The Milestone Comics era has returned with a new series of titles featuring many of the characters first introduced when the company began in 1993. An imprint of DC Comics, Milestone’s mission was to introduce minority and marginalized characters into the world of comics. comics and was spearheaded by legendary creators such as Dwayne McDuffie and Reginald Hudlin. The company’s best-known property is the superhero Static, who, like the other Milestone characters, has been integrated into the main DC universe. The Electric Wielding Hero has recently won his own series, Static season one, and several other Milestone properties are following suit, including fan-favorite character Icon.
In celebration of Icon and Rocket Season OneIn its upcoming debut on July 27, CBR participated in a panel discussion with three of the creators working on the comic: the venerable Reginald Hudlin (Black Panther), Leon Chills (Shadow Force) and artist Doug Braithwaite (Punisher). The series revolves around the enormously powerful alien icon who lives as an African American after assuming the guise of the slaves who found him in the 19th century. In the present day, young Rocket convinces him to become a hero with her as his partner.
Related: REVIEW: Static Season One # 1 Is An Electric Relaunch For The Hero.
One of the first questions asked of the creative team was directed at Hudlin, asking if a significant amount of time would be spent developing the slavery aspect of Icon’s origin story. “Icon has been on Earth for 150 years,” Hudlin responded. “We will not be telling stories single about his early childhood during slavery in America. Its history will span decades and we will show it in many amazing places across the map. “
The conversation shifted to the possibility of other characters from the broader Milestone universe appearing on the series, and again Hudlin, who is the series co-writer with Chills, was quick to respond. “Anything can happen,” he replied. “We have a lot of plans for many seasons with Icon, Rocket, Static and Hardware, and we are introducing new characters and new stories. Still, we haven’t finished writing everything yet, so I can’t say decisively. What’s going to happen. But I can say that you will see a lot of interesting things as we go through the series. “
Related: Icon: How Milestone’s Black Superman Influenced A True Supreme Court Justice.
After mentioning that he has plans for the broader Milestone universe, Hudlin shared the conversations he had with the creators of the other books that are also being relaunched, particularly Static season one Y Hardware. “Milestone was initially successful because it was cutting edge,” began the veteran writer. “If we were to reproduce that success, we had to be avant-garde for this generation. This meant finding new voices like Vita Ayala and Nikolas Draper-Ivey who write and draw. Static and Brandon Thomas, who writes Hardware.
“Denys Cowan and I had a pretty solid vision of what we want these characters to do and how to reintroduce them to the world. But we are so happy to see these writers take those initial ideas, run with them, and take them to new and exciting places. It’s a great team of people working towards the big picture we have in mind so that all the characters and stories intersect at certain times. At the same time, you can read each individual series and enjoy them without losing track of what’s going on. But we think that as you read, you will want to see the other books. “
Although co-writer Leon Chills and artist Doug Braithwaite were silent for much of the discussion, they both chimed in when the issue of Rocket’s status as Icon’s partner was broken, particularly the question of whether they were taking a non-traditional approach. Braithwaite confirmed that everyone viewed the relationship differently. Chills expounded: “Rocket doesn’t feel like a traditional partner. She has more agency than the regular partner, and she questions and challenges Icon in a way that I haven’t seen from other partners. It definitely feels more like a partnership, with them on their feet. of equality, that she being his buddy. “
As the artist on the series, Braithwaite was asked if there were any nuances to be aware of when considering the finite beginning and end of the series. “I’m just telling the story as succinctly as I can and making the points that Reggie and Leon are trying to make stand out to readers, old and new,” replied the artist. “There is a bit of pressure in that regard. This is a very strong piece of writing, and I think it is a very important project to work on.”
“That is why I am so excited to be working with Doug,” added Hudlin. “In the world of comics, the artist is really the director. Leon and I get the work done, but Doug is the person who brings it to life. He always meets or exceeds our expectations for storytelling, and he’s a pleasure to collaborate with. ” After thanking Hudlin, Braithwaite spoke more about the synergy between him and the writers. “It’s easy for me to visualize and interpret what the writers are trying to convey and what they want to see on the page. The characterizations are really strong and I love them.”
As the discussion drew to a close, the creators were asked which comics they read for their own pleasure. “I’m a huge Mark Millar fan so I’m always going to read whatever he’s posting,” Hudlin said. “I also really enjoy Brian Michael Bendis and Ryan Sook Legion of superheroes, and I will always come back and read the classic Jack Kirby for inspiration again. “Braithwaite quoted the legendary writer and artist as well.” I tend to go for the classic Kirby project collections from the 60s and 70s. Those stories bring back the best memories and I love reliving those experiences. “
Icon and Rocket Season One is written by Reginald Hudlin and Leon Chills and with illustrations by Doug Braithwaite. The first issue goes on sale July 27 from DC Comics.
