Russkie-Smashers PLASTIC MAN "Trio of Tyranny"

What does comics legend Jack Cole's best-known creation look like without Jack Cole?
Like this never-reprinted cover by Quality Comics stablemate Blackhawk's Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera, and the following never-reprinted story by scripter Dick Wood and illustrator Charles Nicholas!

This tale from Quality's Plastic Man #50 (1954) was typical of the direction the book took after Jack Cole left.

Plas and sidekick Woozy battled Commies (as we also showed HERE), monsters, and aliens in the lead stories by a plethora of writers and illustrators while the rest of the book was filled with reprints of Jack Cole's earlier tales.
A couple of issues later the book went entirely reprint (except for new covers and one-pagers) until it was cancelled with #64 when Quality closed its' doors and sold its' inventory (both published and unpublished) to DC in 1956.
DC continued publishing Blackhawk, G.I. Combat, Heart Throbs and the short-lived Robin Hood Tales and left the other characters and strips unused until the mid-1960s when Plas was revived in 1966 in all-new stories in a short-lived series!
(Note: around the same time, IW/Super Comics reprinted several issues of Plas's Golden Age book since they had purchased the actual printing plates from a printer where they had been abandoned by Quality. The timing appears to have been a coincidence.)
Since then, he's been revived and revamped several times in the humorous spirit of Jack Cole by a variety of creatives including Kyle Baker and Phil Foglio, and eventually incorporated into the DC mainstream universe...whatever its' current incarnation is as of this year!

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Plastic Man 80-Page Giant

Featuring classic tales from each of his eras (Golden Age/Silver Age/Bronze Age)
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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "His First Case" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Hero...

Despite a rough upbringing in the slums, including the death of his mother during an epidemic, Dan Garret becomes a scholarship student at State University, not only making Honor Roll, but becoming a letterman at several sports as well.

During his senior year, he receives word that his policeman father has been shot and badly-wounded...

This tale from Fox's Blue Beetle #1 (1939) was written and laid-out by Will Eisner (yes, that Will Eisner) and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name "Charles Nicholas" for his comic work until he retired.
You'll note there's no explanation of how or when Dan developed the Blue Beetle identity or costume.
And, following this tale in the first issue of his own book, are reprints of Blue Beetle's first few appearances from Mystery Men Comics, including his premiere, which featured him in a radically-different costume!

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "His First Case" Part 1

Several months after debuting in Mystery Men Comics, the Blue Beetle got his own book...

...and, finally, the story (at least some of it) behind his first appearance!

Who wounded Dan's father?

Will he get away with it?

How does this event cause the birth of the Blue Beetle?

For the answers to these and numerous other questions...

...be here tomorrow!

Same Beetle time!

Same Beetle blog!

You'll note we don't call this untitled story an origin.
That's because, you learn some aspects of how Dan Garret became the Blue Beetle, but you won't learn all of them (including the most important one)!
This tale from Fox's Blue Beetle #1 (1939) was written and laid-out by Will Eisner (yes, that Will Eisner) and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name "Charles Nicholas" for his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Trap for the Blue Beetle"

The Blue Beetle was a beat cop without much pocket money...

...so, unlike Batman and the other millionaire heroes, Dan Garret had to depend on his local pharmacy for gimmicks and disguises!

Dan's partner, Mike Mannigan survived for the entire Golden Age run of the Blue Beetle, but when Dan Garret was revamped by Charlton in the Silver Age and became Dan Garrett (note the extra "t"): archeologist, Mike was nowhere to be found.
A different version of him did pop up in DC's CountDown mini-series in 2007!

This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #5 (1939) is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Protection Insurance for Newsboys"

At last, the Blue Beetle hits his stride...

...as he finally appears in the armored costume that will (with minor variations) strike fear into the hearts of evildoers for the next decade or so!

This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #4 (1939) is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Loan Shark Racket"

In the early Golden Age, superheroes helped the "little guy"...

...when sleazeballs took advantage of honest citizens' dire financial straits!

The Blue Beetle finally gains his mask in his story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #3 (1939) which is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Armored Car Robbery"

The Blue Beetle dons his blue chain-mail costume for the first time...

...and displays the BeetleMobile in it's only appearance, ever!

You'll note Blue Beetle now wears distinctive chain-mail armor, but with short sleeves and no domino mask!
(Lucky for him no one recognized him as policeman Dan Garret!)
Next issue he gains the mask, and by his fourth appearance the long-sleeved look he was to keep for the remainder of his career.
This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #2 is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Debut"

Last time, we presented his final tale...

...now, from Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939), is the very first appearance of the decidedly-different Blue Beetle!

As you can see, it's not an origin story, since it's apparent that the Beetle's been operating for some time as of this tale.
(His origin won't be covered until the first issue of his own title, a year from now.
Even then, the full story won't be told.)
Also note the Green Hornet-inspired suit, fedora, and mask along with liberal use of a symbol to scare criminals and gas to knock them out.
It's the only time in his career he wears that particular ensemble.
With the next issue of Mystery Men Comics, you'll see the Blue Beetle begin the transition to the hero he was known as throughout the Golden Age as he dons the blue chain-mail costume.
(Oddly, when his origin is told in Blue Beetle #1, Garret is shown using the chain mail armor from the beginning of his career.)
Credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", this story was written by Will Eisner, illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name for all his comic work until he retired.

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