Patrick "Eel" O'Brian

Patrick 'Eel' O'Brian is the alter ego of Plastic Man, a small-time crook who gained rubber-like stretching and shape-shifting abilities after falling into a vat of acid during a botched robbery, leading him to reform and become a superhero.

Few characters can claim a Golden Age debut and nearly a century of continuous relevance, but Patrick "Eel" O'Brian has been part of the comics conversation since Quality Comics launched him in the pages of Police Comics #1 back in 1941 — a key issue that collector culture has never forgotten. Created by Vern Henkel, O'Brian emerged from that fertile wartime era alongside a remarkable roster of costumed figures, sharing those early pages with the likes of The Human Bomb, Manhunter, and Dan Richards. His appearances stretch across an extraordinary 84-year span, from Golden Age Quality Comics through modern DC collections like DC Finest: Plastic Man: The Origin of Plastic Man, a testament to just how durably this character has resonated with readers and archivists alike. Whether you're a Golden Age completist or simply curious about the roots of one of comics' most enduring publishers, O'Brian's corner of Police Comics is essential reading.