Future State: The Next Batman Written by: John Ridley Art: Nick Derington Color: Tamra Bonvillain Publisher: DC Comics As previously addressed in my article “The Black Knight Rises”, there have been a few Black men (and just recently one woman for Batwoman) who have...
The Other History of the DC Universe #1 Writer: John Ridley Pencils/ Inks/ Colors: Alex Dos Diaz Letters: Steve Wands Publisher: DC Comics Written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Let It Fall, American Crime) with art courtesy of...
A footnote or byword in the telling and retelling of the world’s first superhero’s origin, the ill-fated planet Krypton is the setting for Syfy’s latest sci-fi drama, taking place two generations before the birth of its last son. Utilizing the tried and true sci-fi...
Writer: Eric Heisserer Pencils: Raul Allen & Patricia Martin Inks / Colors: Borja Pindado Letters: Patricia Martin Publisher: Valiant Entertainment Rating: 12+ Only Speaking as a person who is not aptly versed in the nuances of the Valiant line of comics, Harbinger...
To say that series developers, husband and wife Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil, had an uphill battle when they pitched the idea of a Black Lightning show would be an understatement. The titular forty-year-old electrified vigilante, created in 1977 by writer Tony...
Episode 13: Shadow of Death: The Book of War Directed by: Salim Akil Written by: Charles D Holland With Jefferson left in a comatose state following the fallout of last week’s harrowing episode, the Pierce family is pushed further into a corner by the hell-bent ASA....
Directed by: Sam Liu Written by: Alan Burnett Produced by: Sam Register & James Tucker Distributed by: Warner Bros Home Entertainment Rating: R Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, the 10th entry in the shared DCAMU (DC Animated Movie Universe) which began with 2013’s Justice...
Episode 12: The Resurrection and the Light: The Book of Pain Directed by: Oz Scott Written by: Jan Nash & Adam Giaudrone In my last review I didn’t give the writers of Black Lightning enough credit to neatly bind all the loose threads that were left over as the series...
Episode 11: Black Jesus: The Book of Crucifixion Directed by: Michael Schultz Written by: Melora Rivera Resting heavily on the title of this episode, matters play out, at least initially, by having Jefferson Pierce undergo an inflammatory accusation, incarceration,...
Episode 10: Sins of the Father - The Book of Redemption Directed by: Eric Laneuville Written by: Pat Charles With Tobias being MIA since the Lady Eve assassination and his brief scuffle with our titular hero, conditions are ripe for the miraculously resurrected Lala...
Episode 9: The Book of Little Black Lies Directed by: Tawnia McKernan Written by: Keli Goff The title of this episode accurately underlies the theme running throughout; exploring the burden of - at the time - innocuous lies of omission from various characters, and the...
The majority of this episode is taken up by the dynamic duo of Jefferson and Anissa’s multifaceted relationship. Jefferson and Anissa are more than just mentor and student, or superhero partners, they are dad and daughter, and that never gets lost whenever they are...
Writers: Dan DiDio, Justin Jordan, Kenneth Rocafort Pencils/ Inks: Kenneth Rocafort Colors: Dan Brown Letters: Carlos M. Mangual Cover: Dan Brown, Kenneth Rocafort Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 12+ Only What if Peter Parker had Nightcrawler’s power? Sideways – another...
Episode 6: Equinox: The Book of Fate Directed by: Bille Woodruff Written by: Lamont Magee This episode moves at an almost break-neck speed. First and foremost, the Pierce Family (sans Jennifer who is reduced to a cameo) must deal with the revelation that father and...
Episode 6/ Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder Directed by: Benny Boom Written by: Charles Holland Picking up right where we last left off, Dr Lynn Stewart (portrayed by Christine Adams) quickly emerges as the nexus for most of this episode and its players, and...
Writer: Dan Abnett Pencils: John Romita Jr. Inks: Sandra Hope Colors: Dean V. White Letters: Tom Napolitano Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 12+ Only Remember that scene in Kill Bill Vol 1 where the Bride confronts the former assassin now happy soccer mom Vernita Green?...
Episode 5: And Then The Devil Brought The Plague: The Book of Green Light Directed by: Rose Troche Written by: Adam Giaudrone While the actual episode lacks any forward momentum in regards to the crisis of “green light” – a new hyper narcotic hitting the streets – it...
Episode 4: Black Jesus Directed by: Michael Schultz Written by: Pat Charles Black Lightning continues to buck the trend of pandering to the escapist young adult superhero drama and being a show with a genuine message, not superficially about gang violence and racism,...