As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Scott McDaniel and John Rozum bring Static Shock back to the DC Universe! The brilliant, yet slightly awkward high school student Virgil Hawkins transforms into the cocky electromagnetic hero Static! A mysterious tragedy forces the Hawkins family to relocate from Dakota to New York City and Virgil must start all over again in a new high school, as well as a new internship at S.T.A.R. Labs. But is he ready to take on the new villains who lurk in New York City's underworld?
For something that's supposed to be a new jumping on point and the reboot of the universe in New 52, this references a ton of events that happened in the past without explaining them. Somehow Static's sister has been cloned and it's a major ongoing plot that's barely explained. The rest of the book is largely forgettable. The writer, John Rozum, was fired early on and it's clear that Scott McDaniel isn't much of a writer. I wasn't a fan of how McDaniel got rid of the manhole covers Static would ride around on either. That was a cool look that's missing now. The last 2 issues that Marc Bernardin wrote were better but at that point the book had already been cancelled.
The majority of the tone felt right (at least compared to what I remember from the Static Shock tv show when I was a kid) but the opening was jarring. As a reboot, I was expecting if not an origin story then some kind of foundation in the beginning but we don't get that with this. Readers get thrown straight into the deep end and left to figure out things like why Virgil's sister has a clone and, if you're unfamiliar with most Static villains, who all these people are. I also wondered why Richie doesn't make an appearance. Sigh.
The unfortunate thing, aside from the fact that this version of Static was canceled after 8 issues (all of which are collected herein), is that while I followed along pretty well for the first few issues, later on it got a bit disjointed and confusing. Meh. And the pseudo-Joker guy: is it the Joker or not? We'll never know. Thanks, cancellation.
Having just read the original Static Shock by Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington, I then compared it with DC's "New 52" reboot. The new series only lasted for eight issues before being cancelled and Static becoming a B-lister in the Teen Titans. This volume collects those eight issues.
Although Static is now a DC character, no other DC characters show up in his series; the only noticeable connection to the DC universe is Virgil Hawkins working for S.T.A.R. Labs, which as usual, is a constant source of interdimensional explosions and new supervillains.
There is also a psycho clown-faced henchman called the Pale Man who gets very violent when you suggest that he looks like a certain other psycho clown-faced villain.
I found many of the storylines somewhat confusing, like the way the Hawkins have moved from Dakota (the fictitious city that was Static's original hometown) to New York City, and oh yes, Virgil's sister Sharon was kidnapped by unknown forces and cloned.
Most of the first few issues are Static vs. a large gang of high-tech thugs and disposable supervillains who decided they have to kill Static before proceeding with their master plans for all the usual stupid reasons. The Big Bad is a dim-witted thug called Joey Piranha who is... a human piranha. Of course there are Bigger Bads above him. And there is a big final battle involving Static and his mentor from Dakota, Hardware, and a new supervillainess who's just a misunderstood homeless girl who was mutated for no good reason, and Virgil's cloned sisters. And an evil genius super-scientist and a guy trapped between dimensions.
Basically, typical superhero silliness and without the extensive background mythology to give it resonance, it was just Static exchanging fire with the supervillain of the day. Static himself is slick and well-drawn, with his electromagnetic powers that tend to let him do whatever the plot requires. A DC/Marvel crossover with Static vs. Magneto would be kind of cool.
The final issues were definitely running out of steam, with the last issue being Static stopping a girl who somehow acquired superpowers because she was... bullied? And gay? So Static had to convince her not to kill her tormentors. And then he spends the rest of the issue being interrogated by a school guidance counselor and flashbacking on his entire life history.
DC acquired a pretty good character with Static, but they definitely didn't use him to his full potential. And there were so many logic gaps in the storylines, from a lack of motivation for villains' actions to the way Static just lets bad guys run away because the fight is over, to the way other villains can somehow be watching him from a few feet away and he never notices. And of course those monologues in the middle of a battle. Like you'd have time to give long-winded speeches while running around and dodging fire. There was nothing here that rose above conventional comic book tropes.
The main problem with this comic is that it fails at what the New 52 is intended to do. The actual plot of this volume is perfectly fine. The dialogue wasn't great. The art is fine. The style wouldn't be my preference for this book, but there aren't any distracting technical problems. I do think that the quality is much better in the first few issues of this volume than it is by the end. Overall, I would normally consider this comic a three.
However, this comic should be introducing new readers to Static, which it fails to do. When I started reading this comic, I hadn't thought about Static in probably at least five years. I am familiar with the character, but I have not read a comic with him in it for a long time. Even though I remembered some things about the character, I was pretty confused. It isn't until a few issues in that basic origin information is explained. While someone like Batman or Superman can skip the background information, Static is not a familiar enough character for the writers to just bypass an issue of explanation.
