History ComicBook / PlasticMan

* He also starred in a [[http://andyupdates.blogspot.com/2010/02/thanks-john-k.html pilot]] for a series on Creator/CartoonNetwork. Made in 2006, it will finally get off the ground as a series of shorts for the network's WesternAnimation/DCNation block. Much earlier, he had his own cartoon show called ''The Plastic Man Cartoon Comedy Hour'' by Ruby-Spear Production. It ran from 1979-1981 and featured live-action segments between animated shorts. These shorts included Plastic Man cartoons but also ComicStrip/{{Marmaduke}}, ComicStrip/{{Heathcliff}}, and others.

* CanonDiscontinuity: The 1988-89 4-issue mini-series by Creator/PhilFoglio took place during the early part of the modern age of heroes[[note]]Woozy Winks mentions [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Reaganomics]][[/note]], and the timeline in ''ComicBook/ZeroHour'' #0 seems to confirm it. But this was mostly ignored and his Golden Age debut reestablished.

Plastic Man is a Creator/DCComics superhero (formerly of Quality,) created by renowned cartoonist Jack Cole. He is best known as "the [[RubberMan stretching]] member of the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]" though none of this is completely accurate.

[[caption-width-right:350: "[[OvershadowedByAwesome Boy do I envy them! ]] They get to fly off into space and do cool stuff and I... [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower I get to stretch out here where its nice and safe again.]]"]]

* GreenLanternRing: Plas' shapeshifting can be surprisingly versatile.
** While much has been made of the fact that he can't change color (or change color easily, DependingOnTheWriter), Plas is smart enough to use this common knowledge to his advantage, and has used shadowing and makeup to trick even Lex Luthor for an extended period of time.

Kyle Baker wrote and illustrated an unashamedly cartoony series from 2004 to 2006, mocking the ultra-seriousness of modern superhero comics, which was much-loved by critics and ignored by everyone else.

** In the miniseries ''ComicBook/TheKingdom'' (the sequel to ''ComicBook/KingdomCome''), Plas's son reluctantly becomes a superhero named [[IncrediblyLamePun Offspring]]. It actually helps him understand what his dad went through and appreciate him even more. There's a hug between the two at the end of the storyline. [[http://pah2.golding.id.au/images/PlasticManOffspring.jpg Awwww!]]

** Before she came out as a lesbian, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders Grace Choi]] told Roy Harper that he used his powers when they had sex.

[[caption-width-right:350: "What, you thought our lives were all spectacular bods and shameless costumes?"]]

* ObfuscatingStupidity: He is usually portrayed as being ''genuinely'' a bit dopey. During "World War III," Creator/GrantMorrison's final story arc for ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsJLA]]'', however, he reveals that, thanks to his longtime friendship with a CListFodder hero named the Red Bee, he knows just about everything there is to know about "apian management." Since an alien [[EvilOverlord Evil Overlady]] named the Queen Bee is taking over New York City, and all the big-name heroes are busy on the Moon, Plastic Man ends up masterminding their victory. [[ComicBook/NewGods Big Barda]] even mentions how out of character this is for him, remarking, "This almost seems like a plan." To which he responds (while disguised as a big clown), "I only act dumb, sister."

* ObfuscatingStupidity: He is usually portrayed as being ''genuinely'' a bit dopey. During "World War III," Creator/GrantMorrison's final story arc for ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'', however, he reveals that, thanks to his longtime friendship with a CListFodder hero named the Red Bee, he knows just about everything there is to know about "apian management." Since an alien [[EvilOverlord Evil Overlady]] named the Queen Bee is taking over New York City, and all the big-name heroes are busy on the Moon, Plastic Man ends up masterminding their victory. [[ComicBook/NewGods Big Barda]] even mentions how out of character this is for him, remarking, "This almost seems like a plan." To which he responds (while disguised as a big clown), "I only act dumb, sister."

