The Parasite is an Indecent Predator | Superman The Animated Series

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  • Опубліковано 28 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 377

  • @BigJonB36
    @BigJonB36 3 місяці тому +818

    I kinda love Parasite just sittin' and chillin' in his cheap apartment when he first sees Superman in the comics

    • @seeleunit2000
      @seeleunit2000 3 місяці тому +19

      Very meta

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +26

      Honestly, lots of bad folk in Metropolis would be like that.

    • @NRF3703
      @NRF3703 3 місяці тому +36

      I like Parasite chilling and laughing in his cell watching TV at the end of Two's a Crowd, haha!

  • @nicksmyth4050
    @nicksmyth4050 3 місяці тому +543

    What’s interesting about the Parasite as a character is his powers and backstory allow him to be either very tragic/sympathetic or vile/monstrous, and different writers have written him in both ways.
    This person perfect the creepy, evil SA allegory, while stuff like "Man Of Tomorrow" do a really good job at making him a really tragic addiction allegory

    • @michaelnally2841
      @michaelnally2841 3 місяці тому +63

      Given Rudy’s meek personality before he becomes the Parasite at first I thought they were going a sympathetic angle like Clayface in BTAS. But no they don’t.

    • @knightsblight
      @knightsblight 3 місяці тому +32

      @michaelnally2841 meek and incompetent doesn't automatically mean innocent after all

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +8

      I still remember his short yet memorable appearance in Kingdom Come, for one.

    • @raymondfisheriii791
      @raymondfisheriii791 3 місяці тому +15

      MAWS manages to break back into the more unapologetic situation by having him be essentially Tony Stark but like, if he never got put in the situation that made him turn his life around before he became Iron Man. And the Parasite suit was essentially a response to Superman because he wanted the spotlight. He’s basically Porto-Lex Luthor, to the point where Lex in this universe started out as an intern for him, and slowly but surely started rising to power

  • @rhymenoceros3303
    @rhymenoceros3303 3 місяці тому +506

    You know as a young kid who really didn't know all that much about sex or predators, there was always just something about Parasite that made me feel uneasy about the guy. Like every other villain I saw in my childhood I either thought was cool, or evil or just indifferent towards. But Parasite was the only one that for some reason I found disturbing. I guess my young brain was just able to tell that something was very wrong with this guy. So honestly props to the writers for creating a predatory villain that could disturb kids like myself who had no idea what a predator was at the time.

    • @BigJonB36
      @BigJonB36 3 місяці тому +50

      Well, especially during since his team up with Live Wire, all subtlety was dropped

    • @amosdraak3536
      @amosdraak3536 3 місяці тому +14

      What did you think of Darkstar / Michael Morningstar from Ben 10? He pretty much only preyed on girls and touched them and used them

    • @rhymenoceros3303
      @rhymenoceros3303 3 місяці тому +26

      @@amosdraak3536 Oh by the time I saw him I knew all about creeps like him, so I definitely didn't have the same unsettled reaction that Parasite gave me. Still he is definitely one heck of a creep.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +14

      It all gets taken up a notch in Teen Titans. See how Terra and Raven are treated there, as an example.

    • @alexinfinite7142
      @alexinfinite7142 3 місяці тому +1

      Agreed!

  • @luisjauregui2197
    @luisjauregui2197 3 місяці тому +174

    I kinda appreciate the voice of the parasite, it's weirdly... normal. He commonly sounds like a regular dude, making him feel so much off-putting

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +7

      As long as it's not a gruff and solid voice a la Darkseid in the DCAMU, I'm in for it.

    • @dark7element
      @dark7element 3 місяці тому +15

      Yeah, this is what I came to post. He has a very straightforward and casual way of talking that contrasts with pretty much every other supervillain Superman goes up against.

  • @babysinclairfan
    @babysinclairfan 3 місяці тому +461

    Parasite is such a good foil to superman. Superman is built on decency and generosity while Parasite is focused on taking anything and everything.

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +15

      And never giving back.

    • @daraghokane4236
      @daraghokane4236 3 місяці тому +24

      Superman is also an alien that looks like a normal man and Paraiste is a normal man that looks like an alien monster

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому

      @@daraghokane4236 or at least he "was" a normal man. Now he looks like Thanos with all his orifice shut.

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +6

      @@daraghokane4236 or at least he "was" a normal man. Now he looks like Thanos with all his holes sealed up.

    • @DragonBallsolosyourverse
      @DragonBallsolosyourverse 3 місяці тому +1

      Had he been treated better by those around him
      Instead of stepped on
      He wouldt be so bad
      Superman is the exact opposite, he has power but was respected by those around him so he uses it for good.

  • @conspiracypanda1200
    @conspiracypanda1200 3 місяці тому +61

    Parasite is exactly the kind of guy that people who post "If I had Superman's powers I would be a villain" would be.

  • @youtubeuniversity3638
    @youtubeuniversity3638 3 місяці тому +95

    If not for the livewire episode, he coulda ended on arguably a "happy" ending.
    He got his unlimited cable. He fought back against being taken over, and he got what he asked for as result.
    He. Actually. Won.
    And he threw it all away to drain Livewire.

  • @andydrew3834
    @andydrew3834 3 місяці тому +313

    I have a few choice words that perfectly describe Parasite:
    Disgusting, vile, power-hungry, and merciless

    • @Dookieman1975
      @Dookieman1975 3 місяці тому

      I do wonder, did his survival depend on SUCCING other people? I forgot. Cuz it that’s literally just how he eats it’s less bad until he gets gluttonous and doesn’t care about what happens to others

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому

      Born and died a wimp.

    • @Legend-io4pz
      @Legend-io4pz 3 місяці тому +16

      My girlfriend basically described him as a bisexual predator and now i can't get that out of my mind.

