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Milestone Returns
Static: Season One
At long last, the most famous face of the Milestone Universe makes his shocking return!
Bullied nerd Virgil Hawkins wasn’t the kind of kid you’d normally find on the streets at a protest—but like everyone else in the city of Dakota, he was fed up. Unfortunately, the first time he stood up to raise his voice, the world turned upside down. The experimental tear gas released that day left some of his classmates maimed or dead…but it left Virgil, and others, with stunning new abilities. Virgil has power inside him now—real power, the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields.
But there’s anger burning inside him, too.
What is he supposed to do about all of this? And first and foremost—what is he supposed to do about his bullies, now that they’ve got superpowers too?
A dynamic creative team of new comics voices including writer Vita Ayala and finisher Nikolas Draper-Ivey join Milestone Media veteran layout artist ChrisCross to tell a new chapter in the story of the most iconic Black teen superhero in comics history. Like every classic Milestone tale, it will take you places you could never dream!
Includes Static (Season One) #1-6.
Bullied nerd Virgil Hawkins wasn’t the kind of kid you’d normally find on the streets at a protest—but like everyone else in the city of Dakota, he was fed up. Unfortunately, the first time he stood up to raise his voice, the world turned upside down. The experimental tear gas released that day left some of his classmates maimed or dead…but it left Virgil, and others, with stunning new abilities. Virgil has power inside him now—real power, the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields.
But there’s anger burning inside him, too.
What is he supposed to do about all of this? And first and foremost—what is he supposed to do about his bullies, now that they’ve got superpowers too?
A dynamic creative team of new comics voices including writer Vita Ayala and finisher Nikolas Draper-Ivey join Milestone Media veteran layout artist ChrisCross to tell a new chapter in the story of the most iconic Black teen superhero in comics history. Like every classic Milestone tale, it will take you places you could never dream!
Includes Static (Season One) #1-6.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2022
38 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 8, 2022
“I’ve been told that anger is dangerous—Bad—And that all it leads to is trouble. But anger is just energy. Left unchecked and without purpose, anger can destroy. But we are not without purpose.”
I stand by my compliments of the book (Ayala’s character writing for Virgil is great even if I don’t like this direction for him, Draper-Ivey’s art is stunning, and changing the circumstances surrounding the Big Bang was the right decision), but this isn’t perfect. Editorial needs to give these creators more issues or the space they need to tell the story they want to tell, because on reread it is obvious something happened to this book. The final issue is a decompressed mess, some of the character arcs feels aimless and go nowhere, and Virgil torturing Hotstreak is just as stupid the second read around.
Also this hardcover doesn’t just include the Static-only parts from the Milestone Returns one-shot like I assumed it would. Instead, the first half of the issue is just shoved in front of the main book while the back half is put at the end, and I’m just confused why? It was a pretty bad one-shot to begin with so it’s not like I’d recommend it to people in the first place, but why not just put the pages in that are important to Static’s story?
Don’t just put an entire issue where most of what is in it doesn’t even pertain the Static story at hand. This is just annoying, especially if they are just going to do this in the hardcovers for Hardware and Icon & Rocket too. They won’t do that, right? I hope not. And I’ve mentioned it before, but I hate cover breaks in hardcovers like this, and it blows here. So some mixed thoughts on this hardcover collection, but I’d still recommend this for those interested in Static. It’s is a fine enough reboot for the character.
I’m super excited to see what this team does with Shadows of Dakota (the upcoming Season Two) though, and the fact it’ll be more than 6 issues means this team might actually have the space they need to tell their story. Fingers crossed they can pull it off...
This spiel was written after rereading the series in the recently released hardcover. The original, Spoiler-Free review can be found below:
Static Season One wrapped today, closing out what is probably my favorite of the three Milestone Returns series, and while I did love it, for the most part, I have some minor issues. Vita Ayala, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, and CrissCross show a new side to Virgil Hawkins as we see him come into his own as Static across these 6 issues, unlike the original series where we were given his origin in a quick flashback in the second issue. Ayala takes their time developing Virgil, his family, and his side characters, giving them way more prominence in both Virgil’s & Static’s lives than they previously had. Virgil’s parents know he has powers and so do a good majority of his friends, which is way different from the status quo of just Frieda knowing in the OG run.
They also changed his origin completely, which may not work for some, but as a massive fan of the original run, this was not a change that bothered me at all and I really didn’t mind it. Instead of the Big Bang being where experimental tear gas was released by the police during a large gang fight to quell it, in the reboot, it’s released during a BLM protest. The only thing that makes this a little iffy for me is explaining how characters like Hotstreak were at this BLM protest, because why would a racist white dude go to one of those? Besides little inconsistencies like that, this origin change is fine and undeniably more relevant nowadays.
This story does something completely new in Milestone as well, with the government going around, rounding up anyone who shows signs of powers from this Big Bang, or as they are referred to as, Bang Babies. This leads to Static having to come into his own, so he can rescue these Bang Babies from the government black site, while also dealing with his school bully and arch-nemesis, Hotstreak, who has decided to start working for the government, selling the other bang babies out. Ayala’s scripting is thankfully strong, as I was a little worried about what their voice for Virgil would sound like, but they nailed it. There’s actually a moment in here between Virgil & his father that is one of my favorite Static scenes ever (which is saying a lot as someone who has read every single comic appearance of the character ever), like it really is such a perfect scene, but I do wish Draper-Ivey had gotten to draw it.
Speaking of Nikolas Draper-Ivey, he absolutely kills it on the art this series, with CrissCross providing layouts and fill-in pencils during the first half when necessary. Draper-Ivey does take over fully by the end, showing just how strong of an artist he is. His style is heavily influenced by Manga and Anime, which helps the fight scenes significantly as he uses elements from both of those to help space out fights. The one between Hotstreak & Static during issues 4 & 5 is particularly a standout, and probably one of the better action scenes I’ve seen in western comics in a while. While I do love the art for the most part, if I’m being completely honest, it looks a bit rushed in some places, especially the final issue. There are like 4 panels in there where I could not tell you what the fuck is going on if my life depended on it.
I also wanna touch on the speech Static gives at the end of the book because it is so fantastic, and you can tell Ayala genuinely believes every word that they write. It’s one of the best hero speeches I have ever read, and seeing Virgil come into his own was awesome. Stuff like this is why I fell in love with Milestone in the first place, and a moment as powerful as this was seriously lacking from Icon & Rocket. It shows that these Milestones titles are not only diverse creators covering diverse characters but equally about these said creators being able to put their own personal experiences and touches into these very human stories.
Honestly, my problems with this series mainly stem from the parts Hudlin wrote and parts of the final issue. While I did like Ayala’s voice for Virgil, their decision to follow up on Hudlin’s choice to have Virgil torture Hotstreak in the hallways in the Milestone Returns one-shot just sucks since it is something Static would never do, and just so wildly out of character for him. Looking it up now, it looks like Reginald Hudlin 100% made that story decision, not Vita, but it’s still a really dumb thing that happens when it shouldn’t have. Stuff like this really does make you realize this is the New 52 for Milestone characters (tries to update and modernize these characters, but instead removes everything that made them themselves in the first place), and it makes the fact Hotstreak is disregarded later even more annoying. I am taking off a star since this shit did annoy me, but I won’t shit on Ayala’s entire story because of a shitty decision made by someone as braindead as Reginald Hudlin.
I was disappointed with how Ayala seemed to bail on the setup for Hotstreak and Static working together to escape the bang baby facility in favor of a brawl with said bang babies though. The final issue’s solicitation and cover both teased that Static and Hotstreak would work together to free the bang babies and escape, similar to the Static Shock episode “No Man’s an Island”, but Hotstreak doesn’t even appear in the last issue, making his entire character and arc feel pretty pointless honestly. Why was he even in here? I couldn’t tell you other than to do fucked up shit to Virgil. I was just hoping for a more definitive Hotstreak story, especially since he really doesn’t appear in the original run as much as one would think (6 appearances), and I still think his appearances in both Milestone Forever and Static #19-20 are infinitely more entertaining than they were here in Season One.
I’m also not completely thrilled all the Bang Babies shown in this series are ones mostly exclusive to the animated series. I will admit, it does make sense to bring in these villains from the animated show, but as a comic fan, it would’ve been nice to see literally any comic-exclusive Bang Babies like The Swarm, The Botanist, hell even Ribbert Jones or Brat-atat-tat would’ve been cool (yes those are both real characters, check Static #28 and #34 respectively for two truly glorious reads).
Dr. Kilgore, John Tower, Blowfly, Bulletproof, Coil, Commando X, Laserjet, Snakefinger, Virus, Powerfist, and yes, even Jump Inc. are all pretty decent villains that have potential in the modern era. Even Boom Box, who was dumb as fuck in his Static #40 appearance, was pretty compelling in the Static Shock episode “Brother-Sister Act”. Static has a better rogues gallery than one would think, and I think it’s about time Milestone starts using them. They really aren’t touched too often, and in recent years Hotstreak and Holocaust are like the only two of his rogues to get any sort of prominence.
