Wizard Magazine's "Summer Heat" issue (#106, in comic stores now) discloses insider info from members of the production teams on X-Men and Static, provided by Wizard staffers Scott Brick and Andy Serwin.

The X-Men team roster will include: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pride, Wolverine, Storm, Professor X, "and a new character who's never been in the comics - a nephew of Storm".

The show's to have a "retro feel to it", says producer Boyd Kirkland, though "set firmly in modern day", and yet take place in the team's past. [Sound confusing? Read on.] "It's not retro in the sense that it's set in the '60s or anything, but as far as the time frame goes, it's not consistent with the original Jack kirby/Stan Lee comic origin. Instead, everything about it will be present day. We've taken some creative license." [I'll say! -G]

Wizard writer Scott Brick relates further that Storm, Wolverine and Professor X will serve as the team mentors. "Even though the X-Men have always been about mutants, this new show places additional emphasis on the difficulties mutant teenagers face while trying to fit in, living among 'normal' people. At the same time, the kids must deal with the normal drama of being teenagers - a time when most kids feel like they are mutants anyway."

On the target audience of the show, Kirkland says that "Kids WB was very interested in having their shows' protagonists have more kid-appeal by being kids themselves, rather than the adult, grown-up X-Men. It's a cool idea, actually, something that's got a lot of possibilities for good characters and good entertainment."

One thing the show does have going for it so far is that Kirkland has brought in Frank Paur (BTAS, Gargoyles, Men in Black), Steve Gordon and Gary Graham who, together, directed the third season of HBO's animated "Spawn" and the first season of "Men in Black". The trio was brought in to help "give the show its distinctive flavor."

As for "Static Shock", story editor Christopher Simmons explains how the show will be different from the comic series. "Virgil's still brash and vibrant, but he's a bit younger than in the comic. We'll delve into some social issues that inner city kids deal with, like racism, gangs, peer pressure. And we'll look at the relationships Virgil has, both with his father, Robert and his best friend Richie, who's white."

Series director Denys Cowan (who helped create Static and the entire Milestone line for DC) says not to "expect a preachy, Afterschool Special-feel. We'll deal with those issues, but remember, this is a cartoon. This kid has a Chris Rock-sensibility to him. There's plenty of humor, action, adventure and excitement. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Gookie