With One Hero's New Design, DC Just Proved Who Its Hated 'Electric Superman' Actually Should Be

The most electrifying chapter of Superman's life isn't the most beloved, but a surprising hero puts a much better spin on the beleaguered Man of Steel incarnation. With a new Superman movie on the horizon, DC Comics is generating hype with a series of covers that sees DCU heroes honoring their iconic ally.

It's hard to believe, but 2025 is flying by and it won't be long before summer is here and DC starts its new "Summer of Superman" initiative to honor DC's greatest icon. As part of the initiative, several DC titles in May will come with variants that give DC's heroes costumes inspired by the Man of Tomorrow.

Justice League Unlimited 7 Superman Costumes DC

Justice League Unlimited #7, in particular, features Superman with several of his allies, most of whom have donned his traditional colors. Hovering above the team and generating a surge of energy is Black Lightning, whose costume has been augmented with a Superman shield.

Black Lightning Pulls Off His Own Take on Superman Blue

Let's Face It, Jefferson Pierce Makes This Work

Superman Red and Superman Blue Running DC

DC Comics has made it perfectly clear that this year is all about Superman. With James Gunn's Superman reboot just months away from release, the hype is building fast, and DC Comics is going all out to celebrate the Big Blue Boy Scout's monumental occasion. To wit, DC is launching the new "Summer of Superman" initiative to celebrate the Last Son of Krypton. Aside from exciting new storylines in currently existing books, DC Comics is also launching new ongoing titles and miniseries featuring Clark's allies and friends. The initiative hasn't even begun, but the excitement among Superman fans is palpable.

Of course, Black Lightning isn't exactly copying Superman Blue 1:1. Jefferson Pierce's costume is mostly the same, just with a large Superman shield added to the mix. But given the controversial reception to Superman Blue, it's quite interesting to see how well Black Lightning makes the combination of his new Superman costume and electric powers work. Maybe it's because Pierce's costume doesn't deviate as heavily as Superman did while he was Superman Blue. Whatever the reason, Black Lightning makes his own take on 'Electric Superman' work in a way that the original Man of Steel just never could.

Black Lightning is the Electric Superman That Never Was

DC Comics Finally Makes Good Use of a Controversial Superman Idea

Comic book art: Black Lightning flies upward in Metropolis. — Black Lightning 2024 feature

Admittedly, the Electric Blue era was far from the worst moment in Superman’s long history, but it’s a period not everyone looks back on fondly. That being said, Black Lighting looks good with a Superman shield and given how he’s one of the best electric-based heroes in the DC Universe, he puts a real positive spin on that maligned part of Clark Kent’s past. Of course, Black Lightning has no need to abandon his own legacy to chase after Superman’s. But it’s nice to see someone like Pierce thematically keep one of the most outrageous parts of Superman’s past alive.

Justice League Unlimited #7 is available on May 28th from DC Comics.