I love the initial run of the comics, and I get the show was always more popular and people will know more characters from there, but something as simple as just a nod to literally anyone would’ve been nice. I would’ve even taken a Joyride reference for god sake. Every villain in here appeared on the show and has the same design they did when they appeared on it, which will probably only bother me, but damn I wish we got just something more for us comic fans. This is a comic book after all. I can’t be too mad though because it was dope as fuck seeing Puff. I love her so much.
Besides a slightly rushed, weirdly paced conclusion and whatever the fuck Hudlin was doing in the one-shot, everything else here worked for me for the most part. While I did have my problems with it, this book is such a solid starting point for new readers of Static, I can’t even be mad. All of what I’ve said, along with some awesome cameos from show characters add up to create one of the most memorable DC reads in a while. The ending teases an awesome new take on a personal favorite villain of mine (even if he isn’t from the comics) for Season Two as well, and I’m so stoked to see how this character will be adapted in the comics.
I loved mostly every second of reading Static Season One and will be double-dipping with the hardcover when it comes out. This is exactly how a reboot of a character should be done (Looking at you Icon & Rocket). Vita Ayala & Nikolas Draper Ivey have proven themselves to be one of the definitive Static creative teams, along with creators such as Ivan Velez Jr. and Wilfred, Robert L. Washington and John Paul Leon, and Yves & Fezzani and Jeff Moore. I pray they stick around for Season Two (They actually have been confirmed to be staying on for Season Two, so that’s good news.) I genuinely can’t wait to see Static again in the Summer of 2022.
I stand by my compliments of the book (Ayala’s character writing for Virgil is great even if I don’t like this direction for him, Draper-Ivey’s art is stunning, and changing the circumstances surrounding the Big Bang was the right decision), but this isn’t perfect. Editorial needs to give these creators more issues or the space they need to tell the story they want to tell, because on reread it is obvious something happened to this book. The final issue is a decompressed mess, some of the character arcs feels aimless and go nowhere, and Virgil torturing Hotstreak is just as stupid the second read around.
Also this hardcover doesn’t just include the Static-only parts from the Milestone Returns one-shot like I assumed it would. Instead, the first half of the issue is just shoved in front of the main book while the back half is put at the end, and I’m just confused why? It was a pretty bad one-shot to begin with so it’s not like I’d recommend it to people in the first place, but why not just put the pages in that are important to Static’s story?
Don’t just put an entire issue where most of what is in it doesn’t even pertain the Static story at hand. This is just annoying, especially if they are just going to do this in the hardcovers for Hardware and Icon & Rocket too. They won’t do that, right? I hope not. And I’ve mentioned it before, but I hate cover breaks in hardcovers like this, and it blows here. So some mixed thoughts on this hardcover collection, but I’d still recommend this for those interested in Static. It’s is a fine enough reboot for the character.
I’m super excited to see what this team does with Shadows of Dakota (the upcoming Season Two) though, and the fact it’ll be more than 6 issues means this team might actually have the space they need to tell their story. Fingers crossed they can pull it off...
This spiel was written after rereading the series in the recently released hardcover. The original, Spoiler-Free review can be found below:
Static Season One wrapped today, closing out what is probably my favorite of the three Milestone Returns series, and while I did love it, for the most part, I have some minor issues. Vita Ayala, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, and CrissCross show a new side to Virgil Hawkins as we see him come into his own as Static across these 6 issues, unlike the original series where we were given his origin in a quick flashback in the second issue. Ayala takes their time developing Virgil, his family, and his side characters, giving them way more prominence in both Virgil’s & Static’s lives than they previously had. Virgil’s parents know he has powers and so do a good majority of his friends, which is way different from the status quo of just Frieda knowing in the OG run.
They also changed his origin completely, which may not work for some, but as a massive fan of the original run, this was not a change that bothered me at all and I really didn’t mind it. Instead of the Big Bang being where experimental tear gas was released by the police during a large gang fight to quell it, in the reboot, it’s released during a BLM protest. The only thing that makes this a little iffy for me is explaining how characters like Hotstreak were at this BLM protest, because why would a racist white dude go to one of those? Besides little inconsistencies like that, this origin change is fine and undeniably more relevant nowadays.
This story does something completely new in Milestone as well, with the government going around, rounding up anyone who shows signs of powers from this Big Bang, or as they are referred to as, Bang Babies. This leads to Static having to come into his own, so he can rescue these Bang Babies from the government black site, while also dealing with his school bully and arch-nemesis, Hotstreak, who has decided to start working for the government, selling the other bang babies out. Ayala’s scripting is thankfully strong, as I was a little worried about what their voice for Virgil would sound like, but they nailed it. There’s actually a moment in here between Virgil & his father that is one of my favorite Static scenes ever (which is saying a lot as someone who has read every single comic appearance of the character ever), like it really is such a perfect scene, but I do wish Draper-Ivey had gotten to draw it.
Speaking of Nikolas Draper-Ivey, he absolutely kills it on the art this series, with CrissCross providing layouts and fill-in pencils during the first half when necessary. Draper-Ivey does take over fully by the end, showing just how strong of an artist he is. His style is heavily influenced by Manga and Anime, which helps the fight scenes significantly as he uses elements from both of those to help space out fights. The one between Hotstreak & Static during issues 4 & 5 is particularly a standout, and probably one of the better action scenes I’ve seen in western comics in a while. While I do love the art for the most part, if I’m being completely honest, it looks a bit rushed in some places, especially the final issue. There are like 4 panels in there where I could not tell you what the fuck is going on if my life depended on it.
I also wanna touch on the speech Static gives at the end of the book because it is so fantastic, and you can tell Ayala genuinely believes every word that they write. It’s one of the best hero speeches I have ever read, and seeing Virgil come into his own was awesome. Stuff like this is why I fell in love with Milestone in the first place, and a moment as powerful as this was seriously lacking from Icon & Rocket. It shows that these Milestones titles are not only diverse creators covering diverse characters but equally about these said creators being able to put their own personal experiences and touches into these very human stories.
Honestly, my problems with this series mainly stem from the parts Hudlin wrote and parts of the final issue. While I did like Ayala’s voice for Virgil, their decision to follow up on Hudlin’s choice to have Virgil torture Hotstreak in the hallways in the Milestone Returns one-shot just sucks since it is something Static would never do, and just so wildly out of character for him. Looking it up now, it looks like Reginald Hudlin 100% made that story decision, not Vita, but it’s still a really dumb thing that happens when it shouldn’t have. Stuff like this really does make you realize this is the New 52 for Milestone characters (tries to update and modernize these characters, but instead removes everything that made them themselves in the first place), and it makes the fact Hotstreak is disregarded later even more annoying. I am taking off a star since this shit did annoy me, but I won’t shit on Ayala’s entire story because of a shitty decision made by someone as braindead as Reginald Hudlin.
I was disappointed with how Ayala seemed to bail on the setup for Hotstreak and Static working together to escape the bang baby facility in favor of a brawl with said bang babies though. The final issue’s solicitation and cover both teased that Static and Hotstreak would work together to free the bang babies and escape, similar to the Static Shock episode “No Man’s an Island”, but Hotstreak doesn’t even appear in the last issue, making his entire character and arc feel pretty pointless honestly. Why was he even in here? I couldn’t tell you other than to do fucked up shit to Virgil. I was just hoping for a more definitive Hotstreak story, especially since he really doesn’t appear in the original run as much as one would think (6 appearances), and I still think his appearances in both Milestone Forever and Static #19-20 are infinitely more entertaining than they were here in Season One.
I’m also not completely thrilled all the Bang Babies shown in this series are ones mostly exclusive to the animated series. I will admit, it does make sense to bring in these villains from the animated show, but as a comic fan, it would’ve been nice to see literally any comic-exclusive Bang Babies like The Swarm, The Botanist, hell even Ribbert Jones or Brat-atat-tat would’ve been cool (yes those are both real characters, check Static #28 and #34 respectively for two truly glorious reads).
Dr. Kilgore, John Tower, Blowfly, Bulletproof, Coil, Commando X, Laserjet, Snakefinger, Virus, Powerfist, and yes, even Jump Inc. are all pretty decent villains that have potential in the modern era. Even Boom Box, who was dumb as fuck in his Static #40 appearance, was pretty compelling in the Static Shock episode “Brother-Sister Act”. Static has a better rogues gallery than one would think, and I think it’s about time Milestone starts using them. They really aren’t touched too often, and in recent years Hotstreak and Holocaust are like the only two of his rogues to get any sort of prominence.
I love the initial run of the comics, and I get the show was always more popular and people will know more characters from there, but something as simple as just a nod to literally anyone would’ve been nice. I would’ve even taken a Joyride reference for god sake. Every villain in here appeared on the show and has the same design they did when they appeared on it, which will probably only bother me, but damn I wish we got just something more for us comic fans. This is a comic book after all. I can’t be too mad though because it was dope as fuck seeing Puff. I love her so much.
