Contributed by John M. Eagen
Art by Eddy NewellContributed by John M. Eagen
Former Olympic champion and part time super hero Jefferson Pierce (aka – Black Lightning) was a teacher at Carver High School. During his tenure he befriended Walter Kasko, a white teacher at a predominately black highschool. Kasko was a man of integrity and guts who took deep interest in the students of Carver High. He was used to the gangs and weapons present in the poor district and made every attempt to set misguided students on the right path. One such student was Lamar Henderson. Lamar was targeted for a gang slaying, but Kasko and Jefferson Pierce both threw their bodys in front of the young man, taking the bullets for him.
Walter Kasko died during the incident and Jefferson Pierce was rushed to the hospital. In an attempt to revive Pierce, doctors used electric paddles, only to have the electricity “feedback” due to Pierce’s own internal (and secret) lightning powers. In an attempt to find the cause of the incident, metagene tests were ordered for Pierce.
Lying in the hospital recovering, Pierce was visited by an African American lab technicion named Samual Daly. Daly introduced himself to Pierce “My name is Samual Daly. Walter Kasko was my friend. Actually , he was more than my friend.” Jefferson admits that he didn’t know much about Kasko’s personal life and Daly continues… “Some of us keep our secrets better than others. But you know all about secrets don’t you?” It is at this point that Daly informs Pierce that not only did Walter Kasko know that Pierce was indeed Black Lightning, he (Kasko) also covered for him so that his identity would remain a secret.
Samual Daly continued his lover’s legacy by doctoring the metagene tests so that Pierce’s results would be negative. Pierce consoles Daly with these parting words of thanks and praise… “Be angry, be very angry, at this cruel and stupid world we live in. It deserves all the rage you can muster. But don’t ever be angry at the man you loved. His kind of courage is the only hope we have.”
Reflecting back on the entire events that led to Walter Kasko’s death, Pierce (Black Lightning) finds strength in his friend’s untimely death… “Walter Kasko died. He threw himself in front of one of his students and he died. Walter didn’t want to die on the cold linoleum floor so far from his companion. But he wasn’t going to lose a good kid. Walter Kasko was a hero. I don’t know if I am. But I’m going to keep working at it. Until I get it right. One more thing… I remember Walter’s face now — and I always will.” (Tony Isabella)
Walter first appeared in Black Lightning #2 (vol 2) and Samual in #5. They were revealded to be a couple in #5. The setting of this story is Brick City, a lower class suburb of an unnamed city.
Tony Isabella reflects on these characters here.
Black Lightning created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden. © and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.