Plot summary: With limited time to find and disarm a bomb Superman is forced to enlist the help of The Parasite to use his powers to try and ascertain the vital info.
Notes and Trivia
Episode: 13 (S1.E13)
Original Air Date: February 15th, 1997
Directed: Hiroyuki Aoyama (1)
Written: Stan Berkowitz (2)
Animation: TMS-Kyokuichi Corporation (5)
Music: Michael McCuistion (3)
Based on the ending of ‘Feeding Time’ it seemed Parasite’s mind had simply been fried as the excuse for him not remembering Superman’s secret, but we learn here that just as absorbing powers is temporary, so are memories.
It’s unclear if Parasite’s powers only work from his fingertips, or if the little white strips adorning his body are safe to touch, given Superman grabs him by the wrists with no ill effects.
Recap
Earl Garver, a former STAR Labs employee, has stolen a radioactive isotope, built a bomb and sent the mayor a ransom note. Maggie Sawyer and Professor Hamilton fail to negotiate with Garver, so Dan Turpin is allowed to send in military force… which fails miserably.
Enter Superman, who breaks through the re-enforced steel exterior of Garver’s house of gadgetry and dismantles the various security measures, knocking Garver unconscious in the process.
Unfortunately that means Garver is unable to tell them where he’s hidden the bomb (encased in lead, of course) before it goes off, forcing them to tag in… The Parasite, to absorb his memories.
Superman is against the idea, and Rudy isn’t into the notion of helping for the sake of it, not even caring that his own life could be at risk, so a deal is struck: A big TV and premium cable in his jail cell in exchange for saving the city.
However unlike previous absorptions, Garver’s entire personality comes along for the ride, taking over Parasite’s body and sending them on a wild goose chase while the two consciousnesses strike a bargain of their own: Rudy helps Garver finish his bomb plot, and Garver will find a way to let him permanently keep his stolen powers and memories.
Returning to find Parasite has escaped, Sawyer and Superman receive a call from ‘Garver’ asking for $50million, brought by Superman to an abandoned subway station. Alone. They agree.
It is of course a trap, with Garver wanting the money AND Superman’s power, threatening to detonate the bomb in 2 minutes unless Superman allows himself to be drained.
Clark appeals to Rudy, who apparently DOES want to live after all, and the two minds bicker while Superman tosses the bomb down an insanely deep shaft. He escorts both to Styker’s Island, where Rudy enjoys his new cable TV.
Best Performance
It’s kind of wild that they landed Malcolm McDowell, Michael York and Brian Cox for guest appearances in the first season of this silly little cartoon. I know two of them had appeared previously across BTAS‘ massive 85 episodes so would have been easier to get back, but still!
I continue to have my issues with the dissonance between the ‘Hey, I’m walkin’ here!’ schtick of Brion James and the monstrous look and abilities of Parasite, but it works a little better when you consider his two big contributions to the episode are trying to secure Premium Cable, and playing the voice of reason to an aloof mad scientist. There is something about the common man trying to appeal to a fancy boi.
But this is Brian Cox‘s episode in a walk. The material isn’t great but he refuses to be bad. He even does his level best with “You’re cooking with Earl!” Garver is always two steps ahead of Superman and the cops and makes sure they know all about it. I don’t know if he necessarily suits Parasite much better than James, but he’s certainly a better actor.
Episode Ranking
Parasite simply forgetting his absorbed memories is an unbelievable copout. Fine, he shouldn’t remember your passwords and whatnot on his own forever, but he created his OWN memories of who Superman is by interacting with Clark extensively in his previous appearance. There is no reason why his own personal experiences should evaporate just because it’s convenient to the plot. Either don’t write a story where he learns Clark’s identity and survives the encounter, or come up with a better excuse for him to forget. I am 100% punishing this episode as a result of this bad writing.
The central premise is a really good idea, playing into the three-party entanglement between Superman and multiple villains that I’ve praised in the past. Man has hidden bomb. Man is out of commission for too long to tell them where it is. Parasite is recruited to obtain the info. A good use of the world and powers that have been established previously. I even like the new wrinkle of an entirely absorbed consciousness leading to us seeing the two personalities bickering inside their shared body. I’m much less enthused with how it all actually comes together though. There’s just a lot of out of place fluff that gets in the way of the interesting ideas.
The underwater sequence was fun as it looked and sounded very different to the standard action sequences we’re used to, and if I’m going to have my time deliberately wasted I’d like to enjoy it. I’m less jazzed about the ‘killer house’ than I feel I should be… I would potentially like it for a different villain and/or if it appeared later in an episode, but starting cold with impenetrable electrified house full of guns and pneumatic crushers is… a choice.
Also I try not be a Cinema Sins guy who nitpicks ‘plot holes’ constantly… but there were just a few too many weird little writing decisions that bothered me. From the ludicrous ‘negotiation tactics’ in the opener, to Parasite’s inability to retain knowledge just to resolve their own previous decision, to Garver’s inexplicable ability to overwhelm Parasite’s mind, to Maggie Sawyer personally diffusing bombs as as the head of MPD’s Special Crimes Unit, and the wildly unrealistic idea that detonating the bomb deep underground would bring no harm to the city. You can maybe survive one or two of these, but not all of it in concert.
This episode strives to be harmless dumb fun, and does have many of the necessary elements for that, but unfortunately I think it strays too far from being dumb in a good way and is undone by it. I wouldn’t say I hated it, but it’s still an extremely easy choice for the bottom of the list… for now. If this ends up being the worst the show has to offer it’ll be a really good series.
- Fun and Games
- The Last Son of Krypton
- Stolen Memories
- Tools of the Trade
- The Main Man
- The Way of All Flesh
- My Girl
- A Little Piece of Home
- Feeding Time
- Two’s a Crowd (NEW ENTRY)
Rogues Roundup
Earl Garver (Brian Cox) (first appearance)
Everything engaging about this guy is coming directly from Brian Cox, because he seems to be smarter and more capable than most of the villains on the show to date without any real explanation. I understand STAR Labs doesn’t employ dummies, but where the hell did he get the money and resources to turn his house into an enormous death trap? How is he able to overwhelm Parasite by pure force of will when no previous victims, including Superman, could do so? As I said, I liked what that last part led to with the two battling for control, but like… why did it happen?
He reminded me a lot of Josiah Wormwood from BTAS, a death-trap obsessed dude that seems to infringe on the gimmicks of others and isn’t very interesting in his own right. Well done for outfoxing everybody, I suppose, but still dull.
Parasite (Brion James) (second appearance)
I’ve said my piece on his vanishing memories above and don’t want to repeat myself. I’ve docked some Whose Line Is It Anyway ‘points’ for it and will now focus on everything else.
Even if there are some gaping holes in how his gimmick works, at its simplest it’s still a cool one, and him immediately wreaking havoc by simply getting one hand free from bondage was fun. Superman seemed less affected by being drained this time around, but whatever.
I must confess I am somewhat charmed by Rudy’s aspirations going no higher than Premium Cable. A simple man with simple pleasures, I suppose? We can also assume he was bluffing when he said he didn’t care if he lived or died given he battled against Garver and tried to convince him to co-operate for everybody’s benefit. Or it’s yet another piece of contradictory writing. Whichever.
- Toyman
- Lex Luthor
- Brainiac
- Metallo
- Lobo
- The Preserver
- Parasite (↓)
- Bruno Mannheim (and Intergang!)
- Kanto
- Earl Garver (NEW ENTRY)
- Mercy Graves
- Darkseid
The Matt Signal 
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