DC Comics Presents #16
In "The De-volver!", Black Lightning faces a shocking consequence when a subway robbery ends in tragedy, igniting a personal crisis with one of his students, Hugh Bryant. When Hugh's grief unleashes his true alien nature, Black Lightning must team up with Superman to confront a being far beyond human understanding. Written by Denny O'Neil and illustrated by Joe Staton, with inks by Frank Chiaramonte and colors by Jerry Serpe, this 1979 story unfolds with emotional weight and cosmic mystery, all framed by Ross Andru’s dynamic cover and Dick Giordano’s sharp inks.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Cast · 2 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Black Lightning stops a robbery on a subway train as it travels through Suicide Slum but causes one of the robbers to inadvertently shoot and kill another passenger, Trina. This angers Trina's boyfriend, Hugh Bryant, who is also one of Jefferson Pierce's students. Hugh, actually an alien trapped on earth for millions of years, "devolves" into his true form as an energy creature. Black Lightning and Superman subdue the creature and help him finally leave the planet.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).