The combination of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man and Static from Static Shock proves once again to be a big hit with audiences, despite never officially having a crossover in the comics. More than once, the duo have been brought together in fan art, making it clear that it is a dream team-up for many fans.

The latest rendition of fan art pairing Miles Morales with the Milestone staple comes from OscarCargill on X. The artwork depicts Static and Miles, as Spider-Man, side-by-side in a comic book cover echoing the classic Marvel Team-Up crossover series of yesteryear.​​​​​

For all the fanfare surrounding a hypothetical partnership between the two superheroes, as well as how often they are compared and contrasted to each other, it’s worth speculating as to what it is about this pairing that audiences are so (rightfully) obsessed with seeing them together.

The Significance Of Static & Miles’ Introductions, Explained

Fan Art By @OscarCargill On X

A large reason as to why both characters resonate so strongly with audiences is because of the time in which they both debuted on shelves. For Static, he arrived in comics at a time where there was a significant lack of black superhero representation in both Marvel and DC. The 90s was when things slowly, but firmly started to change; for example, Static debuted in 1993, the same year as another black DC hero, Steel. However, at that time, the comic community was still years away from offering the abundance in representation that readers have now.

Black readers seeing a superhero who looked like them, talked like them, felt like them and being positioned on a major scale was almost unheard of in the early 1990s. When Static zoomed into comic book stores everywhere for the first time, it was an incredibly refreshing sight that readers welcomed. A similar effect occurred with the debut of Miles Morales, who offered a different kind of representation. Not only was he a black superhero, but he was Spider-Man, one of the world’s biggest superheroes. This echoed a sentiment that anyone could be a hero, and absolutely anyone could be Spider-Man.

Such a sentiment is why representation is so important on any scale. This doesn’t solely apply to comic books, though comic books are one of the most crucial mediums where representation is so vital and necessary. For the most part, comics operate with a young demographic in mind. It is critical for young readers to see positive examples of characters who look like them achieving great things at a young age. Especially for young black readers, characters like Static Shock and Miles Morales show that they have a place in the comic book world.

A Static & Miles Team-Up Would Be An Instant Jolt Of Excitement

Bring These Two Icons Together

Such positive, lead representation offers a strong sense of self to children at an age when they need to build such a sense of self in themselves. It’s not only important that these superheroes were presented to children in starring roles, but were successful. Miles has had several hit comic book series, leading to many appearances in the mainstream, and the same can be said for Static. These are superheroes who have proven to be hits with audiences while also being inspirational to the readers they reach.

A big reason why Static and Morales are often paired together is because it’s so easy to compare the two when they when looking at the surface of who they are. The most obvious and overt similarities begin with them both sharing electric superpowers. Static’s sole superpower is creating electricity, so his usage is a little more varied in what he can do. Miles – while his usage is just one of many abilities he has and perhaps limited for that reason – can still do things not even Virgil has done, like produce a Venom Sword out of his electricity.

At the same time, both characters have subtler similarities that are easy to overlook. At the end of the day, both Miles Morales and Static are charming, quip-heavy superheroes who like to have fun while stopping crime. Past their sarcasm, they are both characters who know a thing or two about great power coming with great responsibility, and that isn’t just because Miles’ is Peter Parker’s predecessor as Spider-Man. Neither teenager asked for their powers, but opted to make the most of them by deciding to use their powers to help people, simply because it’s the right thing to do.

Miles Morales’ Spider-Man & Static Have A Cultural Power That Would Be Magnified By A Crossover

Black Superheroes United

Of course, both Miles Morales and Static Shock are black superheroes, but that fact speaks to something deeper than what some readers may understand. What makes their blackness so significant is that they can exist as superheroes who just so happen to be black. That isn’t said to downplay their race, or to suggest that readers would get the same character if they were swapped with another race – which, to an extent at least, wouldn’t be accurate to say, especially in regard to Miles’ Afro-Latino roots.

What it does mean, however, is that both characters connect strongly with demographics who want to see themselves represented onscreen, without any stereotypes or fallacies displayed. For example, as mentioned earlier, both characters come from a strong family foundation, with both parents in the household holding down good jobs. Again, that may seem irrelevant to some readers, but it drives home the fact that both characters are normal teenagers with the average upbringing, which doesn’t “other” them from readers of different backgrounds. They’re not stereotypically poor, or fit within any negative stereotype.

Both Virgil Hawkins and Miles Morales are normal teenagers, and both Static and Spider-Man are simply superheroes who happen to be black. Their blackness is still important, and race does often play an active role in their stories, but it doesn’t overshadow their experiences nor is their blackness weaponized by their creators to harshen their experience. They are simply black superheroes, with a deeper emphasis on the word “superhero.” On that level, black audiences from all walks of life connect strongly to Miles Morales and Static Shock, relate to them, and, naturally, would want to see them join forces.