Black Lightning

BACKGROUND:A gold medal-winning Olympic decathlete, Jefferson Pierce returned to his old neighborhood (the notorious Suicide Slum in the proud city of Metropolis) to become a high school teacher. Appalled by the violence he saw, Pierce tried to intervene on behalf of his students, but quickly learned that the 100, the local criminal organization, objected violently to interference. Peter Gambi, a family friend and tailor, designed the costume and electronic power belt of Black Lightning. Pierce donned a mask, an Afro wig, a hip way of talking, and Gambi's outfit that gave him electrical powers to become Black Lightning, defender of the poor and underprivileged (later, when Black Lightning was captured by his enemies and the belt that gave him his powers destroyed, it was discovered that he had somehow internalized the power and no longer needed the belt).After his own series was cancelled, Black Lightning lost his electrical powers, but continued fighting without them. The loss eventually turned out to be psychosomatic, a symptom of a crisis of confidence resulting from the accidental death of a bystander during an altercation between Black Lightning and some gun-wielding thugs. After the return of his powers he joined the Outsiders. When Lex Luthor was elected President of the United States in 2000, he appointed Jefferson Pierce as Secretary of Education. He resigned amidst controversy over his "worst-kept secret in Washington" identity as Black Lightning, and his alleged inadvertent killing of a criminally-minded corporate CEO, for which President Pete Ross (who had since succeeded Luthor) then pardoned him.A frequent guest starring character in several DC series, Pierce has appeared in Green Arrow (who was dating his niece). Pierce helped Green Arrow track down Dr. Light in the Green Arrow "Heading into the Light" story arc. He also appeared in the new Outsiders, of which his daughter, Anissa (using the alias Thunder), is a member.In issue #5 of the Infinite Crisis storyline, it was shown that Black Lightning was one of the eight people Batman had considered to aid him in destroying the Brother Eye satellite, which controlled the OMACs. Booster Gold, who was not on the list of eight, but knew about the candidates from his knowledge of the future, contacted Lightning before Batman did, as historical data from the future had shown who had aided Batman, and Lightning accepted, arriving at the Batcave to await orders. He then forged an uneasy yet effective alliance with Mister Terrific, combining their powers of electrical manipulation and invisibility to technology to strike the villainious AI from the inside.After the third Society of Super Villains was formed, Black Lightning began using his status as Luthor's Secretary of Education to gain information from supervillains.In Outsiders (vol. 3) it was revealed that three years after Joanna died, Jefferson went after the corrupt busninessman Martin Somers, the man who was responsible. He had intended to wound Somers with his lightning shot, but ended up killing him. Jefferson turned himself to the authorities. However, it is revealed that Deathstroke was responsible for Somers death by firing a dart of toxin to Sommers moments before Jefferson's shot his lightining. Hence he was dead before he hit the ground. Jason Todd discovered the truth while eavedropping on the assassin's conversation with Lex Luthor and contacted Nightwing with this information. When Nightwing and Anissa told Jefferson of this in prison, he didn't seem to believe it and intended to pay for Somer's death. Anissa herself intended to break her father out of prison.Most recently, Black Lightning has joined the JLA under the creative team of Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes, once again appearing with a modified costume.