    • @DragonBallsolosyourverse
      @DragonBallsolosyourverse 3 місяці тому +5

      Had he been treated better by those around him
      Instead of stepped on
      He wouldt be so bad
      Superman is the exact opposite, he has power but was respected by those around him so he uses it for good.

    • @TheOmnipresentNerd
      @TheOmnipresentNerd 3 місяці тому +9

      "Stink. Stank. Stunk."

  • @ShyBiiteVT
    @ShyBiiteVT 3 місяці тому +287

    Never realized until this video, but Parasite is literally just an evil male version of Rogue from X-Men.

    • @matthewhecht9257
      @matthewhecht9257 3 місяці тому +65

      Also Sauron (the X-Men villain who does not want to cure cancer. He wants to turn people into dinosaurs).

    • @kimeraclan3135
      @kimeraclan3135 3 місяці тому +14

      There's also some Omega Red resemblance in him.

    • @chainsawboy2388
      @chainsawboy2388 3 місяці тому +8

      @@matthewhecht9257as someone who doesn’t read comics wtf were the writers on when making characters lol

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +28

      I like to think that parasite is a living personification of what Rogue could've been if she embraced her power stealing abilities and not join the X-Men. They truly are polar opposites of the same coin.

    • @ADAJ342
      @ADAJ342 3 місяці тому +17

      ​@@chainsawboy2388, tbf, sauron is meant to be a joke villain. And in that regard, he's a total hit.

  • @jacktoma21
    @jacktoma21 3 місяці тому +359

    The memory power seems like it was more trouble than it was worth for the stories. They would always need to have his mind get fried at the end so he wouldn’t remember Superman’s identity and then by his next appearance he conveniently remembers everything but Clark’s secret.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +108

      I’m surprised his brain wasn’t soup by the time of Justice League!

    • @jacktoma21
      @jacktoma21 3 місяці тому +36

      @@SerumLake I’ve got the same question for Riddler after “What is Reality” not a single line of dialogue to explain how got back to normal by the time of Riddlers Reform.

    • @frankd4581
      @frankd4581 3 місяці тому +10

      @@SerumLake please make a video for the Justice League villainess named Giganta please

    • @A1ml33y
      @A1ml33y 3 місяці тому +4

      ​@@frankd4581
      MVP of the legion of Doom & iconic Wonder Woman baddie 😎

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +3

      Yeah, would rather just ditch this in case I would adapt the guy.

  • @zenebean
    @zenebean 3 місяці тому +74

    I like the parasite suit in MAWS aesthetically and how it captures the greed of a petty, rich ass like Ivo.
    The Parasite in STAS captures "pathetic creepy guy on a power trip" incredibly well though, not even having a cool look to latch onto.

  • @panzercreed5417
    @panzercreed5417 3 місяці тому +113

    The thing I think help make him a strong villian is because he is what happens when a weak willed person is suddenly given ultamate power. Superman one day just got his powers as a kid but through his parents and strong sense of right he used his powers for good. Parasite abused his powers every chance he got the second he figured them out. Its a great parallel of someone good with ultamate power acts and someone bad with ultamate powers act.

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +19

      What you said about a weak-willed person getting powers kind of reminds me of Tighton from Megamind. ( Are they really that comparable.🤔)

    • @panzercreed5417
      @panzercreed5417 3 місяці тому +18

      @@nexik680 I'd say so yes. The guy who became titan was a jerk and impulsive like Parasite who only wanted to satify his baser needs. Money, power, and women liking him, even though he never deserved any of it.

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +3

      ​@@panzercreed5417 at least Tighton never chained somebody up and hide them for "later." (but don't give him any ideas.)

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@nexik680"It's *Tighten,* not Hal!!!"

    • @DragonBallsolosyourverse
      @DragonBallsolosyourverse 3 місяці тому +1

      Had he been treated better by those around him
      Instead of stepped on
      He wouldt be so bad
      Superman is the exact opposite, he has power but was respected by those around him so he uses it for good.

  • @lexofexcel886
    @lexofexcel886 3 місяці тому +54

    Again, one has to give props to the voice actor, Brion James. Much like his most well known role, Leon from Blade Runner, he gives Rudy a palpable Everyman factor even though he does terrible things with little to no remorse.
    He was so important to the character that the DCAU show runners wanted to retire the character after Brion James passed away.

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому +3

      RIP

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +3

      Sure sounds more reasonable than retiring T'Challa the Black Panther after Chad Boseman's passing.

  • @bearberserker
    @bearberserker 3 місяці тому +59

    Parasite was an intriguing villain whose character showed how he used his power while having a personality that showed his weakness.

  • @ΕυάγγελοςΦώσκολος
    @ΕυάγγελοςΦώσκολος 3 місяці тому +56

    I always found the DCAU Parasite kinda creepy. Especially in the episode with him and Livewire. I always found it disturbing the way he acted around her. Now I can't believe that type of behavior passed the censors.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 3 місяці тому +16

      Understand that Timm and Co. tended to submit darker scripts first, then presented what they actually _wanted_ to do once those got vetoed. That's how they beat the censors.

    • @Oddmanoutre
      @Oddmanoutre 3 місяці тому +3

      @@nicholasfarrell5981 Tex Avery and Chuck Jones did the same thing back in the '40's and '50's.

  • @TTastic-pb5nt
    @TTastic-pb5nt 3 місяці тому +38

    Parasite is a villain who i wish we got to see more of. He had so much potential to be a huge threat but wasn't use properly. Luckily my adventures with superman remedied this.

