Powers and abilities
Static's powers allow him to control electromagnetic phenomena, in particular allowing him to manifest and manipulate both electrical and magnetic energy—Static's powers could be best described as superconductor electromagnetism; the latter is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe.
Static's powers center around electromagnetism, making him part of both the Earth's and the Sun's respective electromagnetic fields, as well as capable of generating, attracting, absorbing, repelling, channeling, storing, releasing, manipulating, and projecting electromagnetic energy. He can choose to keep the electromagnetic (EM) energy that he currently holds in his body by controlling the electric current--amperage and voltage--for whenever and whatever he wants to use it for. Static's body can generate raw electromagnetic energy, in any form within the electromagnetic spectrum (i.e. regular EM energy into electrical energy, via the photovoltaic effect), which he can control at will for various purposes.
Such uses commonly include magnetizing objects (even able to stop speeding-bullets in mid-air), electrocuting opponents, levitating objects (such as manhole-covers or his self-built metal saucer for use in flight) and people, restraining or adhering people/objects to various surfaces in the form of "static cling", generating "taser punches-&-kicks" (even "taser noogies") with effects similar to a stun gun and at times enough power to send opponents flying during close combat (once even punching a huge bang-baby made of molten magma through a brick wall), various electromagnetic displays as well as electromagnetic constructs, like nets or cages, blinding flashes, generating thrown "ball lightning", producing electromagnetic pulses to incapacitate electronical devices (especially when they're the main weapons used outnumbering enemies), and generating electromagnetic force fields (or assemble magnetized-metals into material barriers) to shield himself from attacks, even stopping bullets in mid-air. In the comic book series, Static has displayed the ability to manipulate subatomic particles, in particular electrons; in at least one instance, he has used this ability as an offensive attack to easily knockout a villain with the villain's own electrons, and in another instance, making an intangible enemy tangible. He can also electrocute nearby enemies.
As well as releasing surges of electromagnetic energy, which he can do from any part of his body, Static can also drain sources of electricity, such as power lines, batteries and fuse boxes to recharge/replenish his own energy supply. He has also displayed the ability to regenerate his powers after being completely drained by energy-draining villains. Whenever Static has used his powers to a high degree, or experience any other such large energy-drain, he will also experience a sudden, acute sense of fatigue, as his electromagnetic powers are tied into his own bioelectric energy levels.
Static can also sense and feel-out sources of electromagnetic energy, like an electromagnetic sensory perception ability, enabling him to tell if a seemingly-abandoned area is actually hot-or-not, and where there is metals (although it is, as-yet, unknown whenever-or-not Static is also capable of magnetoreception, like homing pigeons and sharks can).
In the animated series, Static's powers grant him resistance or immunity to forms of mind control due to his bioelectric field acting as a shield. This trait was adapted into the comic book mythos; within the comics, teammate Miss Martian has even been unable to track him telepathically.[30] In Terror Titans, Static is shown to have resistance to Darkseid's Anti-Life Equation, coming back to his senses.
Static has repeatedly displayed the ability to absorb and alter energy from enemy attacks and redirect the energy at said enemy, even radiation, as certain kinds of radiation are electromagnetic radiation (see the electromagnetic spectrum, Gamma rays, Microwaves, etc.); in Teen Titans, he has even absorbed Kryptonite radiation from a poisoned Superboy and redirected it at an enemy.[26] Static is able to use his powers to generate microwave energy to generate heat to combat ice attacks. He's also able to listen-in on radio waves, allowing him to listen to music, and even the police radio broadband; he can also use them to home-in on custom-made tracking-devices.
Static can use his powers in combination with items, like wire, assembled à la a cat's cradle, like the wire in filament in an Incandescent light bulb, to create powerful bursts of light, he calls "Nova Burst:, for the same tactical use like a flashbang grenade, to blind and disorientate opponents. Such a tactic is most effective against adversaries like Ebon (who is vulnerable to light), similar to his "Nova Ball", and against most people (save for the blind), but less-so against opponents like Aquamaria, whose body is transparent. Static can also use his powers to make bioelectric auras visible.
Virgil Hawkins is a highly gifted student with a particular interest in the sciences. He is a talented inventor and a natural strategist. Tim Drake has stated that Virgil's understanding of molecular and sub-atomic structures rivals the Flash.[29]
Static's body has been shown to automatically heal itself, even from what would otherwise be lethal wounds, when drawing in large amounts of energy from a nearby energy source and energy to matter conversion.[31]
Virgil also possesses an almost fanboyish knowledge of comic books, role playing games, pop culture, and science fiction.
Following the events of "Flashpoint", Static is given a new flying disk that now contains a holographic interface and is capable of collapsing into separate pieces or re-configuring into various forms for various uses and applications. In addition to allowing Static to remain in contact with Hardware, the disk also displays charts and other information relevant to the mission at hand. Virgil has also begun using a three-piece, detachable Bō-staff, both activated-by—and used in conjunction with—his powers, for use in close-ranged fighting.[32]
Weaknesses
Static's primary weaknesses are insulators; wood, cloth, rubber, glass, fibreglass, plastics and ceramics, etc., as his powers have little or no effect on them, as shown in his battle with Rubberband-Man. Wood seems to be the one he has the most difficulty with, as it cannot be electromagnetically manipulated, levitated or damaged (though Static can use his powers to ignite wood and cloth, and to melt glass and plastic, etc.). This can, however, be gotten-around if objects (metals, etc.) that he can manipulate are available (i.e. while wood-itself doesn't conduct electricity, if a piece of wood has a metal nail embedded in it, he can levitate it, via the metal nail), and certain materials, while they may not, themselves, be conductors of electricity and electromagnetism, are subjectable to static electricity.
As mentioned above, his electromagnetic powers are tied into his own bioelectric energy levels; whenever Static has used his powers to a high degree, or experience any other such large energy-drain, he will also experience a sudden, acute sense of fatigue and must re-charge from a pre-existing source of electricity to supplement his depleted energy levels if he cannot have the time to restore them through rest.
