Static: Season One #4: The Great Escape

Black people have a tumultuous history with shady government agencies.

This sentiment is expertly captured by Vita Ayala in this issue of Static as Virgil’s parents confront ATF agents that are on the hunt for Bang Babies and want to talk to the electrically powered hero. Building on the mistrust that a good number of minorities have for less than ethical authoritarian organizations, Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins makes the point that the ATF is usually supposed to involve themselves in cases involving guns and drugs and since they neither have a warrant nor evidence that Virgil is involved with either, they send the agents and Hostreak packing. Though Virgil is initially thankful, his parents try to convince him that because he has such a large target on his back that he should avoid superheroism lest he get hurt – but of course he doesn’t listen.

I love this dynamic between the family because it feels real in many ways. Mrs. Hawkins is concerned for her son’s safety and given the other Bang Babies have been disappearing, she is very well justified in her reaction. Mr. Hawkins thinks that Virgil needs to take his time and think about things instead of just going in alone, half-cocked and without a plan. Every black father wants to make sure that their son is prepared to face the world and doesn’t become a victim of it. Vita Ayala writes these characters well, but the relationship between Virgil and his sister is where the book really shines. 

When Virgil is about to sneak out to free the other Bang Babies, his sister, Sharon, shares that she knows that he has to be a hero and doesn’t try to stop him. She shares with him a moment she had with another Bang Baby in her ambulance and how she knows that they all tend to burn through massive amounts of energy, so she sends Virgil with glucose tablets for energy and an emergency button in a coat so that he can at least be a SMART hero. This moment is so warm and makes you feel the love between them because siblings are the ones that should understand you the most and support you even when you’re doing something stupid.

Of course, as always ChrisCross’ layouts and Nikola Draper-Ivey’s finishes and color make for an excellent presentation in this book.

ChrisCross lays things out in such a way that each of the panels feels meaningful; utilizing establishing shots, wide shots and close ups when needed. He places people and crowds in such a way that heightens tensions in the story. This is especially seen when focus is placed on the Hawkins and the ATF agents, but there is a crowd of neighbors in the background. ChrisCross knows the power in community solidarity and shows that when people are watching and recording, government agencies are less likely to commit overtly illegal acts as long as there is a possibility that it can get out into the world. Especially since the Dakota Police and Alva Industries have been controlling the narrative about the dangers of Bang Babies.

Draper-Ivey continues to be the perfect artist for this series as he’s consistently able to blend tense situations with calm movements alongside widely active and bombastic scenes in the same issue. His art and colors in the first few pages feel like a hot, Summer, Sunday evening. He uses dusty yellows for the skies and oranges as the reflecting colors for the buildings in the backgrounds. He also positions the Agents ominously with arms crossed or in their pockets as well as giving them devious smiles as they try to force their way inside of the Hawkins home to take Virgil away. Things are less tense and lighter when things calm down and the Agents leave the premises, showing a more calming scene in the Hawkins home.

On the opposite spectrum of things, when Virgil, Richie, Frieda and Darius go to try and free the other Bang Babies, the action kicks into high gear when Virgil confronts the security guards of the prison and later Hostreak himself. The colors are far darker here with heavy uses of the same oranges from earlier, but amplified with Hotstreak’s red and yellows for some analogous color scheming. Even Virgil’s lightning continues to be one of the most vibrant things that Draper-Ivey draws, always finding a way to draw the eyes to the blasts. The action itself is also well done with amazing close ups of Virgil’s hands emitting electricity and Hotstreak completely being covered in flames before blasting Virgil in the face.