After James Tynion IV exits “Detective Comics” after two years at the end of May, Bryan Hill (“The Wild Storm: Michael Cray,” “Postal”) will take over DC’s titular book for five issues. The story arc, called ‘On the Outside,’ will see Black Lightning, aka Jefferson Pierce, come to Gotham to team up with Batman. The news broke earlier today via Den of Geek.
Miguel Mendonca, late of “Justice League of America,” “Nightwing,” and “Detective Comics,” will be handling the art for at least the first two installments, which are the only two that have been solicited thus far.
Black Lightning is having a moment right now, due both to the critically acclaimed CW series, as well as the “Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands” miniseries by Tony Isabella and Clayton Henry, which wraps up next month. Having been on the fringes of DC since pre-“Flashpoint,” save for a co-starring arc with Blue Devil in the New 52 “DC Universe Presents” title, Black Lightning is a founding member of the Outsiders, a Batman-led team that was recently referenced in the lead up to “Dark Nights: Metal.” The name of the arc, ‘On the Outside,’ clearly hints towards something with the Outsiders, too.
The solicits mention Pierce being brought into to mentor some of the younger members of the Bat-family, which makes perfect sense as Pierce is a high school teacher by day.
Hill is also writing Pierce in the “Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special” #1, due out on the last Wednesday of May, as part of the second round of Hanna-Barbera/DC crossovers.
Read the full solicits below, and check out the issues come June.
DETECTIVE COMICS #982
Written by BRYAN HILL • Art by MIGUEL MENDONÇA • Cover by EDDY BARROWS • Variant cover by MARK BROOKS
“On the Outside” part one! Duke Thomas. Cassandra Cain. They and other young heroes don’t intend to stand down, no matter what Batman thinks is best. Who can Batman trust to guide them? They need a teacher…and Black Lightning fits the bill!
On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
DETECTIVE COMICS #983
Written by BRYAN HILL • Art by MIGUEL MENDONÇA • Cover by EDDY BARROWS • Variant cover by MARK BROOKS
“On the Outside” part two! Batman wanted Black Lightning involved in the lives of his protégés—but how involved was the Dark Knight thinking? What kind of missions will Jefferson Pierce take them on? And what, exactly, is he whispering in their ears about Batman himself?
On sale JUNE 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
