Plastic Man had been a crook named Patrick "Eel" O'Brian when he was shot by a security guard and struck by a falling drum full of an unidentified acid, some of which entered Eel's wound. He was saved by a mysterious order of monks whose example cured his penchant for crime. Due to his criminal past he is at the top of the Justice Lords wanted list. This lead to his joining the rebels. He serves as a spy due to his ability to change his appearance. His nemeses Elongated Man dose the same as him for the Lords. When Ralph first discovered his powers he went to Patrick for help to learn how to use them and betrayed him to the Lords the first chance he got. Patrick has sworn to the downfall of the Justice Lords and the imprisonment of Ralph.