Virgil Hawkins is a smart, funny teen that gets beat up by gang leader Francis, who calls himself ""F-Stop."" The other gang leader, Wade, protects him a couple of times, but says he can't be there all the time for him. He wants Virgil to join his gang. Virgil duVirgil doesn't want to be part of a gang since gang gunfire killed his mother. He tells Virgil to show up at the docks and afraid to say no, he does. They give him a gun as F-Stop's gang shows up, and gang fights begin. mps the gun in the river and hides as the police arrive. As soon as the police get there, they shoot, but it hits some gas canisters, causing the canisters to leak out all over the docks and into the city. Virgil runs home and the next day, discovers he can control electricity and anything metallic. He goes over to Richie's house, his best friend, and they pick out a costume and a superhero name for Virgil. And Static Shock is born.