10 Massively Underrated DC Villains

While multiple people have been turned into the Parasite over the years, their origin always remains roughly the same. An ordinary person is exposed to unknown radiation which transforms them into a purple monster with a constant hunger for energy.

When Parasite comes in contact with someone, he drains their life-energy. When draining a normal person, he becomes stronger and faster, but if he touches a superhuman he gains a portion of their powers.

What makes Parasite a great Superman enemy is that he can't simply be defeated by brute force. In fact, anything you hit him with only makes him stronger, meaning that the Man of Steel always has to find a smarter way to deal with him.

In addition to draining them, Parasite can also absorb the memories of his victims. Mainly, he uses this power to absorb scientists and make himself smarter, but on one occasion he inadvertently learned Superman's secret identity after touching Lois Lane.

For a period of time, he could also shapeshift into a perfect copy of his victims. This led to an entire storyline where he abducted Lois and replaced her as part of a plan to slowly drain Superman to death and also break him psychologically by having an affair with Lex Luthor.

Really though, Lex was probably the one to come out of that plan worse for wear.