    • @zenebean
      @zenebean 3 місяці тому +5

      I really love the Parasite Suit, especially how it grows in size and with more appendages to help the user more easily grab onto energy sources

  • @EliteEasyE
    @EliteEasyE 3 місяці тому +64

    Wow I never thought that angle... just everything you said feels right on. A malignant predator set off when gets power to hoard over people. And jeez he's a literal clearcut creep when he's with Livewire. The writers knew the message they wanted kids to get... a far cry from my beloved "Underdwellers." You play chicken you get fried!

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +16

      Just goes to show how much standards changed after BTAS!

    • @EliteEasyE
      @EliteEasyE 3 місяці тому +5

      @@SerumLake 💯

    • @KNadoli
      @KNadoli 3 місяці тому +15

      His line to Livewire "you've said no for the last time, baby" utter chills. Reminds me of how Metallo forced himself on Lois, which gives us the audience ample enough reading of real world creeps. STAS may not be as brooding as BTAS, but i wouldn't say it's "lighthearted"

    • @EliteEasyE
      @EliteEasyE 3 місяці тому +6

      @@KNadoli I hear that!

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius 3 місяці тому +4

      @@KNadoli "I didn't... feel anything" John Corben's reaction after kissing Lois. Yuck. I was rooting for Lois when she ran him over with her car afterward.

  • @cinemaarts8795
    @cinemaarts8795 3 місяці тому +69

    That scene were Rudy Jones transformed into Parasite... that traumatized me as a kid!

    • @jamestoner3900
      @jamestoner3900 3 місяці тому +6

      Same here

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius 3 місяці тому +5

      As it should, Rudy was NOT having a good time. Marty dumping him on the side of the road hurt me the most.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +4

      The pained reactions from Rudy sure helped.

  • @dark7element
    @dark7element 3 місяці тому +9

    One thing you didn't mention is how much of a personality contrast Rudy is compared to other supervillains. He has a really earnest, straightforward way of speaking. Unlike almost all of Superman's other foes, Parasite has very little flair for theatrics.

  • @anthonyoliver418
    @anthonyoliver418 3 місяці тому +15

    My head canon is that after the kryptonite incident, it damaged his brain enough to where he lost a good chunk of social awareness, making his need for power noticeably less subtle in the live wire team up.

  • @thedeliveryboy1123
    @thedeliveryboy1123 3 місяці тому +10

    it's cool that when talking about the analogy you don't dismiss it because of Superman but show him as an example instead, since people wouldn't usually expect men to be targets of a predator, especially not Superman. I didn't see this when I was younger, but I can totally imagine a kid watching and being horrified at seeing their favorite superhero, chained up in some basement to be kept as an energy source. It definitely must've taught some kids that not even Superman can be fully safe from people like the Parasite

  • @milkiassamuel780
    @milkiassamuel780 3 місяці тому +24

    Parasite is one of the most underrated Superman villains. Such a terrifying villain that has so much potential to become a great villain for Superman in a live-action movie that can even tap into elements of body horror like Clayface in BTAS, as his ability to literally drain the life out of his enemies, including Superman and even uses Superman's powers and memories against him makes him all the more of a dangerous threat. While I do feel like Parasite in Superman: The Animated Series had a lot more potential as a villain, and I do feel like his design could've been a lot more creepy, I do like how much of an unapologetic villain Rudy Jones is this show where he may have been horribly mutated. However, you still know he's a bad guy and enjoys his new abilities despite his appearance.
    I also really liked what the show My Adventures With Superman did with the character of Parasite. They reinvented the character to be a mix of Dr Ivo (creator of AMAZO) and Parasite acting as a Tony Stark-esque tech billionaire who's literally a social parasite and a narcissistic sore loser who proclaims himself to be more of a hero than Superman, all because of a short-minded inferiority complex. He believes Superman's kindness is an act, showing how some people are too disconnected to see that there are good people who genuinely want to help, regardless, like Superman. It makes Parasite all the more of a good enemy for Superman, and I hope we can get more adaptations of the character and, hopefully, someday even get a live-action movie depiction of Parasite in James Gunn's DCU/Superman movie sequels?

    • @alexandrefrauches132
      @alexandrefrauches132 3 місяці тому +2

      Parasite is one the villains I hope shows up in DCU Superman movies. Not only his power could result in some very intense scenes, with Superman having to fight against an enemy he can't touch, but also, if Gunn take some inspiration from the DCAU version, he could create a nice contrast between Superman and Parasite: While Clark is a powerful alien is humble who pretends to be a shy reporter in order to have a normal life, Parasite on other hand, hates his normal life and being meek and impotent, wanting power so he can be respected.

    • @spencermalley10
      @spencermalley10 3 місяці тому +1

      I really just can't get on board with the mech suit in MAWS. It's dumb

  • @QueenMonoChrome
    @QueenMonoChrome 3 місяці тому +16

    It's a shame one of my favourite villain tropes - a power mimicker - tends to come with the backage of 'bad touch' more often than not but Parasite is one of my top 3 secondary villains for Supes. I imagine this particular incarnation was at least part of the inspiration for a similarly skeevy villain from the Static Shock cartoon, Leech.
    ...who kinda looks a bit like the post Infinite Crisis Parasite only a bit more skeletal.
    It's also somewhat funny that he's basically an evil version of Rogue from Marvel's X-Men
    Also I personally like to think that Parasite was dead the moment Killer Frost sold out her fellow Grodd supporters and flash-froze them to prove her loyalty to Luthor. Still not a dignified death but somewhat more cathartic that a similar-if differently focused-skeevy character that's also a woman was the end of the super powered touch freak.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +3

      In my opinion, Amazo later in JL+JLU did power mimickry better. Permanently, even.
      And yeah, can sympathize on Parasite having to die in JLU, although that also means we lose out on Livewire and other villains.

