Alter Ego: Jefferson Pierce
Occupation: High School English Teacher, UN Peacekeeper
Martial Status: Divorced
Known Relatives: Parents (unnamed deceased), Lynn Stewart (ex-wife)
Group Affiliation: Doom Patrol, Outsiders (former), JLA (former)
Base of Operations: Gotham City
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 182 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History
Growing up in Metropolis's Suicide Slum, Jefferson Pierce watched as his family struggled to make ends meet. When his father was accidentally shot to death, Jefferson and his mother soon found themselves taken under the wing of Peter Gambi, who had opened a small tailor shop underneath their apartment.
Determined to get out of the slum, Pierce trained himself to physical perfection, gaining national attention when he won a gold medal for the decathlon at the Montreal Olympics of 1976. After receiving a teaching degree from Kent State, Jefferson taught high school English in the city of New Carthage, until his mother's death brought him back to Suicide Slum.
Realizing nothing had changed in his old neighborhood, Pierce decided to stay and make things change, growing more and more angry as he watched a criminal organization know only as the 100 corrupt his student with drugs. Witnessing Pierce's frustration, Peter Gambi designed the costume and a electric power belt of Black Lighting, so Jefferson could fight against the 100 without placing himself in perpetual jeopardy and yet still serve as a positive example to the local youth.
After many months, Black Lighting finally defeated the 100 and their monstrous albino leader, Tobias Whale. He then turned his attention to other criminals. He remained active until a young girl was accidentally killed as a result of his actions, after which Pierce hung up his costume and went into seclusion.
He finally resumed his Black Lighting identity several years later at the direct request of The Batman for a case that turned into the first mission of the Outsiders.
Black Lightning even later joined with the newly reformed JLA after the return of the adult heroes from the first war with Avatar, the mad Kryptonian. Personal differences between him and Green Arrow stemming from the apparent death of the Martian Manhunter, led to Black Lightning assaulting Green Arrow and his own expulsion from the League. He has since gone on to become a member of the government-backed team of meta-fascists, Doom Patrol.
Powers and Weapons
Originally, Black Lightning's power belt enabled him to surround himself with a protective electromagnetic force field and to throw bolts of energy. It augmented his strength. In the course of his adventures of his adventure, through as yet undisclosed means, these powers became internalized.
Pierce also maintains his Olympic-level physical conditioning, giving him above average strength, speed, and endurance. Under Batman's tutelage, he has become a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
