Parasite (comics)

Parasite
The Rudy Jones version of Parasite as seen on the cover of Superman #684. Art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Jensen) Action Comics #340 (August 1966) (Jones) Firestorm (vol. 2) #58 (April 1987) (Allstons) The Adventures of Superman #633 (December 2004) (Allen) Superman (vol. 3) #23.4 (September 2013)
Created by	(Jensen) Jim Shooter[1] (Jones) John Ostrander and Joe Brozowski (Allstons) Greg Rucka, Matthew Clark, and Andrew Lanning (Allen) Aaron Kuder, Dan Brown
In-story information
Alter ego	Raymond Maxwell Jensen Rudolph "Rudy" Jones Alex & Alexandra Allston Joshua Michael Allen
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	Secret Society of Super Villains Legion of Doom Superman Revenge Squad Suicide Squad
Abilities	(All): Absorption of energy, knowledge, and powers through physical contact (Jones): DNA mimicry

Parasite is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Each iteration of the character has the ability to temporarily absorb the life force, attributes, memories, and superpowers of anyone through physical touch.^[2] The most well-known and recurring incarnation is Rudy Jones, who has become one of Superman's most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery. In 2009, Parasite was ranked as IGN's 61st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.^[3]

The Rudy Jones incarnation of the Parasite has been substantially adapted from the comics into multiple forms of media, most notably in the DC Animated Universe's Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League as well as the live-action TV series Smallville and Supergirl, portrayed by Brendan Fletcher and William Mapother respectively. Additionally, Raymond Jensen and Alexandra Allston, Ally Allston, appear in Supergirl and Superman & Lois, portrayed by Anthony Konechny and Rya Kihlstedt respectively.