| Lightning | |
|---|---|
.png) Jennifer Pierce as Lightning, as she appeared inThe Other History of the DC Universe #5 (July 2021). Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils), Andrea Cucchi (inks), and Jose Vallarrubia (colors). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Kingdom Come #1 (1996) |
| Created by | Mark Waid (writer) Alex Ross (artist) Geoff Johns (writer) Dale Eaglesham (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jennifer Pierce |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | Justice League Justice Society of America |
| Abilities |
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Lightning (Jennifer Pierce) is a fictionalsuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. Not pinpointed with direct reference, Lightning first appears in the miniseriesKingdom Come in 1996, written byMark Waid and illustrated byAlex Ross. The character is given official introduction inJustice Society of America vol. 3 #12 (March 2008), written byGeoff Johns and illustrated byDale Eaglesham in theModern Age of Comic Books.
Jennifer Pierce is ametahuman, the second child of superheroBlack Lightning, and the younger sister of Anissa Pierce, the heroine known asThunder. Forbidden to use their abilities until completing their educations, Pierce was put in contact and later becomes a member of the superhero team theJustice Society of America. Her father orchestrates this so Jennifer would not endure the hardships her sister did while transitioning into crimefighting. She possesses abilities similar to her father's of electrical generation and manipulation as well as flight. Thus far in her narrative, Pierce has not gained full control of her abilities.
Along with comic books, Lightning has made appearances in various television shows and the character was portrayed byChina Anne McClain in the live-actionArrowverse seriesBlack Lightning, and with Laura Kariuki taking over the role in the remaining episodes of thefinal season. McClain returned in the final episode of the series.
Lightning first appears in the DC Comics miniseriesKingdom Come byMark Waid andAlex Ross, a tale of a dystopian possible future. She is among the lawless generation of superheroes who arise after the retirement ofSuperman. Though not identified within the story, supplemental material in the collected edition of the series refers to her as "Black Lightning'smetahuman daughter." During the course of the story, Lightning joins forces withBatman's covert team of heroes as they attempt to reclaim Earth.
A version of Lightning is later introduced into the mainstream DC Comicsuniverse byGeoff Johns andDale Eaglesham, debuting inJustice Society of America (vol. 3) #12 (March 2008).
Jennifer Pierce is the younger daughter of the superhero Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce) and his ex-wife Lynn Stewart. She inherits ametagene from her father which causes her to manifestsuperpowers when she becomes a teenager. However, like her father in his youth, she lacks the ability to properly control her electrical powers. This results in the shorting out of any electronic device that she touches. This side effect has left her feeling alienated and freakish among her peers, who have access to cell phones, televisions, the internet, and other conveniences of the modern world.[1]
Jefferson initially forbids his daughters from following in his footsteps as a costumed hero until after they complete their education. After seeing the rough road that his eldest daughter Anissa follows when she disobeys this order as the heroineThunder, Jefferson decides that Jennifer will need guidance. He contacts the Justice Society of America, who are in the middle of a recruitment drive.
Upon joining the Justice Society, Jennifer immediately forms a bond with fellow teen heroinesStargirl andCyclone. She also attracts the romantic interests ofJakeem Thunder, another younger member of the team. Jennifer is at first unsure of a superhero codename, believing that her sister will "kill her" if she adopts the name Lightning as a counterpoint to Anissa's own. Nonetheless, this is the name she eventually settles on when she first goes into battle with the JSA.
During the events ofBlackest Night, Jennifer is seen desperately trying to fight off theBlack Lantern invasion of Manhattan alongside her teammates. Lightning is shown on the cover of the JLA/JSA crossover, battling a crazedAlan Scott alongside her teammates and theJustice League. WriterJames Robinson mentioned that he specifically wanted to use Jennifer, and that he considers her "a very underused, but great character".[2]
She later appears alongside fellow teen superheroines Stargirl,Supergirl, andBatgirl, as part of a team of heroines created byWonder Woman to repel an alien invasion of Washington D.C.[3]
Lightning later plays a key role during the team's first encounter with the new villain Scythe, using her electrical abilities to help defeat him. When the JSA chooses to stay and help rebuild the city of Monument Point (which had suffered massive amounts of damage during the battle with Scythe), Lightning is attacked and nearly killed by a villain named Doctor Chaos, but she is eventually revived byDoctor Fate.[4] Chaos had been hired to evict all heroes from Monument Point.
When the members of the JSA arrive at the home of Anissa Pierce and her girlfriendGrace in an attempt to arrest the fugitive Black Lightning, Lightning sides with her teammates and engages in a brawl with her sister. It is revealed that there is apparently some friction between the two siblings, with Anissa stating that Jennifer was always considered the favorite while also expressing jealousy over Jennifer being allowed to pursue heroics at such a young age. Doctor Fate eventually breaks up the fight, and Black Lightning turns himself over to the authorities.[5]
During theDC All In era, Jennifer is recruited into the Justice League followingAmanda Waller's assault on the metahuman community inAbsolute Power,[6] and is shown to have developed friendships with her fellow young Justice LeaguersCyclone (Maxine Hunkel),Signal (Duke Thomas),Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes),Aquaman (Jackson Hyde),Stargirl (Courtney Whitmore) andKid Flash (Ace West).[7] She also works alongside her father, sister, Grace, and new electricity-generating metahuman Isaac Mitchell.[8]
Like her father, Lightning possesses the power of electricity manipulation. She is able to generate electrical energy and project it as concentrated bolts from her hands. Lightning is also able to fly by generating a localized electromagnetic repulsion field. When manifesting her powers, Jennifer's body is surrounded by a glowing electrical aura with lightning-like spikes on her head and back. This effect is involuntary, though she has demonstrated the ability to revert to a more human appearance. She is also able to absorb electromagnetic energy from the atmosphere.
Still a young inexperienced heroine, Lightning does not have full control of her powers and will short out any electronic device or appliance she touches.
Lightning makes cameo appearances inDC Super Hero Girls, voiced byKimberly Brooks.
