Static shock

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Television series
Original title Static shock
Country of production United States
Year (s) 2000-2004
length 25 minutes
Episodes 52 in 4 seasons
genre Action
idea Dwayne McDuffle
First broadcast September 23, 2000 (USA) on The WB
synchronization

Static Shock is an American animated series produced by Warner Bros. from 2000 to 2004 . The series has not yet been published in German, but its title character has a guest appearance in a double episode of the Justice League cartoon series published in German .

Creation and conception

Static Shock was created after a superhero comic series called Static , a DC Comics title , and just like the Batman cartoon series and its offshoots, it belongs to the so-called "DC Animated Universe" (DCAU).

The series was created to reintroduce the original cartoon character after a long break. Static was created by Dwayne McDuffie and John Paul Leon. Originally intended for Marvel Comics , the series was published by Milestone Comics , a division of DC Comics that specifically deals with ethnic minority superheroes . The DC Comics Final Crisis miniseries (2008) finally integrated the storyline about Static, which had previously existed independently of the DC mainstream universe, into the DC publishing program.

The series' main character, Virgil Ovid Hawkins , was named after the first African American to be allowed to attend law school. Static Shock takes place mainly in Dakota City (a fictional city based on various locations with the same name in the USA). In addition to the obligatory fights with super villains, more everyday problems and human backgrounds come up in the cartoon, including gang activities, juvenile delinquency and the like. In addition, the Afro-American pop culture around the beginning of the 21st century is strongly emphasized in some episodes, and celebrities such as basketball player Shaquille O'Neal and Lil Romeo also had guest appearances on the series - both as speakers and characters.

It was originally planned that at least a fifth season should be produced, but due to disagreements in marketing (including a toy line), the series was finally ended after the end of the fourth season.

Serial plot

Your typical high school boy , Virgil Hawkins, finds himself involved in a war between two youth gangs one night without meaning to in Dakota Harbor. In the subsequent fight with the police, several canisters containing a secret biochemical weapon are damaged; the escaping gas mutates Virgil and the gang members, as well as a whole host of other people in Dakota, giving some of them superpowers. This event is known as the " Big Bang " and those affected by the gas are collectively known as the "Bang Babies".

Virgil gains the ability to generate electrostatic charges and through this also use ferrokinetic abilities, and in memory of his mother, who was killed years ago in an escalated gang war, he begins to use his powers as a superhero under the name of Static . In several episodes, Virgil and his friend Richie have to deal with other Bang Babies who either use their newfound skills too selfishly or who panic and run away from their fellow human beings. Towards the end of the series, Alva's scientists succeed in developing an antidote that will restore almost all Bang Babies to normal people; only Virgil and Richie keep their powers in the end to continue their job as superheroes.

Characters

In addition to Virgil / Static and numerous secondary characters (mainly other Bang Babies), the following main characters also appear:

Richard "Richie" Osgood Foley / Gear
Richie is Virgil's best friend and after receiving superpowers also his closest confidante. At first he only plays the role of the sidekick, but later (from the 26th episode) he develops super-intelligence through a delayed reaction to the Big Bang gas and joins him with a series of high-tech gadgets Static as his partner Gear .
Robert Hawkins
He is Virgil's father, a social worker and has been keen to raise his two children properly since his wife's death. Towards the end of the series, he finally finds out that his son is static, but ultimately approves his activities as a superhero.
Sharon Hawkins
Virgil's older sister, with whom he often messes about over all sorts of little things, and who, ironically, is a big fan of Static.
Daisy Watkins
A highly intelligent girl who originally attended a school for the gifted, where Virgil once did a trial visit. After two of her fellow students, Specs and Trapper, turned out to be criminals, however, she switched to Virgil's school and goes out with him regularly.
Frieda Goren
Also known as "Hurricane Frieda" because of her stormy demeanor, this girl is the editor-in-chief of the Dakota High school newspaper. In the original comics, she is also Virgil's beloved and closest confidante; in the series, however, Virgil's interest soon changes to Daisy, and Richie takes on the role of close friend.
Ebon (Ivan Evans)
A gang member and the brother of Rubberband Man who became a living shadow under the influence of the Big Bang gas. Since his mutation, he has taken the lead in a Bang Baby gang and has often clashed with Static.
Hotstreak (Francis Stone / "F-Stop")
Also a gang member and one of Virgil's personal enemies before the Big Bang. The action of the gas gives him the ability to create fire, which makes him a dangerous opponent with his natural heat-headedness.
Talon (Teresa)
A young Hispanic girl who mutated into a bird man from the Big Bang gas, who also had a destructive ultrasound scream. She is a regular member of Ebon's gang.
Edwin Alva Senior
An industrialist and the richest man in Dakota City. Alva is responsible for creating the Big Bang gas and tries to capture static for study purposes after it is released. When his neglected son Edwin Junior tries to make himself a super villain with the help of the gas and is turned to stone by an overdose, Alva does everything to bring him back to life. After Static, Gear and Hotstreak work together to turn Edwin back into flesh and blood, Alva drops his vendetta against Static out of gratitude.
Adam Evans / Rubberband Man
A budding musician who was mutated from the big bang gas into a living rubber man. First he starts his career as a criminal when he seeks revenge on a rival for a stolen song; Later, however, he becomes a superhero and ally of Static, with his relationship with Virgil's sister Sharon playing a crucial role in his rehabilitation.
Shenice Vale / She-Bang
Unlike most of the other superheroes in the series, She-Bang was born the product of an illegal gene experiment with superhuman strength and dexterity that she uses to act as a superhero. Since then, she and the two scientists, who have taken on the role of foster parents, have been on the run from the company that commissioned the experiment. Shenice befriends Static and Gear, but her cocky manner as She-Bang is a thorn in Virgil's side every now and then.
Anansi the spider
An African superhero who becomes a friend of Static. Anansi gets his powers from a mystical amulet, which enables him to walk on every surface, wall and ceiling and to create believable illusions. One running joke in the series is that he is often compared to a certain other superhero .
Specs and Trappers
Two cynical and conceited young geniuses originally hired by Edwin Alva Senior to catch Static. After Static repeatedly manages to escape them, the two finally harbor a personal dislike for him. These two characters were modeled on the assassins Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd from the James Bond thriller Diamond Fever .
Pouf and onyx
A bang baby couple and consistent team on the show who usually work as bounty hunters . Puff, an unscrupulous girl, is able to generate gases with various properties (lighter than air, sleeping or corrosive gas), while her friend Onyx has been mutated into a chunky, super-powerful giant. Onyx remains loyal to Puff, but tries just as constantly and in vain to curb their ruthlessness.
Shiv
A juvenile delinquent and prankster who can transform his hands into blades that can cut through armored steel. He's a recurring member of Ebon's gang.
Kangor
A Puerto Rican boy whose legs and feet have been extremely enlarged and strengthened by the Big Bang gas. He usually attacks opponents with jump kicks. He's also a returning member of Ebon's gang.
Carmendillo
A bang baby who has mutated into a human armadillo and tries to survive as a thief and tramp.
Ferret (" ferret ")
A boy whose nose and mouth were enlarged by the big bang, giving him a keen sense of smell.

