There is a lot going on in the world of comics as the convention season has begun, and a Marvel icon has paid the ultimate price! Here at Stately Munson Manor, it’s business as usual as its time once again to talk Milestone comics! Today we will cover Static # 5!

In this issue, Static deals with many threats in this issue, from a possible first date (which he doesn’t even remember making) to the terrorist actions of a man with a message. Robert Washington deftly intertwines these two problems in his script so that we see both action of the superhero and the personal kind. Virgil’s first problem is with a girl by the name of Daisy who has a huge crush on him (much like the one he has on Frieda). In typical Virgil fashion, he steps all over his tongue and his dating life does not really get fixed in this issue.

Static’s “big bad” for this first part of a multipart storyline is Commando X, a militant black man who is trying to spread his pro-black/ anti-white message by bombing various locales in Dakota. He believes that by inciting race riots, and planting bombs in places like Jewish temples (because as some of Virgil’s friends say “they control all the money”) and the like that he will get the black community behind him. This plan is thwarted by Static at first, as he disperses a riot at the Jewish temple while simultaneously agreeing to join some local leaders at a peace rally later in the week. However, Commando X takes things to a whole new level when he bombs Virgil’s school, while classes are taking place!

Luckily no one is killed or even seriously injured, but this action cements a feeling among the community, and is represented in a well scripted moment among Virgil and his friends. Commando X may have a point about some racist tendencies still existing; however his method of communicating with the masses leaves a lot to be desired! Static is resolved to use his influence as a hero to speak at a peace rally. Commando X, in typical villain fashion, arrives to squash the rally with more of his rhetoric and Static and he face off. The issue ends with a cliffhanger as Commando X tosses bombs into the crowd at the rally, daring Static to try and save them all!

This issue really hits home with its subject matter, as our post 9/11 world has had its own share of terrorist bombings establishing a climate of fear in many cities. Dakota appears to be a city at the mercy of a man with a message that will do anything to get it heard. I find it a little weird to read an issue with this kind of plot, as I read newspaper and web articles about men and women with different messages than Commando X using bombs as their means of communication. Hard to believe this issue came out 13 or so years ago, it would have also served as a good commentary on our current life and times if it were published today.

As stated, there is a good two page sequence that shows Virgil and his friends after the school bombing where they debate the merits of Commando X’s message. They speak of racism and equality and their dialogue just feels so real. I may be a white male, not used to any sort of oppression or racism, but I can relate to the reactions of Virgil and his friends. I like to think that racism does not permeate our society as it has done before, but it does still exist. When it does rear its ugly head; I, like Virgil and his friends, hope people would choose a peaceful means of resolution. Washington gets this message come across through his dialogue on these pages, and throughout this issue. J.P. Leon does his usual bang-up job on the art chores, and really gets the emotions of Dakota’s citizens across as they deal with a situation that is rapidly spiraling out of control.

Static is a Milestone comic that continues to impress, and I look forward to part 2 of this storyline. I hope that Static not only physically whoops Commando X’s ass, but helps him realize his methods are just plain wrong. Next week we will cover another Milestone memory so join me then!

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 11th, 2007 at 11:03 pm and is filed under milestone mondays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.