Ep 1. Hard as Nails

Static Shock was an American animated television series that was created by Dwayne McDuffie and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The show aired on the Kids' WB programming block from 2000 to 2004 for a total of four seasons and 52 episodes. The show followed the adventures of Virgil Hawkins, a high school student who gained electromagnetic powers after being exposed to a mutagenic gas. The series also addressed important social issues such as racism, gun violence, and gang culture.

Season 3 of the show began with an episode titled "Hard as Nails". The episode began with Virgil and his friend Richie investigating a new drug that was being sold on the streets of Dakota. They discovered that the drug contained a highly addictive substance that enhanced the user's strength and agility, but also had dangerous side effects. The drug was being manufactured and distributed by a new gang in town called the Long Ma.

Virgil and Richie went to inform Static's ally, Commissioner Barnes, about the Long Ma's activities. However, they were interrupted by a new super villain known as Nails. Nails had the ability to transform her body into a metallic substance, making her virtually indestructible. Nails attacked the boys, thinking that they were trying to ruin her drug operation. Static arrived on the scene to help them, but Nails proved too tough for him to defeat.

Static and Nails engaged in a fierce battle throughout the city. Nails was relentless and had no regard for innocent bystanders or property damage. Static tried his best to keep up with her, but his electromagnetic powers were useless against her metallic form. Finally, Nails was able to knock Static unconscious and was about to finish him off when her boss, Long Shadow, arrived on the scene. He scolded her for wasting time fighting Static and told her to focus on their drug operation.

Static woke up to find himself tied up and at the mercy of Long Shadow and Nails. Long Shadow was revealed to be the mastermind behind the Long Ma's drug operation. He had been using the profits to fund his operations and had no intention of letting Static or anyone else interfere. Nails was revealed to be his enforcer and was tasked with eliminating anyone who got in their way.

Long Shadow put Static into a machine that was designed to drain his electromagnetic powers. With Static powerless, Long Shadow thought that he would be able to get rid of him once and for all. However, Richie was able to disable the machine at the last moment, allowing Static to escape and reclaim his powers.

Static and Nails had another showdown, but this time Static had a new strategy. He realized that Nails' metal form was impervious to his electromagnetic blasts, but he was still able to manipulate her environment. He used his powers to attack Nails indirectly, knocking her into buildings and other hazards. Finally, he was able to defeat her by causing a gas tank to explode near her, trapping her in molten asphalt.

With Nails defeated, Static turned his attention to Long Shadow. Long Shadow tried to escape, but Static was able to catch up to him. A final battle ensued, with Static using all of his powers to take down Long Shadow. In the end, Static was able to capture Long Shadow and turn him over to Commissioner Barnes.

"Hard as Nails" was a thrilling episode of Static Shock that introduced a formidable new villain. Nails was a challenging opponent for Static, and her metal form added a new layer of intensity to their battles. The episode also touched on the issue of drugs and gang violence, highlighting the negative effects they can have on communities. Overall, "Hard as Nails" was a solid start to Season 3 of Static Shock.