Jakeem Thunder

Jakeem Thunder
Jakeem Thunder and Johnny Thunderbolt in JSA #80 (February 2006). Art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Cameo: The Flash (vol. 2) #134 (February 1998) Full appearance: JLA #26 (February 1999)
Created by	Grant Morrison (writer) Mark Millar (writer) Paul Ryan (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Jakeem Johnny Williams
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Justice Society of America Justice League Teen Titans
Partnerships	Thunderbolt
Notable aliases	J.J. Thunder
Abilities	Genie summoning via pen

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.

The character appeared starting in the second season of Stargirl on The CW network, portrayed by Alkoya Brunson.

Jakeem first appeared in The Flash (vol. 2) #134 (February 1998), and was created by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Paul Ryan.^[1]

Jakeem Johnny Williams is a precocious teenager from Keystone City—home of Jay Garrick (the original Flash) and Wally West (one of Garrick's successors). Jakeem's mother left his father while she was still pregnant with the boy and later 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 to survive.

When Johnny Thunder lost control over his "genie" Thunderbolt due to his declining mental health, he put the genie inside an ink pen, which Jay later gave to Jakeem.^[2] He discovers the genie's powers while helping the Justice League and Justice Society fight the evil blue genie Lkz.^[3]

Jakeem subsequently joins the Justice Society as a part-time member and befriends fellow member Courtney Whitmore / Stargirl.^[4][5][6]

During the battle with Grundy, the Ultra-Humanite takes over Johnny Thunder's body to command the Thunderbolt's powers.^[7] After Johnny is killed, Jakeem's genie fuses with him to save his life, creating a new being with the memories of both who is known as Johnny Thunderbolt.^[8] With Johnny's help, Jakeem meets his biological father Phil, who is now an engineering student.^[9]

During the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, the Spectre transports Jakeem to the Fifth Dimension, where he is controlled by Qwsp and becomes a mad tyrant before the Justice Society free him.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Following the events of Flashpoint, Jakeem and the Justice Society are not present in the rebooted The New 52 timeline, with the Justice League instead taking over as the world's first publicly-known superhero team.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19]} This is later revealed to be the result of Doctor Manhattan erasing them from history, with Superman eventually convincing him to restore them.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]}

Jakeem has the ability to summon and control a fifth-dimensional 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.^[28][29]

• Jakeem Thunder appears in Stargirl, portrayed by Alkoya Brunson.^[30] This version is a gamer, the brother of Cindy Burman's best friend Jenny Williams, with whom he has a poor relationship, and a friend of Courtney Whitmore's younger stepbrother and Pat Dugan's son, Mike.^[31] After Mike gives him Johnny Thunder's pen, Jakeem helps the Justice Society of America and their allies fight Eclipso.
• Jakeem Thunder appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[32]

• Jakeem Thunder at Comic Vine