Warning! Spoilers for Static: Season One #6
In Static: Season One #6, one of Static’s most horrifying villains makes his comic book debut. At the end of the first season’s finale, it’s revealed that Ebon has been behind the gang of bang babies that Static and his friends had encountered.
Throughout Static: Season One, fans have followed the reimagined origin story of titular teenage superhero, Static. Along the way, Virgil Hawkins encountered many of his rogues, popularized by the animated series Static Shock, including Hotstreak, Shiv, Talon, and more. Each villain closely resembles their animated counterpart in both their design and characterization. The trend continues in Static: Season One #6, written by Vita Ayala with art by Nikolas Draper-Ivey.
After Static beats the gang of bang babies, Ebon reveals himself to Agent Jones, who had recruited several meta-humans to do his bidding. The shadow-like villain appears from the walls of the room like a horror movie monster, overtaking the page and blinding Jones. Ebon references his brother, Adam Evans, asking where he has gone, teasing a story arc for Static: Season Two set to begin this summer. In Static Shock, Adam is a rapper who is also affected by the Big Bang and seeks revenge on a music producer. He eventually joins Static as a hero and becomes Rubberband Man, leaving his brother’s shady life of crime in the past.
The new take on Ebon seems to have Ayala and Draper-Ivey taking advantage of the medium, not confined to the younger audience of the animated series. Unlike Static’s other villains, Ebon is a frightening force who has a handle on his powers. Just as Virgil can harness electricity and generate light, Ebon possesses darkness and has the power to blind his opponents. He has become so consumed by his powers that he only shares his former self’s silhouette.
While Adam Evans AKA Rubberband Man is eventually redeemed in the animated series, Ebon only grows in his sinister intentions. His comic book introduction seems to signal that his search for Adam fuels his every action. The seemingly sympathetic characterization has the potential to make him lean further into the dark side. If things go wrong, with Adam either killed or redeemed, Ebon could become a more intimidating threat for Static and his friends. Ebon is likely to be the main villain in the upcoming Static: Season Two. However, it’s possible he could also show up in other titles in the Dakotaverse before the series’ continuation.