It felt like this volume had some stories in between what was presented, leaving me with some questions. This made it feel jumpy. I know that sometimes comic arcs have "interruptions" where the main character does a team up with other characters, or they have one-off issues, all which are then referenced in the main arc. This may have been the culprit, not sure. So as a volume 1, piggybacking something that came before, I admit I was lost. What exactly happened to Sharon, and why? How did Virgil truly play a part in it? And why would the family think moving to New York was the answer? (<-- I know that the answer is technically revealed, but come on. The parents just trusted Hardware? Why?). What was nice is the dynamic between Virgil as everyday boy genius versus Virgil as teen superhero Static was nice reading. The entire tale as a whole is quite different than the animated series, which is how I was introduced to the character. I try not to have a bias based on this fact. The flashback scenes of his origin were nice, especially since some of the dialogue (monologue) is verbatim. For a reboot, it's alright. I have a problem with it because they're making his relationship with Hardware more like Robin's to Batman. That cliche is tired. Virgil doesn't need a surrogate father.
This didn't feel like a volume one collection. There's a whole lot of backstory that has happened before the first page, and although some of it is explained in passing, most of it is left unexplained. It's not hugely detrimental to the overall story though. And the story is one of the better reads in the New 52. It's fairly focused, with memorable villains, and Static Shock is actually a pretty good hero. Creative use of his powers, a willingness to use science terms, and a focus on family and work as much as his powers makes him one of the most grounded characters, ironically. Although the book does have a tendency to skip around a bit, occasionally feeling like pages are missing, it may just be that it doesn't feel the need to talk down to its audience as much as most comics do. Refreshing.
I'm sure if I'd read the old series I would understand what's going on here better, but I dunno if I would have liked it any better. (For a title that's supposed to be a point to introduce new readers to the character, this one sure assumes the readers have a lot of knowledge of the character's past.) This character has a lot going for him - science nerd gets strange powers from freak accident, spends a lot of time trying to make everyone at school think he's "normal", fights bad guys with a combination of superpowers and witty banter. Sound like any spider-related guys you know? But the writing and the artwork make the story so hard to follow. Not surprised at all that this title has already been cancelled by DC.
Look how they massacred my boy. Read the Milestone or Milestone 2.0 runs instead, please skip this teririble nonsense. Doesn’t even take place in Dakota, and Static ditches manhole covers. This is truly awful, except the last two issues, which were kinda fun.
With the reboot of the DC Universe it made sense to bring back some of the former Milestone Comics, as DC now owns he rights to those properties, and the one with the highest name recognition from his former animated show is Static. This TPB collects all eight issues as two unfortunate events doomed this relaunch.
The first, and most important issue was insufficient sales to keep the title going. Regardless of what else has happened with DC's relaunch there was at least an attempt at diversity (non-whites and women) heading up solo titles or teams. The second issue happened when it was announced online that writer John Rozum chose to leave the title. Rozum wrote the very good Midnight Mass and Xombi a cult hit. He worked for Milestone when it first existed. But, he said the artist was overriding his scripts, and the editor chose to back the artist.
The Rozum issues show an attempt to lay long running plot threads (Static's sister had been kidnapped and cloned) and interesting Federal undercover agent (who the gangs think is the Joker) and Static actually goes to a school for gifted youth and has an internship and a job (something I've done so nice touch). When the emphasis switches to fight scenes and fast resolutions of plot threads is I think where you see Rozum's work tossed aside.
A good, but not great read. If you like Static, either the original run or the animated show, give this a shot.
Good intentions bogged down by a confusing plot. DC is trying to make Static the Spider-Man of their universe. He's got loads of enemies, plenty of friends and sidekicks with secret pasts, and more one-liners than The Big Bang Theory. Too often they all get in the way of each other. It's hard to follow who is who and why they are doing what. Two of the first three cliffhangers are pretty much the same. Static Shock is trying really hard to be something different. It all adds up to a lot of the same old, same old.
I started reading New 52 to get familiar with all aspects of DC, so I had no idea who Static is and I still have not. I only saw him in a couple episodes of Young Justice and was pretty exited to read his origin story in detail but this comic didn't give me what I wanted. I read the whole thing without knowing who is who. I guess I'll have to wait for rebirth for an origin story.
