Black Lightning’s Next Foe Will Be Freeland’s Vicious Drug Trade

The CW’s new superhero drama, Black Lightning, is about to get even more sociopolitical, as it’s set to touch on the urban drug trade according to showrunner Salim Akil.

Debuting to impressive reviews, the DC Comics adaptation returned school principal Jefferson Pierce to a life of crimefighting under the moniker of Black Lightning. But now, in addition to the evil gang the One Hundred, Pierce will also have to contend with the issue of drug trafficking.

“We’re introducing a new drug into the community called Green Light in later episodes,” Akil said to Entertainment Weekly. “It will be the crux of the season in terms of how drugs enter a community, how a community is exploited, and Black Lightning sort of working himself up the food chain of discovering where it comes from and who put it there.”

Pierce, who retired after his superhero antics took its toll on his family life, came out of retirement to once more stand up against violence and social injustice in his Freeland community, especially for the sake of his daughters.

Airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Black Lightning stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning, China Anne McClain as his younger daughter Jennifer Pierce, Nafessa Williams as his older daughter Anissa Pierce, Christine Adams as Lynn Pierce, James Remar as Peter Gambi, Damon Gupton as Henderson, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III as Tobias Whale and Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi.