Where Ralph could fit in James Gunn's DCU (and Plastic Man too!)

 So, hi! I haven't forgotten about this blog, it's just time gets away from me, there's other stuff I want to handle. If I could make blogging and such pay, then maybe I could make sure we had at least weekly updates here.

So, anyway, as I write this, we're waiting for the first release in James Gunn's DCU. The director of Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and DC's The Suicide Squad is serving as the architect of a new movie/TV universe based on DC's superhero properties. Coming up first will be the animated series Creature Commandos and the new Superman film coming next year, currently filming.

Basically, it seems there's a lot to get excited about if these films and series pay off if they prove successful. And relevant to this blog, there's no reason to think we wouldn't see a character like the Elongated Man appear in this new franchise. While the first live action version of Ralph ended his run messily (I understand why they had to let Hartley Sawyer go, I just feel like how they handled it was flawed), the character was popular enough with audiences for there to be buzz about a potential spinoff.

It's already been announced we'll be seeing characters like Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl in Superman. I'm presuming they're part of the Justice League or Justice Society, or even the group the Terrifics. With characters like these, why not Elongated Man eventually?

Elongated Man was a featured Justice League of America member from the 70s to the 90s before going to Justice League International and Justice League Europe. Eventually, around the late 90s, Plastic Man got featured and why have two members with similar powers featured on the team?

There's definitely room for both in storytelling purposes. Either could be an on call Justice League member or a member seen in group shots, or for one-off stories. They could also appear on other teams.

But what about solo endeavors?

Elongated Man has never carried a comic book outside of being a long-running Detective Comics backup feature and a 4-issue miniseries. Plastic Man has led his own comic book at various times, but lately, not long-running regular titles.

If you wanted to do a solo project around Ralph, the Detective Comics stories provide a good basis for a TV series. Ralph and Sue travel the country, Ralph could be lured by a case or he could find them along the way.  These cases could build into a season-long plot or you could have a big case that takes up the season and go on to another one the next season. The fact that he works with Sue as a husband and wife duo could be a throw back to The Thin Man movie series, also featuring a husband and wife detective team. Plus, the show could introduce new characters to the DCU or have cameos because it can take Ralph and Sue anywhere. This could also be live action as while Ralph does make good use of his powers, he's content looking perfectly ordinary often, so you wouldn't be using CG every minute or so on him.

I couldn't really see Ralph leading a film series unless you did a major case as a movie. I feel like a show, making him a firm piece of the DCU, would be a better use outside of popping up in Justice League films.

 A question would be if they would want the original version of Ralph's powers in which he regularly drinks gingold to trigger his elastic powers, or if they'd want a version akin to The Flash TV series in which Ralph's powers are permanent. I get the idea of shying away from depicting a hero relying on a substance to use their powers as it can get messy and seem a little weird in our addiction-aware society. Still, having Ralph's powers "time out" could have some plot uses.

That said, what about Plastic Man?

I think if you have Plastic Man appear in the DCU, it'd be best if he's in a Justice League project first or a team up. If he takes off with audience, there's potential for a solo film. (It's rumored one's in the works... directed by Darren Aronofsky?) However, I don't see there being more than one solo film.

For a Plastic Man film, I'd open with his origin, set in the 1940s, in which he gets his powers during a heist gone wrong, and then decides to turn over a new leaf. Then jump ahead 80-ish years to present day, and he's jaded at being alive for so long, seeing heroes come and go, getting treated like a joke. He then discovers his son Luke is being led down a life of crime and in trying to save Luke, he has to re-evaluate why he's a hero himself.

If you wanted to do a Plastic Man series, it'd need to be animated. Plastic Man seems to always be experimenting with his powers, seeing what he can make himself into. This would be way too much CG for a TV budget for live action, but in animation, have at it! Probably the series would be low stakes stories, but there's potential for some good stories.

Overall, I feel hopeful that if the DCU takes off with audiences, we could see Elongated Man or Plastic Man appear in some form or another. Just have to support what does come out and hope James Gunn and co-producer Peter Safran don't let us down.

I haven't watched The Snyder Cut. I'm not going to.

Earlier this year, HBO Max released Zack Snyder's Justice League, the long-demanded original director's cut of 2017's Justice League. Snyder had been removed from the project, partly due to a family tragedy, partly due to Warner Brothers losing faith in him after he'd directed 2013's Superman cinematic reboot Man of Steel and 2016's controversial (and under performing) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The 2017 version was a result of retooling by director Joss Whedon into a studio-mandated 2-hour version, including credits. (Whedon was later revealed to have acted unacceptably with the cast, but that's a different matter.)

The 2017 version is an uneven mix of two directors' styles, but still tells a generally complete story, though lacking character depth, but then as it featured Ben Affleck's Batman and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman (who had featured in her first solo film earlier that year) recruiting Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Ezra Miller's Flash, and Ray Fisher's Cyborg, and also squeezes in a resurrection of Henry Cavill's Superman, two hours was hardly enough time to tell a meaningful story much less have a lot of character development.

Former director Zack Snyder shortly began teasing how his version differed and also showed off behind the scenes photos on social media, adding fervor to a social media campaign demanding for the release of "the Snyder Cut." And in 2020, Warner Brothers, now owned by AT&T, announced they were allowing Snyder to complete his cut in a 4 hour version to be released on HBO Max, their big company-wide streaming service.

However, the release has come and gone. I haven't watched the Snyder Cut, despite being a subscriber of HBO Max since Day 1. Recently, the release of the Snyder Cut was announced for 4K UHD and standard Blu-Ray in North America. I do not intend to purchase a copy. I own many other DC Comics-based film and television properties on DVD, Blu-Ray and UHD, but I don't own Man of Steel or Batman v Superman. I do own the 2017 version of Justice League, though I haven't watched it since seeing it in the theater. Here's why I'm not checking out Zack Snyder's Justice League.

It's basically the same story as the 2017 version. At twice the length.

I've listened to reviews of the Snyder Cut that break down the story and appreciate that the new version fleshes out many of the then-newcomers to the DC Cinematic Universe: we see more of the lives of Barry Allen and Arthur Curry, and Victor Stone gets a welcome fleshing out of his story and character. That said, while we get more, and it's not unimportant, ultimately the story is an extended and alternate version of the 2017 version. Steppenwolf arrives on Earth to collect the Mother Boxes on a mission for Darkseid, the Justice League forms to prevent him from succeeding, staving off an invasion of Earth from Apokolips. During the course of events, the League uses one of the Mother Boxes to revive Superman after his death in Batman v Superman, who is initially confused about who he is until he remembers, thanks to Lois Lane, and ultimately joins the League in their final battle, giving them a winning edge. Snyder's version offers twice the runtime for the same story.

I'm not saying I wanted the Snyder Cut to be two hours, but Snyder's DC offerings haven't been known for the best pacing. Batman v Superman was two and a half hours, but still had incomplete plot points that were better fleshed out in a home video "Ultimate Edition" that added an extra half hour. Basically, Snyder seems like he could use input from someone who gets that less is more.

It rewards a toxic fanbase.

The "Release the Snyder Cut" social media push at first glance seems to be a remarkable push to get a director's creative version released. That'd generally be fine. However, supporters used the hashtag on just about every DC or Warner Brothers social media post, even people who'd have no say in the matter found themselves with #releasethesnydercut comments. New DC movies seemed to be ignored by these supporters.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and HBO Max needing new content, AT&T decided to make the much-demanded Snyder Cut happen: most of it was already shot, what would need to be shot could be done with skeleton crews, and visual effects and editing could be completed safely.

But were the fans satisfied? No.

A major victim recently has been the upcoming The Batman, yet another reboot of DC's Dark Knight. First were major rumors that director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson were at odds and either were ready to quit. Another rumor was that Pattinson was caught having sex with Catwoman actress Zoe Kravitz in costume. Both of these have been debunked, especially with Pattinson being offered development deals with Warner Brothers. Now there's fan demand to cancel The Batman and instead make a Batman movie starring Ben Affleck. As Affleck only featured as Batman in Snyder's films (and made cameos in 2016's Suicide Squad and 2017's Wonder Woman), it's pretty clear where these fans would've been coming from. Especially with the social media hashtag that replaced #releasethesnydercut: #restorethesnyderverse.

To his credit, Zack Snyder has openly supported DC Comics-based movies continuing without him and is ready to move on to other projects. He even surprised a certain YouTube account with less than inclusive views by speaking out against hatred against Asian-American people while making a guest appearance on their live stream. He seems to be a pretty good guy. Unfortunately, his fans don't seem to be following in his footsteps.

It teases a future for DC movies that isn't going to happen.

The Snyder Cut adds in Martian Manhunter as a surprise additional hero and teases a future inspired by DC's Injustice universe, but the most recent goings on don't seem to be going there now. The currently filming The Flash movie seems to be inspired by the Flashpoint comics event and will be used as a way to offer a reboot to the DC movie universe, likely even establishing a multiverse. If the multiverse pans out, it'll offer a way to make both versions of Justice League canon, while probably not really acknowledging either.

Warner Brothers has had a lot of leadership changes, and with word that they're being merged with Discovery, Inc., looks like there's more to come. The people who put Snyder in charge of the DC movies are gone and they're now trying to pick up the pieces and find ways to keep going. Aquaman and Joker both grossed over a billion dollars each, outperforming any of Snyder's films. They don't see a need for Snyder or his vision.

I will give the Snyder era credit for finally moving Warner Brothers past having DC Comics based films that center on just Superman and Batman. We've gotten Shazam and Birds of Prey, two of my favorite DC films. Maybe someday we'll even get a big screen live action Elongated Man.

While I can give Snyder respect, I don't feel the need to personally engage with his DC films more than I already have. If you enjoy them, that's great. I'd encourage you to go ahead and keep enjoying them. But I'd rather move on, I hope the best days of DC Comics characters in film are still ahead.

So what can Ralph do?

"Before you read this, remind me to tell you the difference between Plastic Man and Elongated Man." — Seth Cohen, The O.C.

 The question of Ralph Dibny's powers pops up occasionally. What can he do, what are his limits, and what differentiates him from other superheroes with similar powers like Marvel's Mister Fantastic, DC's Jimmy Olsen as Elastic Lad, and Plastic Man, the first elastic superhero that DC acquired from  Quality Comics?

If I'd been writing this about ten years ago, the answer would be quite simple, but now there's been at least two new incarnations of Ralph: the one that showed up in DC's New 52 continuity in 2014 to 2016 during Gail Simone's Secret Six run, and the new one on The Flash TV show. These new versions are different from the original one that first debuted in The Flash #112 in what they can do.

Please note that this may include spoilers, particularly for that run of Secret Six and Season 4 of The Flash TV series.

The original Ralph initially got his powers from drinking a fruit extract that allowed him to stretch. Eventually, it was revealed that this reacted with a metagene he had the entire time, but the gingo extract triggered his powers. This would let him stretch his body for about 100 yards (as mentioned in Detective Comics #340). Ralph can alter his body to an extent: he cannot change colors and he generally has to keep a humanoid form. He can flatten his form, but he can't go so thin that his blood can't flow properly or else he'll pass out. Eventually, Ralph attempts to disguise himself by molding his face. (Some attempts do show him with a different hair color.) It's important to note that as various writers and artists handled the character, they played a little loosely with what he could and couldn't do.

Original Ralph is quite comparable to Mr. Fantastic in his power set, with one interesting exception: Ralph cannot be made to stretch or change shape by external force. There are instances of him being knocked out and he always dodges bullets. (If he's bulletproof, he's not testing it.) Mr. Fantastic can be overpowered and made to change his shape (seen in Fantastic Four Annual #1).

The Ralph we meet in Secret Six is a little more of a conundrum in that it appears his powers are permanent, but we don't know how he acquired them. He's seen drinking from a flask in the first issue, which might be a callback to Ralph drinking gingold from one in 52, but whatever is in the flask is not specified, and as Ralph mentions "hair of the dog," it's presumably alcoholic.

Ralph spends most of the run of Secret Six disguised as a man named Damon Wells with the codename Big Shot. Big Shot is heavyset, which varies. Sometimes he's just a man with an imposing frame and black hair, other times he has a huge gut, and in issue #5, he transforms into a near mountain of muscle. Yet it's also #5 that shows us Ralph before the series, and he appears similar to the original Ralph with a slim frame and red hair. When Ralph resumes being the Elongated Man at the end of #12, he returns to his slim frame and red hair. So seemingly, this incarnation can change color to some extent.

Personally, I believe this incarnation is more in line with the Ralph we see in the CW's The Flash television series. First seen in the season four episode "Elongated Journey Into Night," it's revealed that Ralph was riding a bus that was inundated with dark matter when Barry was broken out of the Speed Force. He and the other passengers were transformed into metahumans with superpowers that they eventually discovered. This version of Ralph is able to be stretched by external force and has been demonstrated to be invulnerable to bullets and is able to contain explosions by ingesting the explosives.

The CW's Ralph doesn't use gingold to activate his powers, but Iris does find a bottle of gingo extract in his office, and later Ralph orders "gingold on the rocks" at a bar. The use of gingold is given a brief tribute as Ralph is able to stretch when he's first seen, but not able to resume his normal form until Caitlin Snow creates a serum that stabilizes his powers.

The CW's Ralph is seen molding his hand into the shape of a balloon animal and in a bonus scene, transforms his body into the shape of a snowman. In the most recent episode, he exhibits more or less the same power seen in Secret Six as he discovers he can shapeshift and disguise himself as different people, changing hair, eye and skin color.

For this (and the CW's Barry Allen suggesting the name as an Easter egg), a number of people have presumed that the CW's Ralph is operating with Plastic Man's power set, some still presuming that Ralph is Plastic Man.

Plastic Man's power set has been depicted as being far more extensive than Ralph's, often turning into shapes that would otherwise be inanimate, he can also compress into tiny shapes and has been shown doing this while Ralph hasn't. The short version of the difference between Plastic Man and Ralph used to be "silly putty vs. a rubber band." However, the CW's Ralph has been described on the show as being like silly putty, having his cells "polymerized" by the dark matter. But this Ralph by being able to change color is actually a bit more like Plastic Man's son Offspring than Plastic Man in that regard.

The CW superheroes have always played loosely with comic book lore, and likely for their Ralph, rather than work with the comic's limitations, they just opened it wide as it's not likely they'll adapt Plastic Man or Offspring.

I did mention Jimmy Olsen taking the identity of Elastic Lad, which happened in a number of issues of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. This identity first occurred after exposure to liquid kryptonite, then reoccurred thanks to a serum developed by professor Potter. (An issue of DC Comics Presents claims gingold is part of this serum.) Jimmy's powers often just had him stretch nearly infinitely. (One issue had him stretch his fingers into a confusing maze that stumped a villain trying to escape.) When surprised by a runaway steamroller, Jimmy was flattened but was able to resume his normal form with no ill effects. Probably most impressive was a story opening with Jimmy as Elastic Lad not only being a human cannonball, but also being the cannon and safety net. Thus it's fair to say Jimmy's powers while using the serum were very comparable to Plastic Man's.

So, that's how Ralph stacks up to the other main elastic heroes of comics. The original version of Ralph had a variety of limitations that seem to have become less in his new incarnations in Secret Six and The Flash TV series.

But of course what really set Ralph apart was his penchant for solving mysteries and his detective skills. His ability to spot things that were off and deductive reasoning gave him something besides just his physical superpowers to make him a standout superhero.

And yes, we're sticking with the explanation in Identity Crisis that sniffing out a mystery was just a developed twitch for show.

Why I Think Ralph Dibny Is Important

It was about seventeen years ago when I was going over my father's collection of Batman comics, including a large number of issues of Detective Comics. I particularly recall picking up #359, because it was the first appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.

I read through the main story, enjoying it, and then after it finished, I saw that there were plenty of other pages, so I kept turning and was surprised to find the first Elongated Man story I'd ever seen, "Riddle of the Sleepytime Taxi!"

I've always enjoyed the weirder things pop culture has to offer, and a superhero who could stretch his body was right up my alley. So, not only did I continue the issue, I began searching my father's other issues of Detective Comics for more adventures of Ralph and Sue Dibny.

My father didn't have a complete collection, but what he did have had some excellent stories. Among them was the Silver Age Classics reprint of #327, the first issue that Ralph appeared in.

Well, yours truly was a fan from the get go. Later, I managed to find and read more of Ralph's appearances, including his first stories in The Flash.

What I've recently realized is that Ralph is a perfect poster child for chasing your passions and dreams. His original origin finds him with an oddball obsession, one that he chases into adulthood and turns it into a full blown superhero career. His marriage to Sue, a loving, devoted relationship, is an example that your oddball nature doesn't mean you can't have a good life.

About twelve years ago, I had an idea for a fan script for a superhero movie. Titling it "Ralph," I never got very far in it. Ralph Dibny lived with his parents and brother in Waymore, Nebraska, the story opening with him hurrying to a local circus so he can talk to the contortionist. He gets shut down, but he goes to his chemist friend and they realize Gingold extract is the key Ralph was looking for. They create their own potent version and both get elastic powers. Storing some in an old sports drink bottle in the fridge, Ralph goes to bed at home, but not before calling his girlfriend Sue with the news.

Ralph's brother Ken grabs the bottle on his way to football practice, and drinking it makes him seriously sick. Thinking Ralph intentionally tried to harm Ken, Mrs. Dibny kicks Ralph out of the house. Sue gets her parents to let Ralph stay with them, and they're soon married and traveling the country, adopting a dog and a recreation of "Ten Miles to Nowhere!" happens on the honeymoon.

Ralph's chemist friend discovers that drinking too much extract results in fearsome powers and a personality change. That's about where I stopped writing. The idea would be that Ralph discovers he can be his own worst enemy and reconciles with his mother by the end.

Five years ago, I came out as gay and thinking of Ralph's origin and the ways I'd interpreted it (I tackled it again as a fan fiction for The Flash TV show last year), I began to see Ralph's story as a metaphor for the queer experience. It didn't matter that the character is heterosexual. Ralph doesn't feel valued in his hometown and he embraces something about himself that's different from most people he knows, including his own family. In the end, he finds love with Sue, acceptance in the publicity he receives and even a welcoming community in the Justice League.

Basically, Ralph Dibny is a superhero who embodies both "Live your dreams" and "Let your freak flag fly" without a downside. In a world that often demands us to fit in one specific spot, having a hero who doesn't fit in one is very welcome.

Ralph Dibny's character development in The Flash Season 4

Season 4 of The Flash returns January 16 with the tenth episode, "The Trial of the Flash," and more than a few fans of the show are hoping that our favorite ductile detective will be involved in the plot. The episode following that will be titled "The Elongated Knight Rises," which suggests it'll be a major moment in Ralph's story arc.

The Flash's treatment of Ralph Dibny continues to be debated by viewers of all walks. As this blog has just finished going over the first bunch of stories featuring Ralph in the comics, I can say I actually welcomed seeing the character being reinterpreted with flaws and a character arc. As he was introduced as a possible rogue who turned out to be a recurring guest star superhero in the original comics, the original version of Ralph didn't have a lot of characterization.

Over on Reddit's community for The Flash, user electrickittenshark had quite a bit to say about how they believe Ralph's character will develop in the coming episodes of the show. With their permission, I am quoting large parts of that post below, some editing done:

[Ralph is] an opportunity for Barry to reflect on his own identity as a hero. In "Elongated Journey Into Night" we are introduced to this sleazy, self-centred version of Ralph and throughout the episode Barry keeps stating that Ralph is terrible person who won't change. One of the reasons why Barry is kind of a judgemental douche at first is because his judgment is being tainted by his own painful experiences.

When Ralph turns out to be dirty cop who framed a man for murder, Barry is reminded of how his own father was falsely accused of killing his mother. When Ralph shows up again, Barry who seems to have found peace at this point is reminded of these old wounds. It’s only when Caitlin a character who has struggled with her own shadow self (Killer Frost) calls Barry out, that Barry even considers the possibility that he is in the wrong. Instead of seeing Ralph as an egomaniacal jerk who committed perjury for some kind of glory Barry is forced to see Ralph as a man who had the best of intentions and genuinely believed that he was doing the right thing. Barry ends up being honest about all the bad choices he made to protect the city (e.g. that totally unethical pipeline prison). Ralph Dibny represents Barry’s own selfishness, lack of self-awareness and short-sightedness as a hero.

Dibny states “I was a good cop, I was a good detective…” which implies that he doesn't see himself as a good man now. So, Barry’s initial perception of Ralph is how Ralph actually sees himself. It’s only when Barry
a) calls Ralph out on his crap and forces him to take responsibility for his choices and
b) tells Ralph that he is still and can be a good man that Ralph decides to do something selfless.

Barry suggesting the name ‘Plastic Man’ isn't just a cute little comic book reference, it foreshadows Ralph’s arc. Plastic Man like Ralph is a crook and goofy sleazebag. Ralph’s arc through the season is to transform from Plastic Man to the more moral and compassionate Elongated Man.

In "Girl's Night Out," Ralph continues to act as a shadow self by pushing Barry to go to a strip club and it is because of Ralph’s influence Barry kind of neglects his duties as the Flash. In "When Harry Met Harry," Barry acts as Ralph’s heart and moral compass. This episode continues to highlight Ralph’s fatal flaws: his pride and his stubbornness. There are parallels between Ralph single minded pursuit of Bison at all costs and Ralph’s pursuit of the woman’s murder 5 years ago. In both cases, there is a huge price to pay. For his past case Ralph compromised his morals and committed perjury whereas now he compromised the civilian’s safety and a little girl got hurt. Ralph completely dismisses Barry’s advice at first because of his own pride. He was Barry’s senior after all, but once he sees how much damage he has caused he is wracked with guilt. Barry’s speech about the importance of having a support system and his promise to protect Ralph’s heart is a very pivotal moment.

For five years, Ralph has been completely alone. He had no support system. He hasn't been shown compassion, empathy or friendship for a while. Basically, he is good man who is covered with 50 layers of grime and shit. He needs two things to develop: a) decent support system and b) someone who will call him out on his crap. We see his potential as a caring hero when he visits the girl at the hospital and returns the necklace to the tribe.

Here is where we start to see a pattern:
1) Ralph acts like a selfish dickhead.
2) He gets a metaphorical kick in the balls (i.e. someone tells him he is being stupid and selfish)
3) He also gets a dose of kindness or understanding from someone else.
4) Ralph apologises and takes responsibility for his actions. (Super important!)
5) He reveals more of his ‘heart’ (i.e. his sense of empathy and compassion)

This pattern is repeated in "Don't Run." Ralph’s lack of self-awareness and social skills end up driving Caitlin away. Ralph doesn't realize that his teasing is hurting Caitlin until Cisco tells him to SHUT HIS BIG MOUTH! When Cisco comes back and apologises, Ralph admits that he was a dick (private and public). Just like "When Harry Met Harry," he reveals his heart towards the end of the episode, (i.e decorating the West household.)

I think it's important to highlight how Ralph is treated like an outsider and butt-monkey by Team Flash. He isn’t taken seriously as a private investigator or as a hero. He is not invited to the bachelor party or wedding. Nobody in the lab geeks out over his powers (there are multiple scenes of him showing off his powers and everyone else is just ‘meh’) and no one thinks about asking this expert detective for help. His bland grey costume and lack of a Cisco approved code name symbolizes his lack of identity as a hero and how he isn't being taken seriously.

Here’s what needs to happen next, there has to be an episode where Ralph really proves himself as a hero and a detective. Which will probably happen in "The Elongated Knight Rises." He needs to solidify his identity as a hero and decide what kind of man/hero he wants to be. He needs a mission statement and maybe even his own theme song.

As for Ralph’s sexist behaviour we need to have a genuinely strong woman to call him out on his chauvinistic behaviour by telling Ralph how being a desperate horndog drives women away. This has to be someone who Ralph respects, admires and sees as a friend.

The main point I am trying to make in my long long post is that Ralph’s ability to stretch, bend and twist mirrors his own ability to change and adapt. He may be intolerable now but we still have a lot of episodes left. Who knows he could end up being one of the most likeable characters on the show.

I really dug electrickittenshark's opinions of Ralph, and when someone suggested that Ralph needs to crack about being able to stretch "everything," they proposed this scene with Sue in the future:

You know what would be really funny, if his ability to stretch every part of his body was some kind of inside joke between Ralph and Sue.

Scene: Ralph stretches his neck across the room to talk to Sue or give her a kiss.

Caitlin: "How are you not weirded out by...this?"

Sue: "Oh, you get used to it, Ralph is basically a cartoon character. A really handsome cartoon character, mind you. (With a cheeky smile on her face) Plus there are some obvious benifits of being able to stretch every part of your body. He can reach those hard to get places, you know?"

Ralph winks at Sue and they giggle secretly. They know...They know. 

Further commenting on the role of a good woman who can help Ralph evolve, they highlighted the relationships Ralph has with the two main female characters on the show:

I think that Iris will be more brutally honest with him about his creepy behaviour and Caitlin will provide her dose of kindness. Or maybe Sue will straigten him out who knows...

I always had my own personal headcanon that Dibny may have suffered from depression during those five years (he binge eats, drinks, his spirit was crushed, his loneliness). I think he has been alone for so long that he has turned into a really desperate horndog who comes on way too strong. More than anything Ralph may want some kind of intimacy/companionship but he goes about approaching women the wrong way. 

I have to agree about Ralph's depression. Note that in "Elongated Journey Into Night" when he transforms his gut into abs, he says, "I'm back!" In the following episodes, Ralph has changed his hairstyle (he lazily let his bangs dangle over his forehead, then in the next episode, he has it combed to the side) and wears more stylish clothing. It's as if he was also talking about his sense of self worth.

They also commented on their hopes of Ralph's eventual relationship with Sue:

I think in one of the interviews they mentioned that Ralph and Sue were endgame, so they will introduce Sue eventually. I am not sure how they will write her though. I want to see a loving partnership between the two where both of them are equals. Maybe Sue's skills/powers could balance Ralph's. I don't like the typical dramatic CW relationship with lies, misunderstandings and 'will they wont they' nonsense.

Ralph and Sue's relationship should be more playful and light. It would be great if they started out as friends who goof off together and solve mysteries and then they turned into this dorky but touching couple. When I think about them, I kind of imagine two people who have inside jokes, tease each other, play silly little games and constantly flirt with each other. I think the Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt kind of dynamic would work well for them. 

And when a comment arose about why on earth we have to have every character adhere to moral standards, electrickittenshark offered this:

The thing with writing a 'rogue' character or a character with questionable morals is that you don't want to frame his behavior the wrong way. You don't want a character who ends up adovacting sexism and objectification. I think this why more feminist/politically correct people bash Ralph's character so much. They are worried that Ralph is pushing forward a negative message.

BUT here's the thing: Ralph's sexism is being framed negatively in the show. Iris, Joe, Barry, Cisco and Caitlin don't condone his behavior. There are moments when the other characters are like, "Dammit Ralph!" His behavior isn't rewarded. He doesn't get a girl and he won't have a healthy or long-lasting relationship until he stops objectifying women and treats them like people.

 I'm glad this was pointed out. When we first see Ralph, he drops bad news on a woman about her husband, and as she grieves, he hits on her (including rubbing her shoulders without her okay, which really shouldn't be done), but it's made clear that she doesn't welcome this advance and slaps him. Both Iris and Caitlin make it clear that they are not amused by his antics.

Well, we have just a little over two weeks before The Flash—and hopefully Ralph—returns to our screens. Let's see how well these observations play out.

Happy new year!

The Curious Absence of Ralph Dibny from "And Therefore I Am"

Last night's episode of The Flash hadn't featured Hartley Sawyer's Ralph Dibny in any publicity photos, and I noted that he wasn't credited in the guest star credits either. Ralph was entirely absent from the episode with no explanation. That is, aside from the "Stretched Scene" which doubled as a commercial for Microsoft's Surface computers.

In the "stretched scene" Ralph chats with Iris West (Candice Patton), and he's sporting a pair of glasses, which he explains Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes, not appearing in this scene) set up with a HUD. He references Cyrano DeBergerac (getting the name wrong, Iris corrects him), a play with a scene in which a writer remotely provides words for someone to say. We then see a small bit of text Ralph is seemingly going to read off.

Umm, guys? They might have needed a sugar boost and decided to treat themselves to one.

As Ralph leaves, Iris reminds him not to "interrupt a bride in wedding plan mode." He respectfully motions that the point has been taken and goes on his way.

It was rather ironic that Ralph was not in the episode as part of it featured Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) investigating Clifford DeVoe (Neil Sandilands), who manages to report Barry's investigation as harassment to the police, getting Barry suspended. Barry's over-reach into trying to dig up evidence on DeVoe echoes the situation that got Ralph removed from the police force, and not seeing Ralph react to this turn of events feels like a missed opportunity.

Next week is the major crossover between the DC shows on the CW, and Hartley Sawyer has reported that he is not in it, which is strange as the setting for the crossover is Barry and Iris' wedding, and you would imagine that Ralph would have attended since he's in their lives. Perhaps we'll see yet another "Stretched Scene" revealing where he is.

In a little bit of trivia, when Stephen DeStefano designed Ralph's third costume in the comics, he had the idea to give him glasses, specifically "granny style" glasses. While this was nixed and I can't recall Ralph wearing glasses in any comics I've seen, it's interesting to see him with glasses that are also going to be a tool in his investigations on The Flash.

What's Up With The CW's Ralph?

It's no question that the incarnation of Ralph Dibny on The Flash TV show is very different from the version seen in the comics from 1960 to quite recently. Is this being unfaithful to the character?

The classic incarnation of Ralph was a good guy after Barry Allen discovers that he has no hidden agenda. Shortly into his appearances, he entered a marriage he remained committed to. He's a glutton for attention, however, in a good-fashioned manner, which contrasted to his fellow superheroes' secret identities, even when he joins the Justice League.

Ralph on the CW is morally questionable in his first couple of appearances. Barry reveals that he was formerly a police officer, discharged after committing perjury by faking evidence in order to ensure a man he believed was guilty was punished. After running into him, Barry discovers that Ralph is blackmailing the mayor with evidence of infidelity. At the last minute, Ralph decides not to go through with it and helps Barry apprehend the mayor. In his second appearance, it's revealed he's the number one customer at a strip club, but he loses his place of honor when he's accused of stealing money and gets into a fight. (He claims he's getting change, but it's unclear as to if this claim is on the up and up.)

So, why would they depict Ralph like this? Well, producers have said they want to build Ralph into the hero we know from the comics. It's a character development arc that we've only just begun.

But why is it so at odds from the character we know? The answer is, Ralph's personality from the comics is rather bland. He uses his powers to help people and solve mysteries, and that's it. He was created to be a supporting character for Barry Allen. In fact, many characters from the Silver Age and earlier were pretty bland with little depth to their characterization.

Over the many years, comic companies have tackled this by revising the origins of their characters. Marvel characters would have more stories from their past revealed while DC would sometimes do this, but more often they'd revise origins. For example, Barry Allen's mother being murdered is a rather recent addition to Flash lore. And now, finally, Ralph's origins have been revisited.

In Gail Simone's 2014-2016 run on Secret Six, we were introduced to a new version of Ralph for the "New 52" continuity of Earth Prime. He works in a criminal organization because "Mockingbird"(the Riddler) has Sue and uses his elongating powers to disguise himself as a heavyset man named Damon Wells, a.k.a. Big Shot. In addition, there is no scene where he uses gingo extract, gingo fruit, or Gingold soda or any mention of it. He seemingly just has these powers.

So, does the CW version of Ralph tie in to what we saw in Secret Six? Is this a mega franchise wide revision of Ralph's character? Possibly. We've yet to see Ralph appear since Rebirth began. Perhaps when we do, his backstory will be similar to what has been happening on The Flash.

But is there precedent for Ralph doing dubious or illegal things or even just being a jerk? To answer the latter first, yes. Many of us view classic Ralph through rose-tinted glasses, but his insistence on being the center of attention can easily be seen as being a jerk. Nowhere is this clearer than in Secret Origins #30, in which Ralph returns to his hometown and finding everyone not fawning over him, makes a few dismissive comments about them.

And yes to the former, although not under his usual will. In The Flash #252-253, Ralph turns into a supervillain called The Molder. He has the power to change the shape of anything he touches, and this involves actually killing Barry by turning him into a pile of putty. (Barry is revived due to weirdo science of course.) I've always interpreted this as Ralph having a dark side he usually doesn't turn to.

Finally, Ralph has been the subject of a lot of humor on the CW while he was generally wasn't in the classic comics. This has caused some to assume they're mixing aspects of Plastic Man into his character. However, I'd point these critics in the direction of Justice League Europe, where Ralph became more of a comic character.

With all of this, I'd say the CW version of Ralph Dibny is based on how different writers have interpreted the character through the comics over the years, done to complement the show's current lineup of characters. They had a number of nice guys in Barry, Cisco and Joe West, so bringing some of Ralph's rarely highlighted characteristics to the forefront provides some variety to the cast and an interesting new take on a classic DC superhero.

P.S. - I just remembered that Ralph was a private investigator in the Flashpoint Elseworlds miniseries (not to be confused with the continuity reboot event), just as he was on The Flash.