'Static Shock' gets Marc Bernardin

DC Comics has announced Marc Bernardin as the new writer on Static Shock.

Bernardin will replace the outgoing John Rozum on the new title from issue #7.

"I've been familiar with Static as a character since the mid '90s, when it was part of the Milestone line of comics that DC was publishing," Bernardin told Bet.com.

"It was run by Dwayne McDuffie, who is a bit of a hero of mine. I followed Static through the Milestone books and I also followed him through the animated show that was on the WB for a couple of years.

"I was really intrigued to hear that Static was going to be a part of this rebranding New 52 initiative. When these new books started to come out, I picked up a few and I was actually pleasantly surprised by them.

"As a black comic book fan and as a father of black children, it's really important that people see themselves reflected in a media they like. I remember growing up and looking at the Cosby Show for the first time and getting to look at people who were like me and doing things like I did, people who were my age going to college and studying for exams.

"I think for a long time, a black kid picking up a comic book never got the chance to see himself, so I think that characters like Static are incredibly important."

Series artist Scott McDaniel will continue to work with Bernardin on Static Shock.