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Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Woman #13Of all the Justice League’s heroes, I’ve always been particularly fond of Plastic Man and Elongated Mandue to the zaniness of their powers. Their rubber-like abilities appear identical on the surface, but they have plenty of differences, and that has never been more apparent than now. Plastic Man just unveiled a surprisingly dark side effect of his powers that will forever change the way I see this Justice League icon.
In Wonder Woman #13 by Tom King, Tony S. Daniels, Leonardo Paciarotti, and Clayton Cowles, Wonder Woman and Robin team up with Steve Trevor to infiltrate Amanda Waller’s prison to free the depowered superheroes she’s imprisoned there. Among the heroes they break out are Plastic Man and Elongated Man, both of whom have lost their stretchy powers after the events of Absolute Power. When Elongated Man makes a comment about how punching hurts a lot more when your body lacks elasticity, Plastic Man replies with a shocking revelation: “Your stretching doesn’t hurt?!”
The reveal that Plastic Man’s stretchy powers hurt him is a massive update to his lore, and I’m horrified by the implications it has. This downside to his stretchiness makes his powers more nightmarish than ever before, painting his abilities in an ominous new light and setting him apart from Elongated Man once and for all.
Plastic Man’s Superpower Has a Terrifying Side Effect
His Powers Have Always Been Gruesome, But This Is Next-Level
What makes Justice League’s Plastic Man stand out from other elastic heroes is that his powers enable him to shapeshift. Plastic Man’s transformations have often veered into disturbing territory, whether he’s taking grotesque forms or invading other people’s bodies by stretching his limbs through their orifices. This new change might be the most spine-chilling aspect of his abilities yet, though. If Plastic Man truly feels pain whenever he uses his powers, that means every transformation he undergoes is excruciating for him. Plastic Man’s powers have been permanently recontextualized, and I’ll never look at him the same way again.
“There’s Something About [SPOILER] That Freaks Me Out”: DC Finally Admits How Disturbing a Justice League Icon’s Powers Actually Are
Plastic Man was a one-time member of the Justice League, and his incoming writer has confessed the character’s powers are disturbing.
Most tend to perceive Plastic Man’s abilities as harmless fun, so this change may come off as unexpected. However, as displayed by his new DC Black Label series, his powers possess an underlying darkness. In Plastic Man No More! #1 by Christopher Cantwell, Jacob Edgar, and Alex Lins, Plastic Man undergoes a body horror transformation, showing that his ability to stretch himself to absurd degrees isn’t all fun and games. Now, the latest drawback to Plastic Man’s powers is so dire that it could finally settle which of the Justice League’s two most flexible heroes has better powers.
Plastic Man May Not Be Justice League’s Best Stretchy Hero Anymore
Panels from Justice #8 by Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, Doug Braithwaite, and Todd Klein
Over the years, there’s been a long-standing debate surrounding Plastic Man and Elongated Man, since their powers seem so similar. Even within the DC Universe, there’s tension between them as they try to navigate how two pliable heroes fit into the Justice League’s ever-changing roster. Of course, despite my personal love for both heroes, I can admit that Plastic Man typically has a competitive edge over Elongated Man. Plastic Man can shapeshift, whereas Elongated Man simply elongates his body parts. However, with Plastic Man’s newly uncovered weakness, Elongated Man just secured a major advantage over his fellow hero.
Plastic Man pushing his body so far beyond its limits is commendable enough on its own, but doing so while his body screams in agony is a feat I respect even more.
Plastic Man has pulled off terrifying feats, but the reveal that his abilities hurt him gives Elongated Man’s powers a benefit by default. On the other hand, this downside also demonstrates Plastic Man’s resilience. Plastic Man pushing his body so far beyond its limits is commendable enough on its own, but doing so while his body screams in agony is a feat I respect even more. Ultimately, I believe that both of the Justice League‘s stretchiest heroes have their merits, and as stunned as I am, this dark change to Plastic Man‘s powers proves to be equally horrific and impressive.
Wonder Woman #13 is available now from DC Comics.
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