"Power Outage" is the thirteenth and final episode of the fourth season and the series finale episode of Static Shock. It first aired on May 22, 2004.
Synopsis
Static and Gear notice that many Bang Babies are reverting to human. Dr. Todd reveals to the public that they have been secretly releasing a cure throughout Dakota, meaning that all the Bang Babies will eventually lose their metahuman abilities forever. In a desperate attempt to keep his powers, Ebon has the inventor of the cure hand over the last canisters of the gas to him.
Plot
Sharon yells at Virgil for not doing his share of the housework. Luckily for Virgil, his father calls him to fix his shaver, which he does. Later at school, Virgil tells Richie about what happened. Mr. McGill passes back the tests; Richie is surprised by the result. Later, he tells Virgil that he got a B- on that test. Frieda and Daisy are angry at Virgil and Richie because they say they will help but they always disappear. Virgil says they can explain but they hear an alarm and Virgil and Richie disappear again. Kangor and Ferret are robbing a store, but Static and Gear come to stop them. Static takes on Kangor and Gear chases Ferret. When Kangor is about to crush Static he loses his powers. Static calls Gear over and they watch him change back to normal. Ferret sees this and goes to Ebon and the rest of the breed. Ferret tells them what happened to Kangor and he loses his powers, too.
Static and Gear take Kangor to a hospital where Dr. Todd tells them he has been spraying a cure for Bang Babies and that all of them, including Static and Gear, will lose their powers and go back to normal. Later that night, Virgil and his father watch on television where Dr. Todd makes a public statement about the cure, revealing that they have been spraying the cure secretly throughout Dakota for an entire month. When Robert asks Virgil how he feels about this, Virgil admits that, although this is good for the people, he thinks Static would still be needed, even with the Bang Babies gone. When asked how Richie feels about all of this, Virgil admits that he could be taking it better.
At the gas station, Gear is freaking out about being normal again, revealing he is losing more of his powers, Static reveals the same, admitting that his powers are almost gone as well. Gear starts expressing his anger, pointing out that it's unfair for them to lose their powers after all the good they have done. Static tries to soothe Gear's worries by saying that things may be all right when they're normal again; Gear asks him if he truly believes that. Static doesn't answer and only asks how long it will be until they completely lose their powers and Gear answers, "I truly have no idea." The two then decide to pay Dr. Todd a visit.
Ebon, Hotstreak, Talon and Shiv go to see Dr. Todd looking for bang baby gas. After threatening another scientist, Dr. Todd tells them where the gas is. Ebon and Hotstreak start arguing, so Talon gets the gas. She starts turning back to normal. Static and Gear arrive to stop them. After the battle, Ebon and the others escape with the gas, while a normal Talon is left behind.
At the hospital, Virgil and Richie go to see Talon, who's happy about finally being turned back to normal and is more than happy to help them. She also asks that they call her by her real name, which turns out to be “Teresa.” Teresa reveals to Virgil and Richie that Ebon plans on recreating the Big Bang, but making it even bigger than before, as well as creating/recruiting even more Bang Babies.
Later, Static and Gear struggle to stay in the air as their powers are almost completely gone. At the hospital, Teresa is asleep until she wakes up and notices Ebon, who kidnaps her. Gear can no longer read the information he gets from Back-Pack, although he can only understand two things: "Bang Babies" and "docks". Static figures Ebon is setting up his Big Bang at the docks, like the first one.
On a ship in the docks, Slipstream, Boom, the Monster and Shiv are all powerless, waiting for Ebon to restore their powers. A now human Ebon comes in saying he'll restore their powers if they become a part of his gang. Then Hotstreak comes in, with Teresa tied up. Teresa says Ebon was nobody before the Big Bang, and that's what he'll be again. Ebon tells Hotstreak to shut her up, but he agrees with her. The two start to argue and Static and Gear come. They take the gas and run.
They are caught and put into a room, where Ebon has Hotstreak reclaim the gas from Static. Ebon says that when he and the others come back with their powers, they will take care of them. However, Static replies that would only happen if they could get the gas back from Hotstreak, who had double-crossed Ebon the moment he got the gas and retreated.
All of them, except Static and Gear, look for him. Ebon goes into the monitor room and finds Hotstreak. Ebon and Hotstreak start to fight and set off the gas. Teresa, who freed herself, sees this and runs. Teresa finds Static and Gear and frees them. Teresa tells them what's happening and gets out of there while Static and Gear go after Ebon. The gas comes through the hallway, and Static and Gear breathe in a lot of the gas. Instantly, their powers are restored fully.
They find a giant two-headed creature composed of both the Fire and Dark/Shadow elements, which is Ebon and Hotstreak; having breathed in so much gas they fused together and had what little of their humanity further consumed. The fight begins, but Gear's weapons are useless. Static seems to have grown stronger though and has made some major hits. But Ebonstreak seems to have no real damage and is about to suck Static and Gear in a black hole he created in his chest. Static throws a gas tank in the hole and fires a blast at it. It blows up, sinking the ship and supposedly absorbing Ebonstreak into it for good.
Static and Gear get out in time and are flying away. Static and Gear talk about if "Ebonstreak" would have survived such an explosion, and both figure that it is probably still alive. They also wonder how many other Bang Babies breathed in the gas. Static says Dr. Todd will no doubt spray the cure around again. Gear says he will make a cure for the cure, now that he is a genius again. Static smiles, saying "They can't get rid of us that easily" as they fly off.
Continuity
- Static and Gear refer to Robert's finding out about their secret identities, which happened in the second-to-last episode.
- For the first time since their own episodes, three characters reappear: Boom (from "Brother-Sister Act"), Slipstream (from "Winds of Change") and the Monster (from "The Usual Suspect").
Background information
Home Video
Production notes
- Dwayne McDuffie has expressed his disdain for this episode, and his overall unhappiness with the final season. For the finale, it was prompted by the network for all the Bang Babies to be cured, which McDuffie opposed as he felt it undid the premise of the show. Originally, the network wanted Static to lose his powers as well, but a compromise was reached where Static and Gear could keep their powers, but the rest of the Bang Babies had to be cured.[1]
Production inconsistencies
- The cure takes away Bang Baby powers, yet Tamara Lawrence is shown in her metahuman "Monster" mode, though she is noticeably smaller.
- When Ebon goes to the camera room and turns on the power switch, his hand is in his old black shadow color.
Trivia
- All of the Bang Babies with the exception of Static and Gear have lost their respective metahuman abilities, and are now normal again.
- Ebon's true shadowy appearance is revealed.
- Talon's real name is revealed to be Teresa, as is her true human form.
Cast
Uncredited appearances
Quotes
Talon: It's like waking from a nightmare. And I never want to go back. |
Shiv: (surprised at seeing Ebon look normal) Where's Ebon? |
Talon: (angrily, to Ebon) You're scared. You were nothing before the Big Bang, and that's what you're gonna be again — nothing. |
Ebon: I want that gas!
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