Besides a slightly rushed, weirdly paced conclusion and whatever the fuck Hudlin was doing in the one-shot, everything else here worked for me for the most part. While I did have my problems with it, this book is such a solid starting point for new readers of Static, I can’t even be mad. All of what I’ve said, along with some awesome cameos from show characters add up to create one of the most memorable DC reads in a while. The ending teases an awesome new take on a personal favorite villain of mine (even if he isn’t from the comics) for Season Two as well, and I’m so stoked to see how this character will be adapted in the comics.
I loved mostly every second of reading Static Season One and will be double-dipping with the hardcover when it comes out. This is exactly how a reboot of a character should be done (Looking at you Icon & Rocket). Vita Ayala & Nikolas Draper Ivey have proven themselves to be one of the definitive Static creative teams, along with creators such as Ivan Velez Jr. and Wilfred, Robert L. Washington and John Paul Leon, and Yves & Fezzani and Jeff Moore. I pray they stick around for Season Two (They actually have been confirmed to be staying on for Season Two, so that’s good news.) I genuinely can’t wait to see Static again in the Summer of 2022.
September 2, 2023
This was surprisingly well done. It's probably Vita Ayala's best work to date. It is a reboot of Static and the Milestone universe as a whole. Most of the origin story is the same, just updated for current times. Instead of the Bang Babies getting dosed during a gang fight, it happens at a Black Lives Matter student protest. Now the government is hunting down the kids that were at the Big Bang as it's being called. Static's powers are more or less the same. I did like how Virgil seems more intelligent this time around and has the support of his family who find out he has powers. The art is solid for the most part. I do think it looked better when Criscross was doing the layouts. Nikolas Draper-Ivy is still a burgeoning artist learning page layouts and needs to lay off the effects on a page at times. Panels during fights can get cluttered and confusing. Still this was an excellent start to this Static reboot.
April 6, 2023
This was our RealmofComics bookclub pick for the month of March. I've been super excited to dive into the world of Milestone especially this reboot. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the artwork, I found the story and the characters to be interesting.
Static: Season One introduces Virgil as Static Shock and the impact of experimental tear gas released on teens during a BLM protest. What follows is Virgil getting adjusted to his superpowers and figuring out how to utilize them to save the rest of the bang babies in Dakota.
What Worked & What Didn't Work There were so many things that I loved about this reboot especially the commentary provided about being Black in America, the power and disadvantages of anger, intersectionality and more. I struggled with the art which I found to be too bright and chaotic, making it difficult to perceive different fight scenes. If you're interested in checking out more of my thoughts, visit the live show discussion we had about this title: https://www.youtube.com/live/daQbSMBQ...
Static: Season One introduces Virgil as Static Shock and the impact of experimental tear gas released on teens during a BLM protest. What follows is Virgil getting adjusted to his superpowers and figuring out how to utilize them to save the rest of the bang babies in Dakota.
What Worked & What Didn't Work There were so many things that I loved about this reboot especially the commentary provided about being Black in America, the power and disadvantages of anger, intersectionality and more. I struggled with the art which I found to be too bright and chaotic, making it difficult to perceive different fight scenes. If you're interested in checking out more of my thoughts, visit the live show discussion we had about this title: https://www.youtube.com/live/daQbSMBQ...
September 1, 2022
It's nice to see Virgil Hawkins back in action. I have the original '90s run tucked away down in the basement, and Vita Ayala and Nikolas Draper-Ivey and the rest of the creative crew do a nice job on this reboot, making Static and the other Milestone characters as relevant as ever. Now that the stage has been set, I hope that future volumes can really let loose.
FOR REFERENCE:
Originally published in single magazine form in Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition 0 and Static: Season One 1-6.
Contents:
• Introduction / Reginald Hudlin
Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0
• The Big Bang / Reginald Hudlin, writer; Denys Cowan, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and color - pages 1-5, 12-17; Denys Cowan, pencils - pages 6-11, 23-24; Bill Sienkiewicz, inks - pages 6-11, 23-24; Chriscross, pencils - pages 18-22; Juan Castro, inks - pages 18-22; Denys Cowan and Chris Sotomayor, cover artists
Static: Season One #1-6
• Episode One: Trial By Fire / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Two: Family Meeting / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Three: Run It Back / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, pencils, inks and colors - pages 1-12; Chriscross, pencils and inks - pages 13-20; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Four: Naming Names / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Five: Prison Break / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, artist; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Six: Shock to the System / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, artist; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0
• Fandome Preview / Reginald Hudlin, writer - pages 1-13; Greg Pak, writer - pages 14-15; Jim Lee, artist - pages 1-2; Ryan Benjamin, artist - pages 3-4; Denys Cowan and Jimmy Palmiotti, artists - pages 5, 10, 13, 16-17; Ryan Benjamin and Don Ho, artists - pages 6-9; Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, artists - pages 11-12; Khoi Pham and Scott Hanna, artists - pages 14-15
• Variant Cover and Sketch Gallery / Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Shawn Martinbrough and Chris Sotomayor, Denys Cowan and Brad Anderson, Olivier Coipel and Brad Anderson, Kyle Baker, Tyler Kirham and Arif Prianto, artists
FOR REFERENCE:
Originally published in single magazine form in Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition 0 and Static: Season One 1-6.
Contents:
• Introduction / Reginald Hudlin
Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0
• The Big Bang / Reginald Hudlin, writer; Denys Cowan, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and color - pages 1-5, 12-17; Denys Cowan, pencils - pages 6-11, 23-24; Bill Sienkiewicz, inks - pages 6-11, 23-24; Chriscross, pencils - pages 18-22; Juan Castro, inks - pages 18-22; Denys Cowan and Chris Sotomayor, cover artists
Static: Season One #1-6
• Episode One: Trial By Fire / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Two: Family Meeting / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Three: Run It Back / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, pencils, inks and colors - pages 1-12; Chriscross, pencils and inks - pages 13-20; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Four: Naming Names / Vita Ayala, writer; Chriscross, layouts; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, finishes and colors; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Five: Prison Break / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, artist; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
• Episode Six: Shock to the System / Vita Ayala, writer; Nikolas Draper-Ivey, artist; Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, cover artists
Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0
• Fandome Preview / Reginald Hudlin, writer - pages 1-13; Greg Pak, writer - pages 14-15; Jim Lee, artist - pages 1-2; Ryan Benjamin, artist - pages 3-4; Denys Cowan and Jimmy Palmiotti, artists - pages 5, 10, 13, 16-17; Ryan Benjamin and Don Ho, artists - pages 6-9; Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, artists - pages 11-12; Khoi Pham and Scott Hanna, artists - pages 14-15
• Variant Cover and Sketch Gallery / Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Shawn Martinbrough and Chris Sotomayor, Denys Cowan and Brad Anderson, Olivier Coipel and Brad Anderson, Kyle Baker, Tyler Kirham and Arif Prianto, artists
July 22, 2022
Excellent, and I can't wait to check out the new Icon & Rocket and Hardware. And the older Milestone stuff too, Blood Syndicate and Shadow Cabinet (and their upcoming reboots!).
This, though, was wonderful. The art was gorgeous, so bright and colorful. The character and world have gotten a 2020s update, which felt good. Looking forward to season two, and definitely keeping an eye on Nikolas Draper-Ivey's artwork because 😍😍
This, though, was wonderful. The art was gorgeous, so bright and colorful. The character and world have gotten a 2020s update, which felt good. Looking forward to season two, and definitely keeping an eye on Nikolas Draper-Ivey's artwork because 😍😍
July 9, 2022
This re-boot of the most popular Milestone character is both respectful to the source material and a fresh update to the series. Writer Vita Ayala ties the Big Bang event (tear gas of experimental origin used during a protest) to a student protest and mixes in current world events, cultural issues and concerns without preaching. She lets the story make its' points.
What kept this compelling to me were the family interactions and Virgl/Static's relationships with his high school friends. That elevated this first story arc (hopefully) above the average super-hero fare.
The artwork is equally engaging, although at times I had trouble clearly discerning what was occurring. The backgrounds are too dark in several instances. Still, the inventive Chris Cross on layouts with finishes and colors by Nikolas Drapoer-Ivey makes up a vibrant art team.
What kept this compelling to me were the family interactions and Virgl/Static's relationships with his high school friends. That elevated this first story arc (hopefully) above the average super-hero fare.
The artwork is equally engaging, although at times I had trouble clearly discerning what was occurring. The backgrounds are too dark in several instances. Still, the inventive Chris Cross on layouts with finishes and colors by Nikolas Drapoer-Ivey makes up a vibrant art team.
October 19, 2023
One of my favorites this year so far.
