The enduring anime and manga Akira is crossing paths with Static in an upcoming cowl for Milestone and DC Comics’ Static: Season One #4.
The enduring anime and manga Akira is crossing paths with Static in an upcoming cowl for Milestone and DC Comics’ Static: Season One. Because the teenage superhero’s new collection takes inspiration from Japanese animation and storytelling, the tribute feels particularly heartfelt.
Static’s return to comics has include a recent vitality as standout artist Nikolas Draper-Ivy has included his anime and manga influences to Dakota Metropolis. Whereas Virgil Hawkins’ world is being remixed for a brand new era of readers, Draper-Ivy regularly references the tales which were ingrained in his inventive DNA. The motion scenes illustrated all through Static: Season One written by Vita Ayala have proven a fuller extent of what’s potential within the medium of comedian ebook storytelling. The look of Dakota calls again to Dragon Ball Z and Weekly Shōnen Leap, contrasting different titles printed by DC Comics. As Nikolas Draper-Ivy has been illustrating eye-catching variant covers for Static, he’s now homaging a key private inspiration.
Draper-Ivy’s variant cowl for Static: Season One #4 is showcasing the immediately recognizable poster for Akira. The 1988 cyberpunk anime has performed a giant half within the collection’ type, and appears to be amongst titular hero Virgil Hawkins’ favourite films. Together with his again turned away as he walks to a manhole cowl with the Milestone “M,” Static wears his costume first seen within the animated collection Static Shock. Though Static: Season One #3 established a brand new swimsuit for Virgil, this variant is paying tribute to his DC Animated Universe counterpart. Beforehand, Nikolas Draper-Ivy had posted the duvet to social media, earlier than it was set to be an official variant cowl.
Lots of Nikolas’ followers have adopted him since he first posted fan art for Static online. Finally incomes him the job of collection artist for the rebooted title, there’s one thing particular about this explicit variant that wears its inspiration on its sleeve. In an interview with Nerdist, Draper-Ivy spoke on his inventive influences for the brand new variant cowl, recounting his course of saying, “The Akira cowl got here to me whereas I used to be biking. I used to be listening to the Kaneda theme. And I used to be considering, ‘How may I do one thing with Akira and Static?’ I obtained off my bike and I noticed the cracked floor and I noticed the manhole cowl and I used to be like, ‘Oh my god!’ and it virtually appeared too simple.”
Though readers have voiced their fondness of the brand new costume design, some are hoping Static’s animated series design makes an look. Whereas it’s nonetheless a chance, it doesn’t appear to be the variant cowl is alluding to the swimsuit making a comeback anytime quickly. Talking on the topic with Nerdist, Draper-Ivy stated, “Although he has a unique costume now, I went with the one from the cartoon. That’s the one lots of people know.” Static: Season One #4 releases in digital and print on Tuesday, October 12.
About The Writer