I miss static shock, justice league, justice league unlimited, batman beyond, batman animated series, and superman animated series. The gold standard for dc animation
Same here. Those shows were absolutely amazing and my late brother and I both loved those shows. I know he’s somewhere enjoying it and smiling watching with me.
Man I was HURT when Static got cancelled, the same way Batman Beyond was cancelled. They were such prominent and coming of age shows with great writing and stories. All because merchandise was more important for selling than the perfection of a good show. Corporations fuck up so many things we enjoy 😒
@@emeraldphoenix5868It’s not hard. Just takes people who want to stay true to the original vision but also have the support of budget. Honestly any famous black person could fund it and in time it would be widely accepted if it’s done correct
@@brettt141 I’m saying let her die because he had powers, he went back to get her and told her to stay home while the city was burning. He tried to save her and had to let her do her job at the same time.
John Stewart has become an even better character - ex-Military, engineer, responsible for his family and still carrying loss - Hal Jordan's character has become less solid (like a Maverick out of Top Gun or a John Glenn out of the Right Stuff) and more of a flaky dopamine junkie who's kind of stupid, a jerk and cocky for no reason
It was a shame that Static never got merchandise. I started watching it when it re-ran on Cartoon Network. The lack of merchandise caused me to draw and play with crude doodle cutouts of the characters. That experience developed into a hobby of playing with cutouts and served as one of the factors that made me pursue art as a career choice.
You brought up a valid point. Go down the list of every single black character, and you'll notice that they never put out merchandise for it. Blade, Cyborg, Storm, Bishop, and so on. They (industry) minimize those characters' importance.
@@pulloutsangestatic shock was never a household name either. It was popular but I can see why they didn’t put merchandise out for it. Cyborg had merchandise cause I had a ton of cyborg toys. My mom always got me the black toys.
@keeferkifflom360 Let's quit beating around the bush. Racism is the driving cause behind not displaying black comic book or shows merchandise. Not just minimizing fictional characters but real people as well.
@@jedtheblerd I remember getting a Scholastics book that was a retelling of the first episode. It tried to be a mix between a comic book and typical children's picture book with screenshots of the show's frames for illustrations.
This man is so underrated. First heard of him when he was on Mad TV, then he went on to voice my entire childhood into adulthood. I hope that one day I can meet this man and give him his flowers.
He goes to Comic-Cons! I've met him he's very friendly and very cool. You should definitely look into seeing if you could go and meet him it's totally worth it if you're a big super fan
Static was the realest animated TV Series I've seen till this day. It tackled things like School shootings, Racism, Gang Violence, Single Parent Households among other things. And the way they were weaved into the narrative was realistic and didn't seem forced or contrived like nowadays.. as a black kid, static meant the world to me growing up
I passed by a Static Shock cosplayer at Anime LA this year and was so excited. He lit up when people called out to him, he was probably no older than 16 lol. I love the lasting impact it has on people. Representation is important, but good representation is so much better. ❤
Thats exactly why I would be afraid of a new Static Shock show, they';d find a way to make it feel forced and fake, like instead of just making the representation feel natural and real, they'd have to point a neon sign at it and be like "see!? Look! Get it!?" and hammer you over the head with it. I'm conflicted, because I feel like a well written Static character nowadays would be a perfect character for the world we live in today, but I don't trust Hollywood, and least of all DC, to be able to do him any justice.
This is exactly what happened to Proud Family and it made me really upset. Like they have good ideas for new episodes, but the writing has lost any form of subtlety and they just beat you over the head with the messages in the sequel series. If the same thing happened to Static, it would suck. @@knightshousegames
As a white kid from primarily white community, shows like Static Shock helped me understand as a child that just talking, dressing, and walking different doesn’t make someone scary or truly different from me. Everyone is just people, trying to be people. I’m glad I got to watch that show as it came out when I was so young.
Bro, Static was for EVERYONE and it was great. Doesnt matter who you were. Thats how damn good that show was. Especially that racist episode with virgils dad. That shit was probably one of the most realest episodes. I have seen that sort of thing happen where people who are racist get convinced or change their mind from racism because they meet someone that changes their lives. It's such a wonderful and beautiful thing to see. I loved static shock man, so many good lessons and friendship that it pushed in its messages
Just without the DC or any other White distribution platform. Static Shock was a money maker for White executives at DC who only allowed Static to be attached to DC's brand for profit. Although Static is a Black superhero he is still a White product. Authentic Black superheroes have to come from independent Black media/comic brands
I like that comment about "inclusion" vs. "representation". Inclusion implies that we need to force characters that are diverse to check the box. Representation implies that characters have a unique story to tell, but their humanity makes them relatable.
Black superheroes definitely don't need inclusion but they do need represention but on independent Black platforms. Black superheroes get their share of "representation" but it's profit-driven because it's done through White resources. These Black media/comic book producers need to start moving independent moving forward because this shit is political underneath the surface
Also Phil talking about how the show didn’t revolve around him being black but it was a realistic representation of a black males experience like with Richie’s racist dad. Good stuff
Static shock back then made my days as a kid and I always hoped to see more of him and even my son saw the episodes on his own and we both shared our thoughts about how impactful and cool he was.
Watching Static Shock was the shit back in the day. I'm white but we've always lived in rough neighborhoods and it was nice seeing that kind of representation. Gang violence, single parents, racism . . . Virgil and his family were so tight. I remember his sister dating that one guy who was an ex con. There was the school shooting, bullying, when we met Richie's dad. The going to Africa episode was cool! He was like "Spiderman?" No I'm Anansi. It was nice to see people who looked like the people in my neighborhood and acted like them too, because it was something I could relate to. On another note, I legit did not know John Stewart was not a very popular GL, I thought he was so cool! At that time I thought it was freaking awesome that we had more superheroes to choose from, I never even thought about the fact they were black. I had the same reaction when Black Lightning came out on CW. I was like "oh my god, Black Lightning!" And my dad was like "who?" We need more diversity, its boring to see the same couple (white) people. And less Disney crap. We need real stories for real people. Guess I'll get of my soapbox now. PS I love you Phil Lamar. Have since you were on MadTV, which I should not have been watching that young but its too late now.
Static Shock was so special on so many levels. It was singular in the way it intermingled real world tragedies like homelessness, abuse, negative self-image, racism, and so many more into its stories. It was entertaining but it wasn't "just a cartoon".
