Alexei Volkov
In the Flash, Plastic Man is a superhero with the ability to stretch his body into any form. He first appeared in Police Comics #1, published in August 1941 by Quality Comics, and was later acquired by DC Comics. Plastic Man, whose real name is Patrick Eel O'Brian, was created by cartoonist Jack Cole and was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling. In the context of The Flash, Plastic Man is referenced as a potential superhero name for Ralph Dibny, also known as Elongated Man, a member of Team Flash who has the power to stretch his body to great lengths.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Plastic Man |
| First Appearance | Police Comics #1 (August 1941) |
| Original Publisher | Quality Comics |
| Current Publisher | DC Comics |
| Creator | Cartoonist Jack Cole |
| Powers | Can stretch his body into any imaginable form |
| Is immune to Circe's ability to turn humans into animals | |
| Membership | Justice League |
| Variants | Gunther Ganz, a scientist whose consciousness was transferred into living polymer |
| Eel O'Brian, a criminal gang member who was shot and exposed to an unidentified chemical | |
| Legion of Doom member from Earth-9 |
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What You'll Learn
Ralph Dibny is Plastic Man in The Flash
Ralph Dibny is a superhero in DC Comics known as the Elongated Man. He first appeared in The Flash #112 in 1960 and has appeared in several seasons of the Arrowverse TV series The Flash. Ralph Dibny is a former police detective of the Central City Police Department and a private investigator. He is a close friend of Barry Allen, Cisco Ramon, Iris West-Allen, and Caitlin Snow.
In the pre-Flashpoint timeline, Ralph Dibny was one of the 17 people who lost his life during the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator explosion. However, in the post-Flashpoint timeline, the timeline altered, and Ralph survived the explosion. He gained superpowers due to exposure to dark matter from the Speed Force while riding Central City Bus 405. Using these superpowers, Ralph joined Team Flash and became a meta-human vigilante.
Ralph Dibny, as the Elongated Man, has the ability to stretch his body to great lengths. He can contort his body into various positions and sizes that are impossible for ordinary humans, such as becoming entirely flat to slip under a door or using his fingers to pick conventional locks. He can also use his powers for disguise by changing the shape of his face, although this is painful and difficult for him. Ralph's physiology has greater physical limitations than Plastic Man; there is a limit to how far he can stretch his finite bodily mass, and he cannot open holes in his body as Plastic Man can.
In the episode "Elongated Journey Into Night", Barry Allen/The Flash offers Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man the chance to be a hero and suggests the superhero name "Plastic Man". Ralph quickly rejects the name, stating, "That's the worst name I've ever heard". This exchange is an in-joke in the Arrowverse, referencing a similar exchange between Oliver Queen and Malcolm Merlyn in season 1 of Arrow.
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Plastic Man was first introduced in 1941
Plastic Man, the fictional superhero, was indeed first introduced in 1941. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling. Cole's life was colourful, including cycling across America at 18, before moving to New York in 1935 and dedicating himself to cartooning. After a fitful start as a gag cartoonist, he found himself at the beginning of the comics explosion, working for Centaur Publishing and Lev Gleason Publications before joining Quality Comics.
In 1941, Everett "Busy" Arnold, the owner of Quality Comics, asked Cole to create a new hero for the upcoming Police Comics title. Cole's creation was a super-detective, a hero who always got his man in his own way: Plastic Man. In August 1941, the first issue of Police Comics introduced a hoodlum called Eel O'Brian, who was hard at work cracking a safe at the Crawford Chemical Works. Plastic Man was the star of the cover of the fifth issue, published in December 1941, where he was billed as the "New Comic Sensation!".
Plastic Man has been published in several solo series and has interacted with other characters in the mainstream DC Universe as a member of the Justice League. He has been adapted into media outside of comics, with various actors voicing the character in animated television series and films.
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Ralph Dibny is a detective
Ralph Dibny was a detective with a difference. As a teenager, he was fascinated by contortionists and people who displayed feats of agility and suppleness. He learned that all the body-benders he spoke with drank a popular soda called "Gingold". Ralph studied chemistry and developed a super-concentrated extract of the rare "gingo" fruit of the Yucatán, which gave him elasticity and the ability to stretch his body to extreme lengths.
