Pandas have long been fascinating, though monochomatic, creatures. Their affinity for things black-and-white (crossword puzzles, Oreo cookies, piano keys) is legendary. History tells us that the first panda was created when a polar bear began playing with a bottle of ink, producing the distinctive panda markings. In defiance of Darwinism, this acquired characteristic has been inherited by pandas ever since.
However, few today are aware of a neglected chapter in the species' history: the comic book. In 1947, issue #12 of Weird Superheroes featured the first appearance of the nuclear-powered character Plutonium Panda. This issue sold out within 24 hours, and was followed by repeat appearances in the comic. Finally, the rotund but cuddly superhero was given his own comic, which also became a best-seller. For 187 issues, PP (as he was nicknamed) battled his arch-nemesis, Avaricious Aardvark.
In his origin story, we learned that Plutonium Panda had once been a test subject in a mad scientist's laboratory, and received his superpowers following an explosion in the lab's nuclear reactor. And strange superpowers they were: in addition to the customary flying, X-ray vision, ability to talk to the animals, and invulnerability, Plutonium Panda could glow in the dark (helpful for seeing one's way in the dark, but detrimental in night battles), chew sticks of bamboo and spit the splinters at his foes, and administer crushing and sticky bear hugs to evildoers.
In Plutonium Panda #5, the superhero acquired a sidekick, Sagacious Skunk, and a headquarters, the Cavern of Contemplation. Sagacious Skunk was described as a scientific genius who took up crime-fighting after his family was killed by an exterminator hired by a multi-national air freshener manufacturer. After avenging their murder, he teamed up with Plutonium Panda. Sagacious Skunk provided wise counsel and ran lab experiments for Plutonium Panda for the run of the comic. In a three-issue story arc beginning in issue #106, Sagacious Skunk was held captive by the Aardvark's henchman, Malevolent Muskrat. The skunk was not shown in the comic for these issues, while Plutonium Panda hunted for and rescued him. Rumor has it that the intrepid sidekick was actually sitting out a contract dispute with the comic book company, and would have been written out of the comic if the principals had not finally come to terms.
Plutonium Panda also fought a series of minor villains, including Quasimodo Quail, Lascivious Lemur (in issues which were banned from publication, and are rare collector's items to this day), and Killer Koala, the latter in Plutonium Panda Giant-Size Super Annual #1. In this issue, Killer Koala, a criminal mastermind, disguised himself as Plutonium Panda to pull off a series of daring robberies. Plutonium Panda was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison for these offenses. Just when things looked darkest, Sagacious Skunk assisted the Panda to clear his name and bring the evil Koala to justice.
Though immensely popular for a time, the Plutonium Panda comic's appeal waned when readers forsook its black-and-white format for comics featuring more colorful heroes. Plutonium Panda ceased publication with issue #149, leaving unresolved a cliffhanger that saw Plutonium Panda and Avaricious Aardvark, locked in battle, go over Niagara Falls in a single barrel. Faithful fans were left hanging with this uncompleted storyline, continuations of which have been the subject of many pieces of Plutonium Panda fan fiction.
In the early 1960's, Plutonium Panda and Sagacious Skunk were resurrected as characters in a live-action black-and-white children's television show. The Plutonium Panda Playhouse ran for several seasons, but met the fate of the comic book as more homes got color televisions. However, reruns of the series are sometimes used as filler between late-night movies on independent TV stations to this day. Plutonium Panda made his last screen appearance to date in a public-service announcement promoting racial equality in 1967.
Plutonium Panda memorabilia has become extremely collectible in recent years. In addition to the high prices paid for back issues of the scarce comic, there has also been considerable demand for Plutonium Panda t-shirts, cereal bowls, and panda hats. A set of Plutonium Panda and Sagacious Skunk salt-and-pepper shakers recently sold at auction for well into four figures, and PP items are among the top sellers on ebay.
Despite its early demise, Plutonium Panda broke new ground for monochromatic
characters in the comics, and is remembered fondly by its legion of fans to this day.