Chloe Zhang
Plastic Man, also known as Plas, is a superhero with the power to shape-shift, change his density, and transform his body into something resembling rubber, allowing him to stretch and mould himself into any shape. His first appearance was in a 1941 comic, and he has since appeared in several animated series, such as Batman: Brave and the Bold and Justice League Action, as well as in non-speaking cameo appearances in Young Justice and Robot Chicken. Plastic Man's unique ability to manipulate his molecular structure has raised questions about how his costume stays on, with some speculating that he uses his powers to create the appearance of wearing a costume, while others suggest he wears a leotard with a slit and goggles to hide his secret identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Appearance | Quality Comics |
| First Technical DC Appearance | House of Mystery #160 (1966) |
| First Full Appearance in a Funnybook | The Inferior Five #2 (1967) |
| First Serious DC Crossover | The Brave and the Bold #76 (1968) |
| Powers | Shape-shifting, changing density, and changing colour |
| Costume | Leotard with a slit down the centre, red goggles |
| True Identity | Patrick "Eel" O'Brian |
| Origin Story | Thief whose body was drenched in industrial chemicals during a robbery |
| Family | Wife (Penny), Son (Baby Plas)/Offspring/Luke |
| Affiliations | FBI, Justice League, The Terrifics |
Explore related products
$59.99
What You'll Learn
Plastic Man's origin story
Plastic Man, or Plas, is a superhero in the DC Universe. He was created by cartoonist and writer-artist Jack Cole, and first appeared in Police Comics #1 (August) 1941, published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Plastic Man was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling. He has been a member of the Justice League and has interacted with other characters such as Batman.
Plastic Man's true identity is Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, a petty crook and skilled thief who was orphaned at age 10 and forced to live on the streets. As an adult, he became part of a burglary ring, specialising as a safecracker. During a heist, he was doused in chemicals, which gave him the ability to stretch his body into any shape. He was nursed back to health by altruistic monks, who inspired him to embrace life’s brighter side and abandon his life of crime.
As a superhero, Plastic Man wears a leotard with a slit down the centre and his trademark goggles to hide his secret identity. His costume is not a separate garment but a part of his body, which he shapes and colours using his powers. Plastic Man is immortal and does not appear to age; he is now over 3,000 years old and is still active as a superhero. He has a sidekick called Woozy Winks, who was originally an FBI agent.
Plastic Man has been adapted into various media outside of comics, including animated television series and films. He was also the inspiration for other stretchy heroes such as Elongated Man and Mr. Fantastic. Despite his popularity, Plastic Man has never been a significant commercial success. However, he remains a favourite character of many modern comic book creators, who have included him in their stories and covers.
Biggest Plastic Sheds: How Large Can They Get?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The evolution of Plastic Man's costume
Plastic Man, otherwise known as Eel O'Brien, made his first appearance in 1941. His body was drenched in industrial chemicals following a robbery-gone-wrong, which entered his bloodstream and caused a body-wide mutagenic process that transformed his physiology. As a result, he has complete control over his molecular structure, allowing him to shape-shift, change his density, and change his colour.
Plastic Man's costume is not a separate garment but rather a part of his body, which he manipulates using his powers. He wears a leotard with a slit down the centre, paired with goggles to hide his secret identity. This costume is red, black, yellow, and the same colour as his skin.
In the 1979 Plastic Man cartoon series, he is depicted wearing a wedding ring, suggesting that he marries his girlfriend Penny. In this series, they also have a "Baby Plas", a common trope in cartoons of the time.
Plastic Man's son, Offspring, appears in Teen Titans Vol. 3, #34, wearing a white costume with red goggles. Plastic Man's other son, Luke, is introduced in The Terrifics series, in which Plastic Man joins a group of heroes in travelling the Dark Multiverse.
Plastic Cases: Hard Shell Protection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic Man's powers
Plastic Man, otherwise known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero in the DC Universe. His powers are the result of an accident in which his body was exposed to an unknown industrial chemical mixture that entered his bloodstream through a gunshot wound.
