Ethan Clarke
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick Eel O'Brian, is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of the first comedic superheroes, incorporating humour into mainstream action storytelling. Plastic Man's day job is as a crime fighter, utilising his unique powers of elasticity and shape-shifting to fight villains. With his distinctive red and yellow costume, Plastic Man has had numerous adventures, both in the comics and in other media adaptations, solidifying his place as one of DC's most beloved characters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Plastic Man |
| Creator | Jack Cole |
| First Appearance | Police Comics #1 (August 1941) |
| Publisher | Quality Comics, later acquired by DC Comics |
| Genre | One of the first comedic superheroes |
| Powers | Shape-shifting, elasticity, plasticity, immortality, invulnerability, malleability, density control, size alteration |
| Nicknames | Plas, India Rubber Man |
| Sidekick | Woozy Winks |
| Inspiration | Will Eisner's The Spirit |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic Man's origin story
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, was once a small-time criminal and a member of a gang of thieves. However, his life took a unexpected turn when he was involved in a bizarre accident that would change his life forever. One night, during a late-night robbery at the Crawford Chemical Works, the gang was surprised by a security guard, and in the ensuing shootout, Eel was struck by a bullet and knocked into a large vat of unidentified, highly corrosive chemicals. The chemicals should have killed him, but instead, he survived and discovered that the chemicals had a profound effect on his body, altering his body's biology and granting him remarkable powers.
After this transformative incident, Eel woke up in a hospital, where he discovered that he had gained the ability to stretch and mold his body into any shape he desired, thanks to his new-found powers. He could mold his body into any shape, no matter how bizarre, and even alter his size at will. His powers also included the ability to withstand strong impacts and the power to reshape himself, rendering him effectively immortal. Recognizing the incredible potential of his new abilities, Eel decided to use them for good and leave his life of crime behind.
Adopting the name Plastic Man, he decided to fight crime and protect the innocent. With his unique powers, he became an invaluable asset to law enforcement, using his shape-shifting abilities to infiltrate criminal organizations, rescue hostages, and gather intelligence. Over time, he became a respected and celebrated superhero, known for his humor, creativity, and unconventional approach to fighting crime.
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His creator, cartoonist Jack Cole
Jack Cole, born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, was a cartoonist and illustrator best known for creating the legendary Golden Age superhero Plastic Man. Cole's only formal training in art was through a Landon Correspondence Course in Cartooning. At the age of 17, he bicycled solo cross-country to Los Angeles, California, and back, recounting his adventure in an early self-illustrated professional sale, "A Boy and His Bike". Cole moved to New York in 1935 and began working as a cartoonist, joining Centaur Publishing and Lev Gleason Publications before landing at Quality Comics.
In 1941, Cole created Plastic Man for Quality Comics' Police Comics #1. The character, a former criminal with shape-shifting abilities, became an immediate hit, and Cole's offbeat humour and imaginative storylines allowed him to experiment with text and graphics in groundbreaking ways. Plastic Man gained his own title in 1943, and Cole continued to draw the cult comic for many years, until around 1950. During this time, Cole also assisted Will Eisner on 'The Spirit' and created features like 'Wung Cloo' and 'Mr. Midnight' for Smash Comics.
In the late 1940s, Cole co-created 'The Barker', a lighthearted feature starring carnival barker Carnie Callhan, which spun off into a 15-issue comic. Cole's career took another turn in 1954 when he began drawing risqué single-panel cartoons for magazines under the pen name "Jake". He then became a cartoon illustrator for Playboy magazine, producing full-page, watercoloured gags. Cole's mental health struggles led to his suicide in 1958, and his suicide note to his editor, Hugh Hefner, expressed his inability to cope and his desire not to hurt those close to him. Cole's influence and legacy continue to be recognised, with posthumous inductions into the comic book industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame and the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.
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His sidekick, Woozy Winks
Plastic Man, or "Plas", as he is nicknamed, is a DC Comics superhero known for his elasticity and ability to mould himself into any shape. He has a sidekick named Woozy Winks, a former Arkham Asylum inmate who stopped Eel O'Brian (Plastic Man's true identity) from committing suicide after he gained his powers. Together, they decided to use O'Brian's newfound powers to fight crime.
Woozy Winks is portrayed as a bumbling yet loyal friend to Plastic Man, providing comic relief in their adventures. He is not very bright, with an odd perception of how the world works, and is often shown wearing cool shades. In his original incarnation, Woozy was enchanted so that nature itself would protect him from harm, but this power was eventually removed.
