The series ran in the early 80s on ABC, right after the Super Friends. The hero, Plastic Man, was a Stretch Armstrong-like guy who was able to contort his body into any shape imaginable. Each week, he fended off a new villain, such as Weed, Half-Ape, and the Disco Mummy. Aiding Plastic Man was dopey his sidekick Hula Hula and his smokin' hot girlfriend Penny (who presumably reaped the benefits of dating an elastic guy). Together, they tooled around the Plastijet foiling evil wherever it reared its ugly head.

Plastic Man was always notable for its intentionally kooky sense of humor, and that still comes through. Each case required our hero to creatively figure out how to use his unique ability to take down the villain. In the first episode alone, he transforms himself into a garden hose, a pair of hedge clippers, an accordion, and a motorboat. The fun in the series lies in the clever exploitation of the superpower. The bad guys are neat too. Disco Mummy? How can you not love that? She can't stop boogie-ing!

The DVD set is packed with content. All 35 episodes are contained on the four discs, for over nine hours of viewing. The sound and video transfers are about as good as can be expected considering that this is a nearly 30 year-old, kinda cheesy Saturday morning cartoon that was never intended to be high art in the first place. Additionally, the DVD contains some bonus features. There is a retrospective featurette ("Plas-tastic: A Brief History of Plastic Man") in which various comics experts and show staff share their thoughts on the character. Also, you will find the unaired pilot episode for an updated Plastic Man series.

I wonder how many other people remember Plastic Man. While in no way a masterpiece of animation, the program did provide a forum to a character who has lots of ongoing potential. It's a cool concept that is rich with possibilities. Maybe the release of Plastic Man: The Complete Collection will help spur the character's popularity so that he may contort again in the future.