The chemicals caused a body-wide mutagenic process that transformed his physiology. As a result, O'Brian exists in a fluid state, neither entirely liquid nor solid, with complete control over his molecular structure. This allows him to stretch his limbs and body to superhuman lengths and sizes, with no known limit to how far he can stretch. He can shrink down to a few inches tall or grow to the size of skyscrapers. He can also contort his body into various positions that are impossible for ordinary humans, such as becoming entirely flat to slip under a door or compressing himself into a ball to ricochet off things.
Finding Plastic Scrap in Dreamlight Valley: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic Man's enemies
Plastic Man, the stretching member of the Justice League, has fought many enemies in his comics. One of his most notable foes is Doctor Dome, a supervillain in a dome-shaped helmet who is considered Plastic Man's arch-enemy. Other villains include Acid Tongue, a criminal who can spit acid at targets from a distance; Amorpho, a sentient blob of protoplasm from an unknown planet; and Bizarro, a backwards clone of Superman.
Plastic Man has also faced off against the League of Assassins, an organization led by Ra's al Ghul and including his daughter, Talia al Ghul. He has encountered cheese-themed criminals like Cheeseface, who sells explosive bottles of milk, and Carrot-Man, who dresses up as a carrot. Some of Plastic Man's enemies are more bizarre, such as Red Herring, an anthropomorphic herring who meddles with crime investigations, and Roxanne Roller, a roller-skating villain seeking vengeance against rock stars.
In one storyline, Plastic Man battles the Martian Manhunter when he becomes corrupted by The Burning. Plastic Man also has a personal enemy in Poison Ivy, who once posed as Angel O'Brien to get revenge on him. Malleable Man is another foe, a criminal associate of Eel O'Brien who recreated the accident that gave Plastic Man his powers.
Plastic Man, with his goofy powers and stretching abilities, is an unlikely superhero. However, his powers are indeed terrifying, and Batman even considers him one of the most powerful and potentially dangerous beings on Earth. Plastic Man's abilities include complete control over his molecular structure, allowing him to stretch, shrink, and contort his body to superhuman lengths and sizes. He can also shift his rubbery organs around to prevent harm, even surviving decapitation by keeping his brain outside of his head.
Best Plastics for Wear Resistance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic Man's appearances in other media
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero in the DC Universe who has appeared in several animated television series and films. He first appeared in the 1979 cartoon series "The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show", where he married his girlfriend Penny and they had a "Baby Plas". He has since appeared in animated series like "'Batman: Brave and the Bold" and "Justice League Action". Plastic Man has also been voiced by actors such as Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, and Michael Bell in various animated films.
In addition to his appearances in animation, Plastic Man has also been mentioned in live-action television series. He was referenced in an episode of "Justice League Unlimited" called "The Greatest Story Never Told". Plastic Man also starred in a pilot for a series on Cartoon Network in 2006, which later became a series of shorts for the network's DC Nation block.
Plastic Man has also made cameo appearances in comic books outside of the DC Universe. He appeared in the "Injustice: Gods Among Us" prequel comic, speaking out against Superman's altered ethics. Plastic Man also made a cameo in the "DC Super Hero Girls" episode "Welcome to Super Hero High" as a graduate of the eponymous school.
Plastic Man has been a popular character in the DC Universe, with writers like Grant Morrison and Alex Ross including him in their Justice League line-ups. He was created by cartoonist Jack Cole and first appeared in Police Comics #1 in 1941. Plastic Man is known for his humour and his ability to stretch his body into any form, making him one of the most powerful and potentially dangerous beings in the DC Universe.
Fastening Plastic to Wood: Best Practices
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Plastic Man, also known as Eel O'Brien, was a common thief whose body was drenched in weird chemicals in a robbery gone wrong. He decided to use his new powers for good and became a superhero.
Not exactly. The chemicals entered his bloodstream, and he found out he could transform his body into something resembling rubber. He can stretch, bounce, and mould himself into any shape.
Plastic Man doesn't wear a costume. He uses his powers to make it appear that he is wearing one, but it's all his body. He can shape-shift, change his density, and change his colour, so he can appear however he likes.
