Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt as depicted in JSA #21 (April 2001). Art by Alan Davis.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Flash Comics #1 (January 1940)
Created by	John B. Wentworth Stan Aschmeier
In-story information
Alter ego	Yz
Species	Fifth Dimensional Genie
Place of origin	Fifth Dimension
Team affiliations	Justice Society of America All-Star Squadron Justice League
Abilities	Magic Flight

The Thunderbolt (Yz) is a fictional character appearing in comics published by DC Comics and the name of other fictional genie variants within the 5th Dimension as well. Yz was originally portrayed as a genie-like character who hosts Johnny Thunder and then later Jakeem Thunder. He also appeared as an original and ordinary member of the Justice Society of America.

Jim Gaffigan and Seth Green each voiced the character in The CW television show Stargirl.

Publication history

Thunderbolt (Yz) first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published with a cover date of January 1940, and was created by John Wentworth and Stan Aschmeier.^[1][2][3]

Fictional character biography

Yz is a fifth-dimensional genie who resided in a pen that was entrusted to Johnny Thunder on his birthday where the Badhnesians would use it to rule the world. This plan was thwarted when Badhnesia was attacked by a neighboring country.^[4][5] Later on, Johnny Thunder became aware of Thunderbolt's existence and the summoning word "cei-u".^[6]

In the early 1950s, Johnny is kidnapped by the Badhnesians with the intention of executing their original world conquest plan. With help from Thunderbolt, Johnny manages to summon Superman and the would-be conquerors' plans are defeated.^[7]

During Johnny Thunder's time with the Justice Society of America, his control over Thunderbolt was weakening due to a spell cast by Badhnesian priests.^[8]

When Johnny Thunder started suffering from symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, he loses track of a pen in which the Thunderbolt is being stored. The pen eventually ends up in the ownership of a young African American boy named Jakeem Williams, who takes up the name Johnny Jakeem Thunder or Jakeem Thunder.^[9]

In a later battle with Solomon Grundy, Jakeem unwittingly cures Johnny Thunder of Alzheimer's thanks to Thunderbolt. However, Johnny immediately falls prey to the Ultra-Humanite, who takes over Johnny's body to command the Thunderbolt's powers. In the "Stealing Thunder" storyline, Jakeem is one of several heroes left free from Ultra-Humanite's control. Eventually Jakeem wrests control of the Thunderbolt back from Ultra-Humanite, but Johnny Thunder is killed. 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.^[10]

In the DC Rebirth reboot, it was mentioned that Johnny Thunder lost Thunderbolt after Joseph McCarthy had him reveal his secret.^[11]

In the Watchmen sequel Doomsday Clock, Thunderbolt returned when Doctor Manhattan undid the experiment that erased the Justice Society of America and the Legion of Super-Heroes. He was once again merged with Johnny Thunder to become Johnny Thunderbolt.^[12]

Jakeem later encounters the Teen Titans after Thunderbolt's brother Elias summons Johnny Thunderbolt and removes an artifact known as the Stone of Souls from its body, rendering Jakeem powerless.^[13] When the Titans nearly die while trying to save Djinn, Jakeem discovers that he possesses some of Johnny Thunderbolt's power, enabling him to save the young heroes. After Elias' defeat, Djinn restores Johnny Thunderbolt and leaves with Jakeem to explore her newfound freedom.^[14]

During The New Golden Age, Thunderbolt was with Johnny Thunder in 1940 when a Huntress from a possible future ended up sent back to their time.^[15] As Huntress meets the Justice Society of America, Thunderbolt notes that he doesn't recall meeting anyone from the future. Johnny Thunder reminds him that they met Legionnaire. As Doctor Fate tries to read Huntress' mind about the threat in her future, Thunderbolt was among those knocked down by the magical feedback.^[16]

In a flashback to the Summer of 1940, Thunderbolt was with the Justice Society when they arrive to recruit Sandman.^[17]

Variants

Mzzttexxal

Mzzttexxal is a parasitic energy being from an unknown planet. She bonded with a private detective named Jonni Thunder.^[18]

Zzlrrrzzzm

Zzlrrrzzzm is a parasitic energy being from an unknown planet, and the lover of Mzzttexxal. He later became bonded to Skyman.^[19]

In other media

• The Yz incarnation of Thunderbolt makes non-speaking appearances in Justice League Unlimited as a member of an expanded Justice League.
• The Yz incarnation of Thunderbolt appears in Stargirl, voiced by an uncredited actor in the first season episode "Icicle", Jim Gaffigan in the second season,^[20] and Seth Green in the third season.^[21] This version requires strict rules to grant wishes, such as specific wording, and was previously a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA) alongside Johnny Thunder until the latter was killed in an attack by the Injustice Society and Thunderbolt was left trapped in his pen for over 10 years after Johnny wished for him to return to it and wait for a new owner. In the episode "Summer School: Chapter Three", Pat Dugan's son Mike obtains the pen and befriends Thunderbolt. Following a confrontation with Shade, Mike unknowingly wishes for the pen to end up in better hands, causing it to be teleported to his friend Jakeem Williams. Thunderbolt and Jakeem later assist Stargirl's JSA and their allies in fighting Eclipso.