Phil perfectly voicing John Stewart made him my favorite green lantern and has made me want to go back and read his comic run cause he brought the character to life so well and I’m still a fan of his mad tv work also
the disrespect this show got from toy companies were outstandingly depressing. It was such a great show too.. Even tho I never related to any of the topics, I could still understand and love the story for what it was.
Funny enough, just this year I got an action figure of Static Shock. It was part of Mcfarlane's DC Universe figures. Also, very cool that you got Phil LaMarr on your show, he's one of my favorite voice actors.
Fr I love this man too he’s dope. Been Static Shock,Hermes from Futurama and was even on the former CW’s(Different management took over after,CW gave the rights to the network to some other production company)Supergirl as Martian Manhunter’s brother. He’s a legend
Phil: And then we had the Static Goes to Africa episode Me: YEEEEEEAH My family's from Ghana and that episode blew my mind as a child. It was the first time I had seen a real African country represented in a positive light, I'm not kidding.
I loved Static Shock as a teen. Seeing him interact with other DC heroes and see older Static as a JL member was a very pleasant surprise. I wanted more and was sad to hear it was cancelled....
Good interview. Need more IP for shows with good stories AND the main character just so happens to be a person of color. No more bad stories that spotlight the color of the character
As someone who watched this as a kid I definitely appreciate this show more now than as a kid. Episodes like Jimmy, or sons of the father, or my personal favorite the Christmas episode with the homeless girl resonate with me more than any toy could.
It’s hard to imagine just how powerful Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai etc were back then and just how important Toys R Us was. Going in that store was truly something else.
Good stuff! I've always loved Phil LaMarr's work and feel that too many people don't understand the importance of what he's done. I know too many people don't understand the importance of Static Shock and it shows. Keep up the good work and you've got a sub from this entertainment industry vet.
From Fat Albert to Static, all the black cartoons weren't about merchandising as much as giving messages to black children, a lot of folks just chose not to listen.
During the pandemic and went back and rewatched my favorite childhood cartoons and animes. Static Shock was one of them and it is very much relevant to this day. I loved the episodes mention and my favorites were the collab's with Anansi, the racist dad, when he goes back into time to see his mom, and the gun episodes.
It was sad to see Static end but I was honestly so thrilled that it happened and lasted as long as it did, plus seeing the character one last time for JLU's "Once and Future Thing" two-parter was awesome.
I'm so glad the UA-cam algorithm showed me this video! Static Shock was truly a gem & taught my brother and I A LOT. It showed healthy family relationships, stranger danger, and how to believe in people. We were limited by language barriers (somewhat) and between socio-cultural expectations of our parents' culture and living in American society. Static Shock helped us make sense of interacting with kids in school and what we didn't understand or know. I still remember the episodes about guns, letting go of lost people, racism and how to counteract such negativity, and how important being educated was and so, so, so many more lessons. A few years, I made a connection with a couple and their daughter in a comic book store because of Static Shock; so many people miss the show! With the episode starring Virgil's mom Jean, I didn't realize how much it would help accepting a loved one's passing when in 07 we lost Baba (what we called Dad) three years after the show ended. It helped too when Grandpa died in 05. Thank you Phil LaMarr for voicing Virgil Hawkins | Static and so many other characters that have impacted and continue to impact childhoods and adulthoods. Thank you Chris Fury for creating this channel to combat racism. Liked, Comment #819, & one of 3.39K Subscribers
The TV show Everybody Hates Chris, was and still is, a quintessential example of a lot of black people's lives within the hoods of America. Not everyone who "grew up in the hood" had parents that were outside in them streets doing God knows what. Most worked and worked hard to provide and raised their kids honestly. It's the dynamics of the inner-city that gives most of those raised-right, to develop a slang vocabulary or a way they, may, carry themselves. I speak of this by example and experience of my friends that did come from a good family households within NYC. ✅️💯💪🏽
Static to this day was my favorite show. To this day, he’s the only DC equivalent to Spider-Man. If they bothered to make toys they would have sold gang babies.
@@ExpertContrarian I agree. My biggest problem with the show was the costume. I didn't like the sneakers and sweatpants look. Looked too cheap and amateurish. It's not till the 3rd season with the updated animation and the new design that I really got hooked and became a fan. His new design and look were 1000 times better as he now looked like a real hero.
@@blueblur2273Yeah, when they had him drop the coat and just go with the sleeveless black shirt that design was awesome I do feel like season 1 in general was kinda hit or miss, especially with designs, but by seasons 2 and 3 the show really found it's style
One of my fav characters. Even though growing up i didn't even know about the show. I remember seeing the character on Batman Beyond and was like "how come he doesn't have his own show?". Years later the show still holds up!
I was a teen when Static Shock was on. I probably wouldn’t have bought the toys (my siblings would have, though), but I never missed that show when it was on. Looking back now, I appreciate that it dealt with issues that as a white kid I maybe didn’t always have to deal with, but Virgil was still just a kid and I could identify with him despite our differences. Honestly, I liked Static more even a bit more than Batman Beyond (that crossover was so great). It’s a pity that neither of those shows really got the recognition they deserved.
I remember that school shooting episode the day it came on! I’m pretty shocked that they made an episode addressing this subject Remembering this in the present day. We were truly spoiled with great entertainment 😄
I could think of ideas for Static Shock March: action figures of Static, Richie, and the villains. Halloween costumes of Static and Richie. Richie’s backpack could’ve even been a play set or tech toy. Plenty of possibilities that the toy manufacturer didn’t consider.
I don’t think it’s so much the manufacturers didn’t consider those possibilities, they were doing it for other shows after all, but that they didn’t feel like this black character would sell. Which is a typical thing for whites in certain positions to think.
@@kainenmordenyou talking out your ass and thats the problem . You cant say that when alot of us like static shock but the PEOPLE TRICKED YOU in doubting ! Stop spreading your scary ass mentality Fool !!
Static Shock came on around 3:30 and I got off school at 3:15… I would RUN home from school to catch Static. I’m a brown boy, but Static was the only character I could really relate to at that time dealing with gang members, racism, and overall just the colored kid experience. Thank you for that Phil
Kids would have 100% bought Static Shock if they gave it a chance. If you were an action figure kid, it kind of pissed you off that the whole cast was just missing from DC.
