WABAC Wednesday - Static

We conclude our look back at the Milestone Imprint with Static. I’m sure many of you out there are familiar with this character due to his Saturday Morning Cartoon Static Shock. What you might not be aware is that Static come to life in the pages of his own comics before he appeared on your television. In June of 1993, Static jump-started the Milestone Imprint by being favorably compared to early issues of Spiderman. Dwayne McDuffie wrote some incredible stories about our young urban hero while Robert Washington III designed his trademark look. So let’s take a look at how Static can to be.

In the first issue we are presented with our hero Static coming to the rescue of Frieda Goren who will prove to be an important player in Static’s life. Frieda is being hassled by a gang of thugs at the local video arcade. Mr. Analog assures you that such things existed in 1993 because there was no X-Box yet. Static makes a dramatic entrance standing aboard what will become his trademark method of travel the flying trash can lid. Static proves he is quick with his wit and with his electrically charged Taser punch that sends the thugs flying. After making like Captain America by throwing a super charged trash can lid to finish the job, ever the showman Static takes a bow and accepts applause from bystanders. Static isn’t finished yet; he then tries to sweep the bewildered Frieda off her feet for a date. Frieda while impressed is having none of it, saying she doesn’t date masked boys. Static take this as his cue to leave and heads out.

We then find out that Static is one Virgil Hawkins a 16 year old African American student at the same school as Frieda. As he changes out of his outfit, I will stop to mention that the Static of the comic looks a little different than your Saturday morning one. He is dressed in all black with a two thin lightning bolts that merge at his chest and continue in one single jaggy bolt that runs down his leg. He also sports a now very dated Malcolm X baseball cap. It is a very classic look despite the cap and one that I prefer to his current look based on the cartoon. He also has some gold bracelets on his arm that are never quite explained but they serve to break up the solid black look.

Virgil heads to his home and tries to sneak in because he is late but the attempt fails.  You see, Virgil is just a normal kid who happens have a hard working mom who is very protective and thinks he isn’t applying himself (whose Mother doesn’t think this?). He also has sister Sharon who can’t stand him and who is committed to making him miserable. After getting a scolding and retreating to his room, we find out the real reason Virgil is in a hurry to get home. He wants talk to his want to be girlfriend Frieda on the phone and see if she is impressed with his alter ego Static. Virgil plays it cool and pretends not to know that he just saved the gorgeous Frieda.

The next day at school, Virgil is confronted by his main nemesis throughout the book a fire controlling thugs named Hotstreak. They both apparently share the same taste in women namely Frieda. Hotstreak’s thugs kidnap her from school at gunpoint. Virgil quickly changes to Static follows them straight to Hotstreak and a brawl occurs. Although they appear evenly matched, Virgil gets the upper hand until coming face to face with the villain. The confident showman is gone, and Static is shaking in his boots. Hotstreak trashes Static and leaves him and Frieda in disgusted. Does our hero have feet of clay? No, but he has come face to face with his worst nightmare, the bully who has been tormenting him for years who now has super powers. Frieda tries to comfort the fallen hero but then is shocked when his mask falls off. Static is her possible boyfriend Virgil.

The first issue of Static comes to an end and we don’t find out until next issue why Virgil was so afraid or get an origin for him. We later find out that both Virgil and Hotstreak got their powers on the same night. This will be referred to though the Milestone imprint as the Big Bang where rival gangs had massed to giant showdown or gangbang. Virgil is there only because he has decided to take a gun and kill his tormentor. Everyone at the event including Virgil is exposed to a strange gas that is used to break up the gang war. This prevents Virgil from acting on his plan to kill but gives him his powers instead. Static will learn to overcome his fear of his bully and go onto many more adventures until the end of Milestone. Static proves to be so popular with fans he makes the jump to Saturday morning and is finally back where he belongs in the DC universe. If you haven’t checked out Teen Titans lately that where you will find him which makes this Milestone fan very happy. Look for the upcoming Milestone Forever that will no doubt star the wise cracking hero.

To read more about the Milestone Imprint follow this link.


Check out my review of Milestone Forever here.