Static: Season One #1 is written by Vita Ayala with layouts by ChrisChross and finishes/colors by Nikolas Draper-Ivey, and lettering by Andworld Design. It is published by DC Comics. Following the cataclysmic event known as the “Big Bang,” Virgil Hawkins is gifted with the ability to manipulate electromagnetic energy. In addition to handling the trauma of seeing other teenagers suffer the Big Bang’s effects and the energy coursing through his body, Virgil must also deal with the strained bonds between his family and his old bully Francis Stone, who is now the fire-slinging Hotstreak.
This issue picks up in the wake of the Milestone Returns one-shot, which showcased the Big Bang and Virgil’s first confrontation with Hotstreak in full. However, new readers can pick up this issue and follow along with ease even if they haven’t read the one-shot. Ayala’s script manages to catch the audience up with what’s happening with Virgil and even dives into the torment he’s going through. And in fitting with the tradition laid down by the previous Milestone universe, Ayala mixes real-world issues with superheroism. Virgil’s inner monologue describes the terror he went through at the Big Bang and how his classmates’ looks of fear hurt worse than the gas that gave him his powers.
Ayala also mixes elements from the Static Shock animated series and the original Milestone run. Virgil is friends with Richie Foley and Frieda Goren, with Richie serving as Virgil’s confidant in the animated series and Frieda filling the same role in the original Static comic. Here, they both know Virgil’s secret and, like all good friends, worry about him, especially with what he went through. Virgil’s family also plays a large role in the issue, with his parents Robert and Jean trying to reach out to him and his sister Sharon actually clicking with him on some level. The best heroes have people in their lives that they can depend on, and Virgil is no different.
Bringing this world and its inhabitants to life are ChrisCross and Draper-Ivey. ChrisCross has a long history with the Milestone Universe, providing illustrations for its original run of titles, including Blood Syndicate and Heroes. Here he provides dynamic layouts that always put characters in focus, especially during the action sequences. Draper-Ivey’s finishes give the final product an anime-inspired look, with Hotstreak’s hair literally igniting and Virgil’s trademark dreads styled in the form of a samurai-esque topknot. It also isn’t lost on me that ChrisCross and Draper-Ivey also design Virgil’s father Robert to have a striking resemblance to Dwayne McDuffie. And the action sequences feel ripped out of My Hero Academia, with Virgil utilizing his scientific knowledge and martial arts skills to battle his fiery foe.
Draper-Ivey also makes great use of color in the issue. A key example is a dual pair of double-page spreads that feature the Hawkins family at dinner. The first spread features the sun shining on the family as they joke around and discuss various topics, reflecting happier times. The second is set at night, with darkness surrounding the Hawkins clan—an apt metaphor for the troubles that plagued them with Virgil’s near-death experience. Both Virgil and Hotstreak’s elemental powers come into play during the issue, with Virgil’s electricity coming off as bluish-white and Hotstreak’s flames blazing reddish-orange.
Static: Season One #1 serves as both the perfect reintroduction to Static as a character and an entry point into the new Milestone Universe. I highly recommend this book to fans of the Static Shock animated series or the original comic, as well as new readers. As someone who has loved Static for most of his life, this book was a delight to read, and I cannot wait for future issues, along with the rest of the Milestone titles.
This week saw the long-awaited launch of Icon & Rocket Season One, a new miniseries that is part of DC’s Milestone Returns initiative. The debut issue reintroduced the mythos of Augustus Freeman/Icon and Raquel Ervin/Rocket into the modern age, setting up an explosive story that is sure to ruminate into the upcoming issues. If you’re eager to see exactly where the story is going to go next, we’re here to help, as DC has provided ComicBook.com with an exclusive first look at Icon & Rocket Season One #2.
In Icon & Rocket Season One #2, who is the mysterious Xiomara? She’s an attorney with a unique set of skills…and if you’re Raquel “Rocket” Ervin, she’s who you want in your corner when the United States government comes knocking on your door, asking questions about your friendship with the all-powerful alien known as Icon! A secret identity doesn’t get you far when every intelligence operation in the world is hunting you…
“I love Icon & Rocket so much,” co-writer Reginald Hudlin explained during a recent virtual press event. ‘I love those characters. For over 20 years, I’ve had all these ideas that I want to do right for them, so it is a joy to finally get to play with these toys.”
