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CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

The Flash/Wally West

12 votes

Black Lightning/Jefferson Pierce

4 votes

Edgy MD Nov 21 2014 04:42 PM

That thunderous clash you hear is from this showdown between two standup dudes who light to accessorize with lightning bolts, as Wally West's version of the Flash meets Black Lightning in this matchup from the Bronze/Modern-Age Superheroes from the DC/Indy Conference. [fimg=250]http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11115/111152470/3698011-8115521092-10556.png[/fimg] [fimg=250]http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/131/d/1/top_10_black_lightning_by_mrfuzzynutz-d4zbt51.jpg[/fimg] Name: Flash Name: Black Lightning AKA: Wallac Rudolph "Wally" West AKA: Jefferson Pierce Creator(s): John Broome, Carmine Infantino Creator(s): Tony Isabella Origin: Blue Valley, NE Origin: Southside, Metropolis, DE Base of Operations: Keystone City (State Ambiguous) Base of Operations: Metropolis, DE Teams: Justice League, Titans, Teen Titans Teams: Justice League, Outsiders Signature Lines: "Keystone is under the protection of a man who can throw haymakers like machine-gun fire... who can create cyclones with a wave of his arm... who can outrun gravity. Keystone is my city." Signature Lines: "Lightning strikes twice in this town -- and the second time I strike -- it's for keeps! " Arch-Enemy: Vandal Savage Arch-Enemy: Tobias Whale Powers: Super speed, ability to vibrate through solid objects (which explode), time travel. Powers: Generates and manipulates electricity, generates force fields. Once shocked Superman's heart on the verge of death. Has limited flight ability. Is an Olympian athlete and damn good martial artist. Weaknesses: Accelerated metabolism. In order to keep his powers going, he has to eat like a hog. Weaknesses: Maintaining his electric force field takes effort and concentration and he can't keep it going forever. And past that force field, he's only flesh and blood. Like you and me!

Fman99 Nov 21 2014 07:41 PM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

I think Black Lightning is what Cosby is giving out to his dates.

Vic Sage Nov 22 2014 06:14 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

Wally West is the only later modern age incarnation of a superhero i actually prefer to either his silver age or golden age forefather. Don't get me wrong; i grew up with Barry Allen and he'll always be "The Flash" as far as I'm concerned. But Wally has evolved into a more interesting character, I think. Barry was always sort of a square-jawed cop-type superhero, and never evolved much beyond that. Wally started out as Kid Flash, Barry's sidekick, who later joined Robin in the Teen Titans. He was a smart-ass and not as fast as Barry, and had to eat constantly to replenish his energy. After Barry died heroically in the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS miniseries, they gave the crimson mantel to Wally and he's grown up into a funny speedster always trying to live up to his heroic mentor's wings. Since then, discovering and tapping into the "speed force" has probably made him more powerful than Barry or any other Flash. Black Lightning? One of DC's first major black superheroes, came along in the Bronze Age 70s, probably in response to the the success of Luke Cage (also created by writer Tony Isabella). But he didn't last long in his own series, appearing later in the Outsiders and other Batman-related cross over books. I never read his titles, and have no particular connection to him, except for his important social role as DC's "Elston Howard" to Marvel's "Jackie Robinson", the Black Panther (and then Luke Cage). Wally wins this race going away.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 22 2014 06:24 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

I don't know Black Lightning, so I voted for Wally West, but to me, Wally will always be "Kid Flash".

Edgy MD Nov 22 2014 06:39 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

Flash powers never make sense to me. They always go back and forth over whether his powers are physical or metaphysical. Is he really tearing up the pavement or is he entering another dimension? Because if it's the former, he really should be burning up his clothes and shoes and starting fires all over the place. Plus, there isn't enough guacamole in the world to fuel some of the runs we're expected to believe he makes. He's kinda neat, though.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 22 2014 07:28 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

For a super-hero, Black Lightning's hands are too effeminate.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 22 2014 08:01 AM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

Edgy MD wrote: Flash powers never make sense to me. They always go back and forth over whether his powers are physical or metaphysical. Is he really tearing up the pavement or is he entering another dimension? Because if it's the former, he really should be burning up his clothes and shoes and starting fires all over the place. Plus, there isn't enough guacamole in the world to fuel some of the runs we're expected to believe he makes. If the later stories are considered definitive, it's more of the latter. Vic beat me to it-- Barry's solid like oak, the ur-Flash, and an uber-mensch (the man Batman wishes he could be, IIRC, according to the Caped Crusader himself)... but Wally's far more complex, funny and human. And I liked the Outsiders-- I was 6 or 7 when Batman was doing all that spinoff business-- but, yeah... t'aint no contest, really. (The mutants have it a lot tougher in these first-round matchups, don't they?) Black Lightning does feature prominently-- played by Sinbad!-- in maybe the best SNL superhero sketch of all time, though.

Edgy MD Nov 22 2014 03:41 PM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

batmagadanleadoff wrote: For a super-hero, Black Lightning's hands are too effeminate. Those hands dove me nuts. I keep trying to find images that make good matches for one another, but those hands look like... they're drawn by somebody who struggles to draw hands.

Edgy MD Dec 01 2014 10:02 PM Re: CPF WotS, Rd. 1: The Flash (W. West) vs. Black Lightning

Flash II wins it. Wally, by golly.