Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
What happens to the class clown when there’s nobody to rescue him?
Plastic Man No More! is a story of temptation, loss, guilt and redemption. Plastic Man is dying, and to save his life, he must sacrifice his ideals in this DC Black Label comic that’s now available as a hardcover graphic novel. Yes, that’s right, Black Label. Meaning that DC’s silliest superhero is about to get the serious treatment. (And really, is that such a stretch? Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
THE PREMISE:
Patrick “Eel” O’Brian aka Plastic Man is a member of the Justice League, DC’s premier superhero team. However, his status amongst the A-listers doesn’t earn him any respect. Other heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman see him as nothing more than a class clown, and when they’re not laughing at him, they treat him like he’s invisible.
When Eel is hit with a death ray, the Justice League laugh off his plight, believing it’s another Plastic Man gag. However, Eel soon learns that his body is coming apart, and he doesn’t have long to live. What’s worse, the death ray accelerated his condition, but it didn’t create it. The problem lies with his polymer genetics, which means his son Luke is at risk.
Plastic Man must come up with a procedure to reverse his condition and save his life along with Luke’s. But how much will Eel have to give up in order to survive? How much will he have to compromise? The path to his salvation is filled with difficult choices, and when the dust is settled, Plastic Man might lose his status as a hero and his very humanity.
LET’S TALK TALENT:
Plastic Man No More! is written by Christopher Cantwell, an Eisner-nominated writer and rising star in the comic book industry. Cantwell delivers a heartwarming script that’s part black comedy, part cautionary tale and part redemption arc. The story begins with a flashback to Eel’s criminal days, as he and his partner Woozy complete a robbery.
It’s a bold way to introduce our protagonist, yet Cantwell immediately succeeds in getting the reader to sympathize with Eel. This is no easy feat after seeing the character perform an armed robbery, but that’s the power of Christopher Cantwell.
The art for the main story is handled by Alex Lins, whose style combines crime noir with a dash of the cartoony vibe you expect from a Plastic Man story. Lins’ pencils set a moody stage, and he really lets loose during the scenes where Eel’s body breaks down.
One of my favorite parts about the series is the way the art switches up during its superhero scenes. Whenever Plastic Man is with the Justice League, the pages are penciled by Jacob Edgar and are illustrated as if they were adaptations of Super Friends or a ’90s DCAU adventure book. It’s a great commentary on Plastic Man’s role in the larger DC Universe, and a fun storytelling device for the book.
A FEW REASONS TO READ:
- Plastic Man No More! can almost be seen as a superhero version of Breaking Bad. Eel starts out trying to save himself and his son from a terminal condition. Before long, he makes a few too many moral compromises and does some villainous things he can’t undo.
- In addition to presenting Plastic Man under a more thoughtful lens, Plastic Man No More! allows us to see the heroes of the DC Universe through his eyes. How does the Justice League’s class clown see people like Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman? The answer is amusing and gives us a unique perspective on DC’s greatest heroes from someone who knows them well.
- If you’re into body horror, Plastic Man No More! has it in spades. Throughout the storyline, we see Eel’s body break down, and it’s just as gross and terrifying as you would expect.
- Plastic Man No More! is a Black Label release, which takes place outside of DC’s mainstream continuity. This means you don’t have to be familiar with the larger DC Universe to read this. Even if you’ve never read a Plastic Man story, Cantwell’s script does a great job at bringing you up to speed and getting you emotionally attached to the character.
WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:
Plastic Man No More! is not a story that plays it safe. The Black Label comic has high emotional stakes, big twists and a thought-provoking finale. It’s a story that will make you think of goofballs and second-string heroes in new ways. It’s also a story of an absentee father finding redemption. It’s a look at a man at the end of his life, grappling with mortality and morality at the same time.
At four issues, Plastic Man No More! is the perfect length to read in one sitting, and it’s perfectly paced like an entertaining movie. If you love stories of family, redemption, anti-heroes, black comedy and character deconstruction, then you’ll love reading this book. Plastic Man No More! is an entertaining character study, and a worthy choice for your next weekend escape.
Plastic Man No More! by Christopher Cantwell, Alex Lins, Jacob Edgar and Marcelo Maiolo is now available as a hardcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
