Unca Cheeks the Toy Wonder's Silver Age Comics Web Site!

I may be wrong, in this particular -- as age and Alzheimer's take their inevitable toll upon a once-proud ability to safely file away and recall even the most insanely trivial bit of comic book minutiae -- but: I believe that Black Lightning was the only super-hero (other than the freakish "Metamorpho, the Element Man") to reject a formal offer to join the august JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (Silver Age incarnation), after having been duly honored with an invitation.

The rationale behind said refusal -- i.e., that the character saw himself as (essentially) a "lone wolf," chiefly preoccupied with "what's happening with ordinary folks, out there on the streets" -- never struck me as being wholly a convincing one; this was, after all, the very same organization which boasted of the moody, "street"-focused BATMAN as one of its founding members. (Can you say "logical inconsistency"...? Sure; I knew you could.)

However: even sans the undeniable luster and and sales cachet which would have accompanied his regular inclusion within the League's ranks, Black Lightning retained enough of a devoted, hard core "fan following" amongst the readership of the day that --upon the cancellation of his own ongoing monthly solo title, a short time afterwards -- the character maintained a regular and visible presence within the DC Universe.

A series of (semi-)regular "back-up" features within such disparate titles as DETECTIVE COMICS; ACTION COMICS; and -- most well-done of the lot -- WORLD'S FINEST COMICS kept the good Mr. Pierce from fading away into comic book limbo.

(The WORLD'S FINEST tales, incidentally, included a series of offerings scripted by veteran comics great Dennis O'Neil: one of the only two writers, other than BLACK LIGHTNING creator Tony Isabella, to actually demonstrate anything like a genuine understanding of the character.

(... and: as for the identity of that other writer...? Keep reading.)

The character's next regular monthly venue was the one for which he is (perhaps) most well-known and fondly remembered, to the comics readership of today: an exceptionally well-handled "team" book by the (rather awkward) title of BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS. [See cover reproduction, below]

As originally conceived by series creator Mike W. Barr -- whose work on this title, as well as CAMELOT 3000 and THE MAZE AGENCY, surely merits him a nomination as "Most Underrated Comics Scripter of the 1980's" -- the Batman-initiated "Outsiders" were all heroes and heroines who were either too offbeat or individualistic to work readily within the confines of the more staid and respectable likes of (say) the Justice League, and who didn't mind "bending" the standard super-hero rules of engagement in order to achieve their group "ends."

Along with Batman and Black Lightning, the team's "core" membership included such intriguing character conceptualizations as Katana (a rogue lady samurai, whose blade contained the spirit of her murdered husband); Halo (an amnesiac teenager, with an impressive array of photonic abilities); Geo-Force (a foreign nobleman with tectonic-based powers); and the previously referenced Metamorpho (a wise-cracking elemental changeling). A decidedly offbeat "mix," to be sure... but: one which worked, nonetheless.

One of the series' dramatic benchmarks occurred in issues #9 and #10, in which one of the darkest moments of Black Lightning's history was revealed to the readership: the character's accidental slaying of an innocent bystander (a teenage girl) while in pursuit of a minor felon .

As movingly extrapolated by the aforementioned Mr. Barr, this story arc provided the already character-rich Lightning with an additional nuance of tragic memory, as well as a concomitant freighting of awareness that self-appointed "heroism" carries with it the responsibility to proceed with caution, in light of the (possibly) tragic consequences thereof. A fine and thoughtful tale, and one well worth any serious reader's time and attention.

(An Interesting Aside: Black Lightning was the only member of the Outsiders whom the notoriously demanding and perfectionist Batman did not automatically treat as an inferior, throughout the run of the series. Given that said team's line-up included the almost preternaturally competent [and self-reliant] Katana -- as well as the far more experienced Metamorpho -- this was as telling an endorsement of the character's judgement and abilities as one could ask for. I'm only sayin', here, is all.)

Whereas recent attempts to afford the character a more prominent role within the DC Universe have proven less than successful -- a highly- touted BLACK LIGHTNING series revival, sadly, ran aground when some of the most mutton-headed and egregious editorial meddling in the history of the medium culminated in returning writer Tony Isabella being forced to withdraw from the title, leaving it in the hands of demonstrably inferior creative "talents" -- it is, perhaps, worth noting that the character of "cynical idealist" Jefferson Pierce is still a dramatically worthwhile one, merely awaiting the renewed attentions of a suitably talented writer to bring them to the collective attention of the comics readership once more.

For "suitably talented writer"... read: Tony Isabella. Although either Mike Barr or Dennis O'Neil would "do," in a pinch.

Black Lightning
Black Lightning: PAGE ONE

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