Static (DC Comics)

Static Shock #1 trailer

DC Comics Static Shock #1 promotional trailer by Scott McDaniel.

Static as he appears in Terror Titans promo,
artist Joe Bennett

Static is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comicsand a member of the Teen Titans. He is an original character from Milestone Comics, which was distributed and promoted by DC Comics but not originally owned or developed by them. Static first appears in Static #1 (June 1993) and was created by Dwayne McDuffie, Robert L. Washington III, and John Paul Leon.

Publication history

An African American teen, Static was a key character of Milestone Comics, an independently-owned imprint of DC Comics with a greater representation of minority heroes. Dwayne McDuffie has stated that the creation of Static was a group effort. Originally developed for Marvel Comics, Static would become a main staple of the Milestone line. Much of the inspiration for Static’s character came from Marvel’s Spider-Man. When initially creating the first five characters for Milestone Comics, it was decided that Static would be created as a teenage hero who was a contemporary version of Spider-Man.   Static’s civilian identity was named after a black man who was denied entrance to the University of Florida’s law school in 1949.   Milestone ceased publishing comics in 1997 but Static was saved from obscurity by the WB animated series Static Shock, which aired for four seasons and led to the 2001 comic book miniseries Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool; The 2009 trade paperback of this series was nominated for a Glyph Comics Award for Best Reprint Collection.

McDuffie described the character:

“Like any other awkward 15 year-old, Virgil Hawkins worries about pocket money, getting beaten up, and drugs. But recently, he’s had even more on his mind: stuff like his powers, his secret identity, and drugs. Because, when innocents are in danger, and Virgil can slip away from class, the geeky youth becomes Static, the dashing, adventurous superhero!”

The character was introduced in one of the first four titles of comic books published by Milestone in 1993, founded by Derek T. Dingel, Denys Cowan, Dwayne McDuffie, and Michael Davis. His early adventures were written by Robert L. Washington III and McDuffie, and penciled by John Paul Leon. Virgil Hawkins was fifteen years old when he became Static. In the comics, Virgil’s family consists of his father, who works at Paris Island Hospital; his mother; and his sister, Sharon. Virgil attends Ernest Hemingway High School in the city of Dakota with his friends: Frieda Goren, Richard “Rick” Stone, Larry Wade, Chuck, Felix, and Daisy Watkins. In the guise of Static, Virgil eventually rescues “Rick Stone” from gay bashing. Not unlike Spider-Man, the character has a propensity for witty banter and humor, especially when engaged with opponents. In addition, Virgil utilizes his knowledge of science and pop culture in various battles and scenarios as Static.

A self-professed geek, Virgil is portrayed as avid comic book and video game fan, something that was retained for his DCAU incarnation. In the comics, Virgil regularly visits the local comic store, in addition to creating fan comics with his friends, and participates in HeroClix-style and other tabletop RPG games. In addition, he has been shown to be an avid video gamer at several points in both his series and the Teen Titans.   In the 2001 miniseries, Static Shock: The Rebirth of the Cool, it is shown that at that point in time, Virgil is into collecting Pokémon cards and he likes Pikachu (the flagship Pokémon of the franchise and a fellow user of electricity).

In an interview with former Teen Titans writer Geoff Johns, he expressed interest in having Static as part of the team, stating, “I really wanted Static on the team, but there’s so much red tape there that every time I requested it DC said ‘not yet’ and so I never got to have him” and later stating he had plans for the character since Teen Titans #1 (vol. 3).   Any obstructions were eventually resolved and Static appeared in the Terror Titans, with his Milestone continuity folded in the mainstream New Earthcontinuity

At the San Diego Comic-Con 2008, it was announced that Static would be joining the mainstream DC Universe where he would be added to the Teen Titans. Static made his first canonical DC Universe appearance in Terror Titans #4, battling Rose Wilson in the final round of the Dark Side Club Tournament.

In June 2010, DC Comics announced that Static would be receiving his own series in 2011.   The series was to be written by Felicia Henderson and drawn by Scott McDaniel, but was cancelled before the first issue could be released following the death of Static’s creator, Dwayne McDuffie.   However, a one-shot entitled Static Shock Special was released in June 2011, written by Henderson and drawn by Denys Cowan. Batwoman artist JH Williams III provided the one-shot’s cover.   A new Static Shockwas launched in September 2011 as part of DC’s relaunch after the Flashpoint event. The book is written by John Rozum and drawn by Scott McDaniel, who also co-writes.   As part of an effort to better integrate Static into the mainstream DCU, the title takes place in New York City rather than Dakota.

Fictional character biography – Milestone Universe

Doused with an experimental chemical in a gang war he was caught up in, high school student Virgil Ovid Hawkins gains a variety of electromagnetic powers and becomes a costumed crusader against crime. Like most teenaged heroes in the Spider-Man mold, he is often overwhelmed by the combined responsibilities of his career as a superhero and typical adolescent problems.

Virgil first gained his electromagnetic powers at a huge showdown between the gangs of the city, when he hoped to get revenge on a gang member who had been bullying him. The authorities arrive and release tear gas with what they believe to be a harmless radioactive marker so that any gang members would not escape arrest. The cops do not know the marker had been further spiked with an experimental mutagen called Quantum Juice (Q-Juice). This event ultimately came to be known as the so-called “Big Bang.” Those who were exposed came to be referred to as “Bang Babies” because the Big Bang was their metahuman birth.

When the agency behind the experiment tried to capture him, he fights back, discovering that he has gained the ability to generate, manipulate, and control electromagnetism. Virgil names himself “Static” and, armed with his wits and powers, became a superhero. For the most part, Virgil keeps his secret from his family, but his friend, Frieda Goren, learns his identity when he attempts to protect her from becoming a prize in a small skirmish between gangs.

Virgil has had a romantic interest in his friend Frieda Goren but she was already involved with Larry Wade. He has feelings for a girl named Daisy Watkins, but his ‘responsibilities’ as Static interfere with their dates too many times and Daisy calls their relationship off. In Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool, Virgil is involved with a girl named Madison, but Frieda ends up fighting with her over him.

Static has had confrontations with numerous Bang-Babies and other super powered adversaries: Francis Stone/Hotstreak,Tarmack, Leonard Smalls/Holocaust/Pyre, Commando X, Puff, Coil, Snakefingers, Fred Benson/Rift, The Swarm, Dr. Kilgore, The Rubberband Man, Brat-atat-tat, Prometheus, Run, Jump & Burn, Boom Box, Powerfist, Laserjet etc. Other Bang-Babies that Static has encountered include Virus, Damon Briggs/D-Struct, and Hyacinth.

Other heroes

Later in the comic line, Static is aided by allies: the Shadow Cabinet, the Blood Syndicate, and DCPD officer Captain Summers, who has a big interest in police cases involving Bang-Babies. Static teams up with Page, the sidekick to Kobalt, in order to stop a maddened Bang-Baby who had become half-fly. Static takes a moment to scold Page, who, in his opinion, seems more concerned with making excuses over their initial meet up than what was more important, stopping the danger.

Static ends up joining the unofficial group called Heroes. Multiple superheroes come together to protect the town of Iberia from a dam break. Many innocent citizens perish, but the heroes are still recognized for their efforts in saving the survivors and doing what they could. Static appears among the group, quips “You started the X-Men without me,” and talks his way onto the team. Minutes later, the Shadow Cabinet, now corrupt, sends a death squad after a few of his newfound friends.