Salim Akil, co-showrunner of the upcoming CW series "Black Lightning," talked to EW recently about what distinguishes the protagonist of this superhero show (the network already has four: "Arrow," "Flash," "Legends of Tomorrow" and "Supergirl").

The series will focus on Jefferson Pierce (as played by Cress Williams), a former vigilante with electrical powers who gave up that life so that his family wouldn't suffer. Now the principal of a high school that is trying to be a haven in a neighborhood riddled with gang violence, Pierce may have to put his powers back to use.

"... There are not many superheroes going into Chicago, going into Watts, going into the areas and dealing with the issues that Black Lightning is going to deal with, and I think that's unique, " Akil told EW. "(Another) thing is he's black ... We don't have a lot of black superheroes. I'm happy about it, because there's a resurgence of it, but it's still not totally representative of our culture, so amongst all the different so-called black superheroes, Jefferson stands alone and unique in the fact of who he is as a person ... His uniqueness doesn't just rely on the fact that he's a black superhero; his uniqueness is that he's as human as everybody in America. That's what makes him a beautiful character to explore."

While the character of "Black Lightning" was created in the ridiculous, antiquated mold of giving a black superhero a name with "Black" in it (Black Panther, with its political implications, was just a tad bit different), the show does seem to be trying to do something new.

Additionally, "Black Lightning" will not immediately be part of the "Arrow-verse," meaning no superhero crossovers at least until the show finds its legs.