That panel in the morphine story where Mary's staring into the guys eyes and so close she's "breathing his breath" is pretty hot stuff even now and unlike anything I ever saw in a comic. Also, more Quality Comics, please.
I heard Chip Kidd speak about 17 years ago and he talked about how disappointed he was with that Plastic Man cover. He had envisioned the entire cover looking like Plastic Man's costume, solid red with the iconic yellow belt wrapping across the middle as if Plastic Man himself had taken the shape of the book. The final version was forced on him by the publisher.
I first saw Plastic Man when he was a member of the JLA during Grant Morrison’s run on the title. I always felt he was so out of placed in the DC universe and then when I discovered Jack Cole I knew why. He was created for a different publisher, lol.
The funny thing about Jack Cole’s Plastic Man is that he’s written like if Adam West’s Batman had stretching powers. Jack Cole’s Plastic Man is a fairly serious person with a GOOFY super power, and his villains and sidekick, Woozy Winks, are much goofier than he is. I think that’s so interesting.
YES!!! Thank you for this! Jack Cole is amazing and I'm forever in his debt for bringing Plas into the world. You gents continue to kick ass eight ways to Sunday. Keep up the great work.
Alex Ross' JUSTICE story involving the Justice League had an interesting page or so devoted to a confrontation / conversation between Plastic Man and Elongated Man / Ralph Dibney. The gist of it was something about how Ralph saw himself as the official Justice League stretchy guy and that he thought Plastic Man just wasn't needed, but Plas one-upped Ralph with some sort of line about maybe Ralph should just stop worrying about how many stretchy guys there are and just try to live up to being a superhero of Justice League caliber.
Can't recall if Plas' guest role on the Super Friends or one of his in DC Presents and Brave and the Bold were my 1st introduction to him. But I know that between those and the later two Sat morning series of his that he was already a favorite of mine by the time I finally saw Cole's original stories reprinted. I prefer the more serious take on him Roy Thomas has in All-Star Squadron, but boy do I have major respect for originality Cole was able to deliver every single time. Jim Carey in his younger days would've made a great live version of him. Lol, and nice to see #711; one of the only superheroes I ever saw murdered in his own series and use the investigation of the crime to hand it over to a new hero (Comet and Hangman being the other time).
10:00 DC brought Firebrand back in the 80s in All-Star Squadron thanks to Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway. Reinvisioned as Danette Reilly, the younger sister of the original Firebrand, Rod Reilly. Since then the character has even appearred on TV shows like smalville and and cartoons like Young Justice. And that's either Iger or Crandall.
There is a lot of talent on display in that issue, even in the backup features. Frankly much more than many Timely and DC titles of similar vintage that I've seen…
I think like most Gen Xer's we mostly first knew Plastic Man from the Ruby Spears cartoon, now does Plastic Man wear long spandex or does he run around fighting crime bare legs and feet?
Thanks for doing this video and keeping the name of Jack Cole moving forward through history. Even with all its notoriety, "Murder, Morphine and Me" was the epitome of the breathless, relentless storytelling of the time period. And that so-called "doctor" totally missed the point: it was very much an anti-drug, cautionary story.
In that Steranko book you can see Cole was making up to $50 a page in the '40's plus bonuses up to $2500. Pretty nice money back then but I'm sure it paled in comparison to that sweet Playboy money a few years later.
Gill Fox was the artist for the Police #11 cover shown in the Archives — DC payed him a small royalty for each reprint of his covers. He was also its original colorist — the color guides & original art are exant. He died in 2004.
I honestly know nothing about Plastic Man beyond that cartoon series from the 70s (which I remember loving). Strangely enough, the cartoon was set up as a kind of mockumentary/reality show decades ahead of their time, with Plastic-Man being portrayed as a kind of celebrity super-hero.
Fantagraphics did a great Cole book …. Classic Pin-Up Art of Jack Cole. It's worth an episode.
That panel in the morphine story where Mary's staring into the guys eyes and so close she's "breathing his breath" is pretty hot stuff even now and unlike anything I ever saw in a comic.
Also, more Quality Comics, please.
Worth picking up DC's Plastic Man Archives series of books. Nearly all stories by Cole.
I heard Chip Kidd speak about 17 years ago and he talked about how disappointed he was with that Plastic Man cover. He had envisioned the entire cover looking like Plastic Man's costume, solid red with the iconic yellow belt wrapping across the middle as if Plastic Man himself had taken the shape of the book. The final version was forced on him by the publisher.
Nothing makes me happier than seeing books set free.
That was the quickest slab crack I've ever seen.
