Kenner Super Powers Plastic Man

Card design by http://polymerphelia.blogspot.com/

THE STRETCHABLE SLEUTH
During a heist gone wrong, petty crook Patrick “Eel” O’Brian was doused in chemicals, allowing him to stretch his body into any shape he desires. Nursed back to health by altruistic monks, he was inspired to reform and fight crime as super-hero Plastic Man!

In 1986 Kenner released the 3rd and final wave of the Super Powers Collection which included Plastic Man. The Super Powers Collection Plastic Man action figure features a unique "Power Action Stretching Neck" action mechanism and unlike the other figures in the collection has an articulated waist! Plastic Man stands slightly taller than the other figures in the collection... maybe because he is stretching?

Plastic Man -1,
Elongated Man - 0

There may have been a lot of stretchy super-heroes over the years, Mr. Fantastic over at Marvel, Elongated Man, even Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen got in on the act, but don't get it twisted, Plastic Man predates them all (except for Thin Man but I bet you never even heard of him!). Plastic Man, created by Jack Cole, premiered in Police Comics #1 published by Quality Comics way back in 1941! Not only that, but Plastic Man is unique in that he can do more than just stretch his body and limbs but he is actually able to mold himself into any shape imaginable, enabling him to morph into anything -- a table, a countertop, even complex machines. The only drawback being his inability to change colors, therefore his shapes always incorporate the colors and designs of his costume, body and, even his face.

When Quality Comics was shuttered in 1956, many of its characters were acquired by DC Comics including Plastic Man, who was added to the mainstream DC Universe. Plastic Man appeared in several DC Comics titles and has even starred in titles of his own over the years since 1960. After appearing in a cameo in an episode of Super Friends during its first season, Plastic Man finally got his own short-lived Saturday morning cartoon series, The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show in 1979!

Now lets take a look at the figure!


The Packaging:

Card Front

Card Back

Finally, here is a printable bio-card replacement! Just print these two images out on card stock and cut them out and glue them together to make your own replacement bio-card for Plastic Man!

Super Powers figures of the first two waves included a free mini-comic illustrating a short adventure with the character, but due to cost cutting measures, the third wave of figures had no comics. Interestingly, the Brazilian company Estrela did release a mini-comic with their release of their Plastic Man figure!

Speculation suggests that Kenner originally intended for the third wave of figures to include the mini-comics and that this is but one example of the comics that were actually completed before the idea was abandoned. Perhaps somehow Estrela was able to get these few completed third wave mini-comics when the license was acquired from Kenner. The comic, however, is in Portuguese not English, but is entertaining none-the-less.

	Anyway, here is the entire mini-comic for you to download and read as a CBR file, just follow the link to the left. CBR files hold comic book pages as images in a compressed archive format enabling them to be viewed, sequentially, from within a comic book reader program or app such as CDisplayEx.
DOWNLOAD CBR FILE

What are your thoughts on today's adventure? What is your favorite Super Powers figure? Did you ever watch Plastic Man cartoons? Let us know all about it in the comments section below!