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October 5, 2022Transformed by the "Big Bang", when experimental tear gas was shot into the crowd during a peaceful, student-led Black Lives Matter protest, Virgil Hawkins' life has been changed forever. This book is part of a reboot of DC's Earth M universe (i.e. not a part of the main DC continuity, so don't expect any cameos). The way writer Vita Ayala brings Virgil to the page is interesting and human, and Nikolas Draper-Ivey's art hums with vibrant energy. While turmoil rages around him, Virgil fights to stay level and think his way through his problems. Friendship and family keep him grounded as he navigates his growing power and the increasingly dangerous world around him.
-Evin, Reading Rocket
-Evin, Reading Rocket
June 13, 2023
I grew up with the Static Shock cartoon, so it was really cool getting to read a Static comic ("Static: Season One"). Ayala did a great job in adapting Static and his backstory - especially the origins of his powers - to the 2020s (including addressing issues of police brutality and racism). Ayala also does a wonderful job in capturing Static's personality, selflessness, passion for justice, and scientific and technological expertise throughout the story. I became invested in his character from the start.
I also love how Ayala wrote Static's relationships with his family. They find out early on about his powers and are supportive. Ayala excels in showing their support and love for one another and the dialogue between them is solid. I particularly enjoyed Virgil's relationship with Sharon. Just like in the cartoon, he irritates her. However, I love how supportive she is of him and how she helps him out too.
It was great to see Richie and Freida back too. Their roles were a bit more minor when compared to the show (particularly with Ritchie playing a larger role in the show than he does here). I'd like to see them more in future books. Nevertheless, they play a great supporting role and it was awesome seeing them in action. They're both brave and think quickly on their feet.
In addition, I felt that Darius is a great character. Ayala did a great job in writing some initial tension between him and Virgil. However, they also work well together, particularly in uncovering injustice and fighting against it.
The antagonists and initial pacing weren't as great though. Hotstreak is as annoying as he was in the show and felt one-dimensional. The same could be said about the other antagonists. The start of the book was also a bit too quick. Nonetheless, it got much better later on.
Overall, this is a solid graphic novel. It has a good plot and solid protagonist characters. The action and art is great also. The initial pacing and antagonists weren't as good, but the story and other characters made up for it. I recommend it for any fans of the Static Shock cartoon.
I also love how Ayala wrote Static's relationships with his family. They find out early on about his powers and are supportive. Ayala excels in showing their support and love for one another and the dialogue between them is solid. I particularly enjoyed Virgil's relationship with Sharon. Just like in the cartoon, he irritates her. However, I love how supportive she is of him and how she helps him out too.
It was great to see Richie and Freida back too. Their roles were a bit more minor when compared to the show (particularly with Ritchie playing a larger role in the show than he does here). I'd like to see them more in future books. Nevertheless, they play a great supporting role and it was awesome seeing them in action. They're both brave and think quickly on their feet.
In addition, I felt that Darius is a great character. Ayala did a great job in writing some initial tension between him and Virgil. However, they also work well together, particularly in uncovering injustice and fighting against it.
The antagonists and initial pacing weren't as great though. Hotstreak is as annoying as he was in the show and felt one-dimensional. The same could be said about the other antagonists. The start of the book was also a bit too quick. Nonetheless, it got much better later on.
Overall, this is a solid graphic novel. It has a good plot and solid protagonist characters. The action and art is great also. The initial pacing and antagonists weren't as good, but the story and other characters made up for it. I recommend it for any fans of the Static Shock cartoon.
November 7, 2022
This did a really good job of combining current events (BLM and police brutality) with Static's story, and I'm definitely interested in checking out further issues. I did have a few technical issues with this - I was confused because it seemed like Frieda was drawn inconsistently, which was hard to follow as someone who's not familiar with the characters. I also thought Daisy's POV early on was unnecessary considering how little she ended up being in this volume - it was pretty jarring for her to be thrown in with no backstory, only to have her be a supporting character in the main arc.
March 9, 2022
Wasn’t sure how much I’d like this going in but it was a really well done reboot
June 13, 2022
The return of Milestone Comics' best known hero. Static's origin is reworked with updates that fit in perfectly. A great reintroduction a fantastic character. Let's hope for season two.
June 29, 2023
Not part of DC's official young adult label, my library, Goodreads and WorldCat all categorize this as a young adult comic. So take that rating as you will.
Content notes for militarized police, fighting anti-Black racism, body horror, developing super powers, and burning houses.
Keywords that came to mind reading this volume of Static was racial justice, augmented humans, environmental racism, gas masks, and an largely orangy colour scheme with a splash of blues.
Looking at the writing and art, while it is a super hero comic its was a very good super hero comic. I don't mean to disparage super hero comics, I enjoy many of them but like some of the middle grade comics or ya comics that are good for their demographic they don't always have the biggest crossover appeal. A good intro though as it's pretty fun, fast paced and easy to follow. The art sometimes felt a smidge rushed/overly simple but still felt above average compared to other super hero comics. Needless to say I've read some real stinkers superhero or otherwise.
As someone who read the original Static Shock origin not too long ago I thought this was a really nice reboot that combined the best of the old and melding it with what's happening now. As I already mentioned I'm right on the cusp of revisiting Reginald Hudland's original run on Black Panther and it similarly felt like an interesting modern perspective on the kind of thing I appreciated about that run as well.
Looking at representation. Race is obviously at the focus of Static Shock both as a character and as a vital part of Milestone's origin story and legacy of Black creators telling Black stories.
And it's been a minute since I finished this particular volume as my reviews are really lagging behind my energy to review; so correct me if I'm wrong.
Ability vs disability felt largely explored through the lens of real world able bodied ness vs super ability. So not exactly the same thing but definitely a focus.
Gender was pretty well balanced on the binaries. Sexuality was pretty one note, although not really a focus. Obviously working class setting, but I don't recall much exploration of that.
Overall I would rate this volume four stars and recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting.
Content notes for militarized police, fighting anti-Black racism, body horror, developing super powers, and burning houses.
Keywords that came to mind reading this volume of Static was racial justice, augmented humans, environmental racism, gas masks, and an largely orangy colour scheme with a splash of blues.
Looking at the writing and art, while it is a super hero comic its was a very good super hero comic. I don't mean to disparage super hero comics, I enjoy many of them but like some of the middle grade comics or ya comics that are good for their demographic they don't always have the biggest crossover appeal. A good intro though as it's pretty fun, fast paced and easy to follow. The art sometimes felt a smidge rushed/overly simple but still felt above average compared to other super hero comics. Needless to say I've read some real stinkers superhero or otherwise.
As someone who read the original Static Shock origin not too long ago I thought this was a really nice reboot that combined the best of the old and melding it with what's happening now. As I already mentioned I'm right on the cusp of revisiting Reginald Hudland's original run on Black Panther and it similarly felt like an interesting modern perspective on the kind of thing I appreciated about that run as well.
Looking at representation. Race is obviously at the focus of Static Shock both as a character and as a vital part of Milestone's origin story and legacy of Black creators telling Black stories.
And it's been a minute since I finished this particular volume as my reviews are really lagging behind my energy to review; so correct me if I'm wrong.
Ability vs disability felt largely explored through the lens of real world able bodied ness vs super ability. So not exactly the same thing but definitely a focus.
Gender was pretty well balanced on the binaries. Sexuality was pretty one note, although not really a focus. Obviously working class setting, but I don't recall much exploration of that.
Overall I would rate this volume four stars and recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting.
July 24, 2025
Static: Season One by Vita Ayala brings Virgil Hawkins back, giving him a new origin story that looks good and feels real. The art is strong, with cool character designs and awesome fights where Static's powers really pop. The talk between Virgil and his friends is a highlight, feeling true to life and adding fun to the story. It's a solid effort that brings this hero back in a fresh way.
But there are some downsides. The bad guys feel pretty plain and basic, not really offering much of a challenge. If you know the old 90s cartoon or comics, this new version isn't as exciting as the original. Even though it touches on important current topics, it sometimes misses that special spark that made the first one so memorable.
Overall, Static: Season One is a decent read, especially for people new to the character who haven't seen the old Milestone stuff. It has good parts, but also areas that could be better. I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars, hoping future books make the villains more interesting and help it stand out even more.
But there are some downsides. The bad guys feel pretty plain and basic, not really offering much of a challenge. If you know the old 90s cartoon or comics, this new version isn't as exciting as the original. Even though it touches on important current topics, it sometimes misses that special spark that made the first one so memorable.
Overall, Static: Season One is a decent read, especially for people new to the character who haven't seen the old Milestone stuff. It has good parts, but also areas that could be better. I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars, hoping future books make the villains more interesting and help it stand out even more.
July 25, 2025
Dear James Gunn
Please adapt this story into a move and have Ryan coogler direct the movie.
Please adapt this story into a move and have Ryan coogler direct the movie.
June 6, 2024
This was good, but I was promised a DC level superhero story. Instead this was Marvel Level Superhero drama story. It could easily been an X-Book. The racism, the agnst, the dumbly evil villain fooled to follow the real villain. So nice update.
