Although today's entree into Favorites Week isn't what I'd label as a Z-Lister, I still find him to be partially unknown to the general public. Odd considering he's both tragically built and off-the-wall goofy. So let me introduce my favorite stretchy superhero (a bit specific, but you'd surprised how many superheroes can stretch) DC Comic's Plastic Man!
First appearing in 1941's "Police Comics #1", Patrick O'Brien was a criminal who's profession was cracking safes. His reputation for slick robberies earned him the nickname, Eel. One night, he and a band of crooks attempted to rob a chemical plant, but they were ambushed by the security guard. Eel was shot in the shoulder by the guard as his associates left him behind. Eel wandering towards a drum of mysterious chemicals which poured into his wound. He then fled from the factory and passed out at the foot of a mountain, he awoke under the protection of a lone monk who hid him from the police. The monk saw potential within Eel which became stronger after the realization that the chemicals doused into Eel's body gave him elasticity powers. With the monk's help, Eel honed his new abilities and swore to fight for the side of good as Plastic Man!
Other versions paint the story differently, but every story features Plastic Man's bumbling sidekick Woozy Winks as a comedic klutz who's clumsy antics would both aid Plastic Man and cause trouble for him. Plastic Man has been a prevalent member of the Justice League, often clashing with more serious heroes like Batman and, ironically, Elongated Man. Plastic Man's love interests span from a government agent named Peggy to a suburban ball-and-chain named Ramona. In 2002's "JLA #65" it was revealed that Plastic Man had a son named Luke McDonough, child of Eel's former girlfriend Angel McDonough. Eel had apparently left Angel because he felt he-as a former criminal-wouldn't be a suitable father. Luckily, Batman was able to help Eel get Luke to quit his street gang. Luke later used his elasticity powers to join The Teen Titans as Offspring.
Plastic Man is unbelievably powerful. His body can stretch to vast, yet unknown, lengths and he can even manipulate his own weight. He can make himself as small as a pocket or as tall as a skyscraper, but more impressively he can completely control the shape of his body, allowing him to shape-shift into any structure he desires. Machinery, clothing, people, weapons, the only limit is his imagination. His rubber body makes him nearly invulnerable, immortal, and able to regenerate any amount/portion of his body at will. Because of his unique physiology, Plastic Man's rubber organs can't be infected and his brain can't be read by any telepath. Aside from his god-tier powers, Eel is still a professional thief with the criminal mindset necessary to act as a trained detective. He has various weaknesses, but none guarantee death. In one story though, Eel's body was frozen solid and then shattered into pieces. He still reassembled, but because his mind was still active during this breakage, Eel was psychologically damaged to the point of quitting the Justice League.
It's not the pure zaniness of the character that really intrigues me, it's not his redemption shtick either. The thing that appeals to me about Plastic Man is his incomplete dedication to reforming, that even when he is acting as a superhero he has criminal urges. Plastic Man can't stop a bank robbery without hesitating next to the bank vault. He knows that with his powers he could take whatever he wants and nobody-not even The Justice League-could stop him. But he isn't that man anymore, he's a superhero with friends, fans, and family. Plastic Man is a character of comedy, but that doesn't mean the detail of this character's situation should go unnoticed. And it's for his redeeming quirks that Plastic Man is one of my favorite superheroes. Thanks for reading!
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