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Comic book masculinity and the new black superhero
African American Review, Spring, 1999 by Jeffrey A. Brown
At school the next day, while Virgil is asking his friends to describe Tarmack, word comes that "the guy who trashed Akkad's is at the playground calling Static out!" Tarmack taunts Static's masculinity, calling him a coward unless he shows up to fight. "STATIC! Are you deal or just afraid?" While tearing up all the rides at the playground, Tarmack bellows, "Hidin' behind yo' ugly momma won't help, boy!" Making up an excuse about having asthma and the excitement being too much for him, Virgil sneaks off to change into his Static costume and returns to confront Tarmack with his usual wit. "Hey, Hatrack," Static calls, "let's work this out over coffee, some cappuccino for me . . . a nice cup of silt for you." They proceed to battle for a while with neither gaining the upper hand; then, when Static proves more concerned about the safety of innocent bystanders than with the contest, Tarmack dares Static to show up at a deserted parking lot at midnight in order to decide who's tougher.
Riding the subway home after school, Virgil and his friends debate what will happen in the final showdown between Static and Tarmack. "I think the high n' mighty Static is gonna get his ass handed to him," argues Larry. "Tarmack has all the Terminator 2 moves! Hammerhands, spike hands whatever! He can melt whatever he touches!" "Well, I think Static's gonna kick butt!" Virgil argues back, a little defensive, a little nervous. "I think you're both wrong," interrupts Frieda, the only one of Virgil's friends who knows his secret identity. "Static's too smart to fall for such an obvious trap."
"That guy's too dumb to set such an obvious trap, or any trap. Static'll fade 'im," Virgil counters good naturedly. "You think ol' stinky goo head is out of Static's league?" "He's older! And Bigger! Static should leave him to Icon!" Frieda warns. "Listen," Virgil confides to Frieda under his breath, "I know it's dangerous. I'm not buying into this anymore than you. But I've got two things he doesn't. A brain . . . and a plan."
Later that night, in the Avalon mall parking lot, a lone and angry Tarmack bellows, "STATIC! It's ten after midnight! If you're hidin', you best come out now!" Tarmack spins around just in time to see a trenchcoat-clad figure surf to the ground on electrical currents. "That's better! Turn around! I want to see your face when you die!" Tarmack screams as he winds up a massive hammerhand punch. "Have it your way toyboy . . . wha!?" As Tarmack delivers his blow, the body bursts in a spray of water. Tarmack is left soaked, clutching a deflated plastic clown. "What the @#&* is this?"
"KAWARIM!!!" the real Static replies from the shadows as he shoots a powerful charge of electricity through Tarmack. "Ancient Ninja art of misdirection. All you need is something some idiot could mistake for you and . . . some idiot. Guess which one you are." Angrier than ever, Tarmack chases Static across the parking lot. Suddenly, Static turns and uses his electromagnetic powers to wrap a wire fence around Tarmack. "How do I do it, you may ask. How do I stay one jump ahead of you?" Static taunts. "How you want to die, is all I'm askin'!" Tarmack yells, as his body begins to liquify and escape through the links in the fence. "It's easy. You're a moron." Static continues in a fake British accent, "Also, I was here early. Several hours, in fact. Been shoppin'."
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