Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway) is returning as DC villain Painkiller in the second season of Black Lightning. Showrunner and executive producer Salim Akil made the announcement during a Black Lightning Comic-Con panel on Saturday.
In the show’s first season, Payne was just a high school All-American track star who fantasized about going to the Olympics, when a wandering bullet hit his spine, causing him to become paralyzed. Black Lightning’s (Cress Williams) adversary Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III) extended Payne an offer he couldn’t refuse: give him legs for his loyalty. Payne took the legs and subsequently received cybernetic enhancements that turned him into Painkiller. He was then able to produce an anesthetic within his body, which induced temporary paralysis when transferred through darts. Payne soon became a weapon for a cutthroat crime boss. Still, he wished for his old life as a track star, and the girl he loved, Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain).
Akil said during the announcement, “I’m thrilled to have Jordan upped as a series regular. He was a great asset to our show in the role of Khalil/Painkiller during season one, and now that he has evolved into Painkiller, I can’t wait for you all to see him in season two.”
The second season of Black Lightning is set to debut on October 9 at 9 p.m. CST on The CW.
