Jakeem Thunder

Superherobox|

caption=Jakeem Thunder and Johhnny Thunderbolt
Art by Steve Uy.
character_name=Jakeem Thunder
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Flash" (vol. 2) #134 (February 1998) "JLA" #26, (February 1999)
creators=Grant Morrison (writer) Mark Millar (writer) Paul Ryan (artist)
alter_ego=Jakeem Johnny Williams
species =
homeworld =
alliances=Justice Society of America
partners =
aliases=J.J. Thunder
powers= Ability to summon and control a powerful genie, the Thunderbolt
supports = |

Jakeem Thunder (Jakeem Johnny Williams), initially called J.J. Thunder, is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a member of the superhero team the Justice Society of America. Jakeem first appeared in "Flash" (vol. 2) #134 (February 1998), and was created by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Paul Ryan.

Fictional character biography

Jakeem Johnny Williams is a precocious teenager from Keystone City (home of the original and current versions of the Flash). Jakeem's mother left his father while she was still pregnant with the boy and he was orphaned when his mother died of cancer. His aunt Lashawn was then granted custody and his father, Phil, never knew (and still does not know) about his birth. Jakeem became a self-reliant latchkey kid who grew up on the streets and adopted a tough, foul-mouthed attitude in order to survive.

When Johnny Thunder begins to lose control over his "genie" Thunderbolt because of declining mental health, he puts the genie inside an ink pen. Without knowing it's dangers, Jay Garrick gives the pen to Jakeem. ["Flash" vol. 2 #134]

During a Justice League/Justice Society crossover, when the world is being threatened by an evil Thunderbolt, Jakeem soon discovers that the Thunderbolt actually comes from the Fifth Dimension and is controlled by speaking its name (Yz) backwards ("Say You"). Jakeem works with a small group of JSA members. They attempt to stay alive while Yz and another blue genie named Lkz battle throughout the city and space itself. Jakeem even tries to punch out Qwisp, a third genie that comes to threatens the group.

Qwisp is arrested by Fifth Dimension police. With Captain Marvel's help, Jakeem is able to merge Yz with Lkz. Lkz is controlled by speaking the phrase "So Cûl" (pronounced "so cool"). Yz and Lkz form a new purple genie named Ylzkz and this new genie is also now controlled by the phrase "so cool." ["JLA" #26]

Justice Society

Jakeem somewhat reluctantly joins the Justice Society as a part-time member. ["JSA Secret Files" #2, September 2001] Jakeem is welcomed by the fellow young hero, Stargirl, who becomes a friend, and positive influence on him. He also benefits from the guidance of Johnny Thunder himself. He and Hourman Rick Tyler also build a brotherly friendship. Like Johnny before him, he often causes trouble by wishing for things without meaning to, due to poorly-worded commands.

During the "Last Laugh" story arc where certain villains in the DC universe have been affected by the Joker's laughing gas, a Jokerized Solomon Grundy attacks the JSA headquarters. His initial attack involves dropping the head of the Statue of Liberty outside the doors of the JSA and knocking out the then-caretaker of the museum Alexander Montez. Jakeem and Stargirl are the only two at the headquarters at the time. Their fight against Grundy goes badly, as he steals Jakeem's pen and retreats to the sewers. Jakeem tells Stargirl he wants to get the pen back not because he sees the Thunderbolt as his power, but because the Thunderbolt is his friend.

During the fight with Grundy, Jakeem is nearly knocked out by the behemoth. He realizes Stargirl is in grave peril and in desperation, stretches to reach his pen, just out of reach. A purplish-pink wave of energy appears in his eyes and around the pen, which levitates into his grasp. Jakeem briefly wonders how this has happened, but decides to figure it out later. The fight serves as a bonding experience between the two young heroes. Jakeem has the Thunderbolt fix the statue. [JSA3 #29]

Johnny Thunderbolt

Also in the course of the battle with Grundy, Jakeem unwittingly cures his predecessor, Johnny Thunder, of his Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, Johnny immediately falls prey to the Ultra-Humanite, who takes over Johnny's body in order to command the Thunderbolt's powers. In the "Stealing Thunder" storyline [JSA #33-37] , Jakeem is one of several heroes left free from Ultra's control. Eventually Jakeem wrests control of the Thunderbolt back from Ultra, but Johnny Thunder loses his life. Jakeem then wishes that the Thunderbolt could save Johnny somehow, so the genie chooses to merge with Johnny, creating a new being with the memories of both. He later assumes the name Johnny Thunderbolt. [Ibid #46] Johnny Thunderbolt bears Johnny's likeness, though it is not clear how the personalities of Johnny and the two genies interact, and whether any one personality is dominant. Johnny's family is informed of his death and a funeral is held at Valhalla, a cemetery for superheroes. The family does not know that he lives on as the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt eventually stops displaying Johnny's likeness while still speaking as him.

Father issues

With Johnny's help, Jakeem meets his biological father, Phil, who is now an engineering student. Jakeem does not reveal his true identity, but he also meets Phil's wife, Jennifer, and his younger half-brother. He is torn by his longing to reconnect with his biological father, but fears he will upset Phil's life. [Ibid #38]

Infinite Crisis

At the dawn of the Infinite Crisis, the Spectre shunts Jakeem through his pen into the Fifth Dimension, where he succumbs to the machinations of Qwsp and becomes a mad tyrant. The Thunderbolt amasses an army to fight him, including Johnny Thunder's son, Shocko and Shocko's wife Peachy Pet. With the help of the JSA, Jakeem is freed of Qwsp's evil influence. [Ibid #74, 78-80] Among Qwsp's prisoners is Johnny Thunder, apparently separated from the Thunderbolt and living in the Fifth Dimension. Upon the JSA's return from the Fifth Dimension, they find the villain Mordru battling with Nabu. Jakeem jumps the gun and takes action against the evil wizard (who had previously slit Jakeem's throat). Jakeem returns the favor by stabbing Mordru in the throat with his pen, then summons the Thunderbolt, electrocuting Mordru. Jakeem then asks the Thunderbolt to remove Mordru from their sight (followed for the first time by a "please"). [Ibid #80]

Powers and abilities

Jakeem has the ability to summon and control a powerful genie in the form of "Johnny Thunderbolt". The genie can fulfill any wish made by Jakeem, though he occasionally follows Jakeem's wishes too literally. The Thunderbolt's abilities have become limited due to certain limitations according to the new rules of the "Tenth Age of Magic". [As seen in "JSA: Classified" #28 (September 2007)]

References

External links

* [http://www.dcuguide.com/JLA/JLA_026.php DCU Guide: JLA #26]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=jakeemthunder DCU Guide: Jakeem Thunder]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=jakeemthunder DCU Guide: Jakeem Thunder Chronology]