"The New Kid" is the sixth episode of Static Shock. It first aired on November 18, 2000. Virgil is accepted into an elite school, but it turns out the school is run by Edwin Alva, who is working with two upperclassmen, Specs and Trapper (who are also Virgil's teachers), to capture Static.
Plot[]
While in a cooking class with Richie, Virgil is called into the principal's office. It turns out Virgil has been accepted into the Vanmoor Institute, an elite high school for gifted children, to participate in a 6-week seminar, which excites Virgil (although he's disappointed he'll have to still keep up with his Dakota High classes).
At the Vanmoor Institute, Virgil is having a hard time finding the lab where his class will take place and isn't able to get any other students to help him. Finally, he meets two older students, Specs and Trapper, who "help" him by tricking him into going outside. Static eventually makes it to the lab and meets his three classmates, Ducan, Henry, and Daisy, and learns that they'll be taught by upperclassmen, who in this case are none other than Specs and Trapper.
Static encounters Specs' and Trapper's first robot.
Later, Static and Richie are hanging out at the abandoned gas station and a giant robot attacks nearby. Static fights it, but it gets away. Unbeknownst to Static or Richie, the robot is being controlled by Trapper and Specs is monitoring it from the lab, and he informs Trapper that he's recorded Static's energy signature.
The next day, at Virgil's class, he and his classmates are given an assignment by Specs and Trapper to develop an electronic eye that can track any energy signature. Then, the two meet with Edwin Alva, who has given them the assignment of catching Static alive so Alva can study him. Alva is not happy they haven't succeeded yet, but the two students tell him they're using the class they're teaching to accomplish their goal.
Specs and Trapper launch the Alva Machine.
Specs and Trapper return to find the electronic eye successfully completed, having been programmed by Virgil. Specs and Trapper take the disc with the program on it and leave. As Virgil and Daisy leaving the school, Daisy mentions that the institute is funded by Alva, which concerns Virgil. The two return to the school and Daisy shows Virgil Specs' and Trapper's private lab, and Virgil secretly uses electricity to bypass the electronic lock. The two find Specs and Trapper working on a robot and learn it's designed to capture Static. They are then seen by Specs and Trapper and run away. Virgil gets away and changes into Static and protects Daisy from the robot as it's about to grab her. The robot pursues Static, and he tries to fight it, but it's covered with a ceramic that protects it from electricity. A small crowd, including Duncan, Henry, and Daisy, admire Static, and Daisy tells the other two that they need to get back to the school.
The Alva Machine chases Static.
The robot continues to follow Static, who realizes it's using the program he created. Meanwhile, Specs and Trapper talk to Alva and tell him where Static and the robot are headed. As it turns out, Static is headed straight to Alva's home, causing the robot to crash through the window. Then, Static grabs Alva and holds him so that the robot can't attack him without risking hurting Alva. Specs still thinks he can manage to attack Static, but back at school, Daisy disconnects a wire in a box on the wall, causing the robot to deactivate. The robot falls in Alva's pool and Static then dumps Alva in the pool as well.
Static is back at Dakota High, having discontinued his participation in the Vanmoor program. It turns out Daisy has transferred there too, much to Static's delight.
Continuity[]
- Introduction of Daisy Watkins.
- Introduction of Specs and Trapper.
Background information[]
Home video releases[]
- Static Shock: The New Kid (VHS)
- Static Shock: The New Kid (Mini-DVD)
- Static Shock: The New Kid (DVD)
- Static Shock: The Complete First Season (DVD)
Production notes[]
- When Specs and Trapper's robot blow up a newsstand, the ensuing explosion is reused footage from the gas canisters that Superman ignites in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "The Way of All Flesh".
- Afterwards, when Trapper is targeting Static he blows up a pile of boxes and trash bags, causing an explosion that is reused footage from a scene of the Superman: The Animated Series episode "My Girl", in which Mr. Eelan blows a vat of hot lead off its support. This is used again twice when the second robot crashes in Edwin Alva's office and opens fire.
Production inconsistencies[]
- Virgil mentions "Stephen Hawkings," he probably meant Stephen Hawking instead.
- In the credits to the television broadcast, Jason Marsden is credited for playing Rubberband Man rather than Richie Foley. This is corrected in the DVD release.
Cast[]
Quotes[]
Virgil: I have a question about the electronic eye — brown, green or baby blue? |
Specs: That new kid. They'll let anyone in these days. |
Daisy: You've heard of teachers' pets? Specs and Trapper are Alva's pets. |
Daisy: There are these kids, Static. They're after you. |
Static: (about the robot) It must be covered in some kind of ceramic. |