DC's first black superhero finally made his debut on the screen

Studios and networks may be able to implement some tentative initiatives that are inclusive and diverse, but when it comes to changing comic book heroes to straight, white male characters, superhero productions are still slow to make progress. Audiences are speaking louder than ever about the lack of representation on our screen and how long it will take to change the status quo.

Wonder Woman first untied the original lasso on 1975 television, but it wasn't until 2015 that DC and Marvel let Supergirl and Jessica Jones lead the next wave of female superheroes. Similarly, we didn't wait until 2016 to welcome the first black hero, Luke Cage, in the live-action superhero series "Luke Cage" created by Marvel and Netflix.

Finally now, CW is developing a series of comics featuring Black Lightning, the first African-American DC superhero, and in 1977 launched a comic with its own title. If Black Lightning had been adapted into a film series, he would not have been technically the first black hero series, but the character would have been the first black leader on the radio network (Luke Cage was a streaming series).

After the small-screen broadcast of the Green Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow superhero series, CW just released the first dress-up poster for Black Lightning, starring Cress Williams.

In the new episode, Jefferson Pierce puts that outfit on the shelf years ago, hiding his secret identity. However, as his daughter is bent on justice and another star student is recruited by a local gang, he will return to battle as the expected spontaneous hero and DC legend, Black Lightning.

Currently, the series is being filmed in Atlanta, but no sequel has been planned.

But considering that this is a superhero project developed by Greg Berlanti, who is in charge of half of the CW, and the couples Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, it's almost certain that you can see the show on TV.

"Comics are a great way for me to escape." Salim Akil said in a statement, "I was about 13 years old when the Black Lightning character was created. This black hero character shocked us. ”

"When the feeling of hope is lacking, black lightning appears in our society. Black lightning will be the hope. As the equipment continues to be updated, this will signal to the latest generation that the time has come to harness and unleash our power and become our own superheroes. ”

Black Lightning's costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon, whose many film and television credits include the upcoming sequel to Brave's Game, The Jungle Book, Crooked Scott Vs. the World, Blade Warrior 3: Trinity, and Good Girl's Rebellion, and has been nominated for a Costume Designers Association Award.

If there is no news before, then in May this year will decide whether a sequel will be filmed.

(Translator: Zhu Yibing)