July 30, 2022
Though I never read the other Static Shock comics, I absolutely adored the cartoon when I was young (and still do!). So I've been really looking forward to this fresh take on the character of Virgil Hawkins. In the TV show (and I assume the original comics), Virgil gains his electric superpowers after being exposed to a mutagenic gas during a gang war. In Season One, his powers come as a result of police using untested chemicals on peaceful BLM protestors. This is a contemporary spin on Static's origins that is timely and well-fitting.
This collected volume starts off a little rocky with a crowded and convoluted introductory issue ("The Big Bang") written by Reginald Hudlin. But it stabilized once Vita Ayala's issues were underway, and I began to enjoy myself. I especially appreciate that Ayala seems to take most of their cues from the beloved television show, including some direct homages like Static's orange long-sleeve shirt in the last issue. I also really liked Nikolas Draper-Ivey's "afro-anime" art style, though the other artists that crop up through the volume were definitely questionable (Chris Sotomayor's depiction of Darius?? Horrendous. ChrisCross and Wil Quintana suddenly making Frieda appear Black halfway through issue #3 instead of the already-established White redhead?? Hilariously terrible.).
I liked seeing all the characters I remember, including Virgil's sister Sharon, friends Richie, Frieda, and Daisy, and even the villains like Hotstreak and the Meta-Breed (got really excited when I recognized Puff). Darius is (I think?) a new addition, non-powered with dreams of being an investigative journalist, who functions as somewhat of a foil to Virgil. He's also Black and gay, and I think possibly being set up as a love interest for Richie, who is also already confirmed to be gay. Virgil's mother is alive in this series (as opposed to the TV show) and his father Robert is also present, though seemingly a much different character than the cartoon version (I definitely prefer the TV version).
As for the story overall, I think it tried to cover too much ground in this first few issues when it would have been better off focusing on developing Virgil's character. Perhaps Ayala relied too heavily on readers already being acquainted with Static? I was pleasantly surprised by the extent of Richie, Frieda, and Darius's involvement in the plot, but wish they'd gotten some more development as well if they're going to play major roles going forward. The "G-man" bad guy was alright at first, but became totally cackingly villainous in the end; he would have been more believable as a "banal evil" kind of guy, imo. I really loved Static's speech in the last issue, especially how "energy" tied into it.
This was a fun trip down memory lane as well as an interesting start to a new Static series. I'm looking forward to more!
This collected volume starts off a little rocky with a crowded and convoluted introductory issue ("The Big Bang") written by Reginald Hudlin. But it stabilized once Vita Ayala's issues were underway, and I began to enjoy myself. I especially appreciate that Ayala seems to take most of their cues from the beloved television show, including some direct homages like Static's orange long-sleeve shirt in the last issue. I also really liked Nikolas Draper-Ivey's "afro-anime" art style, though the other artists that crop up through the volume were definitely questionable (Chris Sotomayor's depiction of Darius?? Horrendous. ChrisCross and Wil Quintana suddenly making Frieda appear Black halfway through issue #3 instead of the already-established White redhead?? Hilariously terrible.).
I liked seeing all the characters I remember, including Virgil's sister Sharon, friends Richie, Frieda, and Daisy, and even the villains like Hotstreak and the Meta-Breed (got really excited when I recognized Puff). Darius is (I think?) a new addition, non-powered with dreams of being an investigative journalist, who functions as somewhat of a foil to Virgil. He's also Black and gay, and I think possibly being set up as a love interest for Richie, who is also already confirmed to be gay. Virgil's mother is alive in this series (as opposed to the TV show) and his father Robert is also present, though seemingly a much different character than the cartoon version (I definitely prefer the TV version).
As for the story overall, I think it tried to cover too much ground in this first few issues when it would have been better off focusing on developing Virgil's character. Perhaps Ayala relied too heavily on readers already being acquainted with Static? I was pleasantly surprised by the extent of Richie, Frieda, and Darius's involvement in the plot, but wish they'd gotten some more development as well if they're going to play major roles going forward. The "G-man" bad guy was alright at first, but became totally cackingly villainous in the end; he would have been more believable as a "banal evil" kind of guy, imo. I really loved Static's speech in the last issue, especially how "energy" tied into it.
"I've been told that anger is dangerous--bad--and that all it leads to is trouble. But anger is just energy. Left unchecked and without purpose, anger can destroy, but we are not without purpose. ...When channeled, anger can be the fuel to bring about great and positive change--it can build and protect. When directed, anger can be revealed to be hope."
This was a fun trip down memory lane as well as an interesting start to a new Static series. I'm looking forward to more!
May 27, 2024
The narrative is very strong in this volume. A great re-entry to this character. I grew up on the Static Shock animated series. This is my first time actually reading a comic of his bcz this felt much closer to what I liked about him. I enjoyed the throwbacks to the animated series. What holds it back is the art. It's 50/50. The close up shots and colors look great but in a dynamic situation the art is way too soft and directionless. The action doesn't flow well. Mostly hard to follow to give the impact it's trying to. Otherwise, it's a solid start.
March 26, 2023
This is a reboot of Static and the Milestone universe. With a somewhat compelling story by Vita Ayala and vibrant art by Nikolas Drape-Ivey. His layouts need some improvement I think thats also the reason why in some issues another artist do his layouts.
June 11, 2025
This was a solid story with a likeable protagonist and case of characters. The artwork was also very pretty throughout. I'm not very familiar with the Milestone universe but this is a decent introduction.
September 25, 2025
This was a major mixed bag the art was sometimes incoherent but there was a little bit of heart shining through nonetheless.
Definitely picked up as the volume progressed, sort of intrigued to see where it might go but probably won’t read any further.
Definitely picked up as the volume progressed, sort of intrigued to see where it might go but probably won’t read any further.
June 30, 2025
a fun modernisation of a classic. Virgil has such a clear voice in this one from the off and he makes for a very likable lead. the politics are ever present but never big down the action and adventure and the character moments which are all strong throughout.
February 22, 2023
Me, seeing a silhouette of a character with two big hair puffs: WAIT IS THAT-
(It was)
I love this, I love all the bits that hit me right in the nostalgia, I love the friend and family relationships, I love Static, I'm very excited to see where season 2 goes. (EBON.)
(It was)
I love this, I love all the bits that hit me right in the nostalgia, I love the friend and family relationships, I love Static, I'm very excited to see where season 2 goes. (EBON.)
October 19, 2025
So so so bad. Could not finish. Dialogue was horrendous. Came in so excited and sure I’d love it that I bought volume two with volume one. I regret that purchase.
Social issues: From the first panel in I could tell it would be bad. The dialogue was so cringe and the constant references to streaming and social media kept breaking the immersion for me. I would have much preferred if the author had any sort of inclination to show and not tell. From the first panel we can see that it isn’t just a police brutality protest, it’s directly a Briana Taylor protest as they’re all wearing masks, the signs say BLM, and his first dialogue is “she was sleeping”. This to me is poor writing because good writers can write social commentary which using symbolism which is what static’s character has done in the past. For example in YJ, he gets his powers by being kidnapped and experimented on. This has happened so many times throughout black history so it’s meaningful without assuming the audience dumb and spelling it out for us. This comic does this multiple times another of which when the police barge in on this guy and immediately shoots. The writing was also so all over the place that I don’t even remember the character but they just out right say “you’re shooting an unarmed black man”. I personally love revolutionary literature and the first book I read in middle school was the hate you give. My problem is not the topic, it’s the writing. The audience just WATCHED the police shoot an unarmed man. Why would you sit there and have your character repeat that to us? And that’s not how people talk. A black person doesn’t say hey I’m black an unarmed, they just say I’m unarmed. Speaking of blackness, my other issue was the bully. The bully is first introduced by the sister when explaining Static’s bully to his parents. She says he’s getting bullied bc “he isn’t black enough”. Wtf does that mean? I thought maybe she meant that he “acts white” because that’s not uncommon in the black community but a dark skin black man isn’t gonna be told “he isn’t black enough” he’d get told he’s “acting white” which is totally different. Ppl who aren’t black enough would be the mixed kid raised by their white mom or something. I also initially rolled my eyes bc I don’t care for that topic to be discussed in this book bc I knew it would lack purpose. Is that a topic worthy of disscussion? Yes. Do I think it can be properly addressed in a comic about a superhero that’s already tackling the topic police brutality to a majority white audience? No. But to my surprise it’s literally NEVER addressed. Why would they even bring that up and not address the actual societal issues behind “acting white”. And then for the final blow that made me realize there’s no save for this, the bully is white. Tf? Like genuinely what was the goal here. I’m thinking the bully is some YN who bullies Static bc he’s geeky with a white crush but whole time he’s getting bullied by a white boy that thinks he’s more black than him??? In what world is a white boy gonna not only tell a dark skin black boy he ain’t black, but also JUMP him for it?? I 100% feel like the bully was originally black and they changed it last minute bc they thought it might be controversial to display black on black bullying… which is why I already knew this isn’t a topic to be approached in a DC comic.
