Black Lightning Comics Reading Order

Black Lightning is one of DC’s first African-American heroes and a longtime member of superteams like The Outsiders and the Justice League of America. Black Lightning, aka Jefferson Pierce, will also be the first person of color to headline a live-action DC CW superhero TV series.

Jefferson Pierce was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden in 1977’s Black Lightning #1.

Below you’ll find a guide to Black Lightning comics and where to start with reading the character’s appearances in the DC Universe.

Black Lightning Comic Book Reading Order

Origins and Year One

Black Lightning: Year One

Collects: Black Lightning Year One #1 to #6

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Note that this is a modern take on Black Lightning’s origins. If you want to start with his 1977 debut, skip ahead to the collection below.

Black Lightning Vol. 1

Collects: Black Lightning #1 to #11, World’s Finest #260

Justice League of America #173 to #174

Green Arrow recruits Black Lightning for the Justice League of America.

Black Lightning And The Outsiders

Batman & the Outsiders Vol. 1

Collects: Brave and the Bold #200, Batman and the Outsiders #1 to #13, New Teen Titans #37

Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2

Collects: Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1, Batman and the Outsiders #14 to #23

Batman and the Outsiders continues in issues until issue #32 before rebranding to Adventures of the Outsiders from issues #33 to #38.

Black Lightning Vol. 2

Collects: Black Lightning #1 to #13

Tony Isabella returned to a relaunched Black Lightning in the mid-90’s for another short-lived run on Jefferson Pierce.

Black Lightning Enters the 2000’s

Superman: President Luthor

Collects: The Adventures Of Superman #108-110, Secret Files &Amp; Origins: President Luthor #1, Superman #108-110, #162-165 And Superman: Lex 2000 #1

President Lex Luthor names Jefferson his Secretary of Education, and he reluctantly accepts.

Outsiders Vol 01: Looking for Trouble

Collects: Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #1, Outsiders #1 to #6

Black Lightning bounces in and out of the 2003 relaunched Outsiders, with a team led by Nightwing and adding Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Thunder! Consider this more “Black Lightning family” than directly Black Lightning comics.

Outsiders Vol 02: Sum of All Evil

Collects: Outsiders #7 to #15

Outsiders Vol 03: Wanted

Collects: Outsiders #16 to #23

Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders

Collects: Teen Titans #24-26 And Outsiders #24, 25 And 28

Outsiders Vol 04: Crisis Intervention

Collects: Outsiders #29 to #33

Infinite Crisis

Black Lightning is involved in Batman’s machinations with Brother EYE and the OMAC project.

Outsiders: The Good Fight

Collects: Outsiders #34 to #41