The Big Leagues

Static Shock episode
"The Big Leagues"
Airdate:	January 26, 2002
Production Number:	24
Airdate Order:	14
Animation Services by:	Dong Woo Animation Co., LTD.
Written by:	Len Uhley
Directed by:	Dave Chlystek

"The Big Leagues" is the season premiere of the second season of Static Shock. It first aired on January 26, 2002.

Plot

Ferret is causing havoc at a fair in the Dakota Park, but Static promptly gives chase and almost manages to get him with ease. However, it does not happen, though, because both are knocked unconscious by several gas-filled balloons coming out of a nearby sewer.

Later, Ferret wakes up surrounded by Talon, Shiv, Kangor, Hotstreak and none other than the Joker, who decided to head to Dakota and start a new gang after his cronies were all thrown in jail by Batman. It just so happens that the other four bang babies in the room are his new gang, and Joker (who asks to be affectionately called "Uncle J") wants to recruit Ferret as well. Nervous at the presence of such a heavy-hitter, Ferret refuses, so Joker sprays him with laughing gas so that he would not feel uncomfortable, by his own definition.

The gang's first act is breaking into the Fire Station and stealing fire trucks, leaving the police, Virgil and Richie baffled about their motivations. Soon it is revealed that Joker's Gang, dressed up in fireman attire, is heading to Dakota First Bank. Static tries to stop them, to no avail. However, he hears Ferret's laughter coming from a nearby fire truck, and finds him still under the effect of Joker's gas, along with a tag reading "Missing You!". Static is even more puzzled and decides to check on Ferret later in the hospital, where he is soon joined by Batman and Robin, who tell him about Joker's escaping into Dakota. They then go out for leads, accompanied with Static, who takes them into the Industrial District, where could be Joker's hideout. However, Static has to leave them since his father demanded him to show up at home early. Batman gives him a communication device to be used in case he finds something.

In the meantime, Joker is infuriated that Batman is hot on his trail, even though Shiv reassures him that the gang outnumbers the heroes, but Joker himself realizes they do have a great advantage over Batman: that "they don't know that we know they're here".

The next day, Virgil is commenting with Richie about what course of action he should take to assist Batman and Robin, when he spots Talon flying in circles and decides to follow. It just so happens to be a lure for the heroes, when she leads him to a tunnel in the Industrial District and he calls the Dynamic Duo with an impromptu Bat-signal (since the device given by Batman fell through a hole in Static's coat pocket and got lost). Minutes after they enter, they are knocked out by the metahuman criminals, letting Joker kidnap them and take them to their hideout. Static tries to give chase, but Kangor and Hotstreak throw him into the tunnel and make it collapse over him.

Eventually, Static makes it out of the rubble and, while patrolling after Batman and Robin, he finds the Batwing. With Richie's help, he finds it is voice-activated and uses it to track the duo down to the hideout, where Joker has them chained so that they will be wiped out by Joker's latest weapon: a modified fire truck ladder which works as a catapult and fires heavy, spiked steel balls (all the while being filmed). Static, however, stops the weapon in the nick of time, freeing the Dynamic Duo and allowing them to fight Joker's gang. After they are all taken down, there is only Joker left; he tries to ram the truck into Batman, to no avail. With one last plan in mind, he asks for Batman to give him a helping hand—with a joybuzzer on his own. However, it is Static's hand that grabs his, as he turns the joke back into Joker with an even stronger buzz that puts him out cold.

Continuity

• At this point, neither Static nor Batman know the other's secret identity. These aren't revealed until "Hard as Nails".

Background information

Production notes

• When Talon is targeting Robin with her sonic attack and she blows up a car, the ensuing explosion is reused footage from the scene of the Superman: The Animated Series episode "My Girl, "in which Mr. Eelan blows up a vat of hot lead from its support.

Production inconsistencies

• Despite being set in the "The New Batman Adventures era", Batman and Robin fly in the first, "Batman: The Animated Series era", Batwing. Dave Chlystek preferred the design of the old Batwing.[1]
• Joker and his gang rob the Dakota Merchants Bank, but the police band refers to it as the First National Bank.

Trivia

• Talon refers to Robin being both birds, more specifically "birds of a feather". Ironically, the Crime Syndicate (Earth-3) equivalent of Robin is called Talon.
• Robin is portrayed as slightly older than in The New Batman Adventures, and he is voiced by Eli Marienthal. Marienthal would also play the late-teens Robin in "Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman".
• Joker would again recruit young metahumans in the Justice League episode "Wild Cards."

Cast

Actor	Role
Phil LaMarr	Static/Virgil Hawkins
Jason Marsden	Richie Foley
Kevin Conroy	Batman/Bruce Wayne
Eli Marienthal	Robin/Tim Drake
Mark Hamill	Joker
Maria Canals	Shelly Sandoval
Danny Cooksey	Hotstreak
Kevin Michael Richardson	Kangor
Tia Texada	Talon
Brian Tochi	Shiv
Chick Vennera	Ferret

Uncredited appearances

• Commissioner Gordon
• Detective Bullock

Quotes

Static: Let's see: so far I have you down for robbery, vandalism and excessive cruelty to produce. Want to add anything else?

(Joker's gang raids a bank dressed as firemen) Man in the Bank: Where's the fire? Hotstreak: Right here, old man.

Hotstreak: (burning a fire alarm) Loud noises get on my nerves! Kangor: EVERYTING gets on your nerves, mon! Hotstreak: Hey, I've got issues!

(Static produces a bat-signal in the sky after noticing the loss of the device Batman gave him) Tim: Er ... Bruce, there's something you should see. Bruce: I guess we should be thankful he didn't use a loudspeaker.

Static: Static's Big Batman Adventure: waiting by the door.

Richie: Whoa-ho! Major coolness! Okay, okay! Try this! (Shatner-like) Computer. Engage. Tracking device. Static: (tracking device activates) How'd you know how to do that? Richie: Eh, I watch a lot of sci-fi. Your turn! Static: (Shatner-like) Computer. Engage. Auto-pilot. Find. Batman and. Robin-- WHOOOAH! (the Batwing flies off at high speed)

Talon: Too bad it has to end like this, Robin. You and I are birds of a feather. (Robin knocks her out) Robin: Villains these days, always with the same old puns.

(Joker zaps Static to no effect with his joybuzzer, thinking it to be Batman) Static: That was fun. Now let me try. (zaps Joker back. The Joker falls unconscious) Batman: Not bad.

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