The future of DC Comics just got a power surge.
In Batman/Static: Beyond #1, out November 12, 2025, writer Evan Narcisse and artists Nikolas Draper-Ivey and Miguel Mendonça collide the worlds of Batman Beyond and Static Shock for a story that’s equal parts sci-fi spectacle and character study. Set against the electric glow of Neo-Gotham and the restless hum of Dakota City, the series imagines a future where hope runs on current—and one power outage could end everything.
Terry McGinnis has made peace with his dual life as Batman Beyond, the silent protector of a city that never sleeps. Virgil Hawkins, meanwhile, has gone from streetwise hero to global visionary, spearheading the Q-Wave Energy Grid, a new technology designed to make energy free and limitless. The two are part of the Justice League Beyond, helping Earth step onto the galactic stage as it prepares to join a coalition of worlds known as the Cooperative.
But the launch doesn’t go as planned.
In an instant, the neon lights of Neo-Gotham flicker out. Satellites collapse. Engines die midair. Across continents, the world goes dark. The future—the very one Virgil built—is suddenly held hostage by an unseen force.
“Light and Dark”
Narcisse said in the DC Nation interview that Batman/Static: Beyond a “spiritual sequel” to Nikolas Draper-Ivey’s fan-favorite Static Beyond short story from the Milestone 30th Anniversary Special. That story’s reception, he says, “opened the door to do more with these characters, to really see what happens when you put Static and Batman Beyond in the same room.”
For Narcisse, the pairing is irresistible precisely because of their contrasts. “They’re literally light and dark,” he says. “Static’s the crackling charge that lights the way out of darkness, and Batman is an avatar of shadow incarnate. They have different philosophies, different methods—but that tension makes them fascinating to write together.”
Shadow War
The first arc, aptly titled “Shadow War,” pushes both heroes into uncharted territory. For Static, the challenge is internal: a test of optimism in the face of failure. “Virgil’s always been a deeply hopeful character,” Narcisse says. “The crisis that unfolds will test his faith in what he’s built. How do you keep the lights on when the world refuses to conduct electricity?”
For Terry, the fight is personal. His edge, his confidence, his identity as Batman—all of it has depended on his gear. “The question becomes,” Narcisse explains, “can he still be the Dark Knight when every tool he relies on is neutralized?”
The result is a grounded, almost survivalist superhero story—one where technology fails, and the heroes are forced to rely on instinct, trust, and each other.
Art That Sparks
To capture that balance between sleek futurism and creeping darkness, DC enlisted both Draper-Ivey and Mendonça, whose distinct visual styles reflect the duality at the heart of the story. “Nik’s cinematic page design and mood-heavy energy really set the tone,” Narcisse says. “Then you’ve got Miguel bringing this fluid, kinetic sci-fi dynamism that just explodes off the page. They complement each other beautifully.”
A Universe of Deep Cuts and Surprises
Without spoiling too much, Narcisse teases that Batman/Static: Beyond won’t just honor the Beyond mythos—it’ll reach deep into the Milestone Universe for fans who’ve been following Static’s legacy since the ’90s. “There are some deep cuts from Milestone I can’t wait for folks to see,” he hints, “and a moment where Static shows what happens when you’re a nerd who’s studied your own powers for years.”
Still, it’s not all action and shockwaves. “There’s a quiet scene where Virgil talks to Terry about his Bat-identity crisis that I’m especially proud of,” Narcisse says. “It’s about two very different young men, each trying to define what kind of hero they want to be in a world that’s constantly shifting beneath them.”
Preview: The Lights Go Out
DC’s official preview pages from Batman/Static: Beyond #1 drop readers right into the chaos. Neo-Gotham’s glowing skyline fades to black as a ripple of energy surges across the globe. Static, surrounded by the darkened sprawl of his own creation, feels the weight of responsibility—and the pulse of something far more sinister moving beneath it.
And from a high perch above the city, Batman Beyond’s eyes flash red through the storm.
Check out the preview below.
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