Tony Isabella Returns to Black Lightning for New Series

Black Lightning is back, and he’s bringing an old friend with him.

Tony Isabella, the original creator of Black Lightning, returns to the character with Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands. The six-issue miniseries, with art by Clayton Henry (Harbinger), will explore the life of a younger Jefferson Pierce.

As DC Comics describes the series, this Black Lightning will be different from Isabella’s original depiction. He is young, unmarried, and doesn’t have children. Despite those differences, Jefferson and the city of Cleveland still have big problems in the form of Tobias Whale, who is no longer depicted as an albino.

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This is shaping up to be a big year for Black Lightning, who was recently glimpsed as a member of the Outsiders in Dark Days: The Forge. The character will also be the subject of a new television show on The CW, due to premiere in 2018. It will depict a much older Jefferson Pierce coming out of retirement to fight the 100 gang.

Black Lightning was originally created by Tony Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eeden as DC Comics’ first major black superhero. The character first appeared in Black Lightning #1, released in 1977 before facing cancellation as part of the infamous DC Implosion the following year.

This won’t be the first time we’ve seen a young Black Lightning. The character appeared in the New 52 anthology series DC Universe Presents. Marc Andreyko and Robson Rocha told a seven-issue story that teamed Black Lightning with Blue Devil. Jen Van Meter and Cully Hamner also told Jefferson Pierce’s origin story in Black Lightning: Year One in 2009.

DC has provided the official solicitation for Black Lighting: Cold Dead Hands #1, in addition to several preview pages, which you can check out below:

Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1

Written by TONY ISABELLA
Art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant cover by KEN LASHLEY
All-new mini-series by original creator Tony Isabella teamed with superstar artist Clayton Henry! Black Lightning is back and things are not the same! In his home town of Cleveland, high school teacher Jefferson Pierce is a role model for his students. As Black Lightning, he’s fighting to keep them safe, even as his city’s streets are invaded by local gangs with deadly super-weapons. And wait until you see who their supplier is! Real-world issues in a super-hero world! Expect the unexpected!