WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for PLASTIC MAN NO MORE! #4
One Justice League hero recently headlined his own Black Label solo series, filled with body horror moments that made me shudder in disgust. But it was the hero's final form that really left me gasping, surprising me with the reminder of a long-buried piece of pop culture that once haunted my childhood nightmares. Does anyone else remember Spy children Thumbs-thumbs?
…looks like there's a good chance this horror comedy starring Plastic Man and the Justice League will continue…
Horror comedy by Christopher Cantwell, Jacob Edgar, Alex Lins and Marcelo Maiolo Plastic man never again! was officially concluded with issue #4. The series has been a wild and somewhat criminal ride from start to finish, but the final page – with its teasing “The end?”—and several unresolved plot points suggest this may not be Patrick's last solo adventure “Eel” O'Brian.
While there's been no official word on what's next for the Justice League hero, the end of issue #4 hints that his future may involve coming to terms with his new and rather gruesome form – which literally resembles the five-thumbed creatures from the 2001 film Spy children film.
Plastic Man's New Form Is Officially Joke-Worthy (And Highly Disturbing)
Christopher Cantwell Plastic man never again! The Black Label series fully launched on December 18, 2024
The four-issue series Plastic man never again! forced the once-invulnerable hero to confront his mortality when he discovers he is rapidly depolymerizing – or, in simpler terms, falling apart. After consulting an expert scientist, Plastic Man learns that his condition will ultimately result in his death. The only potential solution is to place yourself at the epicenter of a massive nuclear explosion. to trigger repolymerization. This revelation leads O'Brian to take drastic action as he enacts a reckless plan to cheat death. His efforts include kidnapping Metal Man Uranium and inadvertently causing the deaths of several DC heroes, including the rest of the Metal Men and Detective Chimp.
With the help of some questionable allies, Plastic Man manages to trigger the nuclear explosion. However, when he is unable to get out of the explosion and no body is recovered, both his accomplices and the rest of the hero community assume he is dead. However, the final page of the series reveals that Plastic Man may not be as dead as everyone believes. A stocky figure, the size of a large hand, is shown emerging from the rain. As the image becomes clearer, it is revealed to be Plastic Man, now essentially reduced to what appears to be a swollen, partially melted hand. cut just above the wrist. And yes, he looks as grotesque as this description suggests.
Plastic Man Basically Turned Into A Thumb From Spy children
Thumb-Thumbs screenshot comes from Robert Rodriguez Spy children (2001)
When I saw Plastic Man's new form, I literally gasped – and I'm not normally a 'gasper'. However, this moment proved to be an exception as I was instantly bombarded with long-forgotten and deeply buried memories of the Thumbs of Spy children (2001). For those who don't know, the Thumb-Thumbs were Fegan Floop's henchmen, hideously made entirely of thumbs, with their heads and limbs being giant thumbs. They were also the creatures that made my mother regret letting me watch Spy children because they became my biggest fear, causing my dad to have to set 'thumb to thumb traps' just to get me to go to bed.
As Spy children As fans know, the Thumb-Thumbs wore simple red jumpsuits, making them virtually indistinguishable from one another. Then, When I saw Plastic Man with his signature red jumpsuit and his strangely Thumb-Thumb-like body, I had a horrible flashback to my repressed childhood trauma – hence my awkward sigh. Although Plastic Man retains his distinctly recognizable jumpsuit, sun visors, and even his smooth black hair and facial features, there's no denying that he now looks like a thumb. And now I'm dying to know if Cantwell, Edgar or Lins were inspired by Spy children for this project.
There's hope we'll get more of Thumb-Thumb Plastic Man in a new series
Main cover by Alex Lins and Marcelo Maiolo for Plastic man never again! #4 (2024)
Despite the mentally frightening image of Plastic Man being essentially turned into a thumbnail marking the end of the series, it doesn't feel like a true conclusion. The last panel presents an intriguing “The end?” and, combined with the fact that we now have a hand-sized Plastic Man running around who has faced no consequences for allegedly killing the Metal Men and Detective Chimp, the narrative as a whole feels unfinished. This is honestly exciting news for everyone who enjoyed the series – myself included – because it seems like there's a big chance this star-studded horror comedy plastic man and the Justice League will continue in another series or special.
Plastic man never again! #4 is now available from DC Comics!