• 2 days ago
DC defines difference between Plastic Man and Elongated Man

Since he was created by Jack Cole in 1941, Plastic Man has been a good-natured hero and comic relief, initially in Quality Comics' Police Comics #1 in the Golden Age of Comics. In addition to his red uniform, Patrick “Eel” O’Brian stands out for his fun investigations with the crazy use of his powers, which are capable of transforming him into basically any type of object.
Elongated Man, or Ralph Dibny, was created by screenwriter John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino, at the request of the Flash editor, at the beginning of the Silver Age of Comics, in 1960.
Julius Schwartz wanted a supporting character, but didn't notice that Plastic Man, whose rights were purchased by DC Comics from Quality Comics, was available.
This caused some confusion, mainly because, theoretically, they both had the same powers and would also serve the same purpose as a hero in a minor role serving as support and comic relief. And what's the problem with that?
Well, the rights to use Plastic Man cost DC Comics money, and dividing the importance of a character that was acquired with one created at home to be basically the same thing, but under the shadow of the Flash, doesn't seem like a good idea. marketing ploy, let alone an intelligent editorial activity.

Ok, what's the big change between the two?
Before talking about major editorial changes, it is worth highlighting that DC Comics itself decided to use Ralph Dibny and his wife in a “not so noble farewell”, in the controversial Identity Crisis saga.
In Wonder Woman #13, recently released, a group led by Wonder Woman comes together to break into Amanda Waller's prison to free the depowered superheroes she is holding captive, including Plastic Man and the Elongated Man, who also lost their powers at the beginning of the Absolut Power saga.
During the escape fight against the prison guards, the two flexible heroes exchange a rare dialogue in their trajectory, and Elongated Man comments on how hitting his enemies hurts, due to the “rebound” of his punches. of the malleable muscular structure of both.
And Plastic Man's response is a little disturbing: "Doesn't your stretching hurt?!" The revelation that Plastic Man's powers hurt him is a major update to his trajectory. This disadvantage of his elasticity brings perspective in a self-destructive and even violent way.
This is because, although normally associated with fun and effective physical changes in their own approaches, the transformations that Plastic Man assumes are often grotesque; or to the distorted bodies of people invaded with more disgusting approaches.
It is worth mentioning that, recently, DC launched Plastic Man No More!, a limited series from the label for mature readers Black Label that explores body horror with transformations that show a very different side to the childish and cartoonish adventures of Plastic Man in the past. Now, with the revelation that he feels pain when changing his body

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