Plastic Man No More!

Plastic Man No More!

by Christopher Cantwell, Alex Lins (illustrator)

There's something very wrong with Plastic Man!

Patrick "Eel" O'Brien went from streetwise criminal and ne'er-do-well to legit hero when a botched job landed him with incredible, rubber-like powers. Over the years, he's bounced (sometimes quite literally) around the DC Universe as a wise-cracking do-gooder, rubbing elongated elbows with the likes of the Justice League, just doing his best to put his less-than-ideal past behind him. He's even become something of a family man!

But unfortunately, his miraculous stretching powers may have come with a deadly caveat. When Patrick learns that his abilities are undergoing a "rapid depolymerization", he finds himself cracking and breaking rather than stretching and bending. Suddenly, Plastic Man has found himself facing a problem he may not be able to rebound from. With no cure in sight, and a ticking clock rapidly counting down, Patrick must reckon with just how far he'll go to save himself.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

152 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plastic Man: No More! is a story about family and how far a parent will go for their child. The theme is decently explored, however, Cantwell has the hard task of getting people to care about Eel and Luke’s relationship in a narrative where neither of them come off as overly likeable. It is important to note that most characters are given the short straw in terms of characterisation, the most glaring of which is the Justice League who are so detached from their mainstream counterparts that it can feel oddly jarring. Even if some of the portrayals leave a little to be desired, this is an interesting journey that fans of creative visuals and a story that is allowed to be wacky, wild, and weird will enjoy.

actual rating 3.5 stars

[Geethika Atluri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting it to be this good
3.5⭐

[Kasey Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I've never been a Plastic Man fan, and neither was the person who recommended this to me at my local comics shop (Bedrock Comics), but I took a chance on this limited run and I'm glad I did.

Poor, Plastic Man, he started out a no-goodnic, nobody minor street crook. His life seems to have been one accident after another. And now, accidentally a super hero, he finds himself the joke of the Justice League. No one takes him seriously, not even Aquaman! Not even his estranged wife (the love of his life). And not even his son, who has inherited his Dad's powers, but disowned dear-old-dad.

Now, another accident leads to catastrophic cellular damage and Plastic Man is melting, bit by bit. Soon he will be nothing but a pile of goo. Yet he can convince no one to believe him (humorously depite his oviously melted features) or help him. So he turns to his old ways, becoming Eel again to find a cure through less-than-ethical methods. Not only that, but he's kidnapped his own son who may also need the cure despite his denial.

Can Plastic Man save himself? Can he save his relationship with his son? or at least save his son's life? Will he blow up half the city in the process? Can the Justice League stop him in time? Do the Justice League even notice?

A bit noir, a bit body-horror, a whole lot of comedy, and some amazing art. This was the Plastic Man run I didn't know I wanted.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I really liked the story, very moving; I almost shed a tear a couple of times. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as keen on the artwork, or the contrivance of having a different artist draw the scenes featuring the rest of the Justice League; I get why they did it but it didn’t work for me.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shockingly effective book about a D-list hero who must come to terms with his mortality and failed family life. It's the kind of book where you'd expect to see Tom King's name on the cover, but Christopher Cantwell and the art team do a stunning job that avoids King's typical pitfalls.

Namely, Cantwell keeps it short and sweet. We get Plastic Man's backstory and see him suffering as the comic relief in the Justice League, then quickly move on to the main event: his body is melting. And that means his kid's body might start melting too. Sure, he hasn't talked to the kid in six years, but he's gotta save the kid's life.

As a former villain, Plastic Man has plenty of unsavory contacts who might be able to help, though he at first tries to do things the "right way." Invariably, the right way goes wrong. It all leads to a (perhaps) predictable conclusion that nonetheless tugged at my heartstrings. And that art! The shift from shiny/clean art in the Justice League scenes to horror-tinged sketchiness in solo Plastic Man scenes is a smart touch.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best series in 2024.

A must read.

Poignant, observant, funny and sad. Cantwell’s best work to date with outstanding art from Lins.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plastic man is either the worst version of Deadpool- just like the most Hot Topic/ Rick and Morty guy ever or a body horror monster- this is one of the first times I’ve really enjoyed his mix and it played up both sides pretty well. He’s funny in an annoying way but he does really TRY to be good (at times).

The art is a nice retro style that makes the bits of drooping off body parts feel more impactful, imagine reading something like this in the 50s!

I’d check this out again sometime to get a better grip on Plastic Man and his son. Also, shout out Bobo the chimp, always happy to see him around.

I love my dad, he’s a really good guy.

[Antolín Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... no me esperaba una historia así de Plastic Man... eso no significa que no me haya gustado, todo lo contrario, la disfruté muchísimo y me encantó ver una trascendencia y profundidad mayor al personaje de la que estamos acostumbrados a ver. Bien por Cantwell!

