Batman has made a bold claim in the latest issue of DC’s Batman and the Outsiders, and it has Black Lightning fans sitting up and taking notice. The caped crusader not only praised the metahuman’s strength, but piled on the accolades with a surprising comparison to DC’s top-tier heroes.
Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning, has been a familiar face in the DC multiverse since 1977, when the electricity-slinging schoolteacher first sprang onto comic book pages. Originally, the character’s powers came from a magic belt, which was later dropped in favor of giving Black Lightning innate superpowers like many other metahumans in the DC Comics Universe. Black Lightning’s popularity has only grown with the release of new comics and the addition of a CW Arrowverse show, making his inclusion in Batman and the Outsiders a no-brainer. Batman and the Outsiders #16 ended with a face-off between Black Lightning and Ra’s al Ghul that earned the electric hero a brand new nemesis, but it’s not the fight that readers will be talking about.
After the dust has settled, Batman arrives on the rooftop to warn Pierce that this will not be the last time he’ll see Ra’s al Ghul. Pierce agrees and asks Batman if Black Lightning has more power than he originally thought. It’s then that Batman matter-of-factly drops a bombshell of a statement: “You should be standing next to Diana and Clark.”
The startling statement regarding Pierce’s strength leaves a lot for readers to parse. Superman and Wonder Woman are both unbelievably powerful; the heroes share common abilities, such as super strength and flight, with each having a host of unique abilities of their own. When compared to beings whose power reaches godlike levels, it may be easy for some to wonder how Black Lightning can compare. Batman’s assessment is certain to leave readers wondering if what they know about Black Lightning’s capabilities may just be the tip of the metaphorical iceberg.
The comic ends with Batman leaving Black Lightning as leader of the Outsiders, offering Pierce the simple encouragement to trust in himself. The battle is done, but readers are still reeling from the information so casually thrown out by the Dark Knight. Black Lightning’s newest comic incarnation is certainly interesting, and the promise of Batman’s statement – the idea that there’s even more to see for this character – is sure to keep readers coming back for more.
Batman and the Outsiders #16 is available now.
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