Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: Plastic Man #1

By Philip Schweier
June 13, 2018 - 04:05

I first met Plastic Man in 1973, on an episode of Super Friends. At the time, it puzzled me that as an ally of the Super Friends, he wasn’t more high profile. I later learned he dated back to the Golden Age, and it’s good to see him still kicking. He’s always had a lighter side to him that I’ve appreciated, especially in the Kyle Baker series DC published about 15 years ago. Now that he’s co-starring in the Terrifics (and Elongated Man is MIA), maybe he’ll make it to at least B-list status.

There’s a fair amount of meat on these bones for a decent story, while sharing some background for anyone unfamiliar with Plastic Man’s origin. He used to be a low-level criminal named Eel O’Brian. He got shot while cracking a safe at a chemical plant, and a witch’s brew of chemicals entered his bloodstream via the open wound. His pals dumped his “body,” and when Eel came to he had the ability to stretch himself into all manner of shapes.

Now Eel is on the trail of the men who did him wrong, and trying to make up for his criminal past as Plastic Man. But then Spyral comes to call (yes, they know who he is), seeking his help because they’re not sure who they can trust. They’re not sure they can rely to heavily on O’Brian, but they’re confident he’s far enough off anyone’s radar that he hasn’t been compromised. He just needs to stay out of jail long enough.

Gail Simone’s writing is superb, as always. I’m confident this will be a fun series to read, without being so fun it becomes a parody of itself. Plas is simply one of those characters we all know – someone who has a much lighter way of looking at the world. Adriana Melo’s artwork is light and simple, in a good way. It’s very fluid, which is suitable for a character who can bend his body into any number of shapes and forms.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12