Plastic #1
Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Daniel Hillyard
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: Image
A review by David Hildebrand
Have you ever laid on the hood of your car on a warm summer night, looking up at the clear sky, gazing at the stars, wondering what would happen if you combined the classic Psycho with the comedy Mannequin? No? Stop lying! We all have! And guess what??? Plastic #1 is your answer to the question! From the creative team of Doug Wagner (I.C.E., Legends of the Dark Knight) and Daniel Hillyard ( The Average Joes, Sherwood, Tx) comes the tale of a man and his lover, who just happens to be a plastic sex doll. But like all love stories, there are hurdles to overcome.
Plastic #1 begins on one of those nice nights that I was previously describing. Edwyn is in the backseat of his car, windows steamed up, with his love, Virginia. After what you can imagine was a magical time, Edwyn exits the car with promises of doughnuts, petroleum jelly, and a new soft cleaning brush that Virginia will like. Yup! This narrative is leaving little to the imagination, folks! It’s all an open book! Enjoy the ride!
Edwyn takes a trip to the gas station for his supplies. As he walks out the door he sees a group of guys taunting his beloved Virginia as she is sitting in the front seat on display for everyone to see. Needless to say, Edwyn doesn’t much appreciate what he is hearing and quickly springs into action to defend his Barbie’s honor. A gruesome attack on the trio leaves them battered, broken, and choking on blood. Unlucky for Edwyn, one of the guys he throttled happens to be the son of a very wealthy man named Thaddeus Belliveau. A sneak attack on Edwyn leaves him tied to a chair and Belliveau holding Virginia hostage as he offers Edwyn an offer he can’t refuse.
Wagner’s script is a slice of twisted excellence. Edwyn is a man with a dark past and the only thing that can quench his homicidal urges is Virginia. Wagner does an outstanding job of showing how scrambled Edwyn’s mind is. He refers to Sun as his mother and then of course, has this deep love for a sex toy named Virginia. It’s very easy to see that Edwyn isn’t playing with a full toy box! Plastic #1 is easily one of the more weirder stories I have read in recent memory and I love it!
Hillyard and Martin’s artwork does a magnificent job complimenting the story. Edwyn has this deranged, psychotic look, but also at times has a boy next door, “aw gosh” expression. He just wants to take his sex doll to Rome, people! Just like the rest of us!
The Verdict
Buy it! Right off, I’m gonna say that this story is definitely isn’t for everyone. It’s bloody, violent, sexual, all the sinful things your parents and teachers warned you about. But it’s oh-so-damn-good! I love originality and you really can’t get more original than what is going on in Plastic #1. If you love twisted stories and twisted love stories alike, then you will enjoy this title. Even if you don’t like it, I know there will still be a little part of you yearning to know what is going to happen next! Pick it up and enjoy the sick and twisted goodness!
