Black Lightning has arguably the widest variety of super-powered individuals out of all Arrowverse shows. The CW series is currently in its final season and hopefully, some of the metahumans that fans have come to love will be used in the continuing shows. After all, a spinoff is already said to be in development.
Despite the characters being intriguing, intelligent, and quite powerful, most of them have chosen really impractical outfits at some point in the series. While Gambi is to blame for the problems in Jefferson's costumes, the other characters' impractical outfit choices are largely their own fault.
Anissa's Blackbird Suit
Annisa is one of the best characters in the show thanks to her level-headedness and LGBTQ+ storyline. She currently has a fireproof, bulletproof, water-resistant suit that has neural interface technology which enables Gambi to monitor her vitals whenever she is out protecting Freeland.
In some of the early episodes, she wears the Blackbird Suit. She prefers this suit whenever she goes to rob criminals in order to give their money to Freeland's poor communities and to Reverend Jeremiah Holt. Given that she is mostly robbing the 100 Gang, wearing this suit is risky. All it can do is conceal Anissa's identity. It isn't bulletproof, which means she could have been badly injured at any moment.
Dr. Lynn Stewart's Overcoat And Facemask
Dr. Lynn Stewart has proven to be very hypocritical lately. After feuding with Jefferson for years over his activities as Black Lighting, she ironically sees no problem in turning herself into a superpowered individual too. Lynn becomes addicted to Green Light, which gives her powers such as Meta-human Physiology and Super Strength.
She later develops a serum that gives her powers such as Aerokinesis and Telekinesis. She eventually decides to become a vigilante too and hits the streets of Freeland without Jefferson's knowledge. During this time, she wears a black overcoat and a mask over her mouth. The problem? It's still easy to identify her. Worse still, the suit hasn't been approved by Gambi hence it isn't safe at all.
Jefferson's First Black Lightning Suit
Jefferson first becomes the vigilante known as Black Lightning before the start of the series. During this time, he wears a black, gold, and blue suit which is not only unsafe for him but also for everyone else. Unlike his modern suits, this version doesn't have the gauntlets. These are very important as they allow him to moderate the electricity output from his modern.
For example, when targeting someone in a crowd, he can simply create a thinner electricity current to only hit that specific person. With the previous suit, his current would be unregulated hence it would take out innocent people together with the intended target. The first suit doesn't have Camouflage Mode and communication systems either. It's a miracle that Jefferson never got killed.
Tobias Whale's Electric Proof Undersuit
From a fashion perspective, no one can question Tobias Whale's outfit choices. He normally wears expensive tailor-made suits that can make Agent 007 jealous. Underneath his suits, he has an Electric Proof Undersuit that neutralizes all attacks by electric currents.
Tobias specifically wears this undersuit so that it can protect him when facing off against Black Lightning. It proves very useful when he has a duel with the hero at Garfield High School. However, the undersuit doesn't protect his head, which is quite problematic. If electric currents hit his head, there'll be a funeral in Freeland.
Bill Henderson's Detective Outfit
Freeland Police Department's Chief Bill Henderson comes off as a generally likable character during his time in the series. He is one of the few people who know Jefferson is Black Lightning and doesn't tell anyone. He also provides the hero with all the help he needs.
Sadly, Henderson decides to confront metahumans during the intense War For Freeland without wearing any protective gear. He is aware that Gambi could have easily made him a temporary protective suit if he wanted. Though he prevents the death of Jefferson, Bill gets shot using a pulse cannon by a Markovian soldier. This leads to his death.
Jennifer's Blackbird Suit
Early in the series, Jennifer doesn't wear a suit despite exhibiting greater special abilities than her father Jefferson. She is reluctant to use her powers, wanting to live life like a normal girl.
Everything changes when her boyfriend Kahlil gets killed by Tobias. Despite being advised to lay low, she takes Annisa's Blackbird costume and heads over the Seahorse Motel to find Tobias and avenge Khalil's death. As previously mentioned, the suit is nothing near safe and she nearly gets killed by a member of the 100 Gang. Luckily, Annisa shows up and saves her.
Agent Odell's Mob-Like Outfit
Whereas Tobias is wise enough to wear an Electric Proof Undersuit, Agent Odell dresses like a mob boss but doesn't even bother wearing a bulletproof vest. Strange, considering that he is an antagonist who faces off against all kinds of enemies every day.
During the Markovian invasion of Freeland, Odell gets shot by Yuri Mosin. But he didn't really learn his lesson. Khalil also corners him and shoots him in the spleen for manipulating. Khalil would have killed him if it wasn't for Black Lightning advising him not to do so. This leaves him bedridden and unable to perform his duties.
Gravedigger's World War II Army Uniform
Like Marvel's Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, Gravedigger is a super-soldier. He fought in World War II where he killed a fellow soldier for racial discrimination. He was then given a choice to either be sentenced to death or become part of a deadly government experiment. Through the experiment, he gained extraordinary powers.
Gravedigger escaped became a villain, wanting to recreate the serum that gave him his powers and make an army of super soldiers. After living for decades, he finally bumped heads with Black Lightning. But why has he continued wearing his old army uniform? The same army that oppressed him? Since he is no longer a pawn for the government, he doesn't need to do that.
Jefferson's Custom Shades
Jefferson has a bit of a Clark Kent problem. The difference between him concealing his true identity and not doing so lies in shades/spectacles. Jefferson has custom shades that he wears while he is fighting criminals as Black Lightning. These shades don't do much to hide his identity.
It's easy for any keen person to see that Black Lightning is indeed the same man who is a principal/teacher at Garfield High School. How anyone never notices this is a mystery. Other heroes who want to conceal their identities tend to use proper masks. See Batman and Spider-Man.
Anissa's Jumpsuit
When she first discovers she has powers, Anisa heads to a retail store where she introduces herself as "Monica." She buys a purple and yellow leather jumpsuit together with a blonde wig before leaving.
Strangely enough, she decides to use the jumpsuit and blonde wig as her superhero costume and begins fighting crime. It's an interesting decision, to say the least. The store owner can easily identify her if people begin asking questions about who the funny-looking new superhero is.