Static Shock was so important to me growing up. Back then, my best friend was black and he lit up whenever it was on. It was so important to him to see not just himself on TV, but our friendship represented. I'll never forget that. Such a good show.
i'm a mix of a lot of ethnicities from all over the world, but my family and my brother-in-law's family are all mostly white/identify as mostly white. 20 years ago i bought one of my nieces a doll for her birthday. i took her to the toy store and let her pick it out. it was a little black baby, came with a bottle and i think it made noises, i forget. when i gave it to her at the family get-together for her birthday, my whole family and in-laws, who i never heard before make racist remarks, freaked out at me buying a black doll, or the few that didn't make comments stayed silent during the random hateful racism that was occurring... i was in such shock (no pun intended) that i just called them all racist and told them there was nothing wrong even if i did pick it, but that it was her own choice of what she wanted in the entire store. they scoffed and laughed. i never saw her with that doll after i bought it for her. i never heard another racist thing from any of them in the past 20 years, but the few times i've brought it up over the years they just roll their eyes... i don't want anything to do with racists but i realized back then that 99% of people are including the people you love and who never say it, they just haven't been given the chance. fuck people. this includes minorities who nowadays all claim they can't be racist as they act racist while claiming such... so i just became a misanthrope because that's the only racism i can agree with, all people suck save a very few and i'm not going to expect that i'm ever interacting with those extremely few.
Oh man I remember the episode with the homeless girl with the ice powers. She had a mental illness I believe her name was permafrost. They dealt with real issues which is good. But they also had just pure entertainment. Not to mention the DC character cameos. I really wish that they would have introduced or included more of the Dakota verse A character like hardwired could be a mentor for gear / Having icon drop in and introducing rocket. Just as a way to expand the universe
Static is probably my favorite televised superhero when his character had a brief appearance in Young Justice I was so excited and then disappointed 😞 when those characters were forgotten.
Tragic! Static Shock gone too soon. Why has DC not rebooted this amazing series!? I really enjoyed the Static cameo in Young Justice, but its not enough!
So yeah.. it was "before woke" but let's be honest: Static Shock was QUALITY writing that focused on the characters and never tried to preach to anyone. It was a show that could be enjoyed by anyone. The "woke" things we get today are poorly written, have no character development, and focuses on pushing an ideology onto people over making a good show/movie/etc. Then they turn around and blame the consumer for complaining when their product insulted their audience and their intelligence. Everything woke turns to shit and I don't even want to put it in the same breath as Static Shock.
👆🏾 This! Back then I really appreciated representation of more diverse characters but the "woke" of today is so shamelessly preachy and all about check boxes that completely overshadow the narrative of these stories and their characters
I think the “woke” you all are speaking of is not actually woke. Static Shock was woke. What we have now is an interpretation of what they think “woke “ means. That’s why it’s not authentic
I loved Static Shock!!! They need to bring it back, I didn't listen yet but I hope the live action is still in the works. Thanks Phil, for bringing Static to life.
If we are being honest here a lot of cartoons that had "political themes" back then would probably be seen as "woke" now. That term has destroyed any kind of nuance. Also, Phil's speaking voice makes him sound like Karry Payton.
The term itself being mainstreamed happened because of people who have no talent climbing corporate ladders. Political themes in storytelling can work, but preaching ideology by hijacking the creative works of others who actually are talented never works. It can’t. The sudden shift in a lack of ability and creativity is too jarring.
@@CTomCooper What even is, "preaching ideology?" Shit like the Disney Star Wars Sequels are bad because they fail mechanically, sure they have forced messages but they lack a good story first and foremost. Any story can be dissected for their polictical themes even stories that have nothing to say. The term has no meaning.
PHIL LAMARR IS A LEGEND. Of course, you get Static and John Stewart. Perfect casting. But, this man played Vamp in MGS2 and MGS4. "You too, immortal?" during the Raiden fight scene is probably my favorite line to hear he ever delivered.
As a black kid growing up in the 90s, it was one of my saddest and happiest memorieswhen i first saw static on kidsWB. My first thought when the opening started was: "Super heroes can be black?" Its always been a memory that lived with me and made me question how messed up and closed minded networks were back then.
I would have loved to have a Static action figure as a kid. It was one of my favorites at the time. I had no idea who any of the hip hop artists were but I still loved it.
Literally, I was binging Static Shock all last week! Episodes on race, bullying, homelessness it had some heavy content…and, just, subtle things done and said that was so beautifully written and directed! In the Static goes to Africa episode, when Static told Richie he feels not like a, “black kid,” but just a, “kid.” That touched me. Static: It’s amazing! There are black people everywhere! Richie: Dude…you’re in Africa. 😅😂💛💙 God bless Phil LaMarr. He seems like such a cool guy. Great content, Blerd’s Eyeview. Thank you.
As a black kid watching static I thought it was just another lame black show trying to be “down” but I think the stand out episode was having a best friend who’s dad was racist. It spoke to my childhood in layers no other show did at them time so I geek out anytime I see static like in that JL eps. Thanks to everyone that worked on that show.
I watched static shock and loved it all the way from Scotland. My Dad left me and Mum for drink and somehow I connected with Static, he was a super hero kid that also lived in the real world like me. Alot of the things I saw, I could see around me in my local community or family growing up in social housing. Ashame they pulled it, always wondered what happened.
Static Shock was by far one of the best animated shows I ever watched. The reason for me was because it was all about representation. Not only did it feature characters from multiple ethnic groups, on both sides of the equation, but it also showed the "gray area" of that equation. Sometimes, the "villain" isn't "The Bad Guy". It invoked the idea of real people dealing with real problems that sometimes end up taking them to bad places in their lives. I also liked that it showed a regular kid, in a regular school, with regular friends and teachers that also represented different peoples and backrounds. The interaction of Virgil and Ritchie just being 2 guys who see nothing but the person in front of them. As we find that Ritchie comes from a place where that idea isn't how things are taught teaches an important lesson for everyone - Hatred is TAUGHT, But it can also be FORGOTTEN and LEFT BEHIND. Perhaps for me the best part of the series as a whole was the People of Color - WERE DIFFERENT COLORS!! The different shades of people! Just as in the real world people come in many shades, the characters were represented as not all the same palette choice.
I wish we had more static shock. I wanted more after seeing Hot Streak and Ebon go into the ocean. This show tugged on all our heartstrings. So many fantastic episodes if you haven’t seen it watch it.
