Scott McDaniel is the writer and artist of DC Comics’ newly relaunched Static Shock book.
Talk to us about the decision to move Static Shock to Harlem. Why?
The decision to relocate Static to New York City (and the Hawkins family residence to Harlem) was made by editorial.
First, this decision better integrates Static into the wider DCU [DC Universe] by placing him in a major city already populated by other DCU heroes (Hawkman, Captain Atom). Next, this relocation forces the character to take the next step in his development. Dakota is strongly associated with tough ghettos, the savage Paris Island, drug dealers and gangs. NYC offers these tough elements and a whole lot more.
What do you feel like you’ve brought new to the Static Shock reboot?
Super hero action! Our first priority for the Static Shock relaunch is to deliver dynamic super hero action / adventure. Our second priority is to explore issues relevant to all teens, (school, girls, friends, peer pressures, bullies, etc.). We want the book to be full of fun, action, interesting characters and sharply defined conflicts. I think we’re off to a good start!
We want readers to love Virgil Hawkins / Static Shock for who he is as a hero and as a person. He’s a great CHARACTER. We’ve simply decided to predominantly use action / adventure to initially introduce him to a new readership.
Did you feel a sense of responsibility to deliver what older fans of the character were expecting?
I’ve actually worked to satisfy three distinct groups: the long-time readers of the original Milestone comics, the more recent followers of the Static Shock cartoon, and new readers who don’t know Static at all.
Long time fans love this character both as Virgil Hawkins and as Static, and as long as we are faithful to the character’s core, we can push him and test him in any way we can imagine.
Describe a day in the life of Scott McDaniel writing and drawing “Static Shock.”
This really is a dream job, but you really have to love this work in order to survive the constant demands!
I just finished designing a large group of characters and drawing the interiors for an issue, and am now writing the outlines and scripts for the next two. Once this writing is complete, it’s back to the board to create the interior artwork for what I’ve just written.
A typical day is pretty interesting, often touching upon many different aspects of the overall comic. It’s also a long day. Work weeks regularly tally 60 to 90 hours. A 40-hour work week feels like I was taking a vacation. A 100-hour work week feels like a truck hit me. However, for the most part, the time literally flies by as I am lost living vicariously in comic adventures.
If you had one chance to explain to someone who had never read “Static Shock” why they should give the comic book a chance, what would you say to them?
I think people should give Static Shock a chance because he is a terrific CHARACTER.
I love a comic book that presents great characters challenged by unexpected and tough situations and obstacles, where good battles evil, and actions have consequences. Great characters form strong bonds of shared experience with readers. We all know what it’s like surviving high school. While most of us might not know what it’s like to confront a super villain, we all know what it’s like to be in over our heads, and figure things out on the fly.
You can see an exclusive five page preview of Static Shock Issue #2 right here!
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
Static Shock #1 Comic Book Review
DC Comics New 52 Top Five #1 Titles – September 14, 2011
Justice League #1 Comic Book Review
Eric Shirey is the founder and editor of Rondo Award nominated movie and comic book news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo! Movies, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! TV, Associated Content from Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, KISSOnline.com, and other national entertainment websites. Eric has what some would call an unhealthy love for comic books which has led him to interviewing and covering legendary writers and artists in the medium like Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Scott Snyder, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, and Howard Chaykin.