Static Shock? (DCAU)

[Turtletrekker]

I was a huge fan of the old Bruce Timm run DCAU back in the day, but somehow Static Shock managed to fall completely under my radar. In hindsight, I remember the character from Justice League, but never realized that he had his own show.

How was it? How did it stack up to the rest of the DCAU?

I'm in the process of collecting the DCAU on DVD, and would maybe even buy it blind if I heard good word of mouth, but I can only find the pilot available on DVD. Is it still being re-run somewhere?

 

[T.Geiger]

I do not think I ever watched an episode of it all the way through, but my impression of the bits and pieces I saw in passing was that it was more directly targeted at a younger audience than the rest of the DCAU shows (which I consider to be a general audience).

I have a similar impression of Ben 10 from similar experiences, so make of that what you will.

I'm sure someone on this board has a more complete opinion though.

 

[Christopher]

Static Shock was geared to a younger and more urban audience than the DCAU, but it was a pretty good show. It's worth noting that it was originally separate from the DCAU; in the second episode, the characters refer to Clark Kent as a fictional character, and its art style in the first two seasons was distinct. But in the second season, they did a crossover with Batman, and by the third season the show became so integrated into the DCAU that it changed its visual style to match (though it still kept its distinct hip-hop-oriented musical style).

I actually like the first couple of seasons the best. There was more character-driven storytelling and more examination of down-to-earth issues, whether heavy stuff like racism, gangs, homelessness, and guns in school or more personal stuff like dealing with the grief of having lost a mother. In the latter two seasons, the show became overwhelmingly dominated by more high-concept action and constant team-ups, either with characters from other DCAU shows or with other heroes specific to Static Shock. (Note that although Static was a Milestone Comics character, none of the other Milestone heroes appeared in the show; instead, various new heroes were introduced.) This was fun, and cool if you like continuity, but the more human-level storytelling of the earlier seasons was pushed aside. Although the fourth and final season brought it back to some extent, striking a better balance.

 

[cylkoth]

Static Shock the series, was based on Milestone Comics' "Static", co created by Dwayne McDuffie and John Paul Leon. Milestone was a DC imprint distributed by DC, but it's characters were not a part of the DCU. Milestone shut down in 2007, and the following year, DC folded the Milestone verse into the DCU.

The show itself started a bit slow, but gradually found it's footing after season 1 and took off. During s1, crossovers with the DCU were off limits, but that changed with s2's premiere featuring Batman and Robin (Tim Drake?-it wasn't Dick) & the Joker. Static was a top 5 rated series for KidsWB for it's entire four seasons with 52 episodes-the typical cutoff point for animated shows not named Pokeman.
I don't think the entire show is out on dvd, but I've not heard news of it in quite awhile.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I remember watching a few episodes of the series and enjoying it. Static himself was a member of the "Teen Titans" in the regular DCU for a while. I think he still might be but he hasn't been around during J.T. Krul's run.

 

[Christopher]

During s1, crossovers with the DCU were off limits, but that changed with s2's premiere featuring Batman and Robin (Tim Drake?-it wasn't Dick) & the Joker.

Yes, at that point in the DCAU continuity, Tim Drake was Robin and Dick Grayson was Nightwing. (Although the DCAU's Tim Drake was basically a tamer Jason Todd, with the same backstory as Jason but a more agreeable personality.)

 

[shivkala]

I remember watching a few episodes of the series and enjoying it. Static himself was a member of the "Teen Titans" in the regular DCU for a while. I think he still might be but he hasn't been around during J.T. Krul's run.

From what I heard, the Teen Titans writer prior to Krul, Felicia Henderson, had Static leave the team. Apparently she will be writing a Static series, which would be great news, but (and again, I didn't read it, I just heard about it) supposedly her tenure was a horrible one and I don't think her solo series will be that great.

As for the OP, it depends on what you are looking for, but I enjoyed the series. As a DCAU fan, I personally liked the latter seasons better, but YMMV.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ Okay that's probably where I saw him in. Thanks for that, wasn't sure since I haven't read "Teen Titans" in a while on a constant basis. I'm enjoying Krul's run so far especially since Damien has joined the team lol.

 

[Mr Light]

I recently breezed through the entire Teen Titans run. It was really good up until Infinite Crisis which basically destroyed the team... and I never enjoyed it since. Until the new Nicola Scott run with Damien which has promise.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ It's actually J.T. Krul's run, with Nicola Scott doing the art work which has been exceptional in my opinion. Her depiction of Cassie has been one of the best I've ever seen and she's kept Frank Quietly look for Damien which has me pleased. It's been really good so far.

 

[Mr Light]

I say Nicola Scott because I'm a fan of her art but I haven't cared much for what I've read from JT Krul.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ Ah okay. lol. That's understandable. I don't have really any feelings for Krul whatsoever but have enjoyed the run. I've yet to take a look at his run for Green Arrow but that's more to do with lack of funds right now combined with a disinterest with the premise of the book...but I digress. Back to discuss of things Static-y!

 

[Mr Light]

I just remember JT Krul (guy? girl?) having written the less interesting of the Blackest Night tie-ins... and I wasn't enjoying his/her Teen Titans run before Nicola Scott started drawing it.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^Essentially my interest stems from Damian joining the team, otherwise to be honest I would have continue to ignore it until the trades arrived at the library.

 

[Mike Farley]

I just remember JT Krul (guy? girl?) having written the less interesting of the Blackest Night tie-ins... and I wasn't enjoying his/her Teen Titans run before Nicola Scott started drawing it.

Krul and Scott started at the same time. And he's a guy. I liked his Blackest Night Titans mini and thought it was one of the better tie-ins.

Now The Rise of Arsenal, I hear that's all bad.