Premise: Static and his allies infiltrate the prison that is imprisoning all of the Bang Babies that have been captured against their will. Although Static is making an effort to free the victims, he might not be able to save himself from the kinds of threats that await him!
Vita Ayala does a great job at writing Static and his cast, delivering dialogue that feels authentic to what this generation often communicates, full of pop culture references, wit, and charm. Although the handling of dialogue and characters are written in a believable way, lending some sense of depth to the characters that feel true to the world that readers live in and can relate to. The pacing of the book is written nicely, taking advantage of the benefits that come with this medium, allowing room for the art to convey much of the narrative in tandem to give the book a cinematically action-packed tale that anyone can enjoy.
There are some moments that are reminiscent of solid anime influences that are felt throughout the issue, yet it doesn’t detract from the overall story that occurs within the issue. Static’s mission to free the other bang babies who are victims of their own conditions that are beyond their control is an enjoyable journey to read. What is most satisfying is seeing Ayala’s writing work in tandem with Ivey’s artwork, displaying a visually satisfying book that delivers on all levels, balancing story and action effectively. There are some moments where Static and his team get some solid interactions and ethics discussions about anger that is resonant to the kind of commentary that is felt in the world of today. It’s effectively powerful stuff that gives the reader their money’s worth, while also sticking to their guns artistically for this iteration of Static.
As for the art, I revisited some of the last few issues after reading this current issue and realized just how much Ivey was restraining himself. Clearly, he had to work within the parameters of a mainstream title, but once given the opportunity to let loose, you can really see his art shine in all the best ways. That’s not to say he wasn’t delivering in previous issues, it’s just that in comparison to this issue, readers can see how much Ivey was itching to go all out but had to steadily build up the intensity of the art based on the necessary set up that he and Ayala had to develop to get here.
Indulging in his abilities, readers get to witness Ivey filtering a variety of his anime influences and channeling them creatively through the scope of Static. Ivey gets to deliver some pulse-pounding action with gorgeous layouts and action that easily dwarf his previous efforts in this series. His ability to craft layouts that look like they could have been made by Production I.G. And Madhouse. He’s able to deliver that visual aesthetic as though he is a one-man animation studio within this issue. The action choreography, the color rendering, and visual storytelling is powerful and exciting. Ivey is unleashed in all the best ways artistically that reminds readers and peers as to why he rose to prominence as a visual storyteller in the first place.
t’s safe to say that this is a solid book coming out from Milestone / DC. Just when you think that this series was good, Ayala and Ivey ensure that they can do better and excel beyond what readers expect of this creative team. It’s a refreshingly enjoyable book that’s different from a lot of titles within the superhero genre, and swings for the fences in its own right, delivering fun writing and action that will have anyone that is a comics and anime fan appreciate what is being done on this title. Another solid entry in this series and from Milestone, a book worth adding to your pull list for new comic book day.
Newsdesk