- NOTE: For the main version of the character, see Parasite (Rudy Jones).
| “ | With the mentality i stole from these men, i figured out this parasite power! The radiation did more than scar my face and
body! It turned me into an atomic furnace! In minutes, i burn up all the energy a normal body has.. but i can replenish it... by becoming a human Parasite and draining it from others! I can live indefinitely... become super-strong by sapping the strength of a whole crowd! I can be the world's mightiest criminal! But when people learn to avoid me, and i can't recharge my power, I'll be doomed ! |
„ |
| ~ Raymond Jensen |
Parasites are supporting antagonists in the DC Universe, serving as major antagonists in the Superman franchises. They are superhuman criminals who feeds off of the energy of people, also adopting their strength and abilities.
The character has changed many times since his Silver Age debut. The first Parasite was Raymond Jensen, and the second was Rudy Jones. Superman villain Ruin later created two teenaged Parasites from runaways Alex and Alexandra Allston. After the New 52, a new Parasite named Joshua Michael Allen was introduced.
Portrayals[]
- In Young Justice, Raymond Jensen was voiced by Adam Baldwin.
- In Supergirl, Raymond Jensen was played by Anthony Konechny.
- In Superman & Lois, Ally Allston was played by Rya Kihlstedt.
Biography[]
Pre-Crisis[]
Raymond Jensen before his mutation
The first criminal called Parasite was Raymond Maxwell Jensen, who was exposed to radioactive waste and became a walking sponge who absorbed Superman's powers until they were roughly equals. However, as decades passed, the character became a far darker, deadlier, and more primal menace. Memories and life-force became the favorite fodder for the monstrous creature, who could become Superman's physical equal but never his mental match. This Parasite died during Crisis on Infinite Earths, but he was recreated by Darkseid in the amalgamated universe that remained.
Post-Crisis[]
- Main article: Parasite (DC)
S.T.A.R. Labs janitor Rudy Jones was exposed to strange radiation and mutated into a ravenous monster, hungry for life-energy. After being captured by Firestorm and the Suicide Squad, he was experimented on at Belle Reve penitentiary, which gave him the ability to absorb all forms of energy. He further mutated after battling Superman. When Jones absorbed Dr. Torval Freeman, he was unable to "digest" the scientist's mind and they constantly warred for control of their single body. Ultimately, Jones' personality won.
Eventually, Alexandra Allston and her brother Alex were also transformed into Parasite beings after being experimented by Professor Emil Hamilton, also known as Ruin.
Post-Flashpoint[]
- Main article: Parasite (Joshua Michael Allen)
Joshua Michael Allen
After the Flashpoint event, an obnoxious bike messenger called Joshua Michael Allen crashed into a protoplasmic monstrosity in the street. Blinded by road rage, he attacked the slimy green blob and suffered a huge electric shock from downed power lines. While he was being diagnosed at S.T.A.R. Labs, the machinery triggered a ghastly mutation, and Joshua accidentally killed the doctors by draining their life-force. His Parasite is obsessed with leeching metahuman might. After serving on the Suicide Squad, he hired himself out to the villainous plutocrat Sebastian Stagg to feast on the Terrifics' powers.
Powers and Abilities[]
Parasite's namesake ability is stealing and absorbing the strength and powers of anyone he touches. Many versions of Parasite can also absorb the memories and knowledge of the people they have touched and can use this knowledge against them. Some versions of Parasite could also absorb energy from other sources, like electricity or heat, and even non-physical sources, like kinetic energy or inertia from moving objects.
Not only that, but Parasite can layer different absorbed abilities on top of each other, increasing them as a threat. Since the different incarnations of Parasite are all foes of Superman, Parasite frequently adapts superhuman strength, speed, durability, and stamina, flight, heat and X-Ray vision, super breath, and many more powerful skills by latching on to the Kryptonian.
Other Versions[]
- Main article: Otis (Superman)
- Lex Luthor's henchman Otis briefly became Parasite in Superman Family Adventures #5.
- In Earth-6, a serial killer named Lucinda Radama gained the ability of transfer her spirit into the body of another person through physical contact, becoming a Parasite. She was one of the death row criminals turned "metahumans" by Reverend Dominic Darrk, alongside Brock Smith / Blockbuster and Deke Durgan / Deathstroke. She was created by Stan Lee, and first appeared in his Just Imagine comics.
