One of the best DC Animated Universe shows is Static Shock, centering on Virgil Hawkins as the titular hero Static. Now, the young superhero is making his comics comeback, while his hit cartoon series is available to stream on HBO Max.
Even before he got his powers, Virgil had two things going for him: He was a genius, and he was never short of witty one-liners. Given his charismatic turns of phrase, it should not shock anyone that Static is one of the DCAU's most quotable heroes.
10 “The Name’s Static. I Put A Shock To Your System.”
One reason Static is such a great character is his charming wit. While he is quick with quips during his daily life as Virgil Hawkins, when he is in costume, all of his insecurities and awkwardness vanish.
Almost immediately after becoming a superhero, he introduces himself to his classmates with this line. It's not just charming, but it is basically branding himself and explaining his powers all at once.
9 “Either Use Slang Properly Or Don’t Use It At All.”
In the first episode of the series, when Static thwarts a group of burglars robbing an electronics a warehouse, he begins by causing the overhead lights to flicker and the unplugged TVs to turn on in their hands.
When he zaps one of the thieves so hard that the man is hurled back through the air, another asks “What the heck is up with that?” Static corrects him, “You mean, ‘what up wit that.’” He then delivers the prompt about proper use of slang.
8 “Bullets Don’t Discriminate Between Friends And Enemies, Virgil. They Hurt Everyone.”
One of the more tragic and relevant episodes of the series deals with a boy named Jimmy at Virgil’s school suffering chronic depression due to being constantly bullied. To retaliate against those victimizing him, Jimmy brings a gun with him to school. As other kids rushed Jimmy, the gun goes off and Virgil’s best friend Richie is shot.
While speaking with the school counselor, Virgil expresses his frustration and confusion that Richie was shot, despite Richie befriending Jimmy. Unfortunately, guns are tools that when mishandled can hurt anyone.
7 “The Nice Gangbangers Invited Me For Tea And Cookies.”
One of Virgil’s schoolmates is a gangbanger named Wade, a friend of Virgil’s who protects him from a school bully named Francis Stone (later to become the villain Hotstreak). After one such rescue, Wade insists that Virgil meet him in half an hour. Virgil protests that he has to meet his father at that time, but there is no arguing with a gangbanger as tough as Wade.
On his way to the meeting, Virgil tries out a few excuses for how he will explain his absence. While it seems unlikely that his father would believe such an excuse, far more concerning was Wade wanting to force Virgil to join his gang.
6 “Note To Self: Avoid Playing Catch With Flying Automobiles.”
As a superhero, Static encounters quite a lot of extreme situations. He fights against superpowered villains like the fiery Hotstreak and the darkness-powered Ebon.
While Static originally went after common criminals, he soon learned to adapt to battling people with superpowers. Unfortunately, there appears to be quite a learning curve.
5 “It’s Okay To Feel Angry, Virgil. It’s What We Do With That Anger That’s Important.”
One reason Static Shock was such an important show was that it dealt with real-world issues. Racism, bullying, gang violence, gun violence, learning disabilities, and economic injustice were just some of the topics the show tackled.
Part of dealing with real issues is also acknowledging the real emotional impact caused by these problems. Rage is a common and reasonable response to all of the above issues. Learning how to process such anger is an important skill for both surviving and confronting such hardships.
4 "I’ve Been Carrying This Weight Around With Me All My Life Without Knowing It, And Now It’s Gone.”
The episode “Static in Africa” deals with important themes about the African diaspora’s effects, including many effects and the emotional experience many Black people feel upon returning to the continent from which their ancestors came.
After explaining the weight lifted from him while on the phone with his friend Richie (who is white), Virgil continues, saying, “In Africa, I’m not a Black kid. I’m just a kid. Is this what it’s like for you all the time?”
3 "You’re Not Dumb! Look What You’ve Made Of Yourself. A Hero. A Famous Musician. But You Can’t Give In. You Said You Can Read. It Just Takes Some Work. Do The Work.”
One of the most interesting characters of the series is Adam Evans, a rapper who was given elasticity powers during the Big Bang and who forged a new identity for himself as Rubberband Man to get even with the record executives who stole from him. He eventually reforms and returns to his career in music, but he has further struggles, some of which are caused by his dyslexia.
Those who have learning disabilities often have to work harder to achieve results than people who don't. Adam Evans had been taught specific techniques to help him read but still struggled. Static’s encouragement proves a great help by acknowledging the struggles, but also that Evans has the ability to persevere.
2 “That Kind Of Hate Feeds On Itself.”
Virgil’s best friend Richie is a cool, laid-back, gun-loving guy. He is a loyal friend and his moral compass always points true north. Unfortunately, Richie's dad is openly racist, something Virgil learns the hard way when he goes to Richie's house for dinner.
Hate fueled by ignorance is self-perpetuating and cannot be reasoned with, as it is not rooted in logic. Virgil’s father sits him down and explains this, but that does not make the racism any less painful.
1 “How Are You Feeling, Virgil?” / “You Know? I Guess You Really Are The World’s Greatest Detective.”
There are numerous cameos on Static Shock as Virgil meets other DC superheroes, including Superman, Green Lantern, and Batman. During his second team-up with the Dark Knight, Static is knocked unconscious while fighting Poison Ivy.
He comes to in the Batcave, at which point Batman addresses him by his civilian name and asks how he is doing. Batman may be the world’s greatest detective, but his methods are revealed when he holds up Virgil’s ID card. Batman then warns him not to carry ID while in costume.