First a quote from Tony Isabella “I created Black Lightning after convincing DC not to publish another “black” super-hero on which they had started work. The Black Bomber was a white bigot who, in times of stress, turned into a black super-hero. This was the result of chemical camouflage experiments he’d taken part in as a soldier in Vietnam. The object of these experiments was to allow our [white] troops to blend into the jungle. In each of the two completed Black Bomber scripts, the white bigot risks his own life to save another person whom he can’t see clearly (in one case, a baby in a stroller) and then reacts in racial slur disgust when he discovers that he risked his life to save a black person. He wasn’t aware that he had two identities, but each identity had a girlfriend and the ladies were aware of the change. To add final insult, the Bomber’s costume was little more than a glorified basketball uniform. DC had wanted me to take over writing the book with the third issue. I convinced them to eat the two scripts and let me start over. To paraphrase my arguments… “Do you REALLY want DC’s first black super-hero to be a white bigot?””
Created by: Dwayne Mcduffie based on a dc comics concept
1st appearance: Justice League of America #26, (2008)
Nationality: American
Team Affiliations: None
Legal Status: Unknown
Weight: 200 lbs Height: 5’9
Eyes: Brown Hair: bald
Relatives: Unknown
Skills and abilities: unknown
Powers: By shouting the phrase “black power” he transforms into a super powered black man with an Afro.
Biography
The Justice League met him while in his world. He made a pass at Vixen but she was far too offended by his bigotry and ridiculous powers to take him serious.
This hero is horrible.
Concepts like this one is the reason why Mavel has blown DC out of the water when it comes to minority characters.
It’s characters like this one that reinforces my feelings of black characters should be created by black creators.
Wow! That’s tuff to whatch. What’s up with DC, and having all the black hero’s seperate from the white ones. They all have to live on special dissapearing islands, and such. And they all must be raging racist. There must have been a heavy climite of racism there, back in the day.
I had heard of the Brown Bomber before, but who the hell thought it was a good idea to raise that sunken ship?
I’m black and I actually find the idea absolutely hilarious. This is the kind of character that would have appeared on a “Living Color” skit back in the day. I’d love to see him pop up every now and again as a throwaway joke character.
Hey very interesting blog!