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Review: Plastic Man #2

By Hunter T. Patrick

Not much of a hero. The last issue summed up the origin of Plastic Man, now we see what type of ‘hero’ he truly is. After the last issue, Plastic Man has become wanted by the police, and he met a boy with whom crossing paths with does not exactly bode well for either of them. Plastic Man realizes he must help this boy with whom when Plastic Man was faced with a vital choice between hero and coward, let’s say hero lost. Eel O’Brian may have been a crook before, but now he is more than a crook… He is almost, kind of, a superhero. He just has to gain confidence, gain courage, and gain, well, grow his heart bigger, which this series shows it’s kind of getting there.

As stated in the review of issue 1, Plastic Man is not like any other heroes. His personality can easily be described as Deadpool’s, which as stated in the first review is flat out wrong. Deadpool’s personality can be described as Plastic Man’s. We begin to see Plastic Man grow into what makes him-him. It is full of fun and hilarity. The creative team starts toying with his personality more in this one as opposed to the last one, and it is all the better for it. The story itself fits very well regarding the tragedy for turning into a hero. The pacing is great as well and issue 2 serves as vital as issue 1, which is rare to say.

The art in issue 1 was creative and whacky, perfect for the character. Issue 2 improves that. All the different positions Plastic Man is in are all creative and true to the character. The art and coloring look smooth for the rest of the book with no complaints. It is not expected for anyone to come for the art without the titular hero and to do so may not be the best choice, but it is still a delight knowing there is consistency in the penciling and coloring. The positions shown for the titular hero are more than enough reasons to stay on this title, especially for the complimentary writing that both make this title a must read.

This title continues to be a strong delight. Plastic Man deserves more recognition, more than just simply being on the Terrifics. The creative team, thus far, have been doing a beautiful job with the character. They not only capture the unique movement and positioning of the character but also who is a character is at his core. He is not Batman, nor is he Superman. He is his own, very flawed hero. He cannot always win, but in his own way, he will keep trying. He is one of the most relatable heroes, despite not appearing as such. Instincts will have us run away, not run towards. He is the hero of the people, and this is the title for him. Recommendation: very much so if looking for fun, heart, and great character.

Score: 4/5

Plastic Man #2
DC Comics