Andrea Romano Week: Static Shock

Welcome one and all to Day 2 of Andrea Romano Week and I thought we tackle an obscure superhero in the making.  In the fictional city of Dakota (creation of DC comics affiliated with Milestone Media, a coalition of African American artists and writers that felt minorities were less than represented in America comics) lurks a meta-human teenager with the abilities to control electrical currents creating, absorbing and controlling both electricity and magnetic fields i.e. static energy.   Our young 14 year old decides in his ultimate wisdom to don a garish costume and fight supervillains and use his power for good according to his set of morals and conduct (no pun intended).  This is Static Shock.

How do I kick your butt? Let me count the ways.

Static: I put a shock to your spoiler!










Like any typical high school we have the popular kids, the geeks, the gangs and the loners.  Virgil Hawkins (Phil LaMarr of The George Carlin Show, Free Enterprise, MADtv, Invader ZIM, Justice League, Samurai Jack, Justice League Unlimited and Afro Samurai) is a gifted intelligent kid trying to not make waves, go with the flow and chase after the popular girl when he gets jumped by F-Stop (Danny Cooksey of Need for Speed: Underground, Medal of Hour: Pacific Assault, Dave the Barbarian, Invader ZIM and What's with Andy) a swaggering twerp that has not figured out a belt because his pants are damn near at his knees.  His gang is looking to slap Virgil around because... well they're punks and don't really need a reason.   Another gang lead by Wade (Omar Gooding of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Smart Guy, Baby Boy and The Gospel) treats Virgil like one of his own but wants him to roll with his crew or he'll stop protecting him in school and the streets.

Later that night Virgil joins up with Wade's crew, is given a gun and told to represent as both gangs are ready to rumble.   Hiding out in a restricted area, police helicopters spot both gangs distributing lead at one another and also open up on them releasing some sort of gas that caused these kids to mutate and develop powers.  Virgil caught also by the gas develops his electrostatic powers and becomes Static.  Most of the Bang Babies go villain and since Dakota is lacking a SCU (Special Crimes Unit for superpowered beings and villains) he feels he needs to help the police.   Our young teen slowly collects a rogue gallery that commonly team up on him or go after him solo but he gets some help now and then from say... Batman, Superman and the rest of the Justice League.

Dude, I don't rag on your threads so ease off mine.

His best friend Richie Foley (Jason Marsden of Justice League, Codename: Kids Next Door, Teen Titans, Xiaolin Showdown and Kim Possible) went looking for him during the "Big Bang" and was also exposed to the gas and developed an enhanced intelligence devising tech for non-lethal combatant and capture calling himself Gear, creating devices for Static such as his saucer he can fly on with magnetism, shock caps (stunners previously charged and power stored) and walkie talkies known as Shock Vox.  Our two young heroes have their work cut out for them as they still have every problem a teenager could have.  This show covered a lot of issues including: racism, rap and how various people view it, parents' discipline and responsibilities.  Aside from a hip intro music brought to you by Lil' Romero which you cannot get out of your head with the Men in Black Neuralizer, cotton swabs or the Necronomicon, this show deserves credit for the work and voice work put into it.

 
Andrea Romano had cast Phil LaMarr in Justice League for what he calls Charlton Heston meets Richard Roundtree voice for Green Lantern John Stewart.  Romano asked him what was his range of voices and found he could manage a young man's voice and snared him for Static Shock toot sweet.   Didn't hurt the fact that LaMarr was impressed with the episodes and the messages getting out there on Saturday Morning Cartoons.

Yeah, we look dumb but I can still roast you.