Stuff like this? This is why Static remains a cult classic among its generation. It talked about real stuff, it brought up real issues with tact and an educated perspective. Homelessness, Racism, Dyslexia, Gang Violence, School Shootings, etc. All brought up in regular episodes, and broken down calmly and effectively.
I loved how this episode even took the time to end with a PSA to everyone else who struggles, letting them know they're not alone. Truly a master class.
Sadly, that is true. Rubberband man only had major battle with Static and then joined a psuedo Sinister Six team against him. Unlike the show, he never really got a redemption arc...
I remember when this episode came out. It got some heat when it first aired so they didn't run it much. I had issues reading as a kid. It was cool seeing a character from one of my favorite shows going through something similar. My school wanted me to join this program but it made me feel stupid. This episode was one of the reasons I ended up joining the program. Unfortunately, some outspoken parents didn't see it this way. They thought the episode glamorized dyslexia.
Rubberband man was always my favorite side character in the series. He's extremely capable of great things like static. The difference is he has a condition that makes it hard for him. But with help, and strong bonds of friendship, he can succeed. And honestly, it's not as fake as it sounds in the modern world.
Same when my mom told me I was autistic I found out I was different but gifted with extrodinariy creative abilities...I thought I was crazy but I was loved for who I was,I had different skills to do things more then others could adam reminded me of me I had substitute teachers and one on one ads back then.. some were sweet to me and some belittled me but took advantage of me too.This part was so deep at times it's relatable.
I'm a dyslexic that was born in 1993 and when I was in school dyslexic and mentally challenged were put into the same category back then adults didn't know the difference and kids certainly didn't know the difference it was hard the ridicule the lack of patience and the feeling of hopelessness feeling like there was something wrong with you that you couldn't do anything about and TV shows like this really put it in perspective thank God for Static Shock
I’m dyslexia and often times I do feel dumb, cuz I can’t do the things others can. It does hurt 😢 at times and feeling ashamed of it but I’ve learned to over come it and try my very best. This showed me a disability doesn’t have to slow you down you just have to put in the work to overcome it
I appreciate so much that this show made the effort to show a character with a mental disorder, label it directly, and explain what it is. I don't think I know of any other cartoons that have done this- the only other kids show I can think of is Andi Mack. I really wish more cartoons now would push for more representation of disabilities/disorders. There's usually so much misinformation and stigma around them- I didn't realize I had OCD until I was in my sophomore year of college because of how underrepresented and misrepresented it is.
a year late on this but the MAIN issue is modern cartoons bring it up and try and make it a focal point of the characters. Why it worked so well in Static is because it shows up for one episode and isn't something the character learns to "live with" like modern crap would push, but instead over come and surpass their short comings. RBM does this and saves the day and after that we see he's got a good future ahead. Modern shit would bring it up every time the character came on screen, which would grate on the audience and make the character fall out of favor outside of sycophants that absolutely can't ID with a character unless they're a 1:1 of them
I appreciate the fact that they just come out and say the issue rather than talk around it. And honestly the whole story of RBM turning his life around was great. I love that this show didn't just have villains cut from the same mold as usual bad guys. These were kids who could still change if they tried. Given there were still plenty who were just to set in their ways, which is a sad truth. But RBM's story is still one of my favorites from this show.
Me too. I wasn't stupid or that slow, I just had a hard time focusing at times but I did improve and was able to get some regular classes. This prove that with hard work you can get over the problems that are holding you back.
Static Shock is just way too underrated. The way it covered and dealt with real life issues in modern day society besides being all about doing superhero stuff was impressive
Rubberband Man was quite the supporting character. An anti hero who struggled with a learning disability as a kid, and with a messed up older brother whose now one of the biggest criminals in the city (Ebon). He's had a hard life
I feel Adam's pain about being dyslexic. When my mom told me I was autistic before I had trouble reading i found out I was different but gifted with extrodinariy creative abilities...I thought I was crazy but I was loved for who I was,I had different skills to do things more then others could alen reminded me of me I had substitute teachers and one on one ads back then.. some were sweet to me and some belittled me but took advantage of me too.This part was so deep at times it's relatable a hero like him with elastic powers made so much of himself I loved how he showed that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't do something, it'll take time and practice I liked how static encouraged him.I was like way to go verg my man 👏.
It was one season short of what almost all cartoon shows had at the time, so actually a rather normal run. I could had used more though. I liked it better then most super hero shows of the time.
Static Shock managed to showcase a lot of inclusion and social awareness in so many creative ways that it doesn't look forced at all. Wish more shows could follow this example.
Rubberband man is so relatable to me. I have social and learning issues myself that still stuck with me as a kid. I came a long way, but just like him, I have a long way to go.
He did know. He spied on Static on the episode that Rubberband Man turned into a good guy, because Static spied on him and found out HIS identity (he was skeptical of Adam being good).
inkpaladin no he didn't. On Bent Out Of Shape, he escaped from prison to unmask him but Puff and Onyx interfered. On Bad Stretch, that's where he officially became one of the good guys. At the end of that same episode, Virgil said "Any Friends Of Static Are A Friend Of Mine"
Rubberband Man should have his own show. Think about it, a hot black male superhero with elasticity powers would be both a great action action, comedy, drama, and romantic(if they also put Sharon) in the show. I'd watch
They didn't put me in a special class because I was a smart kid and they wanted me to "work past it". Still didn't change their minds when I failed every math class ever because reading has some context that helped me but I can't context my way out of it when the negative symbol disappears or numbers float to the wrong place.
Why didn't anyone tell me he the DCAU had a dyslexic hero?! Hell man I wish I had gotten help when I was in school I didn't find out till the end of high school and spent my whole life being told my teachers and classmates I was stupid, slow, lazy or any combo of them. Sounds like he's got a much worse version then me but I still got to break down words to read or write them.
Shebang could had been on this episode. We would had seen her fighting alongside Static, Gear, and Rubberband Man. She would had beaten the crap out of Specs and Trapper
A show from over 20 years ago does a better job of hitting hard things like learning disabilitys, violence and stuff then 90% modern day shows that are very... whats the world right now? "Woke"
i apprecate the problem isnt he can't read, he can its just hard. I feel it esspecially as a kid, i was dyslexic and had trouble reading. as an adult its a lot easier but when i was youg i always felt stupid for not being able to read properly stuck on one page like five minutes and reading out loud was always the worst and humiliating.
Is it possible that Adam still had his original purple suit during his absence in the third season before changing it to the darker suit in the 4th season?
Is it wrong to want more moments between RBM and Virgil? RBM was dating Virgil's sister, he was seen on occasion at his house, I would've loved to have more moments, or even episodes where the two of them bond out of costume, whether RBM does or doesn't know who Static is.
Do you remember the episode from Season 2, Consequences, when Daisy got hurt, and part of it was because Virgil was showing, he went after some villains when he wasn't thinking clearly and Rubberbandman had to calm him down?
