WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from "Future State: Outsiders Finale" in Future State: The Next Batman #1 by Brandon Thomas, Sumit Kumar, Raul Fernandez, Jordie Bellaire and Steve Wands, on sale now.
DC's Future State has given fans a glimpse of what their favorite characters will most likely get up to in the near future as well as what fates might befall them in this less than utopian tomorrow. Bruce Wayne is believed to be dead, Superman shrank Metropolis, and in the backup issues to Future State: The Next Batman, the fate of Jefferson Pierce is revealed. After an unknown magical encounter, Black Lightning was transformed into literal lightning. Now in an electrical form, Black Lightning seems more powerful than ever. Unfortunately, his curse has robbed him of two essential things: control of his powers and his humanity. While it's still a mystery, his fate may actually be the result of a recently formed grudge with Ra's al Ghul.
Their rivalry began in Batman and the Outsiders #16 by Bryan Hill, Dexter Soy and Clayton Cowles. Ra's had just achieved near god-like levels of power and was prepared to use it in his conquest of the Earth. Despite his name being in the main title, Batman could not defeat this newly empowered Demon's Head. Luckily, Batman was not the only heavy hitter around at the time. Pushed to the edge with Ra's about to win, Jefferson finally did what he'd been unable to for so long: He believed in himself. That belief granted him power that put him on par with the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman, perhaps even surpassing them.
He used this newfound power to absolutely destroy Ra's, schooling him in a one-on-one fight. The defeat certainly bruised his ego, considering that Black Lightning's true power dwarfed the one Ra's had and made him look like a paper tiger in a storm.
For this victory, Ra's promised to aim his war towards Black Lightning. He swore this new foe who humiliated him so thoroughly would never know peace unless Black Lightning killed him. Jefferson is a hero, however, and chose not to go through with it, even if he really wanted to. Ra's once again escaped, broken and humiliated, but free. And Black Lightning had a horrible new enemy, who now had a score to settle. This is why it seems likely the Ra's could be behind Black Lightning's future state.
Ra's al Ghul has walked the Earth for centuries. He's seen it all. Demons, magic, witches, zombies, resurrection, aliens, and gods. And in all that time he's amassed his own army and a seemingly never-ending supply of secrets to abuse. It's conceivable that he found some way to ironically curse Black Lightning after so many years. And even if magic wasn't the way he accomplished this, he certainly has enough scientific know-how to come up with a way to alter the composition of another human being.
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