dc black lightning

DC is going to D.C. in anticipation of the release of The CW’s new ‘Black Lightning’ live action series.  This premier event will be held in the capital of the United States and will be used to shine light on pressing issues, via panel discussions about LGBTQ issues, race and PTSD.  Fittingly, the event will be held over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, January 12-13.

The event will be held at Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001) an interactive museum located amidst many of other Washington landmarks.  ‘The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens’ will host speakers Black Girl Nerds Editor-in-Chief Jamie Broadnax, John Ridley (writer ‘The American Way’, ‘The Razor’s Edge’), Alice Randall (Milestone Mediua’s new ‘Earth M’) and ‘Black Lightning’ star Cress Williams and creators Salim and Mara Brock Akil. ’12 Years A Slave’ screenwriter John Ridley, who is writing the new ‘Black Lightning’ comic book, will also be in attendance.  This panel will be held from 11-11:45am on Saturday the 13th.

That will be followed from 12-12:45 pm, by ‘Wonder Women,’ and will welcome ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ star Caity Lotz, ‘The Flash’ stars Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker, Berlanti Productions President Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans) plus DC writers and artists Julie Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shawna Benson(Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shea Fontana (Wonder Woman, DC Super Heroes), Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls) and Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super).  Additional panelist may be added before the event.

After that, from 2-2:45pm, comes The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion, which welcomes ‘The Ray’ executive producer Greg Berlanti and live action and voice actor Russell Tovey  along with DC writers Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman), Steve Orlando (Midnighter and Apollo) and Mark Russell (Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles).

Not all of the events are meant to spotlight minorities.  There will also be a panel to shed light on post traumatic stress disorder.  From 3-3:45pm, a panel called ‘The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics’ will take place, featuring Tom King, writer of DC’s ‘Batman’ and ‘Mister Miracle’ and a former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer.  King will be showcasing PTSD in the pages of the upcoming ‘Mister Miracle’ series.  Also in attendance will be J.W. Cortes, Detective Alvarez on ‘Gotham’ who spent 13 years in the Marine Corps and also served as a police officer with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  Once again, more panelists may be added.

These events will culminate with a red carpet premiere of ‘Black Lightning’.  Creators Salim and Mara Brock Akil will be present along with Williams, and his costars Christine Adams, China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams.  There will be a private Q&A after the screening, which will be screened online via Newseum.

‘Black Lightning’ will premiere on The CW on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Convention Scene