Static Shock was that one cartoon that touched me on so many levels. Mixed, divorced parents, bullies, cultural differences and cultural conflicts. No matter what was going on in my life, the one cartoon that stayed solid and didn't hide the messed up reality helped me as a child. Thank you for this clip, I never got to know what had happened.
Same reason why we don’t have a lot of anime now…those darn manga books!! To clarify, I’m saying that most companies in Japan would scrap a great anime if it wasn’t selling enough manga
Oh, for sure. I was watching this show as an adult because loving comics and this show was so damn well written. They hit community and family dynamics so spot on!
This is so good, I'm glad it popped up in my feed. Longtime Black nerd and creator, I love hearing the behind the scenes, especially from creators on shows with so much heart. I got to see Floyd Norman (first Black Disney animator) at a panel, and recently found out the animator/designer for Roxanne from A Goofy Movie is a Black woman (Carole Holliday). So was the creator of The Backyardigans (RIP Janice Burgess). This is so exciting, inspiring, and evergreen. Love it! ❤
I am really hoping we get a new series for Static Shock series. For that matter just bring back all the Milestone characters in general. Give me a Hardware and Icon seres and/or movie.
Great interview. I used to love watching Static Shock, Justice League, Batman Beyond, etc. Here’s hoping that with the release of X-men ‘97, that’ll make DC take notice and bring those shows back as well.
John Stewart was probably my favorite character in DCAU. Noble, honest to a fault, honorable, just, humble, everything you want a Green Lantern to be. I'm loving Phil as Admiral Alonzo Freeman in Star Trek Lower Decks. I'm sorry to say I missed most of Static Shock, I was either in school Saturdays or sleeping in while it aired, but I'm liking the clips on UA-cam that I can find.
Dude im white and if static had a toyline, boy i wouldve had it all. Static deserved so much more than what they got. I loved it when he was in young justice. I hope we get more static.
Static Shock… A student of mine read a Static comic for a Black History project at school and had no idea there was a cartoon. I enjoyed his later design and the future design. He definitely walked so Into the Spiderverse could run. Elements of his personality, story, and dynamics are seen in Miles.
John Stewart was my favorite Green Lantern. I never got to watch Static Shock back in the day but I watched everything else around it and saw Static in the other material like Justice League Unlimited and saw the appeal. Shady Doorags has been exposing me to it and I now want to watch through that series given how well it handled certain subjects compared to nowadays.
static shock was too good and taught amazing lessons each episode. I grew up in an EXTREMELY conservative household but Static was the only show outside Arthur I was allowed to watch as a kid. Once it got cancelled I never got over it - it deserved so much more. Phil is a LEGEND and will forever be one of my heroes, as well as anyone who worked on that show.
They cancelled one of the best shows ever, one that dealt with very hard topics, because of merch? .. That's so horribly sad. And gotta be honest, while I miss the show so much, I really want modern media to keep their hands off Static. I can't even imagine how much they'd mangle it.
Where is the full episode?
Link is in the description or you can click the title card at the end of the video 😁
@@BlerdsEyeview thank you. Hope to catch more of your content. 🙏🏾
Static shock was my favourite. Especially as a young anarchist
I miss static shock, justice league, justice league unlimited, batman beyond, batman animated series, and superman animated series. The gold standard for dc animation
Freaking gold 😭🙌🏽
@@darlalathan6143 i know, i have max
Same here. Those shows were absolutely amazing and my late brother and I both loved those shows. I know he’s somewhere enjoying it and smiling watching with me.
100%
Don’t forget teen titans
Static Shock getting cancelled was one of tv's greatest losses. Vergil was that kind of character any person could relate to in one way or another.
Static was basically DC's Spiderman after Batman Beyond ended.
Damn right bro, 10/10 show I liked it more then justice league animated series.
Man I was HURT when Static got cancelled, the same way Batman Beyond was cancelled. They were such prominent and coming of age shows with great writing and stories. All because merchandise was more important for selling than the perfection of a good show. Corporations fuck up so many things we enjoy 😒
Maan
it always gave a good metaphor to how powerful human energy could be (electromagnetic)
Static Shock deserves a Revival.
It'd be cool if they could keep the original writers. 👍
@@shazbots But there's one Problem,How can Static Shock continue without Dwayne McDuffie?
@@emeraldphoenix5868It’s not hard. Just takes people who want to stay true to the original vision but also have the support of budget. Honestly any famous black person could fund it and in time it would be widely accepted if it’s done correct
@@emeraldphoenix5868It can, but it wouldn’t have half the soul it did when Dwayne was on it.
It does but, then again, a 2024 revival is hardly ever worth the hype
The episode that gets me to this day is when, static goes back in-time to see his mother😢
And had to let her die for a noble cause.
I recently rewatched that episode a month ago. Ready pulls at your heart strings
He didnt let her die. She went out to help despite statics warning because she couldnt sit back and do nothing @miguelcasiano9532
@@brettt141 I’m saying let her die because he had powers, he went back to get her and told her to stay home while the city was burning. He tried to save her and had to let her do her job at the same time.
And then he slightly changed the future because when Vergil was born she kept calling him his “little superhero”
Justice League made me think John Stewart was the only Green Lantern. To me, John Stewart is what Hal Jordan is to Green Lantern Fans.
John Stewart has become an even better character - ex-Military, engineer, responsible for his family and still carrying loss - Hal Jordan's character has become less solid (like a Maverick out of Top Gun or a John Glenn out of the Right Stuff) and more of a flaky dopamine junkie who's kind of stupid, a jerk and cocky for no reason
@@georgemathew6850Wait is that what really happened to Hal?
I relate to this comment so much. As a kid, I never even knew John wasn't the original. To me, John will always be THE Green Lantern
Nowadays I think of Stewart as the league lantern and Hal as the solo lantern
@@crimsoncrusader4829 I agree with both you and G1sandG1rlsGaming.
Static Shock was one of the best Animated shows ever!
I have a 4 and 7 yr old who both love to watch Static Shock now!
I loved this show! I wish it wasn’t canceled
It was a shame that Static never got merchandise. I started watching it when it re-ran on Cartoon Network. The lack of merchandise caused me to draw and play with crude doodle cutouts of the characters. That experience developed into a hobby of playing with cutouts and served as one of the factors that made me pursue art as a career choice.
You brought up a valid point. Go down the list of every single black character, and you'll notice that they never put out merchandise for it. Blade, Cyborg, Storm, Bishop, and so on. They (industry) minimize those characters' importance.