Pasamos del "Comic Relief" a un drama familiar y acción comiquerato con un toque de "Body Horror" que es ilustrada por Alex Lins (a quien no ubicaba y ahora siento la necesidad de conseguir más de sus cómics) quien le da más vida (irónico) al personaje.

Creo que lo único que no me agradó tanto fue lo unidimensional que se portaba la Liga de la Justicia... supongo que fue a propósito el hacerlos así como una especie de cambio de roles de los personajes.

Lo recomiendo mucho, 4.5 estrellas

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plastic Man No More! collects issues 1-4 of the DC Comics Black Label series written by Christopher Cantrell, art by Alex Lins and Jacob Edgar, and colors by Marcelo Maiolo.

On what was supposed to be a routine Justice League vs bad guy of the week Solaris, Plastic Man takes a blast from a death ray. Brushing it off but also surprisingly hurt by the weapon, Plastic Man awakens the next morning to learn he is depolymerizing and that this could be the final reaction to the accident that granted him his powers decades earlier. And it could be genetic…

Plastic Man No More is a mashup of sins of the father and body horror story archetypes which is then thrown in a blender with the superhero genre and adds the character’s trademark comedy. It’s often darkly humorous, poignant, gross, and most weirdly of all, fun. It’s a story that could only be told in Black Label format as it bends character relationships into a parody of the Justice League’s usual portrayal.

The best part of the book was the art. I loved the dueling art styles with Edgar providing a modern yet classic cartoon style during Justice League scenes that glamorized the superheroes. It reminded of an ultra-sleek take on the Super Friends. Then you had Lins contrast of Plastic Man falling apart both literally, mentally, and emotionally as he spirals deeper into trying to find a cure that could save his estranged son. There are some seriously gnarly panels that are both disgusting but also hilarious given Plastic Man’s powers and comedic one-liners.

I always enjoy when Plastic Man pops up as he is such a unique character who is often written off as a joke, a point that is nailed home often in this book. I really enjoy books that tackle a more serious approach to the character (Read Injustice 2 for another great Plastic Man appearance). If you are a big fan of all corners of the DC Universe, this should be a must read.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

Cantwell missed the mark. I suppose I should empathise with Plastic Man and celebrate the emphasis on the father-son bond.

But I don't. The plot's pretty good but Cantwell has overdone it and PM is far too much of a pathetic loser for us to get attached to him. At least I can't.
Which therefore biases my appreciation of his relationship with his son, the real stake of the book.

The graphics may not be to everyone’s liking but I find them adapted to an interesting storytelling.

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to start by praising Lins’ mercurial artwork - how he shifts from a Darwyn Cooke-esque simplicity to a grotesquely detailed body horror is impressive and makes this book work. Those rapid swings in style and tone mirror the twisted nature of Plastic Man’s psyche. There’s a real dark humor when the JL easily laughs along with O’Brien’s jokes as he’s literally melting to death. It’s like a hotel movie with a sitcom laugh track.

The emotional core of the book is Plastic Man struggling to establish a connection with his son, a relationship that’s been damaged beyond repair but still vitally important. This is a weird - stress, WEIRD - but heart wrenching book.

Cantwell’s been around the edges of DC lately, and I really hope they give him a proper ongoing series soon. I’d love to see him tell a bigger, in-continuity story.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick "Eel" O'Brian started off as a crook. After a heist goes wrong and he's doused in chemicals, Eel learns that he has superhuman elasticity. Undergoing a little reformation, Eel is dubbed as Plastic Man, a superhero that eventually makes it into the pantheon of the elite - the Justice League. But amidst his morally righteous and rigorous colleagues, Plastic Man is more than a little morally flexible (pun intended). With Plastic Man No More!, writer Christopher Cantwell seeks to truly dig into the core of Plastic Man and explore what a superhero with fewer scruples would be willing to do when they get desperate. The story opens to Plastic Man undergoing cellular damage following a Justice League mission, and he learns that the damage is irreversible. Learning that he doesn't have long to live, Plastic Man begins a dark spiral towards the goal of saving himself, but also his own son who has inherited the same powers and may one day experience the same cellular deterioration. Plastic Man No More! is marketed as body horror noir, and it's an apt description.

What surprised me the most about this miniseries is how funny the writing was. Plastic Man, always a bit of a joke amongst his Justice League peers, produces some great bits of self-deprecating humor. Given that this is an out-of-continuity Black Label title, one will have to consider a few exceptions with the way certain characters are written - particularly the Justice League who are oddly dismissive towards Plastic Man. It works in Cantwell's favor though since the whole idea is to play off Plastic Man as a bit of a joke, and it's an effective narrative choice. So when Plastic Man goes rogue and teams up with supervillains to save himself, the choice feels like a natural outcome for the character. And the story is a rather tragic one too, yet Cantwell balances the tone well. It's funny, melancholic, and bittersweet all at once.

