Starting in early 2021, DC will revive an important piece of comics history with the return of Milestone via a number of different projects scheduled for release. The revival was revealed during Saturday’s DC FanDome streaming event.
The line, which featured such heroes as Static, Icon and Hardware, debuted as Milestone Media in 1993. Founded by Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, Derek T. Dingle and the late Dwayne McDuffie, Milestone was based on the belief that comics significantly underrepresented anyone outside of the dominant straight white demographic, with Milestone Media intended as a response to the problem. Its output, published through DC but retaining editorial and merchandise control internally, was set in the fictional city of Dakota, and referred to as the “Dakotaverse.”
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Outside of the original run of series, which ran from 1993 through 1996, Milestone Media was also responsible for the WB animated series Static Shock, based on the Static comic book series, which ran from 2000 through 2004.
DC has previously announced its intent to bring Milestone back in both 2015 and 2017, with the latter going so far as to name creative teams for a 2018 publishing line. Those plans have been completely revised for the 2021 relaunch, which will feature an all-new Static Shock digital comic series beginning in Feb. 2021, written by Reginald Hudlin, now a full partner of Milestone, and drawn by a mystery artist, as well as an additional Static Shock graphic novel by Hudlin, with art by Kyle Baker. A series reviving Icon and Rocket, by Hudlin and Milestone founder Denys Cowan, was also announced.
Beyond that, Milestone plans to utilize the characters outside of comics, with Hudlin mentioning potential animated and live-action movie projects, including a Static Shock movie, as well as potential podcast development. Lee also teased future YA content featuring the characters.
Ahead of the February relaunch, DC will release digital editions of the original Milestone comics, starting in September with the release of Milestone Returns No. 0, an all-new primer intended to introduce the concepts to new readers.
The revival of the Milestone line was recently confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by CCO Jim Lee.