Other Media[]
Television[]
New Adventures of Superman[]
A version of Parasite called I.C. Harris appears in the New Adventures of Superman animated series.
Batman Beyond[]
An unnamed Parasite in the Batman Beyond future
The Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue" features a different version of Parasite, voiced by Marc Worden. It is unknown whether this Parasite has any form of connection to Rudy Jones. He is seen as a member of the Iniquity Collective, an enemy of the Justice League Unlimited. Parasite is knocked out by Warhawk.
Young Justice[]
Raymond Jensen in Young Justice
The Raymond Jensen version of Parasite appears in the Young Justice animated series, voiced by Adam Baldwin. This iteration seems to be based on Raymond Jensen, the Silver-Age Parasite, given the fact that he takes on the alias of "Ray the Roustabout" in order to infiltrate the Circus. In the episode "Performance", he infiltrates Jack Haley's Circus, while on their foreign tour in Europe, to steal tech using the abilities of the members of Haley's Circus. After stealing Miss Martian's abilities, Superboy discovers him shape-shifted into a clown, resulting in the Parasite's cover being blown. When cornered on the top of the Haly Circus train, the Parasite reveals that he had siphoned Miss Martian's powers and knows that she is, in some way, related to the Martian Manhunter. The Parasite uses Miss Martian's telekinesis to pull Superboy towards him in order to siphon Superboy's powers, then flies off. But Robin manages to pick the Parasite's pocket at the last minute in order to obtain the technology for Intergang's plot to build a black hole generator.
When they arrive at Geneva, the Parasite has assembled the black hole generator, but then Superboy suddenly goes berserk after using Lex Luthor's shields and attacks the Parasite. The Parasite manages to drain Superboy's powers again. When asked by Miss Martian on what he has against Geneva, the Parasite stated that he "never liked the food". Red Arrow use a foam arrow on the Parasite, which proves not to work, but the heroes manage to trick the Parasite into igniting gas tanks. As with his usual appearance, he also drains the weaknesses out of his victims, which causes him to be affected by Miss Martian's weakness of fire. The Parasite is then arrested by King Faraday and his agents as King Faraday places an inhibitor collar on the Parasite.
Arrowverse[]
- Main article: Rudy Jones (Arrowverse)
- Main article: Ally Allston (Superman & Lois)
The Rudy Jones version of Parasite appears in Supergirl's second season, portrayed by William Mapother. In the episode "Changing", Jones is an environmental scientist who was infected by an Angon alien parasite that remained dormant in an arctic wolf's corpse.
Raymond Jensen appears in the fourth season, portrayed by Anthony Konechny. In the episode "American Alien", Raymond Jensen is a DEO agent who came to despise aliens for all of the havoc that have caused in National City. Jensen later defects from the DEO and joins anti-alien activists Otis and Mercy Graves, who bring him to their benefactor, Agent Liberty. Jensen volunteers to be exposed to an Angon alien parasite obtained from the DEO following the Graves' apparent deaths. In "Parasite Lost", Jensen becomes the new Parasite and began using his new energy-absorbing abilities to kill aliens. He soon targets the medallion of an alien named Amandei to keep the Angon alien parasite in him alive and maintain the alien abilities, though he is ultimately apprehended by the DEO.
Ally Allston appears as the main antagonist of the second season of Superman & Lois, portrayed by Rya Kihlstedt.
My Adventures with Superman[]
- Main article: Parasite (My Adventures with Superman)
Film[]
All-Star Superman[]
Parasite in the All-Star Superman movie
A version of Parasite appears in All-Star Superman voiced by Michael Gough. In this version, he possessed a thermal-like vision that helped him to identify sources of energy. Parasite appears as a minor antagonist and a prisoner on death row at the Stryker's Island prison where Clark Kent is interviewing Lex Luthor. Due to Superman's cells overwhelmed with a massive amount of yellow solar radiation, Parasite was able to absorb his energy without touching him. This provides enough power for the Parasite to go on a murderous rampage. Clark uses subterfuge and his strength to ultimately defeat the creature by throwing debris over him.
Gallery[]
Comics
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Other Media
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