Plot issues: oh my fuck was it all over the place. It was SO rushed and we never see Static struggle with his powers and he even damn near kills his bully in the school hallway and no repercussions were took. That part had me so done. Where are the teachers? Why are they allowed to just roam around too? It took until the end of the book for the government to start taking them. My favorite character is miles morales and I really appreciate how we got to see miles suck before he learned HOW to be spider man. Static just gets his powers and then just becomes Static. He obviously doesn’t become a superhero until the end but he has really no growth. Which also makes this book so boring. He has no character growth. There’s also WAY too much going. I didn’t know wtf was happening half the time bc they’d just cut to a scene of character that wasn’t introduced. The writing was just so childish and they constantly told instead of showing, which is insane for a comic.
My ideal Static: I would’ve preferred if it was more of a symbolic protest of police brutality rather than cementing it at one real life person. That way the reader can look at it and relate it to any victim from Rodney King to Travon Martin. Then instead of the police unrealistically just throwing chemicals at them they get “arrested” for assaulting police officers (maybe one person pushes one and they all get took), this would also reflect how calculated police brutality really is. Having them just throwing chemicals at them in public is so simplified and cartoonish. Then when they’re “arrested” aka kidnapped that’s when they’re tortured and experimented on. This also is suitable for a comic but symbolic of real life events that anyone who knows anything about police or black history can gather. I as a Chicagoan would immediately think of the Chicago torture scandal from the 80s where CPD would torture the black men they arrested. There was at least 120 confirmed victims. This is how you write black revolutionary literature whilst being SYMBOLIC. There would be no need to shove down the readers throat that this is about being black or about police brutality. Anyway, Static is the only one to escape and he spends the entire book on the run almost failing multiple times, like miles in into the spiderverse, but gets the hang of his powers and goes back for the other victims whilst exposing the torture to the world. And by then end he doesn’t fully master his abilities leaving room for more character growth in later volumes.
Social issues: From the first panel in I could tell it would be bad. The dialogue was so cringe and the constant references to streaming and social media kept breaking the immersion for me. I would have much preferred if the author had any sort of inclination to show and not tell. From the first panel we can see that it isn’t just a police brutality protest, it’s directly a Briana Taylor protest as they’re all wearing masks, the signs say BLM, and his first dialogue is “she was sleeping”. This to me is poor writing because good writers can write social commentary which using symbolism which is what static’s character has done in the past. For example in YJ, he gets his powers by being kidnapped and experimented on. This has happened so many times throughout black history so it’s meaningful without assuming the audience dumb and spelling it out for us. This comic does this multiple times another of which when the police barge in on this guy and immediately shoots. The writing was also so all over the place that I don’t even remember the character but they just out right say “you’re shooting an unarmed black man”. I personally love revolutionary literature and the first book I read in middle school was the hate you give. My problem is not the topic, it’s the writing. The audience just WATCHED the police shoot an unarmed man. Why would you sit there and have your character repeat that to us? And that’s not how people talk. A black person doesn’t say hey I’m black an unarmed, they just say I’m unarmed. Speaking of blackness, my other issue was the bully. The bully is first introduced by the sister when explaining Static’s bully to his parents. She says he’s getting bullied bc “he isn’t black enough”. Wtf does that mean? I thought maybe she meant that he “acts white” because that’s not uncommon in the black community but a dark skin black man isn’t gonna be told “he isn’t black enough” he’d get told he’s “acting white” which is totally different. Ppl who aren’t black enough would be the mixed kid raised by their white mom or something. I also initially rolled my eyes bc I don’t care for that topic to be discussed in this book bc I knew it would lack purpose. Is that a topic worthy of disscussion? Yes. Do I think it can be properly addressed in a comic about a superhero that’s already tackling the topic police brutality to a majority white audience? No. But to my surprise it’s literally NEVER addressed. Why would they even bring that up and not address the actual societal issues behind “acting white”. And then for the final blow that made me realize there’s no save for this, the bully is white. Tf? Like genuinely what was the goal here. I’m thinking the bully is some YN who bullies Static bc he’s geeky with a white crush but whole time he’s getting bullied by a white boy that thinks he’s more black than him??? In what world is a white boy gonna not only tell a dark skin black boy he ain’t black, but also JUMP him for it?? I 100% feel like the bully was originally black and they changed it last minute bc they thought it might be controversial to display black on black bullying… which is why I already knew this isn’t a topic to be approached in a DC comic.
Plot issues: oh my fuck was it all over the place. It was SO rushed and we never see Static struggle with his powers and he even damn near kills his bully in the school hallway and no repercussions were took. That part had me so done. Where are the teachers? Why are they allowed to just roam around too? It took until the end of the book for the government to start taking them. My favorite character is miles morales and I really appreciate how we got to see miles suck before he learned HOW to be spider man. Static just gets his powers and then just becomes Static. He obviously doesn’t become a superhero until the end but he has really no growth. Which also makes this book so boring. He has no character growth. There’s also WAY too much going. I didn’t know wtf was happening half the time bc they’d just cut to a scene of character that wasn’t introduced. The writing was just so childish and they constantly told instead of showing, which is insane for a comic.
My ideal Static: I would’ve preferred if it was more of a symbolic protest of police brutality rather than cementing it at one real life person. That way the reader can look at it and relate it to any victim from Rodney King to Travon Martin. Then instead of the police unrealistically just throwing chemicals at them they get “arrested” for assaulting police officers (maybe one person pushes one and they all get took), this would also reflect how calculated police brutality really is. Having them just throwing chemicals at them in public is so simplified and cartoonish. Then when they’re “arrested” aka kidnapped that’s when they’re tortured and experimented on. This also is suitable for a comic but symbolic of real life events that anyone who knows anything about police or black history can gather. I as a Chicagoan would immediately think of the Chicago torture scandal from the 80s where CPD would torture the black men they arrested. There was at least 120 confirmed victims. This is how you write black revolutionary literature whilst being SYMBOLIC. There would be no need to shove down the readers throat that this is about being black or about police brutality. Anyway, Static is the only one to escape and he spends the entire book on the run almost failing multiple times, like miles in into the spiderverse, but gets the hang of his powers and goes back for the other victims whilst exposing the torture to the world. And by then end he doesn’t fully master his abilities leaving room for more character growth in later volumes.
July 3, 2023
Today’s review will be focusing on one of the hottest DC Comic titles that have come out in recent years. The series was part of Milestone Media’s triumphant return to the Comic Book Industry, bringing talented creators such as Vita Ayala, Reginald Hudlin, Denys Cowan, ChrisCross, and Nikolas Draper-Ivey to create new stories focusing on Milestone and their iconic heroes. I previously reviewed the first issue of this series, and now I am reviewing the hardcover collection of STATIC: Season One.
Our story begins with a bullied teenager named Virgil Hawkins, Virgil is in the streets with other people participating in a Black Lives Matter protest, where, like others, he wanted to make his voice heard, their world was turned upside down when the police used an experimental form of tear gas on the protestors, and it changed their lives forever. Some were maimed, but others got stunning new abilities! Virgil gained the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields. What will he do about the anger that has built up inside of him and the bullies who have also gained new powers just like him?
This hardcover book collects Issues One through Six, the best thing I love about Static (both the hero and the series) was that like Spider-Man, he was a hero that people could relate to and stood out from the others. He was a teenager who was a nerd but had a strong sense of what was right and wrong but was struggling with personal feelings and wanted to make his presence known to the world. This series stays true to the core of Milestone and doesn’t stray off the path of addressing social issues (such as Police Brutality, inequality, and racism).
Vita Ayala did a great job of adapting Static’s backstory and exploring the origin of his electromagnetic powers and exploring today’s issues that have plagued society and the black community. I love how Ayala put focus on Static’s relationship with his family, they found out early on about his new power and were supportive. Another thing I have enjoyed about Virgil was his approach to science and technology, it came in handy when it comes to fighting other metahumans. As far as his other relationships are displayed, they mirror the 90s television series, take for example, Virgil, and his sister Sharon. They may act like your typical brother and sister but deep down, they care for each other and she is supportive of him. It was nice to see Richie and Frieda back, especially when they were in action when they helped Static near the end of the story.
Speaking of television counterparts, seeing Hotstreak in action again made me nostalgic, that presence of arrogance and immaturity was in fine form whenever he made an appearance. Speaking of Hotstreak, I was happy to see Static’s other rogue gallery make an appearance in the final fight in the first story arc. Finally, as far as the pacing goes, it wasn’t great. I’m not saying it is a bad thing. However, the antagonists came off as one-dimensional at times,
For the artwork, I still believe that ChrisCross and Nikolas Draper-Ivey are one of the hottest comic book creative teams on the market. Right off the bat, it is Draper-Ivey’s fusion of styles that makes the book stand out above what the publisher currently offers. His use of textures and patterns in the book gives the book an ultra-style to it, with a mangaesque look. The characters are well-designed and have well-defined identities, especially love the detail in their hairstyles too. The action sequences are drawn well in each panel, and the depiction of Static’s electromagnetic powers on full display was gorgeous.
