Warning: Spoilers for Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #2!DC Comics' Milestone imprint continues to take a different approach to the star of Static Shock compared to the cartoon. Static's debut in the comics took place in 1993, but the animated series that popularized him debuted in 2000. DC doesn't tend to let its on-screen media influence the comics, unlike Marvel. As a result, DCAU fans may be shocked by the differences between the Static comics and Static Shock cartoon.
Among the biggest differences between Static Shock and Static is the character's position in relation to family, which readers are reminded of in Milestone Universe: The Cabinet of Shadows #2 by Joseph P. Illidge, Darryl Banks, Atagun Ilhan, Christopher Sotomayor and ANDWORLD Design.
In the DC Animated Universe, Static loses his mother - Jean Hawkins, a paramedic - when she is shot during the Dakota Riots. In the Milestone Universe, both during Milestone's original run and its current revamp, Static's parents are still alive and raised him throughout his superhero journeywhich proves to be an even more integral part of his character than the show.
Static's family is essential to his character in the comics
He was shaped by having both parents, unlike the show
The new Dark Cabinet series takes place after the events of Icon vs. Hardwarewhich had major repercussions for the entire Milestone Universe and, thanks to an invasion by Brainiac from Prime Earth, the DC multiverse. During this collapse of the multiverse, literal Nazis of the past crashed into Dakota Cityfiring bullets into Static's neighborhood. Furthermore, in the midst of all this, he meets his enemy Ebon, who almost kills Virgil in their first encounter. During that same Dakota Shadows series, his friend Quincy Davis, another Bang Baby, dies, wracking Virgil with guilt.
The milestone pivoting from Static's better-known cartoon origins while adhering to the tradition of the original comics is far from a bad thing.
As a result, Static has become somewhat of a recluse, at least when it comes to stopping crimes outside of his city. When his friend and fellow Icon, Rocket, contacts him, he shares the stress he's dealing with. Brainiac's invasion was his last straw, as the dangers of fighting crime came too close to home for his family. “I don’t want to live in a world without my family” The static tells herexplaining how he needs to be by their side to protect them at all times, even if it means neglecting the rest of the world.
Is Static a better hero when he has both parents in his life?
Static's Paranoia May Be Holding Him Back
The milestone pivoting from Static's better-known cartoon origins while adhering to the tradition of the original comics is far from a bad thing. It's a matter of taste which origin story a fan might prefer, but the difference shows the stark contrast of how both versions of Static relate to family themes. In the series, experiencing the loss of a parent helps transform Static into a more optimistic and even funny hero. Experiencing loss makes him fight harder to save people, all so that no one has to go through the same kind of loss as him.
Similar to a Spider-Man or Nightwing, losing his mother in the cartoon makes Static aspire to do more than just help his city, while nearly losing his parents in the comics convinces Static to just help your city. The mere thought of losing his family causes internal turmoil in Static because he has never experienced this type of loss. Because of this fear, he is convinced that he needs to resort to extreme means to ensure that he never has to go through this particular pain. The static of Static Shock tragedy turns him into a hopeful hero, while the thought of tragedy makes Milestone Static hardened and paranoid.
Milestone Universe: The Cabinet of Shadows #2 is now available from DC Comics.