Woozy Winks first appeared during the Golden Age of Comics, when Plastic Man was a member of the city police force and later the FBI. This was a time when superheroes were just beginning to incorporate humour into their storylines, and Plastic Man was one of the first to do so. Plastic Man and Woozy Winks had many ridiculous adventures together, fighting crime and battling evil-doers.
Plastic Man and Woozy Winks' dynamic is one of the earliest examples of the Three Stooges trope in superhero comics, where the superhero is accompanied by a bumbling but well-meaning sidekick. This trope added a layer of humour and lightness to the often serious and action-packed world of superheroes.
Over time, the portrayal of Woozy Winks evolved, with his personality changing from being comically serious in the early comics to becoming more of a fun and comic relief character in modern portrayals. Despite his goofy nature, Woozy Winks is shown to be a loyal and brave companion to Plastic Man, always ready to face new challenges and battles by his side.
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His powers and their limits
Plastic Man's powers include elasticity, shape-shifting, and size alteration. He can stretch his limbs and body to superhuman lengths and sizes, with no known limit to how far he can stretch. He can also shrink himself down to a few inches tall or grow larger than a skyscraper. Plastic Man can contort his body into various positions, such as becoming entirely flat to slip under a door or using his fingers to pick conventional locks. He can also change his density at will, becoming as dense as a rock or as flexible as a rubber band.
Plastic Man's powers give him high durability, and he is considered to be functionally immortal. He once survived for 3000 years as crumbs scattered at the bottom of the ocean and was still able to reform himself. However, he is not invincible and could be vaporized or destroyed if enough of his molecules were taken to another dimension. Plastic Man's strength is also enhanced by his powers, as he can manipulate his body to deliver powerful blows. However, his speed is not significantly improved, and other superheroes, like the Flash, are known to be much faster than him.
Plastic Man also possesses shape-shifting abilities that allow him to alter his facial features and disguise himself. He can also alter his clothing, keeping the same red and yellow colour scheme even when changing shapes. This ability to change his appearance helps him hide his secret identity as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, a former small-time criminal.
While Plastic Man's powers are extensive, they do have some limitations. For example, he cannot fly or move at superhuman speeds. Additionally, his powers do not make him invincible, and he can still be harmed or killed by powerful opponents. Despite his durability, being broken into pieces and scattered for thousands of years had a negative impact on his mind.
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His appearances in other media
Plastic Man has been substantially adapted into media outside of comics. The character has been voiced by Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, and Michael Bell, among others, in animated television series and films. In 1979, Plastic Man got his own cartoon series on Saturday morning television. In the show, he married his girlfriend Penny and they had a "Baby Plas," a common trope in cartoons at the time. This cartoon is largely responsible for Plastic Man's fame.
Plastic Man has also appeared in animated series like *Batman: Brave and the Bold* and *Justice League Action*. He has been included in Justice League line-ups by writers like Grant Morrison and Alex Ross, and was considered as one of the candidates for the United Nations-sponsored Justice League International in The New 52 reboot of DC's continuity. Plastic Man was denied a spot on the team for being too unpredictable, but later joined the eponymous group in The Terrifics series.
Plastic Man has also appeared in video games. He is a playable character in *Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham* and *Lego DC Super-Villains*.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Man is a superhero featured in American comic books. He was created by cartoonist Jack Cole and first appeared in Police Comics #1 (August 1941). Plastic Man is known for his ability to stretch and shape-shift, making him one of the most powerful heroes in the DC Universe.
Plastic Man's day job is that of a superhero and crime fighter. He is known for his wit and inventiveness, often using his powers and humour to defeat his enemies. Plastic Man has also been a member of various teams within the DC Universe, including the Justice League and the All-Star Squadron. He has also been known to work alongside other heroes such as Batman.
Plastic Man has a range of powers, most notably his ability to stretch and shape-shift his body into any form he can imagine. He also has complete control over his density, allowing him to become as flexible as a rubber band or as dense as a rock. Plastic Man's durability is also incredibly high, and he is considered to be functionally immortal.
Plastic Man's secret identity is Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, a small-time crook and thief. During a robbery, O'Brian was shot and exposed to an unknown acid or chemical, which gave him his powers. Inspired by the kindness of monks who shielded him from the police, O'Brian decided to turn over a new leaf and use his powers for good, becoming the superhero Plastic Man.
