My reaction to the first issue of Kyle Baker's Plastic Man could be described as rather lukewarm, and that's being charitable. Fortunately, I enjoyed this second installment much more. There's a far greater focus as to what this book is going to be about and what the title character's real role in the story is, and that's due in part to the introduction of a new character who serves as the "straight man" to the world around her. The book still has a couple of elements that don't sit well with me, but the title is progressing in a promising direction.
Plastic Man is quite quite the pickle (a metaphor... one has to be clear about these things when discussing someone as pliable as Plas). The FBI is looking to arrest Eel O'Brian for murder, but Plas knows Eel is innocent. The problem is that he knows because he is the notorious thief, now reformed. To make matters worse, the chief decides Plas can use some help on the case, so he calls in some outside help -- Agent Morgan -- to lead the manhunt for O'Brian. Meanwhile, Woozy Winks feels cast aside, and he realizes that he must be Plas's equal, not some goofy sidekick, thus beginning what will no doubt be Woozy's horrendous career as a super-hero.
Baker's zany art suits the title character perfectly. I ove how he adapts his style to capture the various forms Plas takes on. His work ranges from conventional to bizarre. Baker channels everything from the Hanna Barbera style to 1960s underground comics distortions. It's clear that he uses a computer to enhance his work, but sometimes it's too obvious, with rigid lines intruding on the loose curves that make up Baker's art. The colors really pop, though. They border on garish, but it works with this character and approach.
This is a bit of a nitpick, but Baker's unconventional lettering here is a bit distracting. I've seen the thin word-balloon tail in his other works, but throughout this comic, they tend to be white. It's a bit hard on the eyes, and they're difficult to spot on some pages (such as the first one).
Introducing Morgan into the cast really strengthens the story. Her logic and expectation of sanity is just what's needed here. She's the real hero of this issue, never giving into the surrealism in which she is immersed. The red herring plot development was a great deal of fun as well. It's a cute, quick-hit joke that Baker wisely opts not to overuse.
Given Plas's status as something of a screwup, though, it leaves me wondering what the point of Woozy Winks's inclusion in this incarnation of stretchable sleuth. Agent Morgan seems to be the sole voice of reason in this zany world, so it seems odd that Plas would need bumbling comic relief when he's the bumbling comic relief.
