Nothing ever goes well for DC’s comic relief characters, but no more Plastic Man! #2 reveals just how devastating life can be for the characters, often accompanied by a laugh track. The rapid dissolution of Plastic Man’s character follows the next stage of his slowly progressing demise. Once again, Christopher Cantwell, Alex Lynds, Jacob Edgar, Marcelo Maiolo, and Becca Carey develop a truly gripping story that shows Eel could be more than just a sitcom star. I put all my effort into proving that.
In terms of artistic talent, Plastic Man No More! #2 picks up where issue #1 left off. Even the most hilarious scene between the eel and his son is filled with a deep sense of foreboding thanks to the eerie colors and distorted pencils. But as horrifying as all the flashbacks are beneath the surface, the sights in the present are just as unpleasant. With each jump, Eel’s condition becomes more dire, and the comic never hesitates to express the horror of him falling into a puddle of goop. You know, it’s a really heartwarming manga.
But as great as the art is, you can’t ignore the great writing. Cantwell deftly weaves the criminal elements of Eel’s past into his more heroic present. Building the book’s story around it helps connect Eel’s story to the classic trope of a criminal committing one last great heist.
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As expected for a Cantwell story, Plastic Man No More #2 draws heavily from the depths of DC lore. This book surprisingly reintroduces Metal Man Uranium, a very obscure character who did not appear in the Prime Earth revival. This little-known character plays a key role in Eel’s latest heist. That could help make uranium more memorable.
Other characters are also treated like kings by Cantwell. Luke is an often overlooked and underappreciated character, but he gets moments of growth and attention that he rarely receives otherwise. This guy was only introduced in 1999 and is generally just seen as a forgotten member of the Terrifix. Adding depth to the character is an impressive feat for Cantwell, especially in creating connections between Luke and other famous DC heroes.
However, there are still some elements that require further explanation. It would have been much more convincing to see Eel recruiting allies than him showing up when he needed them. Having spent time developing a plan, the feeling that Eel is gradually descending instead of diving headfirst into his plan without really stopping and considering what the plan should be. It is possible that it strengthened the
Additionally, battle scenes are difficult to parse. The combat itself is limited to a few short panels and doesn’t have much of a sense of flow. The strength of this book lies in its characterization, plot, and slick artwork. Meanwhile, combat features (literally) faceless hordes facing off against Eel’s largely underdeveloped allies. That makes it hard to care about the battles as anything more than scenes to check out based on a template.
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The coloring of “Plastic Man No More #2” also takes a step back after a few pages. There’s no sense of depth to any of the metal men, and they don’t really look metallic. The simplistic art style might work in other books, but a story driven by body horror and realism doesn’t complement it well. The brighter colors could have also contrasted better with the more detailed art.
At least that would be a good argument, if not for a complete slide into darkness. The Justice League scenes remain simple and colorful, but the artists provide a surprising contrast every time the book reminds readers of Eel’s decaying body. Colors become duller, lines sharper, and detail creeps into every trace of Eel’s face. A simple Justice League scene cloaked in comedy and classic art style is shattered in the face of a devastating tragedy.
The ending is also grotesque, so please watch it without spoilers. The colors, pencils, and even the silence are perfect for this story. If Eel is trying to reshape itself in the way plastic is often molded, that’s exactly the scene where this book can define itself.
Plastic Man is no more! #1 has set the stakes, but Plastic Man is no more! In #2, we showed exactly why this concept has so much potential. The writing, artwork, and pretty much everything else is of consistently amazing quality, so there’s no reason not to pick up this book. It continues to excel in everything its creators dream of and will continue to excite readers for years to come.
“Plastic Man is no more!” #2 Trying to form a darker hero
Plastic Man is no more! #2
Plastic Man is no more! #1 has set the stakes, but Plastic Man is no more! In #2, we showed exactly why this concept has so much potential. The writing, artwork, and pretty much everything else is of consistently amazing quality, so there’s no reason not to pick up this book. It continues to excel in everything its creators dream of and will continue to excite readers for years to come.
The characters are the highlight of this book and continue to show their three-dimensional nature.
There are few books that have such a shocking and shocking ending.
What’s fascinating about this story is that there is no real villain.
The deal is great, but the Justice League scenes take away from the book’s immersion somewhat.
