Black Lightning: Year One #2
	Writer: Jen Van Meter Penciller: Cully Hamner Colorist: Laura Martin Letterer: Sal Cipriano Editors: Rachel Gluckstern and Joan Hilty Published by: DC Comics 'Black Lightning' created by Anthony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

This issue starts with “Lightning” shooting around in the shadows and ends with “Black Lightning” landing a front page photo on the Daily Planet.

In between there is an appearance by that dumpy, small-town relatively new colleague of Metropolis' ace report, Lois Lane. He sees the vigilante and tracks him down (in civilian life) to the school he works at. While he came to test the man whom the police are after (though in name only, seeing as the cops are pretty useless when it comes to the “Suicide Slum”), Clark Kent gets bowled over by the kickass inspirator (blame that on the last remnants of George Bush type speak) that is Jefferson Pierce. Leading not just by talk but also by deed, Pierce not only inspires his students to take a more active part/interest in their studies but as a result of that development draws them away from their less savory vocations.

As for the Black Lightning himself, the Pierce family women, from Jeff's mama to his wife and even little Anissa, have a surprise for Jefferson. The way the superherorics are been woven into the Pierce family’s anticsit adds a whole ‘nother layer to the story. And although some Black Lightning fans might contest that this is a retcon of the origins of character I think (or at least hope) that most of them won’t mind the introduction of the family dynamic.

What set this issue (as with the first one) for me, the (biggest) weak point of this story, are the bad-guys. Although they too are carried over from the original ‘origin’ story from the previous Black Lightning series the baddies come off as rather one-dimensional. They are more like your run-of-the-mill drug-sex-thuggery guys and while this is suited to the ‘suicide’ setting there is something about it that seems a bit off to me. Not even the “mystery” one-hundred quite grabbed me.

In conclusion, the interest that rose with issue #1 only grew stronger with this issue. Even though there is blood-&-shooting and even death in this mini it is still a heart-warming, livening story of a single man’s journey to heroism, both in and out of the costume. Moreover, Cully Hamner’s art is always a plus even Clark’s super-square jaw could have done with a little dialing down. As it is now it looks as if Hamner drew inspiration from Jay Leno for his Clark’s, at least his lower jaw anyways.

RATING: 8/10