- For other uses of Black Lightning, see Black Lightning (Disambiguation).
| “ | Last night I saw a superhero, he was black. He said, "This is for the street, Black Lightning's back!" | ” |
Black Lightning is a television series based on the DC Comics character, Black Lightning, and the fifth television series in the Arrowverse.
The series is developed by Salim Akil, who served as the showrunner for the entire series. The first and second season premiered on January 16 and October 9, 2018, respectively. The third season premiered on October 7, 2019, and was added to the Arrowverse during the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. On February 8, 2021, the fourth and final season premiered, and the series concluded on May 24, 2021 with
Black Lightning was originally considered not to be a part of the Arrowverse despite its connection to Greg Berlanti. However, showrunner Salim Akil did not rule out the possibility of potential crossovers and the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event marked the series connection to the shared universe. Following the event, Black Lightning became an Arrowverse series and was set on Earth-Prime with elements from their original universe incorporated into the relocated one.
Synopsis[edit | hide | hide all]
Jefferson Pierce is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community.
Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa and Jennifer grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn, suffered.
Almost a decade later, Pierce's crime-fighting days are long behind him... or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community
Main Cast[edit | hide]
- Cress Williams as Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce) (seasons 1-4)
- China Anne McClain as Lightning (Jennifer Pierce) (seasons 1-4) *
- Nafessa Williams as Thunder/Blackbird (Anissa Pierce) (seasons 1-4)
- Christine Adams as Lynn Stewart (seasons 1-4)
- Marvin "Krondon" Jones III as Tobias Whale (seasons 1-4)
- Damon Gupton as Bill Henderson (seasons 1-3)
- James Remar as Peter Gambi (seasons 1-4)
- Jordan Calloway as Painkiller (Khalil Payne) (seasons 2-4; recurring season 1)
- Chantal Thuy as Wylde (Grace Choi) (season 4; recurring seasons 1-3)
Notes:
- China Anne McClain is credited as a series regular through 4x05 The Book of Ruin: Chapter One: Picking Up the Pieces and returned to the main cast in 4x13 The Book of Resurrection: Chapter Two: Closure
Notes[edit | hide]
- Through the entire series, only Nafessa Williams (Anissa Pierce) appear in all episodes.
- Cress Williams (Jefferson Pierce) was first absent in 4x07 Painkiller (Black Lightning).
- China Anne McClain (Jennifer Pierce) was first absent in 4x05 The Book of Ruin: Chapter One: Picking Up the Pieces, as she departed the series in the previous episode, The Book of Reconstruction: Chapter Four: A Light in the Darkness.
- Christine Adams (Lynn Stewart) was first absent in 4x07 Painkiller (Black Lightning).
- Marvin "Krondon" Jones III (Tobias Whale) was first absent in 1x08 The Book of Revelations.
- Damon Gupton (Bill Henderson) was first absent in 1x08 The Book of Revelations.
- James Remar (Peter Gambi) was first absent in 3x03 The Book of Occupation: Chapter Three: Agent Odell's Pipe-Dream.
Gallery[edit | hide]
Logos and Title Cards[edit | hide]
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Title Card for Season 1-3 -
Title Card for Season 4 -
Official Logo
Seasons[edit | hide]
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References[edit | hide]
| Television Series | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowverse | |||||||||||||||||||
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Arrow • The Flash • Constantine • DC's Legends of Tomorrow • Supergirl • Black Lightning • Batwoman • Superman & Lois | |||||||||||||||||||
| DC Universe | |||||||||||||||||||
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Peacemaker • Creature Commandos • Waller • Lanterns • Paradise Lost • Booster Gold • Blue Beetle | |||||||||||||||||||
| Others | |||||||||||||||||||
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Adventures of Superman • Batman: Classic TV Series • Wonder Woman • The Flash • Smallville • Birds of Prey • Gotham • Lucifer • Powerless • Krypton • Titans • Doom Patrol • Swamp Thing • Pennyworth • Harley Quinn • Stargirl • Naomi • The Penguin • Kite Man: Hell Yeah! • GCPD | |||||||||||||||||||