# Plastic Man vs. Mister Fantastic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361 "2008-02-12T23:04:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/1 "2008-02-12T23:04:03Z")
Stretchy smackdown! Golden Age comic-book hero [Plastic Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Man) goes up against Marvelite hero [Mister Fantastic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Fantastic) of the Fantastic Four. Who would win? I think Reed Richards would take it – they both got the same physical superpowers, but Reed’s got super **brains.** Is there any factor I’m missing? (And what about DC equivalent [Elastic Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_Man) (aka Enlongated Man)?) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/2 "2008-02-12T23:06:14Z")
First, it’s **Elongated Man**. Second, he’s dead. Thirdly, what about Elastigirl, now Mrs Incredible? My money is on her, as she’s a better trained & more serious fighter than Reed or Plaz. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/3 "2008-02-12T23:09:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] First, it’s **Elongated Man**. Second, he’s dead. Thirdly, what about Elastigirl, now Mrs Incredible? My money is on her, as she’s a better trained & more serious fighter than Reed or Plaz. [/QUOTE] Elongated Man = Ralph Dibny, IIRC - drinks some juice from some fruit; only stretchy, just like Mr. F… Plastic Man = Eel O’Brien - bad guy who gets shot and gets chemicals poured over him, then he turns his life to doing good. In terms of the OP, aren’t Mr. F’s and Plas’ powers different? Mr. F can only stretch; I thought Plas can take different shapes that might involve more than just stretching? …yep - from [this Wikipedia entry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Man) it says: > [@](#): > > One of Quality Comics’ signature characters during the period historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books, Plastic Man can stretch his body into any imaginable form So I vote for Plas… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/4 "2008-02-12T23:09:51Z")
Info–Elastigirl > **[Elastigirl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastigirl_%28The_Incredibles%29)** > > Helen Parr (née Truax), also known as Elastigirl and Mrs. Incredible, is a fictional character who appears in Pixar's computer-animated superhero film The Incredibles (2004) and its sequel Incredibles 2 (2018). Voiced by actress Holly Hunter, the character is a superhero who possesses superhuman elasticity, granting her the ability to stretch any part of her body to great proportions. Helen is introduced in the first film as an accomplished superheroine forced into retirement with the rest Scr... ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/5 "2008-02-12T23:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Mr. F can only stretch; I thought Plas can take different shapes that might involve more than just stretching? [/QUOTE] Within limits, perhaps, but could he successfully imitate a Kirby machine? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/6 "2008-02-12T23:19:52Z")
And to throw another one in the group: [The Thin Man](http://www.toonopedia.com/thinman.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/7 "2008-02-12T23:40:27Z")
Plastic Man outpowers Reed is a straight up match but Reed outclasses Plastic Man by a long shot in preparations. He’s Marvel’s scientific Batman. And if we’re throwing names into the ring there’s always James Bartholomew Olsen a.k.a. Elastic Lad. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/8 "2008-02-12T23:57:15Z")
I’m not sure. You are all overlooking the fact that Plas has been written (over the past few decades) as being bat-shit insane. I think that gives him an edge… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/9 "2008-02-13T00:23:34Z")
You’re forgetting [Elastic Lad](http://members.shaw.ca/legion_roll_call/reserve/honorary/elastic_lad/), [Elasti-Girl/Elasti-Woman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasti-Girl) (though her powers were far more limited to the others) and [Elastigirl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastigirl_(The_Incredibles)) But Plas has the edge over them all. He could become anything, and was funnier, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/10 "2008-02-13T00:36:11Z")
