His Story
Earl is pivotal in Jefferson Pierce becoming the Black Lightning. Just Like Batman, it took a trajectory death for a man to become a hero and that death was Earl Clifford. Earl was a tremendously talented at basketball and as a track star. On meeting Jefferson Pierce at Garfield High in Metropolis, Earl helped him fend of a Drug Lord known as Joey Toledo. Joey unfortunately was a gang leader of The 100 and was ordered by Tobias Whale to send a message that resulted in the death of Earl.
Joey and a couple of thugs went to give Earl a beat-down but when Earl saw then he ran to get away but he was hit by an oncoming car. Earl was then taken back to the Garfield High where he was strung up on the basketball hoop for all to see. This image was more than Jefferson could bear and he thus became the Black Lightning to put Earl’s killers to justice.