“I mean, for me, I just remember having conversations about Icon & Rocket with Dwayne [McDuffie], and he gave such a beautiful definition of why the concept worked,” Hudlin added. “He described them as a unity of opposites: male, female; young, old; human, alien; conservative, progressive. And that’s exactly right. It’s such a perfect pair because they’ve got nothing in common except they care. Icon getting pushed out of his cynicism by a young, naive, but passionate Rocket. And I just thought, well, that’s just a great dynamic, period. And if you add super powers to it, it’s even better.”
“I mean, my exposure growing up to Milestone was definitely primarily through the Static comic. And once I got the call from Reggie to be a part of this, went back and read all of the Icon & Rocket comic books,” co-writer Leon Chills revealed. “And on top of everything you mentioned, there was also the fact that it was my first time being a part of writing a comic book. So initially I was kind of suffering under the weight of the moment and the pressure, and was suffering a bit of writer’s block until I realized the blessing of being able to do this with Reggie, which allows me to kind of just swing for the fences, and he’ll tell me either that’s dope, or maybe not that. So it’s been an amazing experience. And I love Icon & Rocket as an, I guess, elder millennial now, there’s a part of me that definitely still feels very young, and then a part of me that’s realizing I’m getting older. So I love being able to write to both of those point of views with both Icon & Rocket.”
You can check out the official soliciation for Icon & Rocket Season One #2, and keep scrolling to check out our exclusive look at the issue!
Icon & Rocket Season One #2 (of 6) Written by REGINALD HUDLIN Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE AND ANDREW CURRIE Cover by TAURIN CLARKE ON SALE 8/24/21 $3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC Card stock variant cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE $4.99 US
Icon & Rocket Season One #2 will be released on August 24th wherever comics are sold.
Last week saw the debut of Icon & Rocket: Season One #1, which reintroduced the beloved DC duo to a whole new generation of readers. The relaunch is part of a larger Milestone Returns initiative, which has already been confirmed to include characters such as Static Shock, Hardware, and more. Even with the epic note that Milestone Returns has started out on, there are no shortage of additional characters from the imprint that fans want to see reintroduced — and according to the team behind Icon & Rocket, anything is possible. During a recent virtual press conference with Icon & Rocket co-writers Reginald Hudlin and Leon Chills, as well as series artist Doug Braithwaithe, the team was asked if fans can expect any additional Milestone character appearances across Season One.
“Well, we’re still writing, so anything can happen,” Hudlin teased.
When asked specificially about memorable Milestone character Buckwild, Mercenary Man, Hudlin hinted that it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility for him to appear.
“We love Buckwild. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up, but I don’t know where, what book, which character,” Hudlin added. “But who doesn’t love Buckwild? Who doesn’t love going Buckwild?”
“Yeah. Buckwild definitely pops off the page,” Chills added, before addressing the possibility of additional cameos. “But the answer is yes, for sure. Yeah, 100%.”
Later on in the conference, Hudlin spoke about the experience of relaunching Milestone, and teased that there is a “big picture” already in mind for the larger initiative, while also letting each series stand on its own.0COMMENTS
“Well, it really started with me, Denys and Derek, when we decided to relaunch Milestone Media as a company,” Hudlin explained. “One of the first things we said was, we’re not going to be a nostalgia company, stuck in the past, talks about the old days. Milestone was successful because it was so cutting edge. So if we’re going to replicate the successful formula of why Milestone works, we had to be cutting edge for this generation, which meant finding new voices, like Leon; like Vita and Nikolas who’s writing and drawing Static Shock; like Brandon, who’s writing Hardware. Having these new voices in there, it’s like, Denys and I had a pretty strong vision of what we wanted these characters to do and how to reintroduce them to the world. But [we’re] so happy to see these writers take those initial ideas and just really run with them and just take them to new, exciting places and extraordinary executions. So it’s just a great squad of people, all working. And there’s a big picture that we have in mind for all the storylines and characters will intersect at certain times, at the same time, you can read it each individual book series and enjoy it, and not feel like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what’s going on.’ You’ll know what’s going on as you read Icon & Rocket, but we think as you read Icon & Rocket, you’ll want to see these other books.”
Icon & Rocket: Season One #1 is now available wherever comics are sold. Issue #2 will be released on August 24th.