Plas is much more versitile. With prep, Richards in a total curbstomp. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/11 "2008-02-13T00:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Stretchy smackdown! Golden Age comic-book hero [Plastic Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Man) goes up against Marvelite hero [Mister Fantastic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Fantastic) of the Fantastic Four. Who would win? I think Reed Richards would take it – they both got the same physical superpowers, but Reed’s got super **brains.** Is there any factor I’m missing? (And what about DC equivalent [Elastic Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_Man) (aka Enlongated Man)?) [/QUOTE] This could go either way, but I’ll bet on Mr. Fantastic. In terms of their physical abilities, Eel is a lot more versatile, and I’d bet he’s more durable as well. On the other hand, the main reason Reed’s a major player in the superhuman arena is his brain; that’s his real power. Moreover, if both combatants have full knowledge of the other’s resources, Eel may bow out–as if he did any serious damage to Reed, he’d have a pissed off Sue, Johnny, and Ben to deal with, and Sue, in particular, would kill him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/12 "2008-02-13T00:51:35Z")
How about throwing [Professor Impossible](http://animated-views.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/vent9.jpg) from the Venture Brother into the mix? He’s as stretchy and brilliant as Reed Richards and he’s also a total dick! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/13 "2008-02-13T01:22:04Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] First, it’s **Elongated Man**. Second, he’s dead. [/QUOTE] When did Ralph die? Sue died, unfortunately, but I thought Ralph was still around. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/14 "2008-02-13T01:48:09Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] When did Ralph die? Sue died, unfortunately, but I thought Ralph was still around. [/QUOTE] Killed by Neron. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/15 "2008-02-13T01:58:17Z")
Don’t forget Lois Lane as one-time **Elastic Lass**. [http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=17753](http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=17753) Jack Cole is the guy who originated stretchy heroes in **Wun Cloo: The Defective Detective** , then amplified the idea at considerable length in **Plastic Man** , who not only stretched, but took on shapes. I always took that as a measure of Plas’ superior imagination, not his superior stretching abilities. As Frank Miller had Plas say to Ralph Dibney, the **Elongated Man** – “I can’t believe how BORING you are! All you do is STRETCH! You NEVER turn into anything!” ever since, all stretchy heroes seem to pay tribute to Plastic Mamn by taling similar names – Mr. Fan_tastic_ _El_onlagted Man _Elasti_girl _Elastic_ Lad/Lass But Plastic Man was the original, and arguably the best. That said, Mr. Fantastic was a freakin’ genius, and would have frozen Plas or bottled him up or done some other technological end-run around him. So he would’ve won. But Plas would’ve gotten more style points. Reference; “Jack Cole and Plastic Man” (AKA “Plastic Man: Forms Strecyched to their Limits” ) by Art Spiegelman and Chip Kidd. 1999, 2001 by DC Comics. Highly recommended. And very weird. … ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/16 "2008-02-13T02:03:29Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] **Plastic Man** , who not only stretched, but took on shapes. I always took that as a measure of Plas’ superior imagination, not his superior stretching abilities. As Frank Miller had Plas say to Ralph Dibney, the **Elongated Man** – “I can’t believe how BORING you are! All you do is STRETCH! You NEVER turn into anything!” [/QUOTE] Of course, everything Plas turned into was red, with that distinctive black-gold-and-diamond belting. You’d think folks in his area of operations would catch on after awhile. Also, howcum he had fingers but no toes? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/17 "2008-02-13T02:03:36Z")
But in sheer smackdown, Mrs Incredible displays far more H-T-H skills, and probably has enhanced strength. In a pure violence contest, Helen Parr kicks all rubbery @sses. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/18 "2008-02-13T02:38:26Z")
Mr. Fantastic never made particularly imaginative use of his stretching skills, though. I note, too, that he and the Elongated Man were at one time the only married superheros. And both could stretch any part of their body. Any part . . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/19 "2008-02-13T03:14:39Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Killed by Neron. [/QUOTE] As part of Ralph’s elaborate plan to trap Neron. What a guy. This was one occasion where he out-Batmanned Batman and out-Stranged Adam Strange. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361/20 "2008-02-13T03:31:06Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] I note, too, that he and the Elongated Man were at one time the only married superheros. And both could stretch any part of their body. Any part . . . . 😃 [/QUOTE] How did it take 18 posts to bring kinky sex into this?! Yer slippin’, Dopers! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-man-vs-mister-fantastic/437361.md?page=2)