10 2000s Superhero Cartoons Fans Shouldn't Ignore

A formative entry in the DC Animated Universe, Static Shock wowed audiences with its protagonist Virgil Hawkins, a young Black teen who first appeared in Milestone Media's Dakotaverse comics.

Virgil managed to appeal to younger fans by being a cartoon costumed crime fighter, and to an older teenage audience because the show was a coming of age story. As the character was co-created by the late, great Dwayne McDuffie, Static's stories were always nuanced, politically salient, and thoroughly compelling.

One of the ways the show displayed and celebrated Virgil’s heritage was by visiting Africa in the third episode of the third season. There, Virgil meets the superhero Anansi, who was a spider-based hero. Besides being a fun superhero team-up, with Static being joined by Richie as Gear as the seasons progressed, the show was never afraid to broach important subject matter, even offering an emotional lesson on prejudice and discrimination when Virgil discovers Richie's father is racist in the first season's ninth episode.

Speaking of team-ups, Static crossed paths with members of the Justice League from time to time, partnering up with heroes like Batman, Green Lantern and Superman, and even appearing in Justice League Unlimited as an older character on two separate occasions.