Art duties are shared between Alex Lins and Jacob Edgar, with one taking the flashback sequences and the other taking on the contemporary storyline. They are no Jack Cole (nor Kyle Baker), but both still bring a nice touch to the character. Given that there are body horror elements to this story, they do deliver when needed and produce some fairly gnarly and visceral bits of anatomical distortions. Plastic Man No More! is proof that Plastic Man still has great stories to be told, and has been long overdue for an ongoing series.

[Obi Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disfruto como un gorrino con cualquier aparición de Plastic Man. Un personaje tan poco aprovechado como otro de mis favoritos, Martian Manhunter.
Esta serie confirma que se puede tratar seriamente a un personaje bufonesco.
De hecho, me parece genial el detalle de que mientras PM está con la Liga de la Justicia, las viñetas sean más estilo cartoon, recordando un poco a las geniales ilustraciones de Darwin Cooke, y se pongan más oscuras y serias cuando Eel debe afrontar su problema (prácticamente) solo, ante la falta de interés de sus compañeros, héroes de primera.
No me hubiese molestado un 5º número para redondear mejor algún aspecto de la trama, que puede tener una resolución demasiado rápida para mi gusto, pero de todas formas es un buen cómic, que habla de soledad, malas decisiones, abandonos e intentos de redención.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 2 out of 5]

¿De verdad? ¿Es posible que a este engendro se le puntúe de esta manera tan absolutamente desorbitada? ¿Pero a quién le ha gustado esto?

Recapitulemos: Plas se está muriendo y la Liga de la Justicia pasa de él como de la mierda. ¿Mande? Luego, se carga a los Metal Men sin pestañear, y, para rematarlo, también participa en el asesinato del Detective Chimpancé en calidad de encubridor. Genial. El dibujo es regulero, salvo la parte en la que sale la Liga, que está bien, sin más. El final es una chorrada como un piano.

Vale, ya sé que es Black Label y, por tanto, fuera de continuidad, pero es que esto no hay por dónde cogerlo. Plas no es el payaso triste en esta historia, es un tarado y un asesino, pero, vamos, viendo cómo son en esa continuidad Superman y Batman, no me extraña. Lo que me extraña es que no los mate a ellos.

Al final, ¿de qué va esto? ¿Del amor de Plas por su hijo? Una mierda. Un gesto puntual no suple a toda una vida de abandono. ¿De que el fin no justifica los medios? Vaya tela, debe de ser la moraleja más vieja del mundo. ¿De que no debes juntarte con gilipollas? Vale, esa es la única que tiene algo de sentido. Pero este cómic es una mierda, que no os engañen las (inexplicables) buenas críticas que tiene.

[Norman Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects Plastic Man No More! #1-4. Plastic Man was created by legendary writer-artist Jack Cole and first appeared in 1941. Most of his stories are tongue in cheek romps. Here he is turned into a more poignant character, his stretching powers going out of control, probably terminally. Although there are many moments of humor, Cantwell focuses on Plas's relationships with his estranged wife and son, a son who inherited his stretching powers and is a member of Teen Titans. There's also a focus on Plas's relationship with the members of the Justice League who seem to treat him with disdain or even outright contempt. It's sad to see someone get treated this way. Plas comes up with a possible cure for his disintegration and wants to subject his son to it in a bid to stave off the son's untimely death from the inherited condition. Alex Lins handles the main artwork, using a modern style. There is some body horror as Plas begins to melt and lose body parts. Jacob Edgar handles the scenes with the Justice League using a more classic, cartoony style.

[Terry Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly moving story about a D-list character and the lengths they'll go to preserve this status.

Cantwell's story leaps deftly from setpiece to setpiece, and the body horror of Plastic Man's affliction is well captured. A new roster is side characters are introduced and lined up to tell the story and the shocks abound.

The last issue flags a bit, and the motivations of certain characters are a teensy bit suspect, but, I was able to look past those easily enough.

Kudos to Lins' pencils, and the way that he manages to create a clear divide between the Justice League sections (drawn by a different artist) and Plastic Man's League-less misadventures.

This was added to my book club's reading list and I'm pleased that it was. A fun read, with some truly indelible moments that were well worth my time.

[Shelby Fielding · Rating 3 out of 5]

The body horror spree continues, but with a different light spotlighting it. Cantwell crafts such a sappy tale of being ignored and being disfigured, being part of a group that's meant to give you comfort but only makes you feel that much more isolated. And when faced with the looming shadow of the grim reaper, one must decide what they want those they love most to remember. And how many pieces of themselves they're willing to leave behind. Cantwell does just that alongside the even more brilliant art from Alex Lins, whose cartoonish, daylight-soaked idealism contrasts so brilliantly with their gritty, slimy, and slippery capturing of the reality of our hero. It's a brilliant, tightly enclosed tale, even if it leaves a little more to be desired.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plastic Man is always there to crack a joke and bring a smile to the team
But what if he couldn't?

