DC Comics is bringing back theBatman BeyondandStatic Shockfranchises for a new comic book crossover.DChas announced that starting November 12, they will be releasing a six-part miniseries fromtheir DC Elseworlds imprint. The upcoming series will be calledBatman/Static: Beyond,from writer Evan Narcisse and artist Nikolas Draper-Ivey.
DC’s announcement regardingBatman/Static: Beyondarrives with a main cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey and variant art by Dustin Nguyen, Rahzzah, Denys Cowan, and Ho Che Anderson, all of which can be found below.
In addition, the announcement comes with the following synopsis:
In the debut issue, Terry McGinnis patrols the neon-lit streets of Neo Gotham while Virgil Hawkins pioneers a technological revolution with the launch of the Q-Wave Energy Grid. As Earth prepares to join a powerful interplanetaryalliance called the Cooperative, the Justice League Beyond stands ready to usher in a new era of peace. But when a mysterious villain triggers a global blackout, the planet’s future hangs in the balance. With technology crippled and chaos rising, Static and Batman Beyond must forge an unlikely alliance and take a grounded approach to saving the world before it’s too late.
Batman Beyond and Static Return for a Comic Book Team-Up
Batman/Static: Beyond#1 by Evan Narcisse and Nikolas Draper-Ivey
The last time that Virgil Hawkins’Static and Terry McGinnis' Batman shared the pagewas for theMilestone 30th Anniversary Specialin a story by Nikolas Draper-Ivey. In the initial DC announcement, Evan Narcisse reflects on how Ivey’s story led to this new crossover.
I loved the dynamic Nik set up between Static and Batman in theMilestone 30th Anniversary Specialwhere these characters first teamed up with each other, and the most exciting part of this new project has been exploring how different Terry and Virgil are from each other.
In retort, Ivey would share some words of his own to hint at the major themes at play for thisBeyondminiseries.
This story is intended to be a commentary on our overreliance on technology and the imminent dangers [of] becoming complacent and too comfortable using AI to substitute our own imagination and human ingenuity. We now use our watches to find our phones, we use our phones to connect to everything else. We don’t rely on our own memories. We rely on technology to remember for us. That deeply concerns me. I worry that we are getting to a point where if all these things were to be suddenly taken away from us in an instant—at the rate we’re going now, humanity will be at a huge disadvantage.
Finally, Narcisse takes the time to speak on the process of writing for two superheroes who are at very different stages in their lives, yet have very strong similarities. At this point in time, Terry is still a teenager, while Virgil is a fully grown adult and an active Justice Leaguer.
Static is a former teen hero who grew up to take on even more responsibility for his city and the larger world, while Terry is still figuring out how to do those things in his own way. Terry’s still a high school student but he’s also got the weight of the Batman mantle and the expectations that come with it as key parts of his life now. As an adult member of the Justice League, Virgil’s at a different part of his journey. But he’s driven by an adolescence where systemic injustice changed what it meant to live in his hometown of Dakota. Their approaches to making the world a safer, more just place are extremely different. That difference energizes the big question they have to deal with: can they learn to work together during a critical moment when everything they’ve taken for granted has fallen apart? The whole creative team is going to try and answer that question inBatman/Static: Beyondwith a story where deep emotions collide against the backdrop of an uncertain future.
A Static/Batman Beyond Crossover Gives Long-Time Fans the Best of Both Worlds
A Team-Up is a Natural Reboot for the Iconic Animated Heroes
Ivey has expressed interest in the past inworking on aBatman Beyondseries. Now, he finally gets his wish whilst breathing new life into two classics. While neitherBatman BeyondnorStatic Shockhas had a prominent presence onscreen since their respective cartoons were canceled, comics like this upcoming series continue to pump new life into both franchises.
Batman/Static: Beyond#1 will be released by DC Comics on June 08, 2025.