Ralph was a police detective until Barry Allen discovered that he had committed perjury by planting evidence. After being ousted from the police force, he became a private investigator specialising in infidelity cases. In the present, the Thinker manipulates Team Flash into exposing Dibny to dark matter, granting him elastic powers. Ralph joined Team Flash and began acting as a meta-human vigilante and superhero. Dibny rejected Barry's suggestion to give himself the superhero name 'Plastic Man', opting for ''The Elongated Man' instead.
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Plastic Man is more elastic than Elongated Man
Plastic Man and Elongated Man are both DC Comics characters with elastic abilities. They can both stretch their bodies beyond normal human limits, allowing them to fit into tight spaces, such as under doors or through locks. However, there are significant differences in their powers and their overall resilience.
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick O'Brian, has near-limitless elasticity. He can shift his body into any shape he desires, such as a dress, a unicorn, or even an entire sewer system. He can also move his organs around to avoid critical injuries. For instance, he can move his brain out of his head to avoid decapitation. Plastic Man's unique physiology grants him near-invulnerability and immortality. He does not age and can regenerate and withstand damage, ensuring his longevity as a superhero.
On the other hand, Elongated Man, also known as Ralph Dibny, has more limited powers. While he can stretch his body to superhuman lengths and sizes, there is a finite limit to how far he can stretch his bodily mass. Additionally, certain shape-shifting abilities are difficult and painful for him. Elongated Man's physiology is closer to that of a typical human, making him more vulnerable to harm. He lacks the same level of resilience as Plastic Man and will likely experience ageing like most humans.
In summary, while both characters possess remarkable elastic abilities, Plastic Man surpasses Elongated Man in terms of elasticity due to his limitless powers, shape-shifting capabilities, and superior resilience and immortality. Elongated Man, while still an impressive superhero, has more limited stretching abilities and is more susceptible to injuries due to his relatively human-like physiology.
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Plastic Man is a member of the Justice League
Plastic Man, also known as Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero in the DC Universe. Created by cartoonist Jack Cole, Plastic Man was one of the first superheroes to incorporate humour into mainstream action storytelling. The character has been published in several solo series and has interacted with other characters such as Batman and many others in the mainstream DC Universe. Plastic Man is known for his ability to stretch his body into any imaginable form.
Plastic Man was first introduced in Police Comics #1, originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. He first appeared in August 1941, making him one of the oldest DC superheroes. Plastic Man has been adapted into various media outside of comics, including animated television series and films. He has been voiced by actors such as Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, and Michael Bell.
In addition to his solo adventures, Plastic Man is also a member of the Justice League. He notably engages in combat with the goddess Circe, proving immune to her ability to turn humans into animals. Plastic Man becomes close friends with fellow Justice League members Steel and Zauriel. After the extended League dissolves at the end of the "World War III" arc, he is the only member other than the 'Big Seven' heroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Martian Manhunter, and Green Lantern) to retain full-time membership in the JLA.
Plastic Man's powers and abilities include the ability to stretch and reshape his body into any form imaginable. He can use this ability to stretch his limbs and body to superhuman lengths and sizes, granting him heightened agility, flexibility, and coordination beyond human limits. Plastic Man's powers also grant him a degree of durability, enabling him to withstand corrosives, punctures, and concussions without sustaining injury.
In addition to his appearance in the comics, Plastic Man has also been referenced in the TV show The Flash. In the episode "Elongated Journey Into Night," Barry Allen/The Flash (Grant Gustin) suggests the name "Plastic Man" to Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man (Hartley Sawyer) as a potential superhero name. While Ralph rejects the suggestion, the reference is a nod to DC Comics lore, as both Plastic Man and Elongated Man are members of the Justice League and have teamed up with other heroes.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Man, or Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, is a superhero in The Flash. He first appeared in Police Comics #1, published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Plastic Man is known for his ability to stretch his body into any form.
Plastic Man has been voiced by various actors in different animated series and films, including Tom Kenny, Dana Snyder, Michael Bell, Norman Alden, Joey Cappabianca, and Oliver Hudson.
Plastic Man has the ability to stretch his body into any form imaginable. He also engages in combat with the goddess Circe and is known to be immune to her ability to turn humans into animals.
Elongated Man, or Ralph Dibny, is a separate character from Plastic Man in The Flash. While both characters have stretching abilities, Elongated Man has more limited powers and is known for his detective work. In one episode of The Flash, Barry Allen suggests the name "Plastic Man" for Elongated Man, but he rejects it.