@@pulloutsangestatic shock was never a household name either.
It was popular but I can see why they didn’t put merchandise out for it.
Cyborg had merchandise cause I had a ton of cyborg toys.
My mom always got me the black toys.
The only static merch I remember were the subway kids meal toys from way back.
@keeferkifflom360 Let's quit beating around the bush. Racism is the driving cause behind not displaying black comic book or shows merchandise. Not just minimizing fictional characters but real people as well.
@@jedtheblerd I remember getting a Scholastics book that was a retelling of the first episode. It tried to be a mix between a comic book and typical children's picture book with screenshots of the show's frames for illustrations.
I got Phil Lamarr to do a cameo for my stepdad for his 50th bday. The guy did such a great job. Complete class act
This man is so underrated. First heard of him when he was on Mad TV, then he went on to voice my entire childhood into adulthood. I hope that one day I can meet this man and give him his flowers.
He goes to Comic-Cons! I've met him he's very friendly and very cool. You should definitely look into seeing if you could go and meet him it's totally worth it if you're a big super fan
@@aaronschaefer4167 That would be a dream. I'll look into it for sure!
He was funny on madtv
@@jaridatkinson4907 He was funny as hell fr. Him as the UPS man that was constantly jittery was my shit.
Not underrated at all. He has laundry list of roles and successful performances. Legend
Static was the realest animated TV Series I've seen till this day. It tackled things like School shootings, Racism, Gang Violence, Single Parent Households among other things. And the way they were weaved into the narrative was realistic and didn't seem forced or contrived like nowadays.. as a black kid, static meant the world to me growing up
I passed by a Static Shock cosplayer at Anime LA this year and was so excited. He lit up when people called out to him, he was probably no older than 16 lol.
I love the lasting impact it has on people.
Representation is important, but good representation is so much better. ❤
Thats exactly why I would be afraid of a new Static Shock show, they';d find a way to make it feel forced and fake, like instead of just making the representation feel natural and real, they'd have to point a neon sign at it and be like "see!? Look! Get it!?" and hammer you over the head with it.
I'm conflicted, because I feel like a well written Static character nowadays would be a perfect character for the world we live in today, but I don't trust Hollywood, and least of all DC, to be able to do him any justice.
This is exactly what happened to Proud Family and it made me really upset. Like they have good ideas for new episodes, but the writing has lost any form of subtlety and they just beat you over the head with the messages in the sequel series. If the same thing happened to Static, it would suck. @@knightshousegames
As a white kid from primarily white community, shows like Static Shock helped me understand as a child that just talking, dressing, and walking different doesn’t make someone scary or truly different from me. Everyone is just people, trying to be people. I’m glad I got to watch that show as it came out when I was so young.
Bro, Static was for EVERYONE and it was great. Doesnt matter who you were.
Thats how damn good that show was. Especially that racist episode with virgils dad.
That shit was probably one of the most realest episodes. I have seen that sort of thing happen where people who are racist get convinced or change their mind from racism because they meet someone that changes their lives.
It's such a wonderful and beautiful thing to see. I loved static shock man, so many good lessons and friendship that it pushed in its messages
“Superhero Static Shock~ Whoop whoop!” If you a Black American 90s baby you knew that was your shit!
I might be white and born in the 80s but I'm a black American 90s baby.
@@undercomposition negative
i take it back he's black bro a devin fan
@@Draxplayzit2 Huh?
we need more shows like static within our community
I agree!! You should check out Blerd Station and the latest news that we released today!!
www.BlerdStation.com
Homie mentioned it, but Craig of the Creek is pretty solid.
Just without the DC or any other White distribution platform.
Static Shock was a money maker for White executives at DC who only allowed Static to be attached to DC's brand for profit.
Although Static is a Black superhero he is still a White product.
Authentic Black superheroes have to come from independent Black media/comic brands
Phil is one of the nicest and most down to earth person you can ever meet.
I like that comment about "inclusion" vs. "representation". Inclusion implies that we need to force characters that are diverse to check the box. Representation implies that characters have a unique story to tell, but their humanity makes them relatable.
Black superheroes definitely don't need inclusion but they do need represention but on independent Black platforms.
Black superheroes get their share of "representation" but it's profit-driven because it's done through White resources.
These Black media/comic book producers need to start moving independent moving forward because this shit is political underneath the surface
Also Phil talking about how the show didn’t revolve around him being black but it was a realistic representation of a black males experience like with Richie’s racist dad. Good stuff
Static shock back then made my days as a kid and I always hoped to see more of him and even my son saw the episodes on his own and we both shared our thoughts about how impactful and cool he was.
Watching Static Shock was the shit back in the day. I'm white but we've always lived in rough neighborhoods and it was nice seeing that kind of representation. Gang violence, single parents, racism . . . Virgil and his family were so tight. I remember his sister dating that one guy who was an ex con. There was the school shooting, bullying, when we met Richie's dad. The going to Africa episode was cool! He was like "Spiderman?" No I'm Anansi. It was nice to see people who looked like the people in my neighborhood and acted like them too, because it was something I could relate to. On another note, I legit did not know John Stewart was not a very popular GL, I thought he was so cool! At that time I thought it was freaking awesome that we had more superheroes to choose from, I never even thought about the fact they were black. I had the same reaction when Black Lightning came out on CW. I was like "oh my god, Black Lightning!" And my dad was like "who?" We need more diversity, its boring to see the same couple (white) people. And less Disney crap. We need real stories for real people. Guess I'll get of my soapbox now. PS I love you Phil Lamar. Have since you were on MadTV, which I should not have been watching that young but its too late now.
Didn't even need to live in a poor neighborhood to relate to static. He was a man and a bro.
Static Shock was so special on so many levels. It was singular in the way it intermingled real world tragedies like homelessness, abuse, negative self-image, racism, and so many more into its stories. It was entertaining but it wasn't "just a cartoon".
Phil perfectly voicing John Stewart made him my favorite green lantern and has made me want to go back and read his comic run cause he brought the character to life so well and I’m still a fan of his mad tv work also
This channel popped up in my recommendations. Great interview with the legend 👍🏾👍🏾
Thanks for stopping through 🫡 and an absolute legend we’ve been lucky to talk to multiple times as well as many others 🙏🏾
Thanks for being such a great part of our childhood!
the disrespect this show got from toy companies were outstandingly depressing. It was such a great show too.. Even tho I never related to any of the topics, I could still understand and love the story for what it was.
