Stargirl: Who Was Given The Pen At The End Of Ep 3 (Comics Link Explained)

A new DC Comics superhero – Jakeem Thunder – was introduced in the latest episode of Stargirl. The CW series teased Mike (Trae Romano) becoming the newest addition to the Justice Society, but as it turns out, his transformation into a hero was not to be. Instead, the power he briefly possessed was handed to a different character.

So far, Stargirl has already passed down the mantles of Green Lantern, Starman, Wildcat, Hourman, and Doctor Mid-Nite to new heroes. In Stargirl season 2, episode 3, the time came for the legacy of Johnny Thunder to get the spotlight. His primary weapon in DC Comics, the Thunderbolt, was shown off in Stargirl season 1, but Courtney (Brec Bassinger) only ever saw it as a seemingly harmless pink pen. Now, the series has officially introduced the powerful genie stored within it, Thunderbolt, on Stargirl’s Earth. Not long after acquiring it, Mike accidentally gave it up by wishing it was “in better hands”. As a result, the power of this wish-granting genie from the 5^th Dimension ended up in the possession of a completely different child.

The scene of the kid receiving the pink pen at the end of the episode didn’t reveal much about his character, but the mention of the name “Jakeem” confirms him to be Jakeem Thunder aka Jakeem Williams from DC Comics. He hasn’t appeared on the show until now, but he was teased in a season 1 episode when Mike mentioned a classmate named Jakeem. In the comic books, he’s the successor to Johnny Thunder and a major JSA character. He met Thunderbolt for the first time when Jay Garrick gave him the pen in the late 1990s. Afterward, Jakeem figured how to use Thunderbolt for good and joined the rebuilt Justice Society.

As a member of the JSA, Jakeem Thunder fought crime alongside heroes such as Stargirl, Hourman, Power Girl, Mister Terrific, and more. Over the years, Jakeem has shared a long list of adventures with the group. During this time, he found a mentor in Johnny Thunder, who helped him understand how to properly utilize Thunderbolt’s powers. As for what he can do, his abilities match what Mike was able to do with it in the show. Thunderbolt can fulfill the wish of its master, but getting the desired effect depends on the right wording, which is a big part of why controlling him is so difficult.

It remains to be seen what Stargirl’s plans for Jakeem are, but if the comics are any indication, he’ll be joining the Justice Society lineup at some point in the future. The tease in episode 3 set this up, but what’s not clear is if the show is going to head down this road immediately, or is just laying the groundwork for him to emerge as a superhero at a later date. Either way, Jakeem Thunder is likely to be recruited as soon as he unlocks the secret of the pink pen. Since Thunderbolt is said to be the most powerful weapon in the JSA’s arsenal, Jakeem can add a great deal of firepower to Courtney Whitmore’s team in season 2.

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