Black Lightning’s Daughter Just Became DC’s Most Dangerous Metahuman (& It’s the Justice League’s Fault)

Warning: Spoilers for Black Lightning #1Black Lightning is back, and so are his two super-powered daughters. However, one of them has gotten a massive upgrade that makes her a destructive force unlike anything the Justice League has seen. The DC Universe’s metahumans face unexpected changes as a result of the Justice League’s conflict with Amanda Waller, and Thunder is paying the price as she debuts treacherous new abilities.

Black Lightning #1 by Brandon Thomas, Fico Ossio, Ulises Arreola, and Lucas Gattoni kicks off Black Lightning’s exciting new solo series. Jefferson Pierce is tasked by the Justice League with seeking out metahumans that don’t yet have a handle on their abilities to minimize the damage they inflict around them, alongside his superhero daughter Lightning. Black Lightning and Lightning attempt to restrain a high-level metahuman he’s tracking, only to discover that it’s none other than Anissa, his other daughter.

Anissa Pierce – also known by the codename Thunder – has lost control of her powers and become DC’s most dangerous metahuman as she poses a catastrophic threat to the world around her.

Black Lightning’s Daughter, Thunder, Unlocks Destructive New Superpowers

Thunder Gains Electric-Based Powers, But She Can’t Control Them

In DC lore, Thunder is typically a hero like Black Lightning, as she’s served in the Outsiders to join the fight on behalf of innocents. Now, her powers have gone haywire and sent her on an unwieldy path of destruction. When Black Lightning and Lightning approach Thunder, she’s shrouded in crackling yellow electricity while destroying a train car. Lightning tries to reason with her, but Thunder’s powers burst out of her and generate a blast that sends her sister flying. This former superhero gets redefined as an unstoppable safety hazard with the onset of her shocking new superpowers.

Despite her blood relation to heroes like Black Lightning and Lightning, whose powers are electricity-based, Thunder’s abilities have always differed from the rest of her heroic family members. In the past, her powers manifested in the form of invulnerability and super-strength, which she could use to strike the ground and create enormous shockwaves.

However, with this current shift to her skill-set, Thunder can now harness electricity powers that resemble her sister’s – but they’re wildly unruly in comparison due to her lack of mastery. Thunder now boasts an entirely different, potentially life-threatening set of superpowers, and the Justice League is to blame.

Justice League’s Latest Crisis Has Caused Superheroes to Switch Powers

Thunder’s New Powers Are the Justice League’s Fault

Thunder’s sudden new power set is a consequence of the Justice League’s involvement in the recent Absolute Power event. After Amanda Waller stripped DC’s superheroes of their powers, they fought valiantly to return them, only for things to go horribly wrong in the aftermath of the battle.

In Absolute Power #4 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Alejandro Sánchez, and Ariana Maher, it’s revealed that some of the Justice League heroes have switched powers following the defeat of Waller’s Amazos. For instance, Black Canary unlocks heat vision, while Plastic Man can turn invisible instead of having his usual elastic powers. The metahumans of the DC Universe may be safe from Waller, but this change offers its own challenges.

Not only are the powers of existing heroes behaving unpredictably, but there are also average civilians who have suddenly had their dormant metahuman genes activated. With new metahumans appearing across the globe as powers are seemingly dispersed at random, the Justice League has banded together to make up for this fallout by helping everyone who’s been affected however they can. To this end, Black Lightning is tasked with leading an initiative to assist those who unlock new powers and need guidance to control them. Thunder appears to be part of this group, considering her surge of new power.

Justice League’s Power Mix-Up Is Better for Some Heroes Than Others

Thunder Is One of the Unlucky Superheroes in the DC Universe

Although Thunder’s powers are a critical detriment to her, there are certain Justice League heroes who got much luckier with this massive shake-up to metahuman biology. Lois Lane is one such example, as she’s received powers that resemble Superman’s and is thus able to take flight as DC’s new Superwoman.

Furthermore, Wally West’s Flash can suddenly split in two and appear in multiple places at once thanks to the mysterious upgrade he’s unlocked. Even Captain Atom, whose quantum powers have vanished completely, is fine with retaining this new status quo. However, the mindsets of those who benefit don’t discount the difficulties that others are facing.

Of course, like Black Lightning’s daughter, not every hero has fully benefited from the power swap. Barry Allen’s Flash has lost his powers, hence why Wally is stepping up to replace him, and it’s unclear whether he can ever access them again. Supergirl, on the other hand, has earned a new power in exchange for an old one. She now possesses a mind control ability that lets her wipe or alter the memories of others, though she’s presently unable to use her heat vision. Similarly, Thunder has impressive power at her disposal, but her inability to contain it makes it both a benefit and a deadly drawback.

Black Lightning Will Train His Super-Powered Daughter on the Justice League’s Behalf

The Justice League Chooses Black Lightning to Help Struggling Metahumans

Black Lightning’s history as an educator makes him the perfect hero to be placed in charge of the Justice League’s initiative to aid at-risk metahumans. As he’s told by Superman in a conversation about this initiative, “Solving problems before they blow up in our faces, it’s not something the League has always excelled at. This initiative is a great idea.” Superman admits the League’s fault in what has occurred within the hero community by acknowledging their past missteps, and now Black Lightning has taken monumental steps to mend the consequences of their calamitous battle.

Thunder’s misfortune after Absolute Power‘s fallout leaves her in a vulnerable position, and it’s up to Black Lightning to help his daughter get a handle on her abilities to keep her – and everything around her – safe. Since he’s also been training other metahumans, including Anissa’s sister, he’s the best-suited hero to shoulder the task of aiding Thunder in her time of need. The change to her powers may be scary upon its debut, but with time, Thunder will surely reclaim her position as a valued hero as Black Lightning continues his work to fix the Justice League‘s colossal mistake.

Black Lightning #1 is available now from DC Comics.