  • @ShmeengusDingus
    @ShmeengusDingus 3 місяці тому +10

    Animated Parasite is so underrated. He went from a nice man who everyone took advantage of to someone who wanted his autonomy back and became a bully. Then understands there’s no point of breaking from prison and just wants cable television

  • @katiehable9841
    @katiehable9841 3 місяці тому +10

    5:46 feels so disgusting. Having Superman chained up in that position, the actual fear on his face as Parasite's hands get closer. Makes my skin crawl every time

  • @KNadoli
    @KNadoli 3 місяці тому +16

    Voiced by the late great Brion James, who also appeared in 2 BTAS eps(thank you Andrea Romano, for recycling the talent in the best way)
    Looking forward to your analysis, but i love how this Parasite is a character study in how those in lower rungs of status are capable of, when pushed enough, utter selfishness and myopic lust for power. As you've said in the Livewire vid, STAS villains can be seen as commentaries on power and what people do with said power. Lex of course, is an obvious posterchild of this

  • @seeleunit2000
    @seeleunit2000 3 місяці тому +13

    This was a good point you made.
    And I'll be honest, if the the concept of the parasite as an incel predator, is very terrifying.
    If a cartoon wasn't rated for children, we'd experience some really traumatising material.

  • @cinnamonflavord
    @cinnamonflavord 3 місяці тому +22

    This guy could probably use some help in Arkham, and probably would have been a good idea to find him a snack that wasn't people

    • @jamestoner3900
      @jamestoner3900 3 місяці тому +8

      Oh man if Rudy Jones/Parasite was a patient of Arkham Asylum he'd be a massive danger to everyone in Arkham Asylum: Staff and Patients, I'd Say Parasite should be locked up at A.R.G.U.S

    • @purplebluecrow5082
      @purplebluecrow5082 3 дні тому

      @jamestoner3900 while absolutely true it would be a strategically dumb idea, it does have the potential for a great story, for example having parasite take advantage of a meeker villain like Scarecrow and using his mind to make fear gas

  • @AngryNerdBird
    @AngryNerdBird 2 місяці тому +4

    I like that DCAU Parasite is never actually called by his classic supervillain name. He's just Rudy. It's like if Mr Freeze was just called "Vic."

    • @youssefhussein1615
      @youssefhussein1615 2 місяці тому

      Well in all of Batman's stories, people would call him by his true identity name like "Victor" or by his last name "Fries" or sometimes just "Freeze" as a short way of saying his full super villain name.

  • @Xehanort10
    @Xehanort10 3 місяці тому +12

    6:25 In Post Crisis comics Parasite absorbed Superman's Kryptonite poisoning which killed him.

  • @Infamous1892
    @Infamous1892 3 місяці тому +3

    Very good Analysis. Weak unambitious men who gain power are extremely dangerous because they have no self control. They seek instant gratification which leads them down the dark path.

  • @kingMadnus
    @kingMadnus 3 місяці тому +9

    Even at six years old, I could see the R-itst vibes from Parasite

  • @amharbinger
    @amharbinger 3 місяці тому +4

    I was never scared of any of the villains when watching Batman or Superman but for some reason Parasite did. His design still makes me uneasy.

  • @SleepingGroke
    @SleepingGroke 3 місяці тому +5

    Honestly, Power Absorbsion is a great ability for a villain, especially the ones whos hunger for power is never satisfied. It is also an ability that is absolutely terrifying.

  • @alexandrefrauches132
    @alexandrefrauches132 3 місяці тому +9

    I like Parasite but not a fan that, he get his mind wipped every time he learned Clark's secret. Not only this is lazy deus ex-machina but it's waste of potential since Parasite being one the few enemies who know Superman secret identity would make him an even more dangerous enemy.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +4

      Plus after the second or third time his mind got scrambled, you’d think the damage might be permanent

  • @kimeraclan3135
    @kimeraclan3135 3 місяці тому +9

    Parasite's character design is tight! I love the glabrous look to him, fitting with Superman villain troups (I'm looking at Lexy, Brainy, Metallo, Mongul, Golden Age Myxyzptlk, Atomic Skull). And his white striped suite gives a finishing touch to his uncanny look. But what's really disturbing is that in STAS Parasite's nose and mouth are completely covered up by his skin. It gives the implication how Rudy did not require to eat, drink or breath. For sustenance he only needed to grab onto someone.

    • @MAHD_Media
      @MAHD_Media 3 місяці тому +3

      Yeah I was going to say the touch that he's one entire... Blob? Suit Thing? Is such a creepy and unique idea and I like it. Dehumanizes him in the right way.

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius 3 місяці тому +2

      The white stripes look similar to the first parasite's torn doctor coat.

  • @luis1237
    @luis1237 3 місяці тому +18

    Marty was to blame for turning Rudy into Parasite

  • @bolt7047
    @bolt7047 3 місяці тому +4

    Such a great villan. Glad you did a video on him.

  • @Inventorcoyote
    @Inventorcoyote 3 місяці тому +4

    *Sees title* *sees Parasites costume and previous appearance* in more ways than clearly also was not expecting Sexual Assault allegory but the more I see the more get it it’s honestly unexpected given he has stated in canon he can’t enjoy that stuff (during the super man and Spiderman crossover parasite goes into a rant to doom about he’s unable to eat drink or enjoy the pleasures of man and can only drain energy basically I guess a slightly better Version of Gold curse situation from Curse of Black pearl but worse in other ways) still good story and good video

  • @kaylaturnis9486
    @kaylaturnis9486 3 місяці тому +7

    Parasite, in My Adventures With Superman, looked like Eva 1 from Neon Genisis Evangelion and the person who became The Parasite was Dr. Ivo, who was the creator of the Android, AMAZO but here, he was once the head of AMAZO Tech. I don't mean to make your head hurt with this Multiversal trivia, but it's true! And this parasite don't do windows but he did insult Lois which made Sups angry.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому

      Gotta love Evangelions. Wonder if Supes later will fight a magical girl threat with an aesthetic similar to the PreCures and Puella Magi Homura Akemi and Mami Tomoe?