Our story begins with a bullied teenager named Virgil Hawkins, Virgil is in the streets with other people participating in a Black Lives Matter protest, where, like others, he wanted to make his voice heard, their world was turned upside down when the police used an experimental form of tear gas on the protestors, and it changed their lives forever. Some were maimed, but others got stunning new abilities! Virgil gained the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields. What will he do about the anger that has built up inside of him and the bullies who have also gained new powers just like him?
This hardcover book collects Issues One through Six, the best thing I love about Static (both the hero and the series) was that like Spider-Man, he was a hero that people could relate to and stood out from the others. He was a teenager who was a nerd but had a strong sense of what was right and wrong but was struggling with personal feelings and wanted to make his presence known to the world. This series stays true to the core of Milestone and doesn’t stray off the path of addressing social issues (such as Police Brutality, inequality, and racism).
Vita Ayala did a great job of adapting Static’s backstory and exploring the origin of his electromagnetic powers and exploring today’s issues that have plagued society and the black community. I love how Ayala put focus on Static’s relationship with his family, they found out early on about his new power and were supportive. Another thing I have enjoyed about Virgil was his approach to science and technology, it came in handy when it comes to fighting other metahumans. As far as his other relationships are displayed, they mirror the 90s television series, take for example, Virgil, and his sister Sharon. They may act like your typical brother and sister but deep down, they care for each other and she is supportive of him. It was nice to see Richie and Frieda back, especially when they were in action when they helped Static near the end of the story.
Speaking of television counterparts, seeing Hotstreak in action again made me nostalgic, that presence of arrogance and immaturity was in fine form whenever he made an appearance. Speaking of Hotstreak, I was happy to see Static’s other rogue gallery make an appearance in the final fight in the first story arc. Finally, as far as the pacing goes, it wasn’t great. I’m not saying it is a bad thing. However, the antagonists came off as one-dimensional at times,
For the artwork, I still believe that ChrisCross and Nikolas Draper-Ivey are one of the hottest comic book creative teams on the market. Right off the bat, it is Draper-Ivey’s fusion of styles that makes the book stand out above what the publisher currently offers. His use of textures and patterns in the book gives the book an ultra-style to it, with a mangaesque look. The characters are well-designed and have well-defined identities, especially love the detail in their hairstyles too. The action sequences are drawn well in each panel, and the depiction of Static’s electromagnetic powers on full display was gorgeous.
September 5, 2024
This book is a high 3.5 stars for me, but as per usual, there are no half-star reviews on Goodreads.
Static Season One is a relaunch of the popular character Static (he had his own animated show, look it up) for the 2020s decade. It's part of a larger relaunch of Milestone Media, a pioneering DC franchise from the the 1990s staffed by all-black creators that was dedicated to creating black and other racially diverse superheroes. Static was and still is Milestone's most popular character.
This book is very professionally created, with high quality art and writing. I found that I liked it more the longer I kept reading. When reading issue one (of the six compiled here) I was planning on giving this book a lower rating, but by the time I made it to the final couple of issues I was way more engaged with the book.
This is by far the best example I've seen of writing that incorporates modern slang and vernacular but doesn't feel as if it is doing it in a way that feels token, stilted, or out-of-place. The world is also very aware of itself and the strangeness of giving people powers in an otherwise normal world, and it finds ways to integrate all of the superhero-y aspects extremely well through character reactions. I love it. There's reasoning behind why Static can do a little bit of karate, and people react mostly as you would expect them to when they encounter superpowers or aliens for the first time, stuff like that. Characters also had realistic motivations and convincing dialogue throughout the book, which increased immersion and always gets bonus points from me.
The main character, Virgil, being a common, soft-spoken nerd was something that needed to be given more time at the beginning of the series and needed to be shown, and not just told. As it stands the book starts immediately with Virgil going to a BLM protest (something supposedly "out of character" for him) and getting his powers within the very first pages, triggering his character transformation into having uncharacteristic anger issues... except that this is the way we are introduced to the character, so we never see him be any other way. It just made the emotional twist much less impactful when we don't get to watch Virgil change and instead just have to believe when the book continuously says "he may have anger issues and tons of swagger now, BUT I PROMISE HE DIDN'T USED TO BE THIS WAY."
The most white thing I am going to say about the book is that I will admit to feeling a tad bit uncomfortable/disappointed with the full degree of ultimate evil all police were portrayed with in the narrative. I don't consider myself someone who is an unequivocal "ra-ra" chest-thumper for our boys in blue and I'm not discounting black persons' experience with police that is different than my own, it just felt a little bit tough not seeing a little more nuance than every officer in the universe being utterly evil and remorseless. I don't feel I need to elaborate or belabour things any more than that.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. While I might not agree with every message in the book such as what it has to say about the utility of anger to inspire positivity, I think the story is a worthwhile read and it is a piece of an important legacy of diversity in comics. What the book represents is easily something worth supporting, even if not every aspect of the book is your cup of tea.
Static Season One is a relaunch of the popular character Static (he had his own animated show, look it up) for the 2020s decade. It's part of a larger relaunch of Milestone Media, a pioneering DC franchise from the the 1990s staffed by all-black creators that was dedicated to creating black and other racially diverse superheroes. Static was and still is Milestone's most popular character.
This book is very professionally created, with high quality art and writing. I found that I liked it more the longer I kept reading. When reading issue one (of the six compiled here) I was planning on giving this book a lower rating, but by the time I made it to the final couple of issues I was way more engaged with the book.
This is by far the best example I've seen of writing that incorporates modern slang and vernacular but doesn't feel as if it is doing it in a way that feels token, stilted, or out-of-place. The world is also very aware of itself and the strangeness of giving people powers in an otherwise normal world, and it finds ways to integrate all of the superhero-y aspects extremely well through character reactions. I love it. There's reasoning behind why Static can do a little bit of karate, and people react mostly as you would expect them to when they encounter superpowers or aliens for the first time, stuff like that. Characters also had realistic motivations and convincing dialogue throughout the book, which increased immersion and always gets bonus points from me.
The main character, Virgil, being a common, soft-spoken nerd was something that needed to be given more time at the beginning of the series and needed to be shown, and not just told. As it stands the book starts immediately with Virgil going to a BLM protest (something supposedly "out of character" for him) and getting his powers within the very first pages, triggering his character transformation into having uncharacteristic anger issues... except that this is the way we are introduced to the character, so we never see him be any other way. It just made the emotional twist much less impactful when we don't get to watch Virgil change and instead just have to believe when the book continuously says "he may have anger issues and tons of swagger now, BUT I PROMISE HE DIDN'T USED TO BE THIS WAY."
The most white thing I am going to say about the book is that I will admit to feeling a tad bit uncomfortable/disappointed with the full degree of ultimate evil all police were portrayed with in the narrative. I don't consider myself someone who is an unequivocal "ra-ra" chest-thumper for our boys in blue and I'm not discounting black persons' experience with police that is different than my own, it just felt a little bit tough not seeing a little more nuance than every officer in the universe being utterly evil and remorseless. I don't feel I need to elaborate or belabour things any more than that.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. While I might not agree with every message in the book such as what it has to say about the utility of anger to inspire positivity, I think the story is a worthwhile read and it is a piece of an important legacy of diversity in comics. What the book represents is easily something worth supporting, even if not every aspect of the book is your cup of tea.
October 3, 2022
PROS
+ Reboot to Static. I’m glad he’s coming back into the mainstream. Static Shock the cartoon was gold and a highlight of my childhood.
+ Love the modern take of how Virgil and the other bang babies get their powers. Trigger warning: police brutality
+ the artwork
+ Virgil’s style; the updated designs. It’s so surreal for me to see all the old characters again. And the old outfits from the show too!
+ Virgil’s narrative voice.
+ The supervillains’ motivations made sense, but then he just disappears after a few pages. I’m going to assume it’s a setup for an overarching story concerning him or a teaser for his next appearance.
+ think Virgil’s parents’ conflict with trying to protect him was good. It showed a realistic take on how having a child with superpowers would be terrifying in a way. You don’t want them to hide who they are, but you also don’t want them dissected for science.
+ Sharon has more of a presence here than just being an older naggy sister like in the show.
+ An interesting take on Virgil’s electric powers; they either manifest as or are tied to his anger issues.
CONS
- Dialogue (Ex: No one says “TL:DR” in actual conversation; “Long story short” would sound more natural)
- Pacing
- Coloring looks ashy and blurry like a cartoon filter. Certain shots look unfinished.
- Frank, the white boy antagonistic bully, acts like a hotep. I don’t expect the average white guy to use “ivory princess.” Static Shock’s Hotstreak he is not. He could still be a wannabe-down white boy, but his dialogue got to tighten up.