DC tries to integrate Static Shock into their New 52 continuity with very mixed results. Ok, not mixed, really bad. I had no idea what was going on throughout this. It's Static Shock Volume 1 Issues 1, but I feel like there's been 10 years of history for this character, the way the backstory and mythos is already established. It was a barrier getting into the Static Shock stories the entire way through. So much for a reboot or getting new readers...
The first six issues of the comic try to establish a long hierarchy of villains through some crazy network. There's even a Joker-ripoff in the mix! After the first arc is over, the writers must have gotten the letter that the series was canceled, because the last two issues (7 and 8) just phone it in, with lame plots and one-off villains, one of which they don't even bother to name.
Basically, avoid this even if you're a fan of the Static Shock show that was on when I was growing up. The art is basic and juvenile, the plot is razor thing, and the whole thing is thoughtless. Besides from cameos from Hardware, this is nothingness in paper. It sucks too, because the Static Shock character is one DC could do so much with. Oh well.
Well, I've read a lot of The New 52 by this point and while some of them fall short of being good this is the first one I've read that was a total and utter dudd. Static was new to me; I'd never even heard of him, but I've had fun meeting plenty of new-to-me heroes through The New 52. Static was mostly a very boring story with new made up villains just for this series and it felt like it didn't even belong to the DC universe. There were no connections with anyone or anywhere else, except for two very slight insignificant items. I really had to force myself to continue reading this and finish it. Static is a pretty arrogant kid too, not very likable and I wasn't even partial to the art. You can skip this one and you'll miss out on nothing.
Ok story. The action jumps right in, you find some weird stuff about his sisters, and while this story seems to be about resolving some major issues from the past, you aren't even really introduced to how it all began until near the end in flashbacks. I ca understand that if this was some book I got in to late, but I kinda expected more background in the new 52.
3.5 stars I didn't know what to expect with this. It was a fun read although pretty confusing because most things weren't explained very well tbh. I thought having watched the show and read the original series would maybe fill in the gaps, but they really didn't...
Kudos to the new team for penning a new Static adventure, praise to them for the things I liked and no shade to or harshness intended fo the things I don't. Different strokes as they say...
Plenty of action and adventure. I dig the new suit and flying discs that change shape based on his needs. The tech upgrades made possible by his ally Hardware and his internship at S.T.A.R. Labs is interesting, and Virgil/Static is just as devoted to his family as he ever was.
But as a longtime reader of at least half of the original 90s run by McDuffie, I admit, I miss Virgil's friends and his dedication to the community of Dakota and the overall magic that the cartoon and original run had. Virgil/Static still cares about people no matter where he is but it just feels weird with him in NYC. The villains are whatever, although the reveal that the Pale Man is an undercover cop struggling with his identity possibly due to watered down Joker Gas (?) was mildly interesting. But the Piranha crime boss is meh (and over uses the word punks a lot for my taste idk it just stood out), and all of the villains ... they just take up space to me. They're so uninteresting to me that I can't really describe them. I don't mean that to be a cop out on being specific or constructive but it's just my impression after reading the book. It feels like all this super-mob stuff is just busy work.
Admittedly I didn't read the early Teen Titans tie-ins. I heard Static's last adventure before this book took a toll on him. Things get a little interesting with Sharon and the fact that she's got a clone but neither knows which is the original anymore. It would've been interesting to read more of how this impacted the Hawkins family with the superhero stuff being the B-plot, it's not balanced that well for me. Also, the writing team doesn't know Hardware, he doesn't speak like he usually does and feels like a totally different character which really bugged me.
I like how they integrate Virgil's past in Dakota although it comes too late for me and maybe the story would've benefited from those reflections and reveals coming in earlier issues. Static is still a big nerd and it's fun to read his thoughts as he uses his cleverness to solve crimes, and it's cool seeing him feel more comfortable in his own skin having lived in Dakota, that was fascinating.
All in all the book was fine and I think the NYC adventures carry it and get a little better later when things get more personal for his family. They tried new things it's just for me they didn't all work. I honestly think that if the Hawkins family dynamics took center stage like the investigation into Sharon's clone which then bleeds into the NYC underworld gaining power it would have made for a more interesting book. Not to be funny but I think the book lacked some of Static's classic soul. He fights villains, sure, but his personal life is just as if not more interesting than him being a super hero. Glad the book exists and there's still things to enjoy about it. If you're new to Static entirely, you might even love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Album zawiera zeszyty z serii Static Shock #1-8 (2011).
Inicjatywa New 52 miała służyć odkurzeniu postaci, które zostały już dawno zapomniane w annałach komiksów ze stajni DC. Jakim więc było moim zdziwieniem, kiedy dostajemy sporo tytułów traktujących o postaciach, o których nie miałem pojęcia, iż istnieją.