What if, he put himself on the line for the Justice League (shot with a death ray) and it hurt worse than he'd ever expected. Parts of him were starting to liquify....and nobody took him seriously. When you're faced with your own mortality, what would you do?

Can you stay the bright and hopeful 'team player' or do you fall back on old habits and pray for one last score?
====
Bonus: It's about time someone took Plas, seriously...
Bonus Bonus: polymer breakdown releases toxic gasses too? Uggh...

[Emile Rudoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plastic Man es uno de mis personajes favoritos, así que me dio mucho gusto que le dieran una miniserie propia. La verdad me gustó mucho. Me parece que este formato de de DC Black Label funciona muy bien con algunos personajes y en este caso así fue. La historia es mas cruda de lo normal y eso estuvo interesante. También me gustó que aparecieran personajes que no tienen tantos reflectores como los Metal Men o Det. Chimp, aunque lo de Metamorpho me hubiera gustado que fuera mas que un cameo. La verdad es que es uno de los cómics del año.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

After saving the league and a group of orphans from a death ray Plastic Man finds he is dying. While he is a t first ok with this he realizes his son will likely die too, something he will do anything to prevent. Plastic Man No More! is a deeply interesting look into what it would be like to be a "joke" superhero, conveying the difference between Plastic Man's public face and his increasing desperation by switching between a child friendly, cutesy art style while he is with the league and the more gritty realistic art style that has become common in DC comics over the past decades.

[Gus Mendonca · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a good comic book hidden in plastic man no more. Unfortunately, it’s buried under extremely bad characterization, plot holes and cheap solutions. I’m not one to write bad reviews but “no more” is just so frustrating: the plot is interesting and the write nails plas and his relationship with his family. But the book portrays the JSA as a bunch of jerks, kills beloved characters for no reason and is plagued by plot wholes and easy solutions. I wanted to like this book so much, but unfortunately it’s just disappointing.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grim but not gritty story. I really liked seeing the world of the Justice League from the sad margins of a comic relief character like Plastic Man that none of the other heroes take seriously, even when he’s dying and would like to be. Detective Chimp as a fellow taken-for-granted JL-er is a neat touch, as is this series apparently being an elseworlds story that’s free from the consequence constraints of canon. The art style is great too, split between the melty plastic visuals of Plastic Man on his own vs the Darwyn Cooke-looking scenes with the League.

[Kevin MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little miniseries about Plastic Man dealing with his rapid deterioration and the implications for his son. It features some humor revolving around the Justice League’s treatment of him as well as some real stomach-churning body horror. It might not be the best Black Label title I’ve read but I sincerely hope that DC continues to have creators do truly different types of stories with smaller characters in the universe.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plastic Man had always been the comic relief in the DC universe, but no more. After he fails to regenerate back to his normal self after a fight, Eel O’Brien goes on a quest to try to learn why and potentially protect his estranged son. This is full of real human moments, some good jokes, and more than a little bit of body horror. The art in this is really something. There were several pages that made me stop and pour over them.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 2.5, smack bang In the middle. The scene with the JLA are great - art wise and atory/character. The lettering shows how frustrating it must be for Plastic Man. The majority of the book is modern art which is fine.

It's telling me to care for the father son relationship but I don't. Horrible things happen because of Plastic Man which is exaggerated but relatable.

[Eevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short enjoyable read! I enjoyed how the contrast between O'Brien's own internality and the comic view the Justice League see him as is depicted with the differing art styles, one very old school comic book and the other fully depicting the body horror of his current position. The development of his relationship with his son is sweet and it ended on a nice if melancholy note.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely good, but far too short! Some characters' characterisations are tweaked in a weird way to service the premise, but it's still a really good time. The true core is how Eel continues to be a neglectful and selfish father even when dying, and how it's simply too late to fix everything, but one selfless act can at least make some kind of impact.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed parts of this, but at points it just gets unnecessarily dark and edgy in a way that feels tonally off. I get that it's meant to be a dark comedy, and some of the humour is funny, but they didn't quite get the balance right

[Will Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plastic Man is my favorite comic character so I'm biased, but I still really loved the comedy, poignancy, art, and story. A four parter and it's black label, so I'm not worried about any "mess ups" to the continuity. Give me Plas all day, any day.

[Elisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐ rounded up

I have only become somewhat familiar with the Plastic Man character from Batman's Brave and the Bold TV show. Maybe since I only know this character through a kids TV show and not through the comics, the heartfelt moments didn't connect for me.