The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta-filmed show debuts tonight on CW
CW’s latest superhero foray revisits character created by DC Comics.
See what you need to know about “Black Lightning,” which joins “The Flash,” “Supergirl” and “Arrow” on the network.
The CW already has “The Flash,” “Supergirl” and “Arrow.” Tonight, the latest superhero to join the network is descriptively, obviously different: “Black Lightning,” shot in metro Atlanta.
The DC Comics character, which debuted in 1977, was groundbreaking at the time as the first African-American star in its lineup. Four decades later, the TV version of Black Lightning can indeed shoot lightning from his fingers and manipulate force fields.
But for Jefferson Pierce (played by Cress Williams), the burdens of being a superhero cost him his marriage. As a result, he buried his powers for nine years. Unfortunately, when the show begins, a vicious gang (called “the 100,” not to be mistaken for the CW show) takes over the city of Freeland and threatens his two daughters.
So Black Lightning is back. Here are eight notable points about the show:
Race will not be ignored
Salim Akil, the showrunner and co-executive producer of the show, is a black man who has had success with previous shows such as “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane,” also shot in Atlanta. He did not want to sugarcoat the realities of urban life for blacks. He created an early scene where Pierce gets pulled over by a cop and is treated disrespectfully. But he did not use his powers. He (barely) kept his cool.
“I’ve seen the results of extreme violence in my own life,” Akil said, referencing his time growing up in Richmond, Va. “I know what violence really is. I know when a gun is shot. I know what dead people look like on the street. Nobody has ever fought for freedom and gotten freedom without a certain degree of violence.”
The name is not his own
“He didn’t name himself ‘Black Lightning,’ ” Akil said. “He doesn’t necessarily like that name. It was something given to him. Later in the show, he’ll say, ‘Why don’t they call me “Lightning”? Why put the black in front of it?’ We get to talk about those things.”
A lifelong dream
This is the first big lead role for Williams at age 47. And he has wanted to play a superhero since he was a child. “The script gave me chills,” he said. “It was rooted in so much real life. It fit me. I am the same age and I have kids.” He gets to play a strong father figure, a strong but kind principal and a superhero. As a principal, he said Pierce believed through education, he could fix the town, that he could save more lives in that role than as Black Lightning. That isn’t necessarily true.
A fun villain in Tobias
Tobias is a white man and former corrupt politician who loves nautical themes (e.g., a harpoon and a fish tank full of piranhas)
and has no problem saying “darkie” and “Negro” to one of his black underlings. He now lives in the shadows. Actor and L.A. rapper Marvin “Krondon” Jones III insists his character Tobias is not a racist. He just feels like an outsider: “I have this disdain for my own people who aren’t as intelligent as I may be, as accomplished.”
Atlanta connection
China Anne McClain, who grew up in Atlanta, plays Pierce’s rebellious younger daughter Jennifer. She cut her acting teeth on the Disney show “A.N.T. Farm.” “She’s very impressionable,” McClain said of her character. “She wants to live her own life and be independent. Sometimes, that means hanging around some bad people.” McClain is just thrilled to be in her hometown: “Atlanta really captures the energy of the show. I’m happy we got to shoot here.”
Wait — didn’t we see that in ‘Kingsman’?
Peter Gambi, the man created the Black Lightning outfit, is a tailor with technical expertise. His basement is a mix of digital and analog technology (e.g., a holographic table next to soldering irons). He is a family friend, a confidant and mentor who encour-
ages Pierce to get back into the superhero game. “He’s a man with a purpose,” said actor James Remar, who said the source of his funding remains mysterious. He said he is a bit like Q in the James Bond movies.
Family ties
Of course, Pierce isn’t the only one with superpowers. That’s not a surprise. His older daughter Anissa (played by Nafessa Williams), a justice-seeking college-age organizer who also happens to be a lesbian, will eventually become Thunder. In the first two episodes, her power only begins to reveal itself.
Early reviews are positive
Allison Keene of Collider raved: “It’s positive, it’s victorious, it’s complicated, and it’s badass.” Robert Rorke of the New York Post: “An entertaining, edgy piece of escapism that adds some much-needed diversity to the network’s lineup of whitebread soap operas.” Rob Burlingame of ComicBook: “‘Black Lightning’ is prestige TV using the iconography of superheroes to comment on our modern society and, on some level, our obsession with big strong men who will use force to come and save us.”