I've never been completely thrilled with the execution on this latest volume of Static Shock, so I was looking forward to issue #5 with equal bits trepidation and eagerness. This is the first issue to be both written and drawn by Scott McDaniel. Luckily, the shift in creative team seems to have worked out in the book's favor. Issue #5 is more readable than the preceding four because McDaniel addresses the overabundance of dialogue and exposition. Action scenes aren't quite so burdened with unnecessary words. Virgil is generally more likable than before, and the use of science to explain his various crime-fighting techniques is handled more elegantly.
McDaniel also explores Virgil's origin story a bit. He doesn't make the mistake of rehashing the entire series of events, but instead offers up just enough to ensure readers understand who Virgil is and how far he came from his troubled beginnings.
The latter half of the issue is highly chaotic. McDaniel's art is sometimes cluttered and not always perfectly framed to convey the action, but it does at least boast plenty of energy. The series has its rough edges still, but it has made a significant leap forward with this new issue. Now in charge of both sides of the equation, McDaniel might just have things under control.
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