SDCC 2017: Black Lightning

Black Lighting cast attends Black Lighting press room at Comic Con 2017 on July 22 in San Diego Convention Center, California

There’s a new DC Comics kid on The CW block. Black Lightning joins The CW line-up this fall and it’s a superhero family affair. After spending years fighting crime as the masked superhero Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce decides to put down the mask and focus on his family. He decides to serve his community as a school principal and watch over his two daughters without using his superpowers. But, almost a decade later, with crime rising and corruptions spreading, his family and community are in danger. His daughters are beginning to realize powers of their own. In order to help his daughters and save his community, Jefferson Pierce must become Black Lightning again.

On hand for the mid-season series’ San Diego Comic Con debut were the cast — Cress Williams (Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning), Nafessa Williams (Anissa Pierce aka Thunder), China Anne McClane (Jennifer Pierce), Christine Adams (Lynn Pierce); and executive producers — Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil.

Cress Williams plays Jefferson Pierce, father and school principal by day, superhero Black Lightning by night. He talks about playing a character with two sides, “Jefferson Pierce is like Martin Luther King Jr. and then with Black Lightning you get Malcolm X.” He also talks about the family dynamic of the show and playing an iconic African American superhero on network TV.

Nafessa Williams plays Anissa Pierce, Jefferson Pierce’s oldest daughter. She talks about auditioning for the part, what she likes about the character and playing the sister dynamic on the show.

China Anne McClain plays Jennifer Pierce, youngest daughter of Jefferson Pierce. She talks about her character starting as an average teenage and then discovering and developing her powers.

Executive producers Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil talk about bringing such an iconic Black superhero to television and the importance of portraying the Black family dynamic. Salim Akil states, “They’re the Obamas of superhero families!”