The videos with Warren Bernard are always my favorite
I wonder why there is no ASMR channel on opening slabbed comics
I first saw Plastic Man when he was a member of the JLA during Grant Morrison’s run on the title. I always felt he was so out of placed in the DC universe and then when I discovered Jack Cole I knew why. He was created for a different publisher, lol.
The funny thing about Jack Cole’s Plastic Man is that he’s written like if Adam West’s Batman had stretching powers. Jack Cole’s Plastic Man is a fairly serious person with a GOOFY super power, and his villains and sidekick, Woozy Winks, are much goofier than he is. I think that’s so interesting.
Iirc that instructional work was not by Jack Cole, but was one of the instructionals from a mail in art class that he signed up for
That's amazing.
Firebrand definitely showed up at DC after the acquisition… pretty sure he was a player in ALL-STAR SQUADRON.
THE HUMAN BOMB is by Paul Gustavson who created The Angel at Timely (Marvel). Great stuff! Steele Kerrigan is by Al Bryant and it's very nice too.
Thanks Kayfabe Guys, another Absolutely Stellar Episode ~!!💜
I like to imagine that an unopened copy of this comic is the the only piece of literature found from our civilization 100,000 years from now.
YES!!! Thank you for this! Jack Cole is amazing and I'm forever in his debt for bringing Plas into the world. You gents continue to kick ass eight ways to Sunday. Keep up the great work.
Alex Ross' JUSTICE story involving the Justice League had an interesting page or so devoted to a confrontation / conversation between Plastic Man and Elongated Man / Ralph Dibney. The gist of it was something about how Ralph saw himself as the official Justice League stretchy guy and that he thought Plastic Man just wasn't needed, but Plas one-upped Ralph with some sort of line about maybe Ralph should just stop worrying about how many stretchy guys there are and just try to live up to being a superhero of Justice League caliber.
That live action Plastic Man we had in the 80s, tho, hosting cartoons like Mighty Man & Yuk and Fangface
Man, I love it when Warren B. is in the house!
Plasticman ist einer der unmöglichen Karaktären die ich nicht mag, zu Lachhaft.
Can't recall if Plas' guest role on the Super Friends or one of his in DC Presents and Brave and the Bold were my 1st introduction to him. But I know that between those and the later two Sat morning series of his that he was already a favorite of mine by the time I finally saw Cole's original stories reprinted. I prefer the more serious take on him Roy Thomas has in All-Star Squadron, but boy do I have major respect for originality Cole was able to deliver every single time. Jim Carey in his younger days would've made a great live version of him. Lol, and nice to see #711; one of the only superheroes I ever saw murdered in his own series and use the investigation of the crime to hand it over to a new hero (Comet and Hangman being the other time).
I remember a female Firebrand with same costume in All Star Squadron from the 80's
10:00 DC brought Firebrand back in the 80s in All-Star Squadron thanks to Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway. Reinvisioned as Danette Reilly, the younger sister of the original Firebrand, Rod Reilly. Since then the character has even appearred on TV shows like smalville and and cartoons like Young Justice. And that's either Iger or Crandall.
There is a lot of talent on display in that issue, even in the backup features. Frankly much more than many Timely and DC titles of similar vintage that I've seen…
Warren Bernard is the best. More CGC snuff films, please. You guys are killing it.
I think like most Gen Xer's we mostly first knew Plastic Man from the Ruby Spears cartoon, now does Plastic Man wear long spandex or does he run around fighting crime bare legs and feet?
I love news print comics
s'a beautiful thing. The world needs more Jack Cole collections.
Thanks for doing this video and keeping the name of Jack Cole moving forward through history. Even with all its notoriety, "Murder, Morphine and Me" was the epitome of the breathless, relentless storytelling of the time period. And that so-called "doctor" totally missed the point: it was very much an anti-drug, cautionary story.
ONE OF BEST COMICS EVER…
In that Steranko book you can see Cole was making up to $50 a page in the '40's plus bonuses up to $2500. Pretty nice money back then but I'm sure it paled in comparison to that sweet Playboy money a few years later.
I wrote a song about Jack Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR4Hnxq5IVw
Gill Fox was the artist for the Police #11 cover shown in the Archives — DC payed him a small royalty for each reprint of his covers. He was also its original colorist — the color guides & original art are exant. He died in 2004.
I honestly know nothing about Plastic Man beyond that cartoon series from the 70s (which I remember loving). Strangely enough, the cartoon was set up as a kind of mockumentary/reality show decades ahead of their time, with Plastic-Man being portrayed as a kind of celebrity super-hero.