Where's Plasticman? (and other minor characters)

[thenextchampion]

When I look back at the last couple of years for the industry; B to D list characters are coming back in a big way. Characters like Deadpool, the group Secret Six, and the Green Lantern Corps have all been rejuvenated either by a great writer or debuted at the right time for the public. This got me thinking: What is the next character or characters to hit their stride for the public? Who's the wild card of the Marvel or DC universe that will impact the readers? Same goes for the indie publishers and maybe their 'forgotten' characters.

I can tell you right off the bat, as the title of this thread implies, I desperately want Plastic Man back in DC. I know he's in the JLA for a little bit and he has appeared in TV lately (Brave and the Bold). But where's the Plastic Man ongoing? If Deadpool or Incredible Hercules can work as a edgy/hilarious comedy title....then so can Plastic Man! Frank Miller really gave a big window for the character to work thanks to [i]The Dark Knight Strikes Back[/b] years ago. Maybe I am just too big of a fan of the guy, but I just want someone to come up with something for the character.

[johnferrigno]

I agree. Plastic Man could definitely support a monthly title if it's done right. It should have a kind of wacky, over the top humor, but be grounded in reality and in-continuity. There are a lot of stories left in Plastic Man. As a former criminal, there is the redemption angle, there is the fact that he is hugely powerful but never portrayed that way, and the reveal that he has a troubled son can be explored. I'd love to see a Plastic man on-going that did the character justice.

[sensei]

I think most writers don't understand how to handle him.

One thing that always drives me nuts with Plastic Man, though, is the way he's treated by the other heroes. Why doesn't anyone ever actually think he's funny? Why does every other hero have to be such a jerk when he's around. Any time he makes a joke, another character has to have a frown on their face and say, "Be serious, Plastic Man."

Another mishandling of him is when there is a good reason to be serious--instead of making a dry humor comment or something like that, the artist draws him with a big goofy grin on his face. Just because you're funny doesn't mean you're always smiling like the Joker.

I'd love to see more Plastic Man, but only if he's handled the right way.

[nukegoboom]

I think we have Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and the upcoming Red Tornado miniseries for the "B-D list heroes with thier own book" nieche for DC.
Those sorta books probably dont sell much thats why you dont see much of them.

[elwood]

Ya know, I read on article on some comics blog a few days ago, and his arguement was that of all the "major" superheroes who've been around since the Golden Age, Plas is the one whose probably changed the most, character wise.

In the Golden Age Plas was actually the straight man. He existed in a wacky world with a goofy sidekick and strange villains, using his oddball powers to fight crime. But he himself was mostly serious, save for some wisecracks here and there, just sorta going with the flow. He recognized how weird his world was, would joke about it a bit, but took his superheroing seriously.

Now he's treated as the clown, the walking sight-gag of DC. And considering how... unwacky, the main DCU is these days, and his characterization for the last few decades, it'd be hard to change him back to what he started out as. Plus, DC (mainstream comics in general, really) seems very anti-fun when it comes to main, in-continuity books.

Truth be told, if Plastic Man were to get another shot at a solo series, it'd be best off if he stayed out of the center of the DC Universe and stuck to it's weirder borderlands. Think 90's Doom Patrol, Azarello's Dr. 13, Shadowpact, All-New Atom; stuff that isn't too bogged down with continuity, with worlds full of wacky hijinks that Plas could play off of. That's how I'd handle him anyway.

[johnferrigno]

I think DC saw your post. Did you check out this week's JLA?

[thenextchampion]

I think DC saw your post. Did you check out this week's JLA?

Oh I know he's in JLA for a bit before Robinson takes over. I was just stating as a whole; why no one has touched that character for a mini or even ongoing.

[tetsujin]

I remember Ethan Van Sciever always saying Plastic Man was one of his dream books he wants to one day work one.