Power Play

"Power Play" is the second episode of the second season of Static Shock. It first aired on February 2, 2002. It depicts the transformation of Richie into the superhero "Push".

Plot

In the Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude, Richie is pretending to be a superhero, wearing a mask and cape and fighting an imaginary villain. Static enters and watches a while, but Richie stops upon noticing him. Richie gets embarrassed, and Static cracks a joke about wanting to know how the fight ended. Richie gets mad at Virgil's jokes, and mutters that the wrong guy got the superpowers before leaving on his scooter. Taking a route through a rundown part of town, Richie accidentally bumps into an old man. Helping him up, Richie gets shocked by the man's hand. Behind him, two boys watch and laugh. Then, all three disappear, leaving Richie confused.

The next day at Burger Fool, Richie talks to Virgil about what happened. Virgil is half listening, then goes inside to get more soda for them both. At that moment, a runaway truck speeds down the street. The truck almost hits a dog, but Richie jumps into the street to save it. He raises his arm to shield himself from the truck, but a purple forcefield appears from his hand. The truck slams into the forcefield, leaving Richie and the dog unharmed. Virgil sees this, and drags Richie to the scrapyard. The boys test out Richie's new powers, deflecting falling debris, blasting piles of junk, and even using the forcefields to propel himself into the air. Richie has fun flying around, but Virgil starts to worry, since all the noise and the sight of Richie may attract attention. Richie's powers suddenly stop working, and he falls out of the sky. Virgil catches him, but Richie gets upset at the loss of his powers.

Richie, still depressed, goes to find the old man. He returns to the part of town where he found the man, and is approached by the two boys. The old man introduces himself as Ragtag, and the boys' names are Run and Jump. All three are metahumans. Ragtag explains that his power is to give powers to others, and he gave Run superspeed and Jump the ability to teleport. He says that Richie had potential, which is why he gave Richie powers. He agrees to give Richie his powers back as long as he doesn't tell anyone how he got them. Richie promises not to tell, and Ragtag has Richie touch his energy-infused walking stick. While that is going on, Static searches for Richie. But, he is interrupted by the sound of creaking metal. A crane on top of a parking garage that is next to a nearby construction site. The crane is holding a load of metal girders, but the load is too heavy, causing the crane arm to bend, and the concrete below to crumble. The load-bearing cables snap and the girders start falling. Static flies closer, and uses his powers to shield the people below, but the other girders continue to fall, crashing onto cars. The crane arm also begins to snap off, and Static can only stop so much damage on his own. The workers in the crane are still in danger due to the crumbling parking garage. Before they fall, Richie, dressed in similar clothes to Run and Jump, flies towards the mayhem. He now has better control over his powers, and can manipulate the shape of the energy in his hands, using them to safely catch the falling workers. The crane smashes onto the pavement, but everyone is more or less unharmed.

The people applaud for Richie, who has named himself "Push." While Push gets praise and kisses from pretty girls, Static manages to get the damaged crane arm onto the pavement. Push tries giving Static some of the credit for saving everyone, but the people don't respond. Static gets irritated and asks Richie to talk in private. Static asks Richie what's going on and how he got his powers back. Richie insists on being called "Push" and says that how he got his powers is classified information. Static quickly guesses that the old man Richie mentioned is involved, and says that Richie may be letting his powers go to his head. Richie gets angry, saying that Virgil can't handle not being the only superhero in town anymore and demands to be left alone. Push blasts Static into a wall with his powers, much to Static's shock. Push realizes his powers are fading and quickly flies off to find Ragtag. Returning to the abandoned building where Ragtag lives, he asks for more power. Ragtag gives him a little, but Richie asks for more. Ragtag says that in order to get more, Richie will have to start stealing for him.

Later that night, Run, Jump, and Richie are outside of a museum. Run explains the plan: Jump teleports inside to disable the alarms, Push destroys the doors, then Run will race through the building, stealing whatever jewels and small artifacts he can. Richie refuses to help, but Jump teleports inside anyway. Richie blasts a hole in the window, triggering the alarm. Jump teleports back outside before anyone notices, and the two attack Richie. Richie tries using his powers to defend himself, but they start to fade again. At that moment, Static arrives saves Richie, using his "Static Cling" to stick Run's hand to a statue. After zapping Jump unconscious, Richie thanks Static and starts explaining the situation. A bit later, Static goes to confront Ragtag. Ragtag pretends to cough and slump over. When Static gets closer to check on him, Ragtag grabs his arms, and begins sapping Static's power from him. Richie arrives shortly after, and knocks Ragtag aside with a chair. Static faints and Ragtag chases Richie around his rooftop dwelling, attacking with his energized walking stick. He ends up falling over the side of the building, and clings to some ivy vines. He tries using his sapping power on Richie when he tries to help, but the vines die, and Ragtag falls into a dumpster below. Richie checks on Static, who is weakened, but will recover.

Later at the abandoned gas station, Richie locks away his super suit, stating that he's okay with being average again. He adds that he was a stronger hero than Static. Virgil denies this, and the two agree to duel over it...specifically with a round of games at the arcade.

Continuity

• Ragtag's origin is revealed in "Attack of the Living Brain Puppets".
• Richie's full name, Richard Osgood Foley, is revealed.

Background information

Home video releases

• Static Shock: The Complete Second Season (DVD)

Production inconsistencies

• In the Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude, Virgil removes his mask by simply pulling it to the side, even though it has a band pulled over his head.
• When Richie is carrying the two men who fell out of the crane to the roof of the building with his powers, his right hand appears and disappears between shots.

Trivia

• Len Uhley has stated that this episode is a subtle anti-drug message.^[1]
• Virgil mentions his hero is Green Lantern, at which point Phil LaMarr uses his John Stewart voice.
• The old man tells Richie that he can call him Ragtag. Interestingly, neither Richie nor Jump and Run ever refer to him by that name (or any other) in the entire episode.

Cast

Quotes

Virgil: I guess we'll have to settle this man to man. Richie: Mano a mano. Virgil: No quarter asked, no quarter given. Richie: Gimme a quarter.