DC Comics has selected Marc Bernardin as the new writer of Static Shock, replacing John Rozum, who announced his departure from the relaunched title last month.

Bernardin, a former senior editor for Entertainment Weekly who co-wrote The Highwaymen and The Authority for DC, will join current artist/co-writer Scott McDaniel with March's Issue 7.

"As a Black comic book fan and as a father of Black children, it’s really important that people see themselves reflected in a media they like," Bernardin tells BET.com. "I remember growing up and looking at the Cosby Show for the first time and getting to look at people who were like me and doing things like I did, people who were my age going to college and studying for exams. I think for a long time, a Black kid picking up a comic book never got the chance to see himself, so I think that characters like Static are incredibly important."

Static Shock #2, by Rozum, McDaniel and Andy Owens, was released last week.

Update: Comic Book Resources talks with Bernardin about his plans for Static Shock.