This Comic Was Good While It Lasted - Plastic Man #20

The last issue of Kyle Baker's Plastic Man came out this week, and it is a real shame. In fact, the shame goes beyond just the fact that it is ending (which DOES suck), but rather, that Baker decided to end the title with a mocking send-up of the DC Universe.

Don't get me wrong, it is a hilarious mocking send-up of the DC Universe, but still, I think I would have preferred to have the last issue just be a FUN issue, to best remind folks of how FUN this comic book was. Heck, just look at the cover...



That is the kind of wacky fun that Plastic Man gave us readers for 17 or so issues (admittedly, the last few have been parodies of the DCU), so I would have liked the last issue to be that same kind of humor.

HowEVER, if we have to have mocking of the DCU, then Baker at least does it wonderfully.

He "darkens" his art for the DCU characters who are guest starring in this story, including Billy Batson's funeral, where we get classic lines like "Sivana blasting Billy full of holes would have been bad enough. Bad enough got worse when Sivana invited Doctor Light to do what Dr. Light does to victims now. Like that's Light's new power now."

He also has Mary Marvel give a comment about how superheroes should set a worthy example, as Baker depicts Huntress (in the lame Jim Lee costume) and Supergirl (in the slightly less lame, but still lame Michael Turner costume) looking at the ground, ashamed.

Classic.

The rest of the issue is mixed with Baker mocking the Superman/Wonder Woman/Batman dynamic (and doing it very well), and having his cast go through family troubles.

It is touching, while also hilarious, and Baker's art is so pliable that he manages to fit every joke perfectly, in whatever style of art the joke calls for.

Classic stuff.

Classic series.

I'll miss it, but there are plenty of other Baker projects out there! Check them out, folks (also, check Plastic Man back issues out...they should be cheap)!!

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