Warning: Spoilers for Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023) #20 and Plastic Man No More! (2024) ahead!
When readers imagine the ideal partner for aWonder Womanteam-up, their minds might immediately go to some of DC’s most powerful figures – rather than the perpetual goof-up that isPlastic Man. However, the conclusion to their latest two-part adventure has a surprising amount of heart,showing that the Amazon princess of Themiscyra and the shapeshifting ex-convict actually share a lot in common.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023)#20 contains the story, “Man’s Underworld, Part 2” – written by Dave Weilgosz, with art by Nikola Čižmešija – in which Plastic Man and Wonder Woman successfully retrieveWonder Woman’s Lasso of Truthfrom Roulette’s black market auction. Plastic Man abruptly loses his powers when he comes into contact with the Lasso, prompting a painfully honest heart-to-heart between the heroes.
“Plastic Man…is a character,“he explains, adding that he plays the role of “the goofy, loud guy no one wants to deal with” to keep the rest of his teammates at bay.
Plastic Man, The Justice League’s Unsung Tragic Character, Has A Surprisingly Candid Moment With Wonder Woman
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023)#20, “Man’s Underworld, Part 2” – Written By Dave Weilgosz; Art By Nikola Čižmešija; Color By Rex Lokus; Lettering By Steve Wands
For all of his goofy antics, Plastic Man is a surprisingly tragic character who is often overlooked on the Justice League roster. His origin is typical among Golden Age heroes: Eel O’Brian is a criminal who gains stretching powers after being doused in acid during a heist gone wrong and resolves to use his newfound abilities to atone for his crimes.Despite Plastic Man’s powers and shenanigansoften being played for comedy throughout his publication history, contemporary comics have chosen instead to emphasize the pathos inherent to the character – the tears behind the clown.
Plastic Man Goes “Hard-Boiled” in New Noir Series for the Justice League Favorite
Justice League favorite Plastic Man will soon step out in his own four-issue DC Black Label, where he will face his mortality for the first time ever.
A prime example can be found inPlastic Man No More!,a title which artfully continues the growth of the character. Here,Plastic Man discovers that his powers are killing him; despite the Justice League treating his impending demise like another joke, Plastic Man’s sole desire is to try and find a cure - not for himself, but for his son, who has the same powers. This is the same desperate drive toward redemption thatdefines the character’s emotional breakdown inBatman: The Brave and the Bold#20.
Wonder Woman And Plastic Man’s Dynamic Skillfully Balances Hope And Despair
Plastic Man No More!– Written By Christopher Cantwell; Art By Alex Lins; Color By Jacob Edgar; Lettering By Marcelo Maiolo
It is this drive and honesty that finally leads Wonder Woman to respect Plastic Man. While being under the Lasso is an incredibly raw moment for Eel O’Brian,it proves to Wonder Womanthat her partner on this job isn’t a goofy clown with stretching powers; instead, Plastic Man is a deeply broken human being on a desperate quest to redeem himself.This drive toward self-improvement resonates deeply with contemporary Wonder Woman, who is likewise known for never giving upon the chance for someone to do better,friends and enemies alike.
“Man’s Underworld, Part 2,” ends with the suggestion that Wonder Woman and Plastic Man will continue to work together…giving readers hope that more stories of this deeply moving friendship are yet to come.
Despite being drastically opposite, seemingly disconnected characters in tone, Wonder Woman and Plastic Man are both champions of redemption. Together, the two heroes make for an incredibly compelling pair, and present a Justice League team-up that is deeply underrated. “Man’s Underworld, Part 2,” ends with the suggestion thatWonder WomanandPlastic Manwill continue to work together to dismantle Roulette’s black market Mirror House auction, giving readers hope that more stories of this deeply moving friendship are yet to come.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023)#20is available now from DC Comics.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her compassion and virtue.