I Vergil, tytułowy Static jest postacią, ktora spokojnie mogła być lepsza, gdyby trafiła w inne ręce niż Pana MC Daniela i spółki, bo zwyczajnie nie wiedzą oni jak robi się dobrą fabułę. Wszystko mamy robione wokół jednego schematu, na domiar złego przygody Statica to na pewno nie początek, tylko jakąś tam kontynuacja, więc bohater ma bagaż doświadczeń, o których się tu pobieżnie dowiadujemy, co przekłada się na rozumienie tego produktu. Mało tego. Skróty myślowe. Fabuła ma pełno dziur, tak jakby coś jeszcze miało miejsce pomiędzy poszczególnymi zeszytami, ale autor nie spieszy się z wyjaśnieniami co i jak.
Najgorszy sposób w tym wypadku na wyjaśnienie? Domyśl się sam. Nie muszę, tym bardziej że przygody Vergila nie porywają. Owszem, przewija się tu cała masa postaci, z których najbardziej cenię sobie Piranię i tę dziewczynę od żyletek zamiast włosów, ale reszta jest zrobiona na jedno kopyto, z bardzo słabymi dialogami.
O dziwo nie mogę tego rzec też o kresce. Mimo, że bohater absurdalnie porusza się za pomocą płytek i statyczności, tak już same użycie mocy wygląda naprawdę przyjemnie.
Niczego po Static Shocku się nie spodziewałem, a i tak się nieco zawiodłem. Nie jest to co prawda całkowita kaszanka, ale też mierna z niego lektura.
Integrated into DC Comics via the New 52 era, Virgil Hawkins and his superhero alter-ego Static were part of the initial line-up of 52 comics launched after the series-wide reboot. This doesn't mean there's guest appearances by other characters, just mentions of Captain Atom and Hawkman, while STAR Labs is where Virgil works in New York. Yes, he's no longer in Detroit after his family moved following an incident which saw sister Sharon cloned. It's a pretty big plot-point to throw into what's meant to be a jumping on point for new readers. It's all part of the main story, as Virgil battles a high-tech gang and a villainous group intent on creating more superpowered beings, and there's something involving a portal. It's a disjointed and shoddily written tale which has interesting ideas, yet it cannot mold them into a solid tale and feels off in how it depicts things. It's particularly glaring how ugly Static's new look is, as it tries too hard to be "high-tech" when it's just an ill-fitting part of this mismatched run. For a great take on the character, you'd be better off reading Static: Season One and Rebirth of the Cool.
A new take on static shock, this volume reintroduced the character and rewrote his backstory well. Fans of the tv show and old comics will love the reimagining as it pays homage to the original character yet gives a new feel for his personality. Virgil Hawkins is still smart, funny and learning all about being a hero but he's older and wiser in this comic for sure. Unlike typical teenage hero stories this isn't angst ridden or hormone focused. The comic is filled with real action and plot devices that let's you see just how smart and developed the character is. My only gripe is that the story of Sharon and Alkalie seemed less fleshed out than the rest, as if there was an issue left out of the collection or something. It is definitely a story line worth looking into for sure. I went into this expecting nothing from the new 52 but I had an itch for static shock and this hit the spot!
DC Comics "New 52" initiative launched with so many titles that it's easy to yawn at some of the more unfamiliar characters. The character of Static is one of those characters--teen boy exposed to radiation, gaining powers having something to do with electricity. If an 8th grader came up with the character as part of an assignment, the student would be scolded for writing something so derivative.
But the New 52 Static, aka high school student Virgil Hawkins, is surprisingly readable. The artwork in this first volume is lovely and the stories mostly clear and entertaining. But the standout of the series is Static's personality, which really shines. The collection is worth a look.
Static Shock could be a special character and series. This book was anything but special. I felt like you could read any of the eight issues in any order and get the same out of it. Tons of random villains show up with unclear motives and we're never given anything to make that any better. As a New 52 book you would have thought this would be the fresh start this character could thrive from but that's not the case. It reads like there are missing chapters. Scott McDaniel's penciled look rushed and more similar to his very early work. Overall, this book was a disaster.
I'm normally a fan of Scott Mcdaniel's art, but the inking was very uncomplimentary for this series.
The plot was confusing. I couldn't tell if this was continuing previous storylines or not. There were some interesting ideas, but it was all executed very poorly.
Good color artwork. Good page count, no shrinkflation here. The creative team really did their homework on conceptual design. A black teenage superhero is trying to make it in new york. You might want to read the big bang first?