* WriterOnBoard: The last six issues of the Baker run, [[BitingTheHandHumor not coincidentally]] written after Baker was told the book would be cancelled, are an extended satire on everything Baker disliked about mid-'00s DC Universe comics, and specifically ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' and related plot arcs: DarkerAndEdgier plots full of gratuitous character death, BlackAndGrayMorality, and overt sexual violence; traditionally lighter characters getting [[KillTheCutie killed off]], [[CorruptTheCutie corrupted]] or [[BreakTheCutie traumatised]]; overlong, sprawling {{CrisisCrossover}}s; {{Stripperiffic}} costumes on female characters and generally excessive fanservice; and overblown writing and general pretensions on the creators' part that they were making superhero comics Serious Adult Drama. While many critics agreed with the views expressed, there was a general feeling that the satire was too heavy-handed and took up too much of the comic.

* WriterOnBoard: The last six issues of the Baker run, [[BitingTheHandHumor not coincidentally]] written after Baker was told the book would be cancelled, are an extended satire on everything Baker disliked about mid-'00s DC Universe comics, and specifically ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' and related issues: DarkerAndEdgier plots full of gratuitous character death, BlackAndGrayMorality, and overt sexual violence; traditionally lighter characters getting [[KillTheCutie killed off]], [[CorruptTheCutie corrupted]] or [[BreakTheCutie traumatised]]; overlong, sprawling {{CrisisCrossover}}s; {{Stripperiffic}} costumes on female characters and generally excessive fanservice; and overblown writing and general pretensions on the creators' part that they were making superhero comics Serious Adult Drama. While many critics agreed with the views expressed, there was a general feeling that the satire was too heavy-handed and took up too much of the comic.

* WriterOnBoard: The last six issues of the Baker run, [[WriterRevolt not coincidentally]] written after Baker was told the book would be cancelled, are an extended satire on everything Baker disliked about mid-'00s DC Universe comics, and specifically ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' and related issues: DarkerAndEdgier plots full of gratuitous character death, BlackAndGrayMorality, and overt sexual violence; traditionally lighter characters getting [[KillTheCutie killed off]], [[CorruptTheCutie corrupted]] or [[BreakTheCutie traumatised]]; overlong, sprawling [[Crisis Crossover]]s; {{Stripperiffic}} costumes on female characters and generally excessive fanservice; and overblown writing and general pretensions on the creators' part that they were making superhero comics Serious Adult Drama. While many critics agreed with the views expressed, there was a general feeling that the satire was too heavy-handed and took up too much of the comic.

* HeelFaceTurn: One of the first major examples of this trope in comic books. He was a gangster before the accident that gave him his powers. After being abandoned by his gang and nursed to health at a monastery, he chose to atone for his misdeeds.

Plastic Man is a Creator/DCComics superhero created by renowned cartoonist Jack Cole. He is best known as "the [[RubberMan stretching]] member of the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]" though none of this is completely accurate.

For starters, Plastic Man (or "Plas" for short) was created by another company, Quality Comics, in 1941. He was the star character of ''Police Comics'' #1-102 (August, 1941-October, 1950), and also gained his own title, ''Plastic Man'', which lasted for 52 issues (1943 to February, 1955). While among the longest running characters of UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, Plas was then pretty much forgotten. Quality Comics ceased operations in 1956, selling most, if not all of its properties to DC Comics. The new owners continued a few of Quality's ongoing series, most notably ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}, but had no interest in reviving defunct series. The character was next revived in ''Plastic Man'' vol. 2 #1 (November-December, 1966), though the Plastic Man of this series was said to be a look-alike son of the original. This series ran for 10 issues, then got resurrected a decade later with ''Plastic Man'' vol. 2 #11 (February-March, 1976) for another 10-issue run.

Second, long before Plastic Man joined the League, ComicBook/ElongatedMan (who was a CaptainErsatz of Plas) had been a member for decades (though admittedly Plastic Man was always better known.) Plastic Man only joined the ranks of the League in ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsJLA JLA]]'' #16 (March, 1998).

* {{Adorkable}}: In the WesternAnimation/DCNation shorts and the pilot it was based off of.

Second, long before Plastic Man joined the League, ComicBook/ElongatedMan (who may have been a CaptainErsatz of Plas) had been a member for decades (though admittedly Plastic Man was always better known.) Plastic Man only joined the ranks of the League in ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsJLA JLA]]'' #16 (March, 1998).