At long last, a post about something comics-related that makes me happy!
I read the Static Shock one-shot this weekend, and I’m pleased to report that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a bit of an impulse purchase, but I wanted to get a taste of the character in advance of the ongoing series. My pull list has been decimated, and aside from Supergirl, all my favourite female characters are gone (and I’m still not convinced on Supergirl). A black teenage boy lead comes along, well, never in DC, and what I’ve heard about him has made me curious. So I sat up and paid attention when I saw his book announced. I’ve kicked myself in the past for not checking out a new character before their book was cancelled after a short run, and I don’t want to miss out again. I’m always drawn to characters who inhabit in their own little corner of the DCU, and I’m hoping Static Shock will fill that niche.
I am a newcomer to Static’s story, and I found the story succeeded in showing me just enough of Virgil Hawkins and his world to decide that I liked what I saw and want to learn more. I’m a bit sad that Virgil will leave most of his supporting cast behind when the series relocates him to New York. I really wanted to read more about his family.
Writer John Rozum on the Static announcement:
[T]he tough thing in moving Static to NYC was losing the supporting cast as well as the easy availability of the other Milestone characters who inhabit Dakota. They aren’t forgotten though. At least one other Milestone character will appear in issue #1. Frieda and the others have not been forgotten.
As a special that ended up being a tribute to Dwayne McDuffie (badly handled by DC as it was), I found it worked just as well for someone coming in cold. Felicia Henderson’s story is suitably touching and fateful, yet ultimately hopeful. It’s a shame that the first series that she was successful in pitching (after being turned down on numerous things by Dan Didio, apparently), she didn’t get to at least co-write with the more experienced John Rozum. Her enthusiasm in the first announcement of the ongoing in January is infectious. I’m just glad they made a Milestone creator lead writer.
I found myself charmed by Virgil, and he’s got that teen science-genius thing going on. Rozum promises that they’re “trying to really work with Virgil’s intelligence and scientific knowledge so there will be a more science fiction based aspect to much of what happens here.” Sign me up!
The only exposure I had to Static was through the animated tv show(which I thought was amazingly good). Would a fan of the show like this book? :I
I’m afraid I can’t say, because I am one of the few people who never saw the TV show! You’ll probably be more interested in looking into ongoing series. I bought the special deliberately as a primer on Static.