  • @tysontyme3691
    @tysontyme3691 7 днів тому

    Yo..... I'm so glad u covered Parasite! The nostalgia! I remember the visceral unnerving feelin I would get whenever I would see this one. It was something about how smug his general disposition was while somehow turnin on that primal predatory hunger in a split second. Something about the simplicity of his facial design. The eyes..... whew. Creepy asf. Great content! Thx!

  • @Metatrudge
    @Metatrudge 3 місяці тому +5

    Parasite is a pretty cool villain who doesn't really have many great stories to his name
    Yet he's sorta stuck around as one of Superman's main villains. I think thats because what a good foil he is to Superman

  • @srstriker6420
    @srstriker6420 3 місяці тому +5

    Well I wish that he was used in BVS as alternative for Doomsday as instead of killing off Superman so quickly and say that he was just weakened by him as we don’t have a Big Grey Villain again like that’s become a thing in movies.
    I thought that Superman Man of Tomorrow Parasite was a better written version than this as he feels like a parallel to Superman and his mid transformation reminds me of the movie Lifeforce with Patrick Stewart, I was surprised that Brain Cox the one who played William Stryker in X2 was the scientist who took over his body and seeing him absorbing Flash I noticed that they’re very much alike.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому

      Lifeforce? The one with the naked space vampiress?
      You'll be surprised at the voice casts of the DCAU. Cases in point, Nelson Nash became Joker in Mass Effect, while young Lois Lane in "Monkey Fun" became Katara and Amity Blight.

  • @josecuestas7246
    @josecuestas7246 3 місяці тому +6

    5:40
    From Superman, to Super-charger.

  • @sheilairbyturtlelord
    @sheilairbyturtlelord 3 місяці тому +14

    I think the fact I had a crush on him as a kid says a lot about who I am now.
    Or maybe I was just a really weird kid. Idk lol.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +13

      Well that’s certainly unique!

    • @sheilairbyturtlelord
      @sheilairbyturtlelord 3 місяці тому +11

      @@SerumLake I think it mainly had to do with how much I liked his design.

    • @marcusyates3044
      @marcusyates3044 3 місяці тому +5

      @@SerumLake He's my favorite variant of Parasite!

    • @kimeraclan3135
      @kimeraclan3135 3 місяці тому +7

      There certainly is a fetish factor to consider in a character with a band-aid body suite, covered up face and purple skin. He's the sort of character I would expect a French science fiction writer to have come up with!

    • @conspiracypanda1200
      @conspiracypanda1200 3 місяці тому +4

      Was this an "I can fix him" thing or an "I wanna join him and gain power" thing lmao

  • @AuroraPaintBrush4444
    @AuroraPaintBrush4444 3 місяці тому +13

    If we get another Superman movie, ok more like when, I want Parasite as a villain. I'm tired of Brainac and Lex Luther as the "reboot villain".
    Parasite doesn't need to be the main villain, but it would be fun.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 3 місяці тому

      I'd like to see Metallo.

    • @AuroraPaintBrush4444
      @AuroraPaintBrush4444 3 місяці тому

      @@nicholasfarrell5981 That's another great choice. So many potential storylines.

    • @sarafontanini7051
      @sarafontanini7051 3 місяці тому +1

      exactly, I'm just so sick of lex or zod being the ONLY villains in superman movies. We NEED to see Parasite or Metallo or brainiac or hell even someone like Mongul or Satanus.

    • @AuroraPaintBrush4444
      @AuroraPaintBrush4444 3 місяці тому +1

      @@sarafontanini7051 Mister Mxyzptlk would be a good option too. Could either be silly or a mind warping experience.
      Like a Superman "Gravity Falls" or Guardians of the Galaxy.
      I Mister Mxyzptlk plots that show Superman actually has a clever mind.

  • @CB66941
    @CB66941 3 місяці тому +4

    I ALWAYS felt weirded out by Parasite whenever I saw him on screen as a kid, when compared to other villains. Now that you describe him as some sort of sexual predator, it all makes sense.

  • @aidanhever3369
    @aidanhever3369 3 місяці тому +3

    I don't remember him having a gambling problem, but one thing is for sure: he shouldn't befriend a shady crook to pay off his debts. Kinda like Mark Allen from The Spectacular Spiderman.

  • @langbo9999
    @langbo9999 3 місяці тому +3

    Parasite: Thank you Alien for bring me back to life now Goodbye 💀

  • @sinvector8020
    @sinvector8020 3 місяці тому +2

    The whole "Darkseid remembers pre-Crisis DC and just randomly decides to re-create the Parasite" is *so stupid* and emblematic of DC's inability to let go of their old continuity. DC has tried and tried half a dozen times to wipe the slate clean and reboot their universe, but they have never been able to commit to it. And you wonder why DC's continuity is such a convoluted mess.

    • @ianfinrir8724
      @ianfinrir8724 3 місяці тому

      The thing is, writers like having their own sandbox to play in. And, to be fair, Darkseid exists outside the multiverse as we know it.

  • @skeletonking4119
    @skeletonking4119 3 місяці тому +3

    In Arabic version which I used to watch ad a kid. The voice actor match his personality into perfection . Creepy slow dark voice with every single words come out of his mouth which he rarely speaks tells you : do NOT TRUST HIM!!

  • @danielriba716
    @danielriba716 3 місяці тому +2

    The Filmation cartoon from the 60's had a normal looking guy as the Parasite...it was close to the original comic story...except that Superman realizes that the guy is only human and can't take ALL of his power...he actually hugs the guy until breaks free and runs off to explode. I was stunned as a kid...because Superman essentially killed him. And not being a purple monster it was really weird to see a regular man explode in a Saturday morning cartoon. It wasn't graphic as the guy was glowing with energy....but still.

