Batman/Static: Beyond (2025-) #1

by Evan Narcisse, Nikolas Draper-Ivey

In the not-so-distant future, young hero Terry McGinnis patrols the streets of Neo-Gotham as Batman Beyond, while Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static, forges a new technological revolution in Dakota City with the introduction of the Q-Wave Energy Grid. Together alongside the Justice League Beyond, the heroes prepare for the Earth’s induction into the interplanetary alliance known as the Cooperative. Everything seems to be going smoothly…until a new villain arrives on the scene and puts everything at risk. At the center of all the mayhem is the unlikely duo of Static and Batman Beyond, as they must work together to save the world before it’s too late!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025

Reviews

[dusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you would’ve told me back in middle school that I’d get to read these characters together, I would’ve absolutely freaked out. I was so excited for this issue, and I’ll admit I went in with some pretty high expectations.

However, the pacing felt a little off, and I don’t think it landed as a strong first issue. I like some of the groundwork they’ve laid, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next issue to see where things go; I just feel like it could’ve been more captivating and more engaging.

With all of that being said, the ending scene with Batman Beyond was really cool.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a really solid start. Sure history doesn’t always repeat itself, but it does often rhyme as shown by the end of the issue. I was immediately thinking about starting these notes by talking about how much Virgil aura farms now, but Terry is just as guilty in his own element, lol. This does feel like such a nice successor to the batman beyond animated series. Sure we saw a much older static in those shows, which is just another reason I like to see them growing up and rising up their world alongside the Justice league. Out of most sci-fi stories what is the big rule when it comes to joining a higher species? Answer: superlumial or light speed or whatever you want to call it transport. And today is the maiden flight of the newly designed shockwave ship, theoretically capable of such flight and gaining them entry into an interplanetary group called the cooperative and all the tech that comes with it. Alongside the tech they developed on their own for the ship, this could mean so much for human advancement…so don’t mess it up. Luckily the maiden flight, with Superman and Icon clearing the way and even allowing for a Justice league javelin to be pulled on with it, was successful! Unfortunately it pulled them right into a space battle between the Khunds attacking Coluan freighters. We all know the Khunds are bad news and it’s clear that based on their intercepted transmissions there is no talking and they even have their eyes on the new ship which they wouldn’t want getting into enemy hands. I know electric powers are versatile, but I don’t think I want to know how Static is able to go into space without a suit, but it does lead to some VERY cool moments where he is able to reach out to EVERY Khund ship and draw the power out of them, leaving them only with life support and saving the day. It’s insanely cool and green lantern Kai-Ro is even able to catchup and help them out.

As we head back home we find that long events like this make it very hard for Terry to stay awake during class. It’s so good to see Max outside the animated shows, but there is something that wakes Terry right up. And that’s seeing peaceful protesters outside the school, going against the new changes in power being fueled by the same tech that supplies energy to the new shockwave ship, being disrupted by bullies that see power as progress. No matter what you believe, as even Terry is for the new power initiative as he’s worked on it, there is no reason to be disrupting a peaceful protest. Unfortunately, this also causes the zeta cops to be involved and the entire event disrupted as the protestors still needed to make sure they can make it to the q-grid unveiling tonight. Terry made sure to give his contact info to one protestor in particular, Melvin Kim, somebody Max knows personally from school and Terry wants to make sure is okay. From batman beyond we learned the word SCHWAY, to mean cool, now get ready for a new curse word: SPROCK! This is the word Melvin uses as he realizes he ran out of time and missed his parents getting off from work, only for them to return to work right as he gets home. And now we see why Melvin would want to protest this, with the rise of power there has also been a destruction in work life balance. His parents don’t seem to get much time to actually live their life, and with even more power possibilities then that will just be stripped away further. He started learning programming to try and bond with them, but doesn’t see the point anymore if all he gets out of them is scraps.

Back in Dakota City we check in on Virgil to find a successful family, and learn a bit more about how he has helped build Dakota city into the future with this power initiative. The city does not forget though, and that night there was even a special documentary in the Big Bang that created meta humans like static that held Dakota city together while the rest of the country crumbled. Tonight may be the unveiling of some of his labor in Neo-Gotham, but they are going to do their own thing no matter what and he doesn’t really mind not being involved. Plus that’s what batman is for, so when the jokers inevitably interrupt the launch of the Q-grid to try and get their hands on some of that yummy power, there comes batman only moments later to know them off their bikes and down a peg. Unfortunately there is quite a lot of them with quite a lot of firepower, and they even start going after the protestors. And with so much explosives going around, Melvin ended up getting thrown back into some of the Q-grid power banks where a cracked one leaked fluid all over him until another rocket went flying towards him and launched him into a nearby body of water. Terry only got word from Max on Melvin’s condition and location after the rocket was heading towards him. Any issue ends with Terry desperately looking for Melvin as he sinks underwater. I mentioned that history rhymes, I wonder what powers Melvin will get out of this Big Bang and if Virgil will blame himself. Great start, and I love reading these characters in all their voices from the shows.

[Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cool premise but unfortunately I found myself dozing off while reading this one.

I like the idea of an older static having a role in the story, and though I’d rather Terry Mcguiness wasnt aged down here I still think it’s cool to see him in action. The artwork shows them both off quite well.

The plot however, or rather how they are setting the plot up here isn’t gripping me at all. We bounce from the neo justice league trying to be inducted into an interplanetary alliance (for some reason) to political unrest regarding a new government system trying to utilize a substance known as Q-juice to provide enhanced power and network capabilities to ordinary citizens. Just typing that out makes my brain swim a bit, the plot seems overly complicated and our heroes are unfortunately not the main focus here. Without strong characterization I feel like the series may lose itself.

[Jerry Aguirre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn. I was hyped for this but it felt underwhelming. It is a comic that is setting up the plot. Ok start.

Static is the leader of the justice league and they’re trying to get into a league but they didn’t qualify. Then Virgil is seen talking about Dakota.

We pivot to Batman and he’s trying to help a group of kids protesting about new energy. There’s a kid name Melvin who’s sad his parents don’t spend time with him. At the end, the jokerz attack and Melvin is drowning while Batman is looking for him.

[Powerman61 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this issue of Batman /Static Beyond.
The artwork is different, but in a good way.
The storyline has a lot of moving parts that hopefully will
come together as the story progress. The character interaction
was good. I liked how the story started with the Justice League
on a mission and then transcended into the characters every day
lives. Looking forward to next issue.

[Robert Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I am a fan of Ball static shock and Batman beyond so I did enjoy this I don’t think this is actually in anyway canon with either show so I’m not 100% sure about that this one’s kind of hard to rate because if you’re a fan of the characters are the shows you’ll probably like this if you’re not then I don’t think he will since I am a fan I did enjoy this but I can see why a lot of people wouldn’t to

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good introductury issue, feel like too much stuff was thrown at me and I didn't get to learn more. I don't think I'll continue unfortunately this seems written for fans of the show more than anyone new to it.

[Richard A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of this Elseworld story but the art was difficult to follow and the writing a bit disjointed. I am not certain I will read the next issue that is how hard it was to follow.

[Chris Loan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept, but I felt like there was just a lot going on, and a lot of groundwork trying to be laid for a first issue. I do really appreciate the Animated Series looks for Terry and Max.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure that it hooked me quite as much as you'd hope an intro issue would. It definitely lays out the context, but it feels like there isn't a lot of momentum just yet.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it over all but not a fan of the new back story for Static.