The ionosphere is a layer of Earth's upper atmosphere where Jennifer Pierce/Lightning goes to recharge, heal, or collect energy. The space is highly energized, containing a high concentration of ions and free electrons, as well as formless energy beings who call it "the Glaze" (suggesting that is their actual name for it). The location's abundance of energy serves as the most powerful and effective fuel source for Jennifer, who first visited it in late 2019 during the Freeland occupation, at the encouragement of Agent Odell.
History[]
The ionosphere is a layer of earth's atmosphere inhabited by non-corporeal life forms, who call this area the Glaze (suggesting that is its actual name), and can only exist in the dark void of space. Over the course of time, these shapeless life forms, would watch humans on Earth, envying their lives, bodies and ability to experience emotions. One entity of the Glaze in particular grew increasingly infuriated with Jennifer Pierce's frequent trips to the ionosphere. Like the entity, Jennifer was living pure energy, but she had a physical body, and could come and go from the Glaze as she pleased.[1] Eventually, the entity conspired to take over Jennifer's life for itself.
In 2021, Jennifer began visiting the ionosphere even more frequently until at one point, the energy became too much for her to handle and she exploded into a state of pure energy.[2] Jefferson Pierce managed to gather what were presumed to be her particles and was able to reconstitute her. However, due to DNA's natural manipulation of expressing genes, she acquired a new appearance, so she was renamed JJ Stewart to avoid any public complications. She maintained the Lightning mantle, albeit with some minor identity exposures because people noticed her different height (and possibly other physical characteristics).
It was ultimately revealed that JJ was not really Jennifer at all, but one of the entities who had resided in the ionosphere for an unknown (but presumably long) period of time and watched Jennifer come and go from the ionosphere at will. Bitterly envious, the entity had attempted to possess her body, accidentally overwhelming and disintegrating it instead, before being reconstituted as JJ and stealing her identity. Jennifer survived, trapped in the ionosphere as shapeless energy, but eventually regained her physical form. In a final confrontation, Jennifer became one with her powers and inundated the entity completely.[1]
Appearances[]
Black Lightning[]
Season 4[]
Behind the scenes[]
- Scientifically speaking, in the atmosphere, the ionosphere is the ionized part of the upper atmosphere of Earth, from about 48 km (30 mi) to 965 km (600 mi) above sea level, a region that includes the thermosphere and parts of the mesosphere and exosphere.