REVIEW: Black Lightning #5

DC“s “Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands”“ is a six-issue mini-series released almost in conjunction with the debut of the CW series based on the African-American superhero co-created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eden. One distinct advantage that Black Lightning has as a superhero intellectual property is that the character“s original creator is writing and working on the Black Lightning revival in a moment where the public demand for Black heroes is reaching a new zenith.

This will sound counter-intuitive but Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands number five (of a six-issue mini) is a pretty solid on boarding point for readers. The book provides a solid review and update of the story to date. And this story is both vital and timely. A committed engaged schoolteacher, Mr. Pierce, moonlight’s as Black Lightning to bookend his pedagogical efforts with some much-needed vigilantism aimed at a quickly unfurling crime boost thanks in part to the series“ main antagonist/villain Tobias Whale.

Clearly, DC coordinated this series release with the CW series. This is what comic book, entertainment conglomerates do to maximize the impact of their stories and the value of the their characters. But occasionally there are some unintended consequences of timing and sometimes those consequences are powerful for a story delivered at or in a particular time. This is the case for “Cold Dead Hands”“ which of course is an allusion to the NRA slogan made famous by the late Charlton Heston ”“ a poster boy for the gun industry“s most powerful advocate.

As the story/slogan goes ”“ we live in a violent world where criminals and maybe even our own government are coming to get us . . . and our guns. What the NRA ”“ and criminal masterminds like Tobias Whale do best is exploit fear for profit. In this Black Lightening story as in our very own reality, easy access to guns is all about making money for those who sell and distribute assault weapons, but the story is diligent in its efforts to expose who these mini-arms races work in reality. If guns are accessible more and more people ”“ and institutions ”“ will claim they need guns for their own safety. It“s a violent cycle.

“Cold Dead Hands”“ isn“t subtle about its critique of the political mess of access to guns, unchecked lobbying, and the relentless glorification of gun culture in America. Isabella and company are pro gun control and common sense gun safety ”“ much like the overwhelming majority of Americans. In the story world of Black Lightening space aliens provide the technologically advanced weaponry that is purveyed by criminals like Tobias Whale right into the streets of Mr. Pierce“s neighborhood.

Easy access to these alien AR-15’s makes life more lethally violent for the police, Black Lightning and all of the citizens on the west side of Cleveland. In this issue Black Lightening confronts Tobias Whale in a spectacular battle that spans most of the issue. In their exchanges readers will hear more about Tobias“ diabolical plans and learn more about how comics can make important social justice interventions in our world. 3.5/5.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Tony Isabella (A) Clayton Henry (CA) Ken Lashley