  • @ARedMagicMarker
    @ARedMagicMarker 3 місяці тому +5

    Parasite = BAD TOUCH.

  • @francostevo9939
    @francostevo9939 3 місяці тому +3

    If there are certain people I hate, it’s those who have people in the world because the world seems to be against them for everything that goes wrong for them. LiveWire, Parsite, Mr. Masters aka The Puppet Master, Webb’s Max Dylan. Why hate absolutely everyone just because things don’t go your way.

  • @dychrisshandonsmith1242
    @dychrisshandonsmith1242 3 місяці тому +2

    Keep it up on your work and this video and channel
    I love this video and channel
    Thanks you for your video and channel
    I love Superman all franchise

  • @Primordial_Synapse
    @Primordial_Synapse 3 місяці тому +3

    In a way, Parasite's backstory can be seen as a dark parody of the reality that concerns the inordinate role luck plays in personal success.

  • @davidBTAS
    @davidBTAS 3 місяці тому +5

    If you were in Rudy Jones's shoes. Basically a nobody and everyone around you treats you as such. Then, like Rudy Jones, one day you gain the power to absorb people's energy and memory. Would you act any different then Rudy Jones? You were a nobody to someone who could go toe to toe with Superman! If I'm to be honest, if I was in Rudy Jones shoes I may not act so differently then him (my morales tend to fall in the grey areas at times). Food for thought.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +7

      I’d like to think that I wouldn’t but who can say for sure…

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +2

      I don't know. We don't have a Superman to suck on, after all. I'd rather be a time manipulator or a soul transferrer.

  • @KimTaeHwan114
    @KimTaeHwan114 3 місяці тому +4

    Indecent indeed.
    That's why his name is *'Rudy'* Jones. 😈

  • @WarhawkBeyond2040
    @WarhawkBeyond2040 3 місяці тому +1

    Parasite was always interesting but was never one of my favourite Superman villains as i always thought the idea of him draining his powers and taking someone's life force, i felt had a very short shelf life but to his credit, he has endured. I thought STAS did a great job in delivering a fresh take and making him power hungry who doesn't care how he gets it, as long as he gets it, even at the expense of someone else. Surprisingly Parasite only had 3 appearances in the show, I would have liked to have seen him make one more before the events of Legacy. The moment where Rudy Jones falls into the chemical waste and we see him emerge completely covered in the chemical screaming in agony with his eyes glowing is still one of the most chilling moments ever

  • @rossjones8656
    @rossjones8656 3 місяці тому +1

    Rouge, the parasite, Dracula... all of these have given me inspiration for the parasite I'm writing.

  • @squeethemog213
    @squeethemog213 3 місяці тому +1

    I really like the Parasite as a villain. It's a fun concept. Thou this reminds me of that weird episode from Static Shock with Little Romeo in it. It had a villain called Leech I think with the same kinda power. Regardless thanks for making this video 😁

  • @SHDW-nf2ki
    @SHDW-nf2ki 3 місяці тому +2

    If Parasite got differnet powers he would be a hero and that upsets me so much

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому

      "Snicker"..... Sure. And maybe Sabertooth would've been a decent person if his claws could cure cancer.

  • @1000jjwalker
    @1000jjwalker 3 місяці тому +1

    Great stuff

  • @Yes4theWin
    @Yes4theWin 3 місяці тому +1

    Parasite also appeared on season one of the Young Justice series, where he got defeated by the team exploiting the weakness of heat that came along with Ms. Martian's powers which he absorbed

  • @johnathanehritz4481
    @johnathanehritz4481 3 місяці тому +2

    I always did wonder if they were to put Parasite in a Superman movie, how would they portray/imagine him?

  • @tornado5d267
    @tornado5d267 3 місяці тому +1

    After watching this series for the first time both parasite and metallo stood out to me and easily became my favorite Superman villains

  • @NRF3703
    @NRF3703 3 місяці тому

    An amazing analysis of my favorite Superman villain. Yeah, Parasite is a very creepy villain, but that's one of the reasons he's such a great one, in my opinion!

  • @daraghokane4236
    @daraghokane4236 3 місяці тому +1

    You know the comic Superman speeding Bullets were Superman was found by the wanes and Raised as Bruce wane, And Lex Luthor fell into acid and turned into the Joker. If that was a series and we got to see the other fused villains I think Hush/ Parasite would be good, Hush has the stupidest most petty reason to be a villain, he was jealous of Bruces money and successs despite having ton of it himself so I think him going I want your powers superman would also fit. I think that would be a cool animated series idea just to see the mash up villains

  • @bearerofbadnews1375
    @bearerofbadnews1375 3 місяці тому +3

    My adventures with Superman had a weird take on parasite. Instead of Rudy it was Dr. Ivo.

    • @aidanhever3369
      @aidanhever3369 3 місяці тому +2

      Not to mention it looks like a monster from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +1

      Weird, but not terribad.

  • @Flaris
    @Flaris 3 місяці тому +1

    Parasite is certainly a solid villain. Has that origin that seems naturally set up to be tragic. But in the end that's not exactly the case. Good people and bad people can be used and intimidated. Parasite got a dose of power and revealed his true self.
    But I also appreciate that he's not someone with a grand objective either. His wants are basic. Things like a nice TV for his prison cell, taking power for his own enjoyment or utterly being a predator. But that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. Heck, his penchant for trying to capture someone as a living battery for his own power is horrifying.
    Some people gain power and become heroes. Some people gain power...and become like Parasite.