- Supervillain’s name is Holocaust. I get that’s the character’s original name, but with the reboot I would’ve opted for changing it or giving him a nickname. Looks like they did it for Ebon or perhaps he would get the name in his next appearance.
- I don’t think they explained well what Rocket’s or Daisy’s powers were.
For volume 1 there are some hiccups and some bumpy pieces, but I’m still interested in seeing more.
+ Reboot to Static. I’m glad he’s coming back into the mainstream. Static Shock the cartoon was gold and a highlight of my childhood.
+ Love the modern take of how Virgil and the other bang babies get their powers. Trigger warning: police brutality
+ the artwork
+ Virgil’s style; the updated designs. It’s so surreal for me to see all the old characters again. And the old outfits from the show too!
+ Virgil’s narrative voice.
+ The supervillains’ motivations made sense, but then he just disappears after a few pages. I’m going to assume it’s a setup for an overarching story concerning him or a teaser for his next appearance.
+ think Virgil’s parents’ conflict with trying to protect him was good. It showed a realistic take on how having a child with superpowers would be terrifying in a way. You don’t want them to hide who they are, but you also don’t want them dissected for science.
+ Sharon has more of a presence here than just being an older naggy sister like in the show.
+ An interesting take on Virgil’s electric powers; they either manifest as or are tied to his anger issues.
CONS
- Dialogue (Ex: No one says “TL:DR” in actual conversation; “Long story short” would sound more natural)
- Pacing
- Coloring looks ashy and blurry like a cartoon filter. Certain shots look unfinished.
- Frank, the white boy antagonistic bully, acts like a hotep. I don’t expect the average white guy to use “ivory princess.” Static Shock’s Hotstreak he is not. He could still be a wannabe-down white boy, but his dialogue got to tighten up.
- Supervillain’s name is Holocaust. I get that’s the character’s original name, but with the reboot I would’ve opted for changing it or giving him a nickname. Looks like they did it for Ebon or perhaps he would get the name in his next appearance.
- I don’t think they explained well what Rocket’s or Daisy’s powers were.
For volume 1 there are some hiccups and some bumpy pieces, but I’m still interested in seeing more.
July 16, 2024
It’s your typical origin story cluttered with contemporary political tropes and racial undertones that fails to really deliver greatness on any one thing.
This isn’t the Static from the cartoon we all watched as a kid. This is an angry Static who is mad at the state of the world and the “man.” A Static who somehow manages to create a high tech superhero suit despite the fact he has an early high school education. A Static who somehow masters his powers within mere weeks of getting them despite every other Bang Baby being basically inept with their powers. A Static who can take on the US government as if its annual budget was only $10 and a Burger King coupon book.
I really enjoyed the first two issues but everything after became a blur. It almost seems like we jump from one moment in time to another that is 10 days in the future - with no warning!
Static really has no modus operandi nor does he gain any type of philosophical breakthrough about why or how he can use his powers for good. He just… has powers… so he knows he has to use them for… something? The Villains are your typical neo-nazi totalitarian government villain types. FlameBrain is just a bully who wants to beat up on Virgil… that’s it. That’s his whole motivation. The Government wants to study Bang Babies for their powers… but that’s it… that’s all they do.
Even the angle about how a black superhero would struggle in a world filled with socioeconomic tension kinda falls flat. The whole hood embraces Static immediately without any skepticism. The government backs down when Virgil’s mom gets snippy. In real life the Government would show up with all kinds of military shit to subdue Static and his family if need be.
I rated it 4 stars because I like Static and have fond memories of the character - therefore I want to see more stories… this will scratch the itch for sure, but it’s nothing really memorable.
This isn’t the Static from the cartoon we all watched as a kid. This is an angry Static who is mad at the state of the world and the “man.” A Static who somehow manages to create a high tech superhero suit despite the fact he has an early high school education. A Static who somehow masters his powers within mere weeks of getting them despite every other Bang Baby being basically inept with their powers. A Static who can take on the US government as if its annual budget was only $10 and a Burger King coupon book.
I really enjoyed the first two issues but everything after became a blur. It almost seems like we jump from one moment in time to another that is 10 days in the future - with no warning!
Static really has no modus operandi nor does he gain any type of philosophical breakthrough about why or how he can use his powers for good. He just… has powers… so he knows he has to use them for… something? The Villains are your typical neo-nazi totalitarian government villain types. FlameBrain is just a bully who wants to beat up on Virgil… that’s it. That’s his whole motivation. The Government wants to study Bang Babies for their powers… but that’s it… that’s all they do.
Even the angle about how a black superhero would struggle in a world filled with socioeconomic tension kinda falls flat. The whole hood embraces Static immediately without any skepticism. The government backs down when Virgil’s mom gets snippy. In real life the Government would show up with all kinds of military shit to subdue Static and his family if need be.
I rated it 4 stars because I like Static and have fond memories of the character - therefore I want to see more stories… this will scratch the itch for sure, but it’s nothing really memorable.
October 5, 2023
Milestone Media was the first comics company featuring and created by Black creators.
While the publisher went away far too soon (for reasons that can probably found online), it was not because of their quality. Beginning with the reboot of Static, Milestone has returned - and with a similarly high level of quality.
Static: Season One collects the first six issues of Static, with an introduction by writer/director Reginald Hudlin. It begins with the recreation of the Big Bang - an event caused by police using an untested chemical gas meant to control crowds. That the crowds are young and Black and peaceful is beside the point to the powers that be.
When the Big Bang gives many of the people in the crowd powers - and kills many more - instead doing the right thing and owning their stupidity, TPTB instead start "disappearing" kids who were affected.
Virgil Hawkins, a nerdy Black kid, gains electricity-based powers and, with a trio of friends, sets out to rescue as many of the disappeared kids as possible - and making it known that not only are they terrorists but that their kidnapping is reprehensible.
Static: Season One builds the relationships of the characters - friends, family and foes alike - carefully and with even more attention to detail than the book's superheroics.
Writer Vita Ayala and a group of artists including Denys Cowan, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, CrisscrossJaun Castro, Bill Sienkiewicz and more, have creating a fresh, unique title that ranks among the best comics around - in any genre.
Highly recommended.
While the publisher went away far too soon (for reasons that can probably found online), it was not because of their quality. Beginning with the reboot of Static, Milestone has returned - and with a similarly high level of quality.
Static: Season One collects the first six issues of Static, with an introduction by writer/director Reginald Hudlin. It begins with the recreation of the Big Bang - an event caused by police using an untested chemical gas meant to control crowds. That the crowds are young and Black and peaceful is beside the point to the powers that be.
When the Big Bang gives many of the people in the crowd powers - and kills many more - instead doing the right thing and owning their stupidity, TPTB instead start "disappearing" kids who were affected.
Virgil Hawkins, a nerdy Black kid, gains electricity-based powers and, with a trio of friends, sets out to rescue as many of the disappeared kids as possible - and making it known that not only are they terrorists but that their kidnapping is reprehensible.
Static: Season One builds the relationships of the characters - friends, family and foes alike - carefully and with even more attention to detail than the book's superheroics.
Writer Vita Ayala and a group of artists including Denys Cowan, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, CrisscrossJaun Castro, Bill Sienkiewicz and more, have creating a fresh, unique title that ranks among the best comics around - in any genre.
Highly recommended.
April 7, 2023
Read for Realm Of Comics Book Club hosted by Ashley and Bre on YT.
There were a few inconsistencies that kept throwing me out of the story. Some of the storytelling read choppy. There's a style of alluding to something that is happening or going to happen but it's never directly related to what's on page at that moment and we never circle back to it to piece it together. I can't stand that. Some of the colors used were a bit blinding--- it was easy to get lost not allowing to clearly follow the action scenes. Even then this was not as bad as drawing these characters to look completely different from themselves in the same panels. It was weird!! Virgil is having this deep and meaningful discussion while fixing the roof of the house with his dad, and one moment Virgil is 15-16 years old and the next moment not only does he look 25 years old but like a totally different person. No resemblance to the kid a page before.
There were powerful messages throughout. I appreciated what was trying to be done. I am curious to see where this would go but this was more of a 3.5 than a 4 star.
There were a few inconsistencies that kept throwing me out of the story. Some of the storytelling read choppy. There's a style of alluding to something that is happening or going to happen but it's never directly related to what's on page at that moment and we never circle back to it to piece it together. I can't stand that. Some of the colors used were a bit blinding--- it was easy to get lost not allowing to clearly follow the action scenes. Even then this was not as bad as drawing these characters to look completely different from themselves in the same panels. It was weird!! Virgil is having this deep and meaningful discussion while fixing the roof of the house with his dad, and one moment Virgil is 15-16 years old and the next moment not only does he look 25 years old but like a totally different person. No resemblance to the kid a page before.
There were powerful messages throughout. I appreciated what was trying to be done. I am curious to see where this would go but this was more of a 3.5 than a 4 star.
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