Series crossovers

The series includes some special episodes in the plot in which Static collaborates with other superheroes from the DC Comics or their cartoon versions. With the exception of the Justice League episode “Die Zeitverschendung” ( The Once And Future Thing ), the only episode published in German in which Static is presented, all were broadcast within the Static Shock series. The roles of the guest characters were cast by their original voice actors.

Batman

"The Big Leagues" (episode 14)
The super villain Joker withdraws from Gotham to Dakota City before Batman and recruits a new gang from the ranks of the local Bang Babies. Batman and Robin team up with Static to grab the Joker.
"Hard As Nails" (episode 25)
Allie Langford, a schoolmate of Virgil's and a Bang Baby whose skin has mutated to metal, escapes to Gotham City, where she hopes for help with her condition, only to piss off super villains Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy . Again Static and Batman team up to prevent worse.

The League of the Just

"A League of their Own" (episodes 30 and 31)
The Justice League calls on Static and Gear to restore power to their space station after an accident. However, Brainiac also breaks out in the accident , takes possession of Gear and tries once more to destroy the earth.
"Fallen Hero" (episode 43)
The superhero Green Lantern suddenly begins to commit massive thefts in Dakota - or so it seems. In reality, it is his archenemy Sinestro who wants to defeat and discredit Lantern at the same time. Since Sinestro stole his power battery from him, Lantern is almost powerless to face him, and to make matters worse, Static also thinks he is a villain.

Batman of the Future

"Future Shock" (episode 40)
In an accident with a time machine, Virgil is thrown 40 years into the future and has to free his adult self from Kobra's clutches with the help of Batman Terry McGinnis.

Superman

"Toys in the Hood" (episode 36)
Superman and his opponent Toyman appear in Dakota in search of the robot woman Darci. Darci is eager to create a real, living body using nanotechnology - and as a model she chose Virgil's friend Daisy of all people!
Note : This episode is an effective continuation and conclusion of the Superman episode "Obsession" (German title: "Obsessed by beauty").

synchronization

role English dubbing voice
Virgil Hawkins / Static Phil LaMarr
Richard "Richie" Osgood Foley / Gear Jason Marsden
Robert Hawkins Kevin Michael Richardson
Sharon Hawkins Michelle Morgan
Daisy Watkins Crystal scales
Frieda Goren Danica McKellar
Shenice Vale / She-Bang Rosslynn Taylor-Jordan
Adam Evans / Rubber Band Man Kadeem Hardison
Anansi the spider Carl Lumbly
Ivan Evans / Ebon Gary Sturgis
Francis Stone (F-Stop) / Hotstreak Danny Cooksey
Teresa / Talon Tia Texada
Edwin Alva sr. Kerrigan Mahan
Carmendillo Matt Ballad, Jason Marsden
Kangor Kevin Michael Richardson
puff Kimberly Brooks
onyx Kevin Michael Richardson
Specs and Trappers Patton Oswalt (Specs); Michael Rosenbaum (Trapper)

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