Crossing The Parental Line — Reviewing ‘Black Lightning’ #3

Being a parent is an inherently tough, yet fulfilling, role to take on. Now imagine throwing in some meta-human powers, taking something that already can be a tinderbox situation and adding fuel.

Jefferson Pierce is a father, educator, and well regarded superhero within the DC Universe. With his family in danger and his eldest daughter out of control, Pierce might be forced to make a tough decision. It’s time to protect family and throw some hands in Black Lightning #3 from Brandon Thomas, Fico Ossio, Ulises Arreola, and Lucas Gattoni.

Exploring the dynamics of family and superpowers in the regular world is fascinating. Especially under the light of a more marginalized community focus. Thomas does stories like this so well. He really knows how to blend various elements together. Similar focuses and topics were also in play in his previous DC Comics works.

This issue was a very good balance between character moments, superhero action, and overall universal plotting. All political beats between Josiah Power and Councilman Harriman were just as engaging and juicy as the powered beat downs. That’s when you know you’re hitting the right buttons.

Oh damn, those last moments with Jefferson and Anissa, and then Jefferson and the League Trinity? So raw and tense, a broken father and daughter relationship exacerbated by those outside. Yet, the League’s reasons for doing what they did were not inherently wrong. Thomas makes sure to weave between the two sides to show that they are both neither right nor wrong fully. In the end, the issue is how the three (white) heroes took agency away from Jefferson and Anissa in that moment.

This is wrong, even if their motivations were coming from a place of concern (maybe not so much Bruce/Batman).

Ending on that punch…oh yeah.

Speaking of visuals, the dynamic that Ossio and Arreola have going here is really fitting.

There is a really rough edge to the story being told, with some softer beats mixed in. Ossio’s work nails both of those feelings as it leans more towards the heavy and rough texture. Tons of details and depth in various panels give the whole thing life and weight. In other panels, that is pulled back on going a bit sparser as attention is focused on a character or action.

Every bit of pain or other emotion coursing through Jefferson and others are crystal clear on the page. We feel what they feel, because it’s tearing through their facial expressions and body language, radiating off the page.

Arreola uses a rough color palette as well, choosing heavier and somewhat muddier color schemes to really play into the overall story tone. Even the flashier versions of colors are wrapped up in the darker ones. This keeps everything in a space where it has a more realistic bent, even around the fantastical. This also gives night, day, and interior scenes a fuller, more accurate lighting aesthetic so each stands apart.

A toned down color palette fits this story so well, allowing the characters and their space to really reflect the overall mood.

The same can be said for what Gattoni accomplishes with the lettering. He gives a sense of weight but also allows it to be light enough on the page. Words and their bubbles morph to really allow the tone, volume, and emotion to ring through, letting things fade out or add colors or other modifications that allow us to ascertain faster the right way to hear these words.

Black Lightning #3 is now available from DC Comics.