Throughout the years there hasn’t been a huge stable of black comic book characters either in the books or on screen, so in all honesty those that have come through in recent years have been a refreshing reminder that not all heroes are white. Black Lightning is a stark reminder, and one that’s really needed, that heroes come for everywhere and aren’t bound by the status quo as people think. This hero is also one of those however that is taking on the modern day world in a manner that is more about social responsibility as well as just flat out kicking the butts of evildoers that stand in his path, and that’s simply one quality of the show that could make it last for a decade or more since it’s less glamour and more reality that’s needed in the current realm of the superhero.
There are a lot of reasons why Black Lightning should be able to stick around for a long time. Let’s look at a few of them.
The show is relevant to the modern day era.
It could be argued that many shows are just as relevant but when you look at how the main character is treated and how he reacts to the world around him you get the feeling that the show is taking on a very strong stance regarding the manner of social justice and how it’s viewed today. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s wrong or right for showing what it does, the purpose is to open the eyes of the viewers and remind them that just because they don’t see these things happening doesn’t mean they don’t happen at all. By placing such material in the show it becomes possible for people to finally see the plight that’s still gripping society and understand that while this is fiction it’s still largely based on reality.
There’s less fantasy to this show and more reality.
Yes of course the whole superhero aspect is fantasy but the idea that he’s working in a real-world environment and not along the same lines as Arrow or the Justice League or even the Black Panther is refreshing since we don’t have people trying to find Wakanda on the map or having to check the comics to find the back story of every associated villain and hero that interacts with the main characters on the show. In Black Lightning it might all be fiction, but there’s a very strong real-world feel that keeps it well grounded and able to be taken a little more seriously since not only is the main character and hero leading a normal, retired life that he finds fulfilling, he’s also seeking to be a good person and show others what it means to work hard and accomplish something with their lives. In other words he doesn’t resort to whipping his powers out whenever he has a problem and using them to whatever ends are necessary. This is a hero that values the hard work and effort that goes into life and doesn’t rely on anything else to get him by most times. That’s the kind of inspiration that we really need from a hero to be honest, and Black Lightning is dishing it up without hesitation.
The continued rise of black superheroes is increasing the interest in seeing more and more diversity in the comics and the shows.
People have been responding in droves to the emergence of black superheroes and mostly in a positive way since some of them have been highly regarded for a long time. While Black Lightning might not be on par with heroes like Luke Cage, Black Panther, or even Cyborg at this time it’s still worthwhile to note that he’s made a serious impact in the genre and is someone that people are enjoying on a very personal and engaging level. Since Black Panther came out in Captain America: Civil War, the increasing desire to see more black superheroes has only grown as the desire to see strong black men and women emerge as main characters has been met. One has to recall though that Blade and Storm were already around before a few of the others and didn’t get quite as much attention. But in the current era it would seem that such characters might have been ahead of their time and could seriously benefit from being showcased now. Black Lightning is just one among many that is wowing the audience and showing them a different side of the superhero life. His perspective on the life that he lives and the world he exists in is far different than most and tends to grant a different attitude to the character. This is one reason why he’s so popular at this point.
It shouldn’t be too hard to expect that Black Lightning will be around for a while to come.
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