A key issue noted for First appearance of Black Lightning and Origin of Black Lightning. Black Lightning #1 was published by DC Comics on April 1, 1977, as part of a series that began in 1977. Bob Rozakis and Tony Isabella write, and art comes from Frank Springer, Liz Berube and Mike Vosburg. This 36-page issue features Black Lightning, Whale, Peter Gambi, Macnair Chapin and Earl Clifford, among 6 characters cataloged on VerseDB.