About “Black Lightning” in a few words:

Black Lightning is a superhero television series based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The show follows the story of Jefferson Pierce, a retired superhero and high school principal who is forced to return to his vigilante ways in order to protect his community from a dangerous gang known as The 100. With a talented cast and a gripping storyline, Black Lightning explores themes of family, community, and social justice while also delivering exciting action and adventure.

Meet the characters from Black Lightning

Jefferson Pierce

Jefferson is the kind of dad-teacher-hero combo that makes you want to both hug him and roll your eyes because he’s so responsible, but also secretly dangerous. He’s calm, principled, and carries the weight of the city like it’s both a classroom lesson and a family obligation, which is kind of exhausting but kind of heroic? He loves music — jazz, mostly — and will talk about it in the middle of a tactical debrief for reasons you won’t question. He’s also low-key stubborn and will absolutely stand on his moral hill even when everyone else wants to leave; sometimes he’s soft, sometimes he’s iron, and sometimes he burns the pancakes.

Anissa Pierce

Anissa is pure energy: activist, superhero (Thunder), and the sibling who shows up to shake things up and somehow makes you both proud and terrified. Fierce and principled, she’s a walking megaphone for justice but also has this surprising tenderness that she tries to hide under sarcasm. She’s disciplined—trained, focused—but will also get impulsive when someone she loves is threatened, which is both inspiring and very messy. Also she collects weird vintage earrings? I could be wrong but I swear she has an earring obsession.

Lynn Pierce

Lynn is the brainiac heart of the family — brilliant scientist, mother, and that nagging voice that somehow keeps everybody alive, which is both annoying and utterly essential. She thinks in equations and post-its but also leaves love notes in weird places, so yes she’s both clinical and sentimental; don’t ask her to choose. Her intellect drives the tech and the moral compass drives her choices, and she can switch from lab-coat cold to full-on mom-rage in seconds. Occasionally she forgets her keys but never forgets a hypothesis, which somehow feels very Lynn.

Tobias Whale

Tobias is the walking storm with a cane and a suit so sharp it could cut glass; terrifyingly charismatic and absolutely ruthless. He’s all calculated menace one minute and annoyingly cultured the next — like he collects fine cologne and also grills people for sport? He plays the long game and loves power theatre, and you can see the genuine resentment that fuels him, which makes him oddly tragic at times. He hates weakness but sometimes flinches at his own ghosts, which is unexpectedly human for a guy who eats fear for breakfast.

Peter Gambi

Gambi is the grizzled mentor who knows too much and smiles like he’s hiding a dozen secrets — tailor, father-figure, and schemer in equal parts. He mends suits and people, drops deadpan quips, and somehow always has the perfect tool or a lie ready; he’s comforting and suspicious in the same breath. He’s been through things that make him both protective and ruthless, and he’ll make the hard call while humming a show tune, which is very much his vibe. If you’ve ever needed a steady hand with a wicked past, Gambi’s your guy — and he probably knits in his spare time, maybe.

Jennifer Pierce

Jennifer is teenage chaos wrapped in a lightning bolt — dramatic, impulsive, confusing and absolutely magnetic. She flips between being painfully self-aware and totally reckless, which is part of her charm and the part that gets her into trouble. She cares a lot even if she pretends not to, and when her powers flare she’s both terrified and oddly thrilled, which is such a teenage energy thing. Also she’s into fashion and late-night fries, a walking contradiction and I love her for it.

Khalil Payne

Khalil is a wreck of contradictions: gentle, haunted, dangerous when pushed, and often more tragic than he should be. He was trying to be a better person, then life (and other people) made it complicated — he’s got that “good guy who fell into the wrong story” vibe. He’s quiet but intense, and even in his darker moments there’s this thread of regret and longing that makes him painfully human. He likes music? Or photography? I’m fuzzy but give him a guitar and he’d probably look soulful.

Bill Henderson

Bill is the by-the-book cop who will sigh at bureaucracy but bend rules if it means getting people out of danger, which makes him both infuriating and kind of a hero. He’s official and stern and has that exasperated dad energy when the Pierce family inevitably causes chaos. He’s loyal to the system but not blindly; he’ll swallow pride and do the messy stuff because someone has to. Also he does crosswords at the precinct and maybe secretly enjoys trash TV? Don’t tell.

Grace Choi

Grace is a force — strong, unapologetic, and weirdly tender under a very fierce exterior; think “I’ll punch you then bring you soup.” She’s complicated, with a past that makes her guarded but also oddly playful once she trusts you, and she has that rare ability to be both mercenary and a soft-heart in the same conversation. She likes tattoos, strong coffee, and probably romantic comedies? She’ll confuse you with contradictions on purpose and then save your life, which is honestly impressive.

Lala

Lala is chaos with style — flamboyant, dangerous, loudly loyal, and always teetering on unpredictable. He’s a gangster who wears his feelings like an accessory: flashy, overconfident, and sometimes heartbreaking when you realize there’s more under the bravado. He flips between being charming and terrifying in a heartbeat, which keeps everyone on edge. He also mouths show tunes in the middle of a shootout? I think so; it feels like something he’d absolutely do.