That is what makes Black Lightning one of DC Comics’ most important heroes. He does not simply represent power. He represents responsibility with roots. His heroism is not detached from community, education, fatherhood or justice. It is shaped by all of those things. When Jefferson Pierce becomes Black Lightning, he is not running away from his identity. He is stepping deeper into it.

The late Stan Lee once said, “The success of Blade opened the door for all the Marvel films that followed. It showed Hollywood that our stories could work on the big screen.” Without Blade, there would be no X-Men (2000). No Spider-Man (2002). No Iron Man (2008) and no Avengers (2012). Blade was the spark that lit the fire.