DC Turned One Justice League Icon Into Its Most R

The DC Universe is full of terrifying villains, but one classic Justice League member could have been the most horrifying villain of all.

Some of the heroes of the DC Universe can be pretty horrifying, but the most terrifying member of the Justice League isn't actually Batman, it's none other than Plastic Man. Plastic Man's abilities lend themselves inherently to body horror, but since Plastic Man is a hero, readers rarely get to see that terrifying side of his powers, but that's not always the case.

Plastic Man started out as a criminal known as Eel O'Brian, but after a failed heist on a chemical factory, he was badly wounded and doused in mysterious chemicals. Left to die by his criminal crew, Eel ended up being taken in by a bunch of monks who nursed him back to health. Eel was absolutely astounded that people would help him, despite knowing he was a criminal, and from then on vowed to fight crime with the powers he had gained from the accident. This is how Plastic Man became a hero, but if he had stayed on his criminal path hecwould have become DC's most terrifying villain.

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During the events of Flashpoint the world is without most of its superheroes, such as the Flash and Superman, plus other characters have different backstorie. It seems in this darker universe, Eel O'Brian never gave up his life of crime, even after gaining his superpowers. While Plastic Man is usually a goofy light-hearted man, which disguises the terrifying extent of his powers, this Flashpoint version is more than happy to use his powers to their true horrifying potential, which readers get to see in Flashpoint: Legion of Doom by Adam Glass and Rodney Buchemi. This nightmare version of Plastic Man is one of the scariest people in this universe, which says a lot considering there is a gun-toting Batman and a war-hungry Wonder Woman. With Heatwave locked up in prison, he calls on his old friend Eel O'Brian to help him break out, Eel manages to sneak into the prison by hiding in another inmate's body, which he violently erupts from.

This wouldn't be the first time Plastic Man's powers have been shown off in such a gruesome way either. In DCeased, Plastic Man is reduced to nothing more than a brutal zombie in liquid form, which very nearly kills Zatanna and Constantine. Meanwhile, in DC vs. Vampires a vampirized Plastic Man infects Raven. These two examples show a Plastic Man who is corrupted or not in his right mind; Flashpoint's Plastic Man is perfectly aware of what he's doing, which makes it all the worse. Considering Plastic Man shares an origin with Joker, it's no surprise that Plastic Man would make such an amazing villain.

While Plastic Man may not be as well known as some of DC's other heroes, it's best for everyone that Plastic Man decided to become a hero. As his Flashpoint version proves, Plastic Man could have easily been the most terrifying Justice League villain to ever exist.