Read on: Static’s first superhero battle has disastrous consequences.
In 1993, amid the highly influential first wave of Milestone Media comics titles, writer Dwayne McDuffie and artist M.D. Bright introduced the story of a super-powered alien who’d been living as a black man on Earth since the days of slavery, and the streetwise young woman who helped make him into a superhero. Now, nearly 30 years later, Icon and Rocket are back in the second series emerging from DC Comics’Milestone Returns relaunch, and co-writer Reginald Hudlin still remembers the storytelling principles laid out by McDuffie all those years ago.
“I just remember having conversations about Icon and Rocket with Dwayne, and he gave such a beautiful definition of why the concept worked,” Hudlin told a group of journalists, including SYFY WIRE, last week. “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 [gets] 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 superpowers to it, it’s even better.”
Co-written by Hudlin and Leon Chills and drawn by Doug Braithwaite, Icon and Rocket: Season One retains that “unity of opposites” dynamic with its first issue, reintroducing readers to the buttoned down, conservative Augustus Freeman, aka Icon, and the more liberal, more impulsive Raquel Ervin, aka Rocket. Back in 1993, the two first met when she broke into his house with a few of her friends, and while their new origin story reflects some of that original structure, Hudlin and Chills also put effort into updating the circumstances and the approach for 21st century readers.
“When I went back and reread that first issue, there’s a whole section where they’re walking through the city and debating political philosophies between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, which very much reflected that moment,” Hudlin said. “So we sat down and I said ‘OK, here’s all the great stuff from the original issue, and here’s all this new stuff we want to put in,’ and it was like, ‘Oh, that’s about 40, 50 pages.’ So, I really focused on, ‘OK, how do we tell something different so it’s exciting for new readers, but for the original fans, they get to see things that are different [and] more nuanced?’ So we had to make some new choices. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be revisiting stuff later on in future issues.”
Those new choices also mean a somewhat new look for the title characters, drawn by Braithwaite with design input from original Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, to give the characters a somewhat more modern feel.
“The whole style of comic superheroes costumes has changed so much,” Braithwaite said. “I mean,the ’90s was a pretty drastic period in regards to costume design. Even though Icon’s costume was quite streamlined compared to a lot of books that were coming out at the time, it didn’t have the shoulder pads, it didn’t have knee pads, gun belts or anything like that. It was really kind of a striking costume. But I think obviously, this is the 21st century now, so you have to kind of bring it up to date slightly. I think the look works. The color scheme for the costume works really well. And I’ve just seen the colors for the second issue where you actually see him in his full costume for the first time and it looks really striking on the page.”
Icon and Rocket arrives at a big moment for Milestone, just weeks after the arrival of Static: Season One and weeks ahead of the launch of Hardware: Season One, placing Milestone and its characters at the forefront of comics once again amid a busy publishing summer. For Chills, who made the leap from television to comics to work on this book, it’s all part of a bigger moment for Black superheroes, one he hopes to make part of his life’s work.
“I think the more I write, the more I’m realizing I feel like my purpose as a writer is to put Black characters at the forefront of genres that they’re usually pushed to the side in,” Chills said. “And unfortunately, the superhero genre is definitely one of those, and so to be able to be a part of telling the story of Black superheroes is just amazing. And the special thing about these heroes in particular as well is that they were also created by a Black creator so it’s an honor to continue the story that [McDuffie] was telling and bring it to new audiences.”
Like the other Milestone Returns titles on DC Comics’ slate, Icon and Rocket exists as a re-imagining not just of individual heroes, but of a larger universe. While they’re not necessarily giving everything away upfront, Hudling, Chills, and Braithwaite did tease that we can look forward to everything from new characters to new looks back at Icon’s presence in American history along this journey. At its core, though, Hudlin emphasized once again the power of that original dynamic dreamed up by McDuffie three decades ago.
“When you do stuff like this, you go ‘OK, this is the last story I get to tell, not just about Icon and Rocket, but just period.’ If this is my last will and testament as a storyteller, you want it to have everything,” Hudlin said. “And I feel like it deals with our heritage historically at the same time it deals with kind of broad philosophical issues. But more importantly, it’s an empowerment story. It’s about this teenage Black girl who takes charge of her life and changes her direction and makes an ally out of one of the most powerful beings on earth, and I just thought ‘Who doesn’t want to see that?’ That feels good. And she focuses on how to change the world around her, and Icon’s mission is ‘Let me use this as a teaching lesson for you to really understand how the world really works.’ I just think that is an exciting story that I’d certainly want to read and that’s always where I start as a storyteller.”
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.