  • @dayschange2
    @dayschange2 3 місяці тому

    Wow, I haven’t thought about this character in ages. I remember I used to look forward to the Parasite episodes as a kid, but that was because Rogue was my favorite X-Men character, and I saw Parasite and thought “Hey, it’s an evil Rogue!” Somehow I never enjoyed the character as much as I thought I would though. After watching your analysis, I think I might understand why.

  • @MisledNeNick
    @MisledNeNick 3 місяці тому +2

    I enjoyed this video. :3

  • @zatchfan202
    @zatchfan202 3 місяці тому +1

    Parasite truly lived up to his name.

  • @rolyngeorges7315
    @rolyngeorges7315 3 місяці тому +1

    Tbh The Parasite is one of my favorite Superman villains ever.

  • @jamestoner3900
    @jamestoner3900 3 місяці тому +1

    Great Underrated Villain, id love to see Parasite in a live action Superman Film, the scene where Rudy Transforms into Parasite is still Traumatizing
    If i wrote a Script for a Superman Film i would have Rudy Jones' Parasite in it, i would depict Rudy Jones as a Meek, Withdrawn Man who's Out of Shape (not Morbidly Obese) who's secretly a sociopathic Unpleasant individual who is Grubby, Greasy, Wretched and Loathed who one day while going to work, a Chemical Truck crashed in Metropolis and the Tanks missed him by an inch, the Tankers then burst and bathed him in the chemicals and he transforms into Parasite, at first he freaks out but once he unintentionally absorbs everybody nearby who witnessed the crash, he loves it. with his powers he decides to take his anger out on People as in his view "they screwed with him and treated him like a Parasite and a nobody" he craves for Power and wants to live a lavish lifestyle, i can picture a scene where Parasite wearing a trenchcoat goes into a Food Shopping Centre, he causes a disturbance where he goes up to the fizzy drinks idle and he absorbs all the different Fizzy Drinks and he then absorbs all the life energy of the people in the Store

  • @nexik680
    @nexik680 3 місяці тому +1

    He's easily one most unique villains in the DC universe. most villains want to kill their enemies. but Parasite has to keep them alive in order to keep feeding of them. (How long can he keep them alive?.....) Such is the curse of a "parasite", they are nothing without their host(s).

  • @Chadius
    @Chadius 3 місяці тому

    Eric Garver was such a cool one-shot villain, a great way to showcase what would happen if someone with ambition and cunning had the Parasite's powers. Plus I love his trap house before he is KOed and captured. Made me think Rudy was capable of being redeemed.

  • @society7394
    @society7394 3 місяці тому +1

    1:53 that’s such a random choice in villains, like I get Doom is popular, but he isn’t a Spider-Man villain.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 3 місяці тому +1

      You should see Doom being a bit of a recurring villain in Ultimate Spider-Man.
      And then there's Doc Ock in an old Hulk cartoon back in the day.

    • @orangeviperau9960
      @orangeviperau9960 3 місяці тому

      Doom was villain for a entire marvel heroes.

  • @LowellLucasJr.
    @LowellLucasJr. 3 місяці тому +1

    Man if I was in parasites shoes, I would either be an ally to Superman or, at the very least, become a great partner in the live wire❤. It just feels like this guy doesn't have what it takes to be his own stand alone villain ...just support. Considering his meek attitude, it's probably only going to be really good to that for the rest of his life!

  • @sarafontanini7051
    @sarafontanini7051 3 місяці тому +1

    while the weird semi faceless look in the original design (and STAS' take on said design) is fun, i do prefer his post crisis circular leech mouth, it looks very cool and helps him stand out from other villains. Plus this version also had it so he kinda 'deflated' when not running high on powers so it made him a dynamic design in that sense and gave the reader a visual indicator of when he was a threat.

  • @Duragizer8775
    @Duragizer8775 3 місяці тому +1

    The origin of the post-Crisis Parasite is so convoluted. Darkseid being some meta Parasite fanboy wanting to recanonize his beloved character. Only in comics.

  • @binsoku6
    @binsoku6 Місяць тому

    So. I also remember Parasite showing up in the Justice League Unlimited Tie-in comics! It was a Black Lightning focused one

  • @arc8687
    @arc8687 3 місяці тому

    i love haw you allways have a simmilar opening. its perfect for anyone to enter this amazing series.

  • @jonothanthrace1530
    @jonothanthrace1530 3 місяці тому

    I love the phrase buffet-dungeon.

  • @CloneScavengerVulpin8389
    @CloneScavengerVulpin8389 7 днів тому +1

    I had no idea parasite was that disturbing.

  • @ravensthatflywiththenightm7319
    @ravensthatflywiththenightm7319 3 місяці тому +1

    Subscribed. 🦇

  • @Metatrudge
    @Metatrudge 3 місяці тому +2

    Its kind of funny, Superman is all about optimism, but many of his villains show the audience that his ways are wrong. Livewire and Parasite are given power but only use it for their own gain

    • @daraghokane4236
      @daraghokane4236 3 місяці тому +3

      They show alien invaders like superman are not more dangerous then humans like them

    • @tylerbertram7065
      @tylerbertram7065 3 місяці тому

      @Metatrudge that's because most Superman's villains weren't brought on by tragedy like Batman's or Spider-man's villains they were always terrible people that got superpowers and used them as an excuse to be terrible people.

    • @Metatrudge
      @Metatrudge 3 місяці тому

      @@tylerbertram7065 i understand that, but its kind of an interesting choice for his villains to be pretty shitty fundamentally

    • @fightingmedialounge519
      @fightingmedialounge519 3 місяці тому

      ​@@Metatrudge his villains don't really show his ways are "wrong" since his belief isn't that everyone deep down is a good person.

