One of the iconic founding members of the groundbreaking Dakotaverse from the Milestone Comics imprint, Static has become one of the most engaging modern additions to the DC Universe. His success has carried him from comic books to a couple of different animated series and back.
Even with the character's success - and truly he is one of the few 90s characters to endure so well - there's still a distinct gap between how cool Static is and how much appreciation there is for him. The more fans learn, the more they like him, so here are ten things fans should know about Static.
10 Based On Spider-Man
When Milestone Comics founders Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle were brainstorming what would become the Dakotaverse back in 1992 and 1993, they wanted some of their characters to echo the classic archetypes of others, like Icon does Superman. For Static, the founders wanted a young, witty hero like Spider-Man. Virgil Hawkins mirrors Peter Parker in his snappy banter and generally cheery outlook on things, though their respective routes to becoming superheroes couldn't be more different.
9 "Static" Electricity
When the Milestone creators were coming up with Static, they quickly latched onto the idea of the Spider-Man archetype. They arrived equally quickly at his name - and it all has to do with a James Brown song. Writer Christopher Priest (who developed the original Milestone bible with Dwayne McDuffie) was a fan of the James Brown number "Static" and suggested the name right away. There also seems to be some correlation between Static's eventual animated series costume and some James Brown outfits, especially in the shades.
8 Shocking Powers
Static exhibits the ability to generate and control electromagnetic fields. He's essentially a living superconductor, able to magnetize objects, electrocute opponents (but nicely), and levitate objects. All of that would be enough for most heroes, but Static's agency over his power extends far beyond that. He can emit surges of electricity, or drain objects of their power. His power even allows him control of electronic devices; he can tap into phone lines and eavesdrop on potential bad guys. Static commented on the odd fact that so many DC African-American heroes have electrical-based powers in a crossover with Black Lightning.
7 Grounded
Static's power makes him a very serious problem for most villains, but as anyone who has encountered the warning label on any electrical appliance hopefully knows, there are ways to avoid being shocked.
Any material or person that is grounded or insulated against electric surges renders him basically powerless. Such is the case with the villain Rubberband Man, who is more or less elastic rubber and fought him in the comics and Static Shock animated series. Normal everyday wood also creates challenges for Static.
6 What's In A Name?
Static's superhero name came quickly to the Milestone creative team, but within the comic book itself, he had quite a few different handles. Virgil was known by different street names before and after his transformation in the Big Bang incident that gave him his powers. Among them were "Kilowatt Kid," "Sparky," "V-man," and "Virg." The character's actual name is a nod to a real-life Virgil Hawkins, an African-American man denied entry into the University of Flordia School of Law in 1949.
5 Travels In Style
Static proved adept at levitating any magnetic object, and this would become his signature mode of transportation. Early on in the comic book series, he levitated the lids of trash cans or manhole covers, turning them into makeshift hoverboards. Later on, and particularly in the Static Shock animated series, he crafted his own saucer-like board that he flies around the city of Dakota on (or later in the New 52, New York City). Who needs a Batmobile when you've got electromagnetic powers?
4 Part Of The Teen Titans
After the Milestone Forever comics event in 2010 that integrated the Dakotaverse characters into the larger DC universe (as the Charlton and Wildstorm characters had previously been), Static joined the Teen Titans. He was a perfect fit for the team, fighting alongside Aquagirl, Wonder Girl, and Bombshell, among others. Static has always proved a team player in comics and other media. During the original Milestone Comics run, he was briefly part of the Heroes team, but the comic ended after a short run in 1997.
3 Animated Hero
Static also routinely teamed up with the Justice League during his hugely popular and acclaimed Kids WB animated series that ran for 52 episodes from 2000-2004. At first, the idea was that Static would remain distinct from DC continuity as he had in the comics, but the creative team worried that would be confusing given the broader DC animated universe at the time.
Static and his friend Gear would pair up with members of the league more than a few times, and Static would go on to appear in an episode of Justice League Unlimited.
2 Cover Controversy
The original Milestone Comics imprint in and of itself was groundbreaking, with its focus on a mostly African-American superhero universe. The Dakotaverse regularly pushed boundaries on depictions of gang violence, social issues, and sexuality. One place they ran into interference from DC - who had agreed to remain hands-off and only distribute the books - was the cover for Static #25. The cover depicted Static and his girlfriend in a passionate embrace, with condoms visible beside them. DC forced Milestone to alter the cover to remove the condoms, which led to a blistering editorial page rebuttal from McDuffie.
1 Revival
With the exception of Static, the majority of the Dakotaverse characters have been in a kind of limbo since the imprint shuttered in 1997. Numerous announcements have been made over the years promising their return, but little movement has been made. That's why it was great when Static returned to action with the New 52 reboot of DC continuity in 2011. Static remains active in the still-evolving DC Multiverse, but the Milestone characters remain mostly sidelined. Hopefully, that's about to change.