Wow I had no idea there wasn't any toys based from the show AND there wasn't any video games too I believe😮
Yeah
Funny enough, just this year I got an action figure of Static Shock. It was part of Mcfarlane's DC Universe figures.
Also, very cool that you got Phil LaMarr on your show, he's one of my favorite voice actors.
Fr I love this man too he’s dope. Been Static Shock,Hermes from Futurama and was even on the former CW’s(Different management took over after,CW gave the rights to the network to some other production company)Supergirl as Martian Manhunter’s brother. He’s a legend
Phil: And then we had the Static Goes to Africa episode
Me: YEEEEEEAH
My family's from Ghana and that episode blew my mind as a child. It was the first time I had seen a real African country represented in a positive light, I'm not kidding.
I loved Static Shock as a teen. Seeing him interact with other DC heroes and see older Static as a JL member was a very pleasant surprise. I wanted more and was sad to hear it was cancelled....
Good interview. Need more IP for shows with good stories AND the main character just so happens to be a person of color. No more bad stories that spotlight the color of the character
Dude bring Static Shock back! i want a cartoon, game, live action movie, comic books, soundtracks. Let's go!
I rewatched the series last year. Never noticed but the background music was on point.
@@lewiswilliams6331where did you watch it?
Always wanted to see more of adult Vergil, that brief snap from Justice League wasnt enough.
Damn shame he got cut down so short
As someone who watched this as a kid I definitely appreciate this show more now than as a kid. Episodes like Jimmy, or sons of the father, or my personal favorite the Christmas episode with the homeless girl resonate with me more than any toy could.
It’s hard to imagine just how powerful Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai etc were back then and just how important Toys R Us was. Going in that store was truly something else.
Good stuff! I've always loved Phil LaMarr's work and feel that too many people don't understand the importance of what he's done. I know too many people don't understand the importance of Static Shock and it shows. Keep up the good work and you've got a sub from this entertainment industry vet.
Well said and we appreciate the support!!
From Fat Albert to Static, all the black cartoons weren't about merchandising as much as giving messages to black children, a lot of folks just chose not to listen.
During the pandemic and went back and rewatched my favorite childhood cartoons and animes. Static Shock was one of them and it is very much relevant to this day. I loved the episodes mention and my favorites were the collab's with Anansi, the racist dad, when he goes back into time to see his mom, and the gun episodes.
It was sad to see Static end but I was honestly so thrilled that it happened and lasted as long as it did, plus seeing the character one last time for JLU's "Once and Future Thing" two-parter was awesome.
Peace to all of Our Beautiful people on the live !! Amazing To see and experience. We've come a long way !!
I'm so glad the UA-cam algorithm showed me this video! Static Shock was truly a gem & taught my brother and I A LOT. It showed healthy family relationships, stranger danger, and how to believe in people. We were limited by language barriers (somewhat) and between socio-cultural expectations of our parents' culture and living in American society. Static Shock helped us make sense of interacting with kids in school and what we didn't understand or know. I still remember the episodes about guns, letting go of lost people, racism and how to counteract such negativity, and how important being educated was and so, so, so many more lessons. A few years, I made a connection with a couple and their daughter in a comic book store because of Static Shock; so many people miss the show!
With the episode starring Virgil's mom Jean, I didn't realize how much it would help accepting a loved one's passing when in 07 we lost Baba (what we called Dad) three years after the show ended. It helped too when Grandpa died in 05.
Thank you Phil LaMarr for voicing Virgil Hawkins | Static and so many other characters that have impacted and continue to impact childhoods and adulthoods. Thank you Chris Fury for creating this channel to combat racism.
Liked, Comment #819, & one of 3.39K Subscribers
The TV show Everybody Hates Chris, was and still is, a quintessential example of a lot of black people's lives within the hoods of America. Not everyone who "grew up in the hood" had parents that were outside in them streets doing God knows what. Most worked and worked hard to provide and raised their kids honestly. It's the dynamics of the inner-city that gives most of those raised-right, to develop a slang vocabulary or a way they, may, carry themselves. I speak of this by example and experience of my friends that did come from a good family households within NYC. ✅️💯💪🏽
Static to this day was my favorite show. To this day, he’s the only DC equivalent to Spider-Man. If they bothered to make toys they would have sold gang babies.
They did make merch for the show. The merch had low sales hence why they cancelled the show.
@@blueblur2273as a kid I always liked the show but thought his design was a bit goofy so that tracks
@@ExpertContrarian I agree. My biggest problem with the show was the costume. I didn't like the sneakers and sweatpants look. Looked too cheap and amateurish. It's not till the 3rd season with the updated animation and the new design that I really got hooked and became a fan. His new design and look were 1000 times better as he now looked like a real hero.
@@blueblur2273Yeah, when they had him drop the coat and just go with the sleeveless black shirt that design was awesome
I do feel like season 1 in general was kinda hit or miss, especially with designs, but by seasons 2 and 3 the show really found it's style
One of my fav characters. Even though growing up i didn't even know about the show. I remember seeing the character on Batman Beyond and was like "how come he doesn't have his own show?". Years later the show still holds up!
I was a teen when Static Shock was on. I probably wouldn’t have bought the toys (my siblings would have, though), but I never missed that show when it was on. Looking back now, I appreciate that it dealt with issues that as a white kid I maybe didn’t always have to deal with, but Virgil was still just a kid and I could identify with him despite our differences. Honestly, I liked Static more even a bit more than Batman Beyond (that crossover was so great). It’s a pity that neither of those shows really got the recognition they deserved.
I remember that school shooting episode the day it came on! I’m pretty shocked that they made an episode addressing this subject Remembering this in the present day. We were truly spoiled with great entertainment 😄
The irony I just finished *RE-watching* Static
Salute to the 🐐 Phil!
Great video thank u Phil Lamarr.
I could think of ideas for Static Shock March: action figures of Static, Richie, and the villains. Halloween costumes of Static and Richie. Richie’s backpack could’ve even been a play set or tech toy. Plenty of possibilities that the toy manufacturer didn’t consider.
I don’t think it’s so much the manufacturers didn’t consider those possibilities, they were doing it for other shows after all, but that they didn’t feel like this black character would sell. Which is a typical thing for whites in certain positions to think.