    • @fightingmedialounge519
      @fightingmedialounge519 3 місяці тому

      ​@@tylerbertram7065 most spiderman aren't really created through tragedy. Like Peter himself their individuals who believe they deserve more in life than have and choose to use their powers or skills to acquire it .

  • @MrBjsalvatore
    @MrBjsalvatore 4 дні тому

    I’m not that big of a parasite fan but I think when he’s bathed in the chemicals and screams burning with white eyes scared me as a child and even now goood essay

  • @Compucles
    @Compucles 3 місяці тому +1

    What's disturbing is that there seems to be no distinction between the goop that transformed him and any actual clothing. Is his default form just constantly naked save for his goop suit? Does he need to transform into someone just to be able to use the restroom?

  • @katt-the-pig
    @katt-the-pig 3 місяці тому

    Only appeared in three STAS episodes? I thought I remembered him having a bigger presence than that. Guess that shows how memorable a villain he is. (Even if I had forgotten about "Two's a Crowd".)

  • @jonothanthrace1530
    @jonothanthrace1530 3 місяці тому

    I've been watching a lot of Archer recently and now all I can think of is Barry's voice actor Dave Willis playing Parasite. "What's that, Other Parry? Drain this chump dead? Don't mind if I do!"

  • @francisweller839
    @francisweller839 3 місяці тому

    This is one of the villains who only grows more insidious as you grow older, a delightful shift from the campy era he was born in

  • @Brianna-eo8nu
    @Brianna-eo8nu 3 місяці тому +1

    Question is: if Parasite touched Rogue from X-Men and/or vice versa, who would absorb who’s powers first?
    Think about it…

    • @nexik680
      @nexik680 3 місяці тому

      Have you ever seen Freaky Friday?

  • @thebashar
    @thebashar 3 місяці тому +1

    Could you do an episode on the Shade? I remember him showing up a lot but know nothing about him.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +1

      He’s on the list

    • @thebashar
      @thebashar 3 місяці тому

      @@SerumLake awesome, thank you.

  • @tylerbertram7065
    @tylerbertram7065 3 місяці тому +1

    It's both the DCAU version and MAWS version that are some of my favorite versions of the Parasite.

    • @patrikbengtsson3883
      @patrikbengtsson3883 3 місяці тому

      Too bad that Martian Manhunter will not appear, since he was the first hero beside Superman to become commonly associated with Parasite.

    • @tylerbertram7065
      @tylerbertram7065 3 місяці тому

      @patrikbengtsson3883 I could care less if Martian Manhunter shows up in My Adventures with Superman. Sense it's Superman's show it doesn't necessarily need any other hero to make an appearance.

    • @patrikbengtsson3883
      @patrikbengtsson3883 3 місяці тому

      @@tylerbertram7065 Wonder Woman appeared in the Ruby-Spears animated series from 1988

    • @patrikbengtsson3883
      @patrikbengtsson3883 3 місяці тому

      @@tylerbertram7065 Wonder Woman appeared in the Ruby Spears animated series

    • @chickadeestevenson5440
      @chickadeestevenson5440 3 місяці тому

      I'm gonna admit, the MAWS Parasite made me feel things. But I'm a monster-lover

  • @FrantisekSpejchal
    @FrantisekSpejchal 3 місяці тому +1

    Parasite reminds me of one of my classmates.

  • @A1ml33y
    @A1ml33y 3 місяці тому

    Now as a kid the DCAU version of Rudy Jones was like my first intro to the character & was unaware of his previous history and when I first saw him in the 90s Comics where he had a mutated Leech mouth in a issue of Adventures of Superman & Peter David written Supergirl run ( those I read as a kid ) and how he had 2 personalities at the time.
    But I believe later on in the comics in the 2000s Rudy / Parasite gained the power to shape shift and he somehow captured Lois Lane and masqueraded as her and slept with Lex Luthor for a time ( I think pre him becoming president at the time) but I do like how early 90s Parasite's powers were strong that whenever he would absorb the life force from normal people he would turn them into smoldering skeletons 🦴💀 and when he became the muscle 💪 bound hulking leech monster he looked like something from a Brian Yuzna body horror movie as designed by screaming mad George.
    But I do like The DCAU Parasite's costume which I think they gave the comics version in the 2000s .
    And I really like Grant Morrison's All Star Superman version of parasite 🪱 looked like a giant hungry blob when he was absorbing the excessive solar energy from Superman in that story .
    I find this character interesting because he was a villain Superman or anyone couldn't beat easily just by simply punching out .

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  3 місяці тому +1

      Those 90s Superman comics give me such a headache 😂

    • @A1ml33y
      @A1ml33y 3 місяці тому

      ​@@SerumLakeI ❤the 90s Superman comics I grew enjoying the soap opera and that little bit of a Marvel flavor in its continuity ( pre death of Superman & Post Death / Return) as a kid those comics were what Superman was to next to STAS .
      Its where my Favorite characters debut ( Steel , Superboy , Matrix Supergirl, Eradicator, Cyborg Superman & Bibbo & Maxima )
      Also Cat Grant & Ron Troup .
      Also I like that Superman had long hair post death & the electric blue 🔵 stuff later .

  • @KnightLineArtYT
    @KnightLineArtYT 3 місяці тому

    I personally really like how eerie and weird his design is. The flat mouth, the beady white dot eyes really makes him look threating in a unique way. Some of the early concept art for Braniac in this series gives him similar dot eyes that makes him so much more inhuman visually.

  • @cheezemonkeyeater
    @cheezemonkeyeater 3 місяці тому

    I don't remember the parasite at all. I didn't exactly watch Superman as consistently as Batman, but still, you'd think I would have remembered this.

  • @Kattlarv
    @Kattlarv 3 місяці тому +1

    I never thought much of the grapist angle tbh... but it is very much there. Does also remind me of the strict gender roles that media does enforce.