demon tried to attack Mick and Frost when they are arguing who to defeat it, Jefferson arrived and vaporized it. Frost complemented about his suit and teamed up with them to fight more Shadow Demons. As the three of them worked together to fight one Shadow Demon, Mick asked where "Sparkles" is from which Jefferson answered and claimed his dislike on being called as Sparkles.

After the fight, Jefferson and some other heroes went to the Hall of Justice for an memorial of Oliver Queen. After the ceremony, Jefferson asked Barry Allen why they used a condemned building for the ceremony. Barry answered that it is not and told them this could be a base of operation of their team. Jefferson later questioned why they need it and how often does the world come to an end. Out of his expectations, the others looked down and he realized it happens frequently. Kate later told him that she was the "new kid" last year. Barry then shows them a table and chairs with their emblems on the back including Black Lightning's.

Returning to Freeland
After the Crisis, Jefferson returned to Freeland and asked Gambi of he remembers the original multiverse. However, Gambi does not as his memories were not restored by Martian Manhunter. Luckily, Jennifer Pierce does as she was in a safe place when the Crisis occurred.

War for Freeland
When Jefferson's ex-wife got abducted by Markovians, Jefferson was forced to bring his team to work with the A.S.A. in order to rescue her. During the mission, Jefferson met Gravedigger who was an American citizen until he was forcibly turned into a Meta-Human. During the fight, Jefferson found Tobias Whale and nearly lost control on stopping his escape. However, he was stopped by his teammates. Later, he went back on the helicopter and returned home.

However, the mission caused the Markovians to get angry and attacked Freeland.

During the war, Tyson Sykes was facing Jefferson after defeating Jennifer. After being outmatched, Jefferson retreated but Jennifer was abducted. Later, Jefferson returned to base and splitted the team to different parts of the city to bring the Meta-Humans away from Markovians' attacks and A.S.A.'s nuclear missile.

Soon, the team rushed to The Pit in order to prevent Tyson Sykes from getting the Meta-Humans powers. After they arrived, the ones stayed in the Pit were unconscious as Gravedigger has arrived and made them sleep. Surprisingly, several Markovians soldiers were about to kill Black Lightning and was stopped by Bill Henderson, who later got shot to death. After they mourned, Black Lightning split the team once again and he went to find Lynn. During the fight Tyson was able to make Grace fight Thunder and he escaped. Luckily, Lightning and Brandon figured out that volcanic-lightning can penetrate Gravedigger's magnetic field. However, they were overpowered and Black Lightning arrived for back-up. After Tyson was shot with Anti-Booster Serum made by Lynn, he was unable to use his powers and was knocked out by Jefferson. The Pit later exploded and Jefferson brought the team in the base away. Later, Jefferson convinced Khalil not to kill Odell and Khalil shot Odell at a non lethal position.

After the war, the team was invited to Gotham City for a trial against A.S.A.. After the trail, the A.S.A. was disbanded and Odell was arrested. However, Gravedigger survived the nuclear blast and was present at the trial. Jefferson then led the team out of the courtroom and returned to Freeland.

Grief
One year after the Henderson's death, Jefferson went to visit his grave and later witnessed a teenager under arrest. He then stepped up and defended the man, only to be apprehended as well. He was frustrated and angered by the violent actions of Freeland PD, causing him to attack the officers using his powers. He quickly regretted his actions and wiped the officers' memories as well as security camera footages. Later, he attended couples counselling with Lynn Stewart, where they discussed how things have changed since the war.

Later that night, the Pierce family watched the news report of the return of Tobias Whale, who claimed to be a philanthropist and executed the Freeland Reconstruction Program in order to restore the city back to what it used to be prior to the war. As Tobias is aware of the Pierces' secret identities as vigilantes, they felt threatened and proposed to kill him before he strikes. However, Jefferson held them back and told them Tobias is his, and untouchable to all of them.

Jefferson soon received a phone call and realized that Henderson had a protégé, Hassan Shakur, whom was told that Jefferson could trust through Henderson's letter. Hassan visited Jefferson alongside police chief Ana Lopez and confronted him on why a car's license plate caught in the crime scene security camera matches Jefferson's. He then unconvincingly lied about his whereabouts at the time and the police left his office.

After Anissa and Jennifer attack on The 100, the latter was injured and brought back to The Sanctum. Jefferson and Gambi then investigated on the shooter, and Jefferson went to the shooter's apartment without his suit, later severely injuring him by shooting lightning bolts into his eyes and blinding him.

Few days later, Jefferson woke up in the middle of the night and released his anger and frustration as lightning bolts. As his nervous system could not withstand such high energy, he faints on the ground and woke up the next morning. This action concerned Lynn.

After one of his employees at Garfield lost his son in a gang war, Jefferson talked to him and preventing him from quitting. As he left work, he was confronted by Tobias Whale, who is now immune to his electric shock blasts. Tobias then promised Jefferson that he would take revenge for his sister after he reinvents his status in Freeland.

"Freeland will be lost without Black Lightning. Freeland is lost!"

- Peter Gambi and Jefferson Pierce

As Jefferson attempted to ask for the person who targeted Jennifer, Gambi refused as he was busy infiltrating Monovista International. Jefferson turned to T.C. for assistance and attacked Lydell Jackson, showing no mercy.

Reckless Actions
In the Pierce House, Jefferson got into an argument with Lynn about her replications of Meta-Human powers.

When Jefferson went back to work, he saw Marcel with bruises on his body. He lied to Jefferson and raised his suspicion. He then followed Marcel to a fight club and witnessed his fight against Behemoth. Jefferson demanded Lala to stop the fight and Jefferson chose to replace Marcel on the arena to prevent his death. Jefferson was able to defeat Behemoth without using his powers and brought Marcel to his childhood house, offering a place for him to reunite with his family.

Later that night, Jefferson returned home and found a bouquet of flowers alongside an invitation for dinner. He arrived at the restaurant, only to find Lynn having dinner with his archnemesis, Tobias Whale.

Three days after the dinner, both Lynn and Jefferson have not yet revealed their respective secrets to each other. Jefferson had dreams of Tobias attacking the house and killing him. Lala then confronted Jefferson on his regular appearances as a fighter and agreed for a final fight. During the final fight, Jefferson's fight was shown online and T.C. was able to watch it. However, the censorship of face was removed when Jennifer asked T.C. to do so, this revealed Jefferson's secret to the family.

As Jefferson discussed his secrets with Lynn, they talked about how they both hid their secrets from each other. He then went to Two-Bits' bar and listened to Hassan's monologue on how Black Lightning saved his life. Later, Jefferson apologized to Lynn and decided to work together against Tobias.

Framed
"The name Jefferson Pierce is trash in Freeland right now. People say you betrayed the entire city."

- Hassan Shakur to Jefferson

Powers

 * Electricity absorption
 * Electrokinesis
 * Electricity blasts
 * Electric vision
 * Electrical constructs
 * Superhuman speed
 * Superhuman strength
 * Accelerated healing factor
 * Vocal manipulation

Abilities

 * Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant
 * Peak of Human Physical Condition

Current Equipment

 * Black Lighting Suit