White boy here. Love Phil, and I absolutely LOVED Static Shock as a kid, it’s a crime it hasn’t been revived yet.
writing our own stories is only part of the task. distribution, merchandizing, pr, publishing, manufacturing, etc... we need it all.
Which is EXACTLY what we’re doing over at BlerdStation.com
@@BlerdsEyeviewthe problem being no one wants to read your stories. Even blk panther was written by you know who
@@kainenmordenyou talking out your ass and thats the problem . You cant say that when alot of us like static shock but the PEOPLE TRICKED YOU in doubting ! Stop spreading your scary ass mentality Fool !!
@@kainenmordendo you know boondocks was a comic before it was on tv ?? You’re lost stop spreading misinformation detractor
Static was such an important character growing up. I’m so grateful that we had him growing up
Them Static figures would of sold out.. that's what Japhethic Edom was afraid of.
Kan!
Static Shock came on around 3:30 and I got off school at 3:15… I would RUN home from school to catch Static. I’m a brown boy, but Static was the only character I could really relate to at that time dealing with gang members, racism, and overall just the colored kid experience. Thank you for that Phil
Kids would have 100% bought Static Shock if they gave it a chance. If you were an action figure kid, it kind of pissed you off that the whole cast was just missing from DC.
This blew my mind, I LOVED this show, it taught me so much. I wouldn't be half the man I am today without shows and characters like this.
I met this guy once and we talked for awhile. Great dude.
Where if you don't mind me asking
Static Shock was so important to me growing up. Back then, my best friend was black and he lit up whenever it was on. It was so important to him to see not just himself on TV, but our friendship represented. I'll never forget that. Such a good show.
Phil LaMarr is the GOAT!
Back to you Ollie.
ITS GONE RAIN! 🌧️
i'm a mix of a lot of ethnicities from all over the world, but my family and my brother-in-law's family are all mostly white/identify as mostly white. 20 years ago i bought one of my nieces a doll for her birthday. i took her to the toy store and let her pick it out. it was a little black baby, came with a bottle and i think it made noises, i forget. when i gave it to her at the family get-together for her birthday, my whole family and in-laws, who i never heard before make racist remarks, freaked out at me buying a black doll, or the few that didn't make comments stayed silent during the random hateful racism that was occurring... i was in such shock (no pun intended) that i just called them all racist and told them there was nothing wrong even if i did pick it, but that it was her own choice of what she wanted in the entire store. they scoffed and laughed. i never saw her with that doll after i bought it for her. i never heard another racist thing from any of them in the past 20 years, but the few times i've brought it up over the years they just roll their eyes... i don't want anything to do with racists but i realized back then that 99% of people are including the people you love and who never say it, they just haven't been given the chance. fuck people. this includes minorities who nowadays all claim they can't be racist as they act racist while claiming such... so i just became a misanthrope because that's the only racism i can agree with, all people suck save a very few and i'm not going to expect that i'm ever interacting with those extremely few.
I'm glad this showed up in my feed. Subscribing now. B1 family!
Static Shock still a Great Show!!!
Salute Phil
"I don't see a market for a character like that"
My and my brothers waiting for that Static Shock toyline.
*WHERE?*
Phil LaMarr was one of those guys you loved once you realized how pivotal voice actors are to the character.
Oh man I remember the episode with the homeless girl with the ice powers. She had a mental illness I believe her name was permafrost.
They dealt with real issues which is good. But they also had just pure entertainment. Not to mention the DC character cameos.
I really wish that they would have introduced or included more of the Dakota verse
A character like hardwired could be a mentor for gear /
Having icon drop in and introducing rocket.
Just as a way to expand the universe
There was flashback on what cause her to be homeless. The dying mother, abusive (step)father, and social worker.
Static is probably my favorite televised superhero when his character had a brief appearance in Young Justice I was so excited and then disappointed 😞 when those characters were forgotten.
Tragic! Static Shock gone too soon. Why has DC not rebooted this amazing series!? I really enjoyed the Static cameo in Young Justice, but its not enough!
So yeah.. it was "before woke" but let's be honest: Static Shock was QUALITY writing that focused on the characters and never tried to preach to anyone. It was a show that could be enjoyed by anyone. The "woke" things we get today are poorly written, have no character development, and focuses on pushing an ideology onto people over making a good show/movie/etc. Then they turn around and blame the consumer for complaining when their product insulted their audience and their intelligence. Everything woke turns to shit and I don't even want to put it in the same breath as Static Shock.
👆🏾 This! Back then I really appreciated representation of more diverse characters but the "woke" of today is so shamelessly preachy and all about check boxes that completely overshadow the narrative of these stories and their characters
Don't read the most recent revival then. They changed his story to get hus powers from black lives matter protests
I think the “woke” you all are speaking of is not actually woke. Static Shock was woke. What we have now is an interpretation of what they think “woke “ means. That’s why it’s not authentic
Foh if this was released today they'd and probably you would call it woke
I'm currently rewatching Static Shock, JL, Batman Beyond and Teen Titans. I'm glad youtube recommended this video.
Static Shock is a throwback staple. We had that on our SeaGate Terabyte harddrives along with Batman Beyond and etc!
Phil LaMar is a 🤙🔥🐐
I loved Static Shock!!! They need to bring it back, I didn't listen yet but I hope the live action is still in the works. Thanks Phil, for bringing Static to life.
If we are being honest here a lot of cartoons that had "political themes" back then would probably be seen as "woke" now. That term has destroyed any kind of nuance. Also, Phil's speaking voice makes him sound like Karry Payton.
True
@@headshotmaster138
You must be fun at parties.
The term itself being mainstreamed happened because of people who have no talent climbing corporate ladders. Political themes in storytelling can work, but preaching ideology by hijacking the creative works of others who actually are talented never works. It can’t. The sudden shift in a lack of ability and creativity is too jarring.
@@CTomCooper
What even is, "preaching ideology?" Shit like the Disney Star Wars Sequels are bad because they fail mechanically, sure they have forced messages but they lack a good story first and foremost.
Any story can be dissected for their polictical themes even stories that have nothing to say. The term has no meaning.
PHIL LAMARR IS A LEGEND. Of course, you get Static and John Stewart. Perfect casting. But, this man played Vamp in MGS2 and MGS4. "You too, immortal?" during the Raiden fight scene is probably my favorite line to hear he ever delivered.
Great episode, great guest, great commentary. Keep up the great work everyone! Love it. It's what we need!
