On the heels of our last entry into the Action Figure Observer’s Field Guide we now focus our microscopes on one particular specimen from Phylum: DC / Class: Little Plastic People. Homo hominis plasticus (Plastic Man) is a difficult subject to observe based on the fact that his physical characteristics are ever changing. I’ve attempted to catalog all figural representations of homo hominis plasticus that have existed since that vat of Crawford chemicals became an evolutionary catalyst for Eel O’Brian. But who is to say whether or not the DC Direct Alex Ross Justice Plastic Man isn’t just impersonating the Justice League Unlimited Plastic Man? We’ll never know.
fig 1. from left to right:
Kenner Super Powers | Mattel DC Universe Classics | DC Direct Justice
fig 2. from left to right:
Hasbro JLA | DC Direct Series 3 | Mattel Batman Brave and the Bold
fig 3. from left to right:
DC Direct Blammoids | Mattel Justice League Unlimited | Mattel Batman Brave and the Bold
fig 4. from left to right:
Mattel Action League | McDonalds Happy Meal | DC Direct History of the DC Universe
fig 5. from left to right:
Spin Master Mighty Beanz | Wizkids Heroclix #100, #30, #223 | Eaglemoss DC Comics
fig 6.
Mattel Justice League Unlimited (or is it?)
Unless my research is faulty, this exhausts the homo hominis plasticus catalog save for one very obscure specimen: the MEGO Elastic Heroes Plastic Man. If any of you fellow parumplasticus populus scientists own or have owned one of these, please post below.
* NEW ENTRY *
Thanks to my associate professors (yeah, you guys) I was able
to identify a few more straggler specimens:
fig 7. from left to right:
DC Direct JLA Pewter Series | McDonalds Happy Meal (two in middle) | DC Direct PVC
Thank goodness the following image was caught on film. In the middle of cataloging homo hominis plasticus my colleague, Professor Pretticute, noticed that our subject had transformed himself into a tee shirt. You may be thinking: “Yeah right, you just pulled that out of your closet.” No sir. Donning a homo hominis plasticus guise is far too nerdy for this action figure anthropologist.
Ha! I wanna know how you put together the shot with that Brave and the Bold stretchy one.
I’ll never tell.
What?… No photos of Professor Pretticute?… (and no close-up of the suitcase?)
In all seriousness, didn’t DCD make at least one Plas PVC?
There is a blind boxed DCDirect PVC line – at least 3 waves, where Plas is in the 3rd wave. Who’s Who might be the name.
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The Heroclix entry could be enhanced to mention which sets they appeared in. Hypertime #100, #101, #102 (sculpts are the same, dials are different). Cosmic Justice #223 (the mailbox). Justice League #30 (the kite).
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Brave and Bold. The two figures are the same, but they come with different accessories. In fact many of the above have accessories, which are quite cool. My Alex Ross Plastic Man has been on display for years and never been seen with his normal limbs.
Yes, lots of cool accessories. Just didn’t want to clutter the research. Could you track down an image of the DC Direct PVC Plas? I can’t say I’ve come across that. Thanks!
he was wrapped around a parademon. that was the new gods series with the darkseid b-a-f. it’s one of the plas pieces I’ve been looking for, too. btw, AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME collection. looks like the only ones you’re missing are the who’s who and the mego ones. i have the dcdirect variant with the hammer and claw hands and removable shades, but not the one in the photo here. also, don’t have the history of the dcu one. did it come with and extendable neck? some of the promo shots have it with regular arms and an elongated neck.
oh, there’s also the second McB&B Plas that was in the shape of a car, and a pewter JLA plas statue that looks kinda like the eaglemoss one but with no color. it’s the lamest Plastic Man piece I’ve ever seen. you should get the car, though, if you don’t have it. In fact, I think I have an extra one.
Thanks for the comments, Rev. I know how much of a Plas fan you are so I definitely had you in mind when I was putting this one together. The DC Direct History Plas is my least favorite of the bunch. Unless there is some variant I don’t know about, the final figure IS different than all those promo shots with elongated neck, and normal right arm and hand. I don’t think they should release Plastic Man figures with goofy hands withOUT packing in a second set of normal hands. And the buck is just bad.
love how both dc and mattel every time they did plas in plastic they improved over the last one and love that tshirt.
http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/6/7/6731_a_full.jpg
Awesome pics, as always. Plas is one of my all-time favorite characters.
thats the one.
here’s the lame ass pewter one:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/DC-DIRECT-JLA-PEWTER-SERIES-PLASTIC-MAN-FIGURINE-/00/$(KGrHqIOKnME4NlHpDGqBONY1D,7rQ~~0_35.JPG
There’s also a B&B McDonald’s Plas from Brazil that I just picked up on good ol’ ebay. And then there’s the ever famous 70′s “Stretch Plastic Man” that I’ve only come across without his inside goo….
cough.
Cool pix!
Do you count the DC Direct wrist watch? Come on, he’s a figure in the shape of a watch!!!
ah! true that! i got that one, too! it’s awesome!
Sounds rad. Having trouble tracking that down. If you have a pic, please post!
If I photograph the watch and add it to the blog, I’ll definitely have to include the Plastic Man toothbrush that Sector1014 got me recently.
whoa. what? plastic man toothbrush? how did THIS slip past me? is there a picture anywhere?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260826410914?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648#ht_788wt_1165
Awesome set of Brave & Bold figures. I ordered 3 sets, myself. Took forever to get them, as they came from Malaysia… Get them while they last!
AWESOME, AWESOME stuff. And yet your work still isn’t done.
So much stuff still comes out of the woodwork!
Great blog Dan!
Very nice.
And I should point out that I have that t-shirt/version of Plas.
Jo
This could actually be spun-off as a stand-alone mini web-site
Thanks for the input, fellas! OK, so it looks like I’m missing the following:
DC Direct PVC
http://bit.ly/pQOS3e
Pewter
http://bit.ly/qEZ5BV
McDonalds Happy Meal Car
http://bit.ly/o09XJP
McDonalds Happy Meal Brazil (just bought)
http://bit.ly/nu4uJG
The thing about Plas is that no matter how funky his plastic representation might be, it always fits into his m.o. No other character can pull this trick off so easily. Great pics as always, Dan.
So true, Clutch! Even the Plas Blammoid is cool for that reason!
Brilliant! This makes me want a accumulate a Plastic Man shelf post haste!
awesome…but…TOOTHBRUSH!? still haven’t seen this item!
also, I’ve got the watch. the watch and toothbrush would make an awesome picture together. we’ll have to make that happen before dec 9th, though, cause that’s when i’m headin back to tallahassee. so if you wann get up and plas out, holla at cha boy.
Dan,
This blog – actually that last picture – got me to buy that shirt while I was at NYCC!
Wheres Alex Ross Plastic Man from the DC Direct JUSTICE line? That ones my favorite because he has the coil body…looks SO cool sitting on the shelf!