Jefferson Pierce returns to his old stomping grounds the infamous Suicide Slum of Metropolis in order to bring some hope to the residents of his downtrodden former neighborhood. He'll quickly learn, though, that a lawless place sometimes requires a lawless vigilante to drag it into the light. Acclaimed writer Jen Van Meter (CINNAMON, OUTSIDERS) and kinetic artist Cully Hamner (BLUE BEETLE, RED) combine forces to retell the electrifying origin of DC's most honorable hero, the bold and brave Justice Leaguer known as Black Lightning!
Great pacing and action, fantastic characterization, wonderfully expressive art, and the resurrection of one of DC's most underused characters! Read Full Review
There have been some rather successful Year One stories (Batman, Robin, and so on), and some Year One stories that really didn't deliver (Huntress and Teen Titans). With a mixed bag of good and bad, it would be interesting to see DC continue the Year Blank series to eventually bring the characters up to speed - providing there are stories to tell. Do we need a Robin: Year Five? Only if there is something so fantastic that happened in that year that would make a stellar story. For a first issue, I like where Black Lightning: Year One is going and am giving it 4 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review
Black Lightning: Year One is a well-crafted comic and a pleasant surprised, and it deserves to be read by anyone who has even the slightest interest in the character. Read Full Review
The dialogue is surprisingly free of "gangsta" slang which some may find refreshing but which others may find unrealistic. It is also hard to believe that a city like Metropolis, which enjoys the protection of Superman, would have such a crime-ridden slum. Yes, that is part of the original Black Lightning series but it was unbelievable back then too. Read Full Review
As I read this first issue of Black Lightning: Year One, I often had the feeling that I was reading a weeks worth of Lynn Johnstons For Better or for Worse newspaper strips--a comic that depicts, with verisimilitude sweetened with a dash of sentimentality, the hardships, friendships, and kinships of a Canadian family. Read Full Review
Pierce does have a kind of righteous indignation that might make future issues a bit more interesting, as he turns from being a leader to being a vigilante when his leadership fails to solve the problems. Perhaps Van Meter and Hamner can develop this into a more layered origin story that the first issue indicates. There are still five issues left in the series, plenty of time to make this story into something that matters. Read Full Review
If this series is the reset button for the character, it's going to need more innovation to go with the solid visuals. Read Full Review
Its possible that I had unrealistic standards for this book. After all, this was the first issue, and I dont feel its fair to completely judge the series based on just one chapter. I can wait until the next issue until I completely trash this series. Read Full Review
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