Static Shock was one of my childhood favorites, thank you for helping bring him to life!
As a black kid growing up in the 90s, it was one of my saddest and happiest memorieswhen i first saw static on kidsWB. My first thought when the opening started was:
"Super heroes can be black?"
Its always been a memory that lived with me and made me question how messed up and closed minded networks were back then.
Static Shock is so timeless like the Justice League animated series. I still watch clips of it once in a while.
I would have loved to have a Static action figure as a kid. It was one of my favorites at the time. I had no idea who any of the hip hop artists were but I still loved it.
Literally, I was binging Static Shock all last week!
Episodes on race, bullying, homelessness it had some heavy content…and, just, subtle things done and said that was so beautifully written and directed!
In the Static goes to Africa episode, when Static told Richie he feels not like a, “black kid,” but just a, “kid.” That touched me.
Static: It’s amazing! There are black people everywhere!
Richie: Dude…you’re in Africa.
😅😂💛💙
God bless Phil LaMarr. He seems like such a cool guy. Great content, Blerd’s Eyeview. Thank you.
Phil is so good for this. God bless him.
As a black kid watching static I thought it was just another lame black show trying to be “down” but I think the stand out episode was having a best friend who’s dad was racist. It spoke to my childhood in layers no other show did at them time so I geek out anytime I see static like in that JL eps. Thanks to everyone that worked on that show.
I watched static shock and loved it all the way from Scotland. My Dad left me and Mum for drink and somehow I connected with Static, he was a super hero kid that also lived in the real world like me. Alot of the things I saw, I could see around me in my local community or family growing up in social housing. Ashame they pulled it, always wondered what happened.
Phil Lamarr 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 amazing talent!!!!!! Thank you brotha!!
I love him. Such a talented and smart man.
Static Shock was by far one of the best animated shows I ever watched. The reason for me was because it was all about representation. Not only did it feature characters from multiple ethnic groups, on both sides of the equation, but it also showed the "gray area" of that equation. Sometimes, the "villain" isn't "The Bad Guy". It invoked the idea of real people dealing with real problems that sometimes end up taking them to bad places in their lives.
I also liked that it showed a regular kid, in a regular school, with regular friends and teachers that also represented different peoples and backrounds. The interaction of Virgil and Ritchie just being 2 guys who see nothing but the person in front of them. As we find that Ritchie comes from a place where that idea isn't how things are taught teaches an important lesson for everyone - Hatred is TAUGHT, But it can also be FORGOTTEN and LEFT BEHIND.
Perhaps for me the best part of the series as a whole was the People of Color - WERE DIFFERENT COLORS!! The different shades of people! Just as in the real world people come in many shades, the characters were represented as not all the same palette choice.
I wish we had more static shock. I wanted more after seeing Hot Streak and Ebon go into the ocean. This show tugged on all our heartstrings. So many fantastic episodes if you haven’t seen it watch it.
I just watched that final episode.That's actually why I came here, and I strongly agree.
Static Shock was that one cartoon that touched me on so many levels. Mixed, divorced parents, bullies, cultural differences and cultural conflicts. No matter what was going on in my life, the one cartoon that stayed solid and didn't hide the messed up reality helped me as a child. Thank you for this clip, I never got to know what had happened.
Same reason why we don’t have a lot of anime now…those darn manga books!!
To clarify, I’m saying that most companies in Japan would scrap a great anime if it wasn’t selling enough manga
Oh, for sure. I was watching this show as an adult because loving comics and this show was so damn well written. They hit community and family dynamics so spot on!
Static Shock was amazing and ahead of its time.
This is so good, I'm glad it popped up in my feed.
Longtime Black nerd and creator, I love hearing the behind the scenes, especially from creators on shows with so much heart.
I got to see Floyd Norman (first Black Disney animator) at a panel, and recently found out the animator/designer for Roxanne from A Goofy Movie is a Black woman (Carole Holliday). So was the creator of The Backyardigans (RIP Janice Burgess).
This is so exciting, inspiring, and evergreen. Love it! ❤
Loved Static Shock, great to hear you explain why it got cancelled and reminisce, really glad this popped into my recommendation.
I am really hoping we get a new series for Static Shock series. For that matter just bring back all the Milestone characters in general. Give me a Hardware and Icon seres and/or movie.
Great interview. I used to love watching Static Shock, Justice League, Batman Beyond, etc. Here’s hoping that with the release of X-men ‘97, that’ll make DC take notice and bring those shows back as well.
I would like to see it too but they are going to screw it up by pushing THAT agenda. Virgil would end up being non binary or some other garbage.
Glad I was recommended this. Loved Static Shock and Phil is the goat.
Phil LaMarr does not get enough credit. He's been in, like, everything ever. Get this guy some more credits, please.
John Stewart was probably my favorite character in DCAU. Noble, honest to a fault, honorable, just, humble, everything you want a Green Lantern to be. I'm loving Phil as Admiral Alonzo Freeman in Star Trek Lower Decks. I'm sorry to say I missed most of Static Shock, I was either in school Saturdays or sleeping in while it aired, but I'm liking the clips on UA-cam that I can find.
Dude im white and if static had a toyline, boy i wouldve had it all. Static deserved so much more than what they got. I loved it when he was in young justice. I hope we get more static.
I watched Static Shock with my sons. We all enjoyed it.
Static Shock… A student of mine read a Static comic for a Black History project at school and had no idea there was a cartoon.
I enjoyed his later design and the future design. He definitely walked so Into the Spiderverse could run. Elements of his personality, story, and dynamics are seen in Miles.
John Stewart was my favorite Green Lantern.
I never got to watch Static Shock back in the day but I watched everything else around it and saw Static in the other material like Justice League Unlimited and saw the appeal.
Shady Doorags has been exposing me to it and I now want to watch through that series given how well it handled certain subjects compared to nowadays.
static shock was too good and taught amazing lessons each episode. I grew up in an EXTREMELY conservative household but Static was the only show outside Arthur I was allowed to watch as a kid. Once it got cancelled I never got over it - it deserved so much more. Phil is a LEGEND and will forever be one of my heroes, as well as anyone who worked on that show.
I'm so glad to have found this side of UA-cam ❤❤
They cancelled one of the best shows ever, one that dealt with very hard topics, because of merch? .. That's so horribly sad.
And gotta be honest, while I miss the show so much, I really want modern media to keep their hands off Static. I can't even imagine how much they'd mangle it.