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Publishers / DC / Black Lightning (1977) / #1
1April 1977
$0.30

Black Lightning #1

DC · April 1977 · on sale January 4, 1977

First appearance (cover): Black LightningFirst appearance (cover): Jefferson PierceFirst appearance: Tobias WhaleOrigin: Black Lightning
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Black Lightning (DC, 1977 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
April 1977
Key date
April 1977
On-sale date
January 4, 1977
Indicia publisher
DC Comics Inc.
Price
$0.30
Pages
36
Barcode
0709893043902
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance (cover) of Black Lightning - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Jefferson Pierce - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Tobias Whale - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Rich Buckler; inks: Frank Springer; colors: Tatjana Wood; letters: Gaspar SaladinoBlack Lightning First, Jefferson Pierce First
2Black Lightningcomic story17script: Tony Isabella; pencils: Trevor Von Eeden; inks: Frank Springer; colors: Liz Berube; letters: Gaspar SaladinoBlack Lightning First, Jefferson Pierce First, Tobias Whale First
3And Now...Still Another Message of Untold Importance from Our Prolific Publisher!!promo (ad from the publisher)1script: Jenette Kahn
4Garfield Basketball Star Funeral Todaytext story1script: Tony Isabella
5Volume 77 Issue 1 - Week of January 3, 1977in-house column1script: Bob Rozakis; pencils: Mike Vosburg; inks: Mike Vosburg, Vince Colletta; editing: Bob Rozakis

Plus 1 page of advertisements and other matter across 1 sequence, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #221982On eBay ›
Comic Reader #1391977On eBay ›
Black Lightning #1
ISBN 978-1-4012-6071-2		2016On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

1 of 11#2 ›

Sources

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