Recap / Superman: The Animated Series S1 E6 "Feeding Time"

An accident involving toxic waste turns janitor Rudy Jones into Parasite, a supervillain who can take the powers and memories of anyone he touches. When he gets a taste of Superman's power, he kidnaps him. How can the bound and drained Man of Steel save the city and himself?

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This episode contains examples of:

• Banging for Help: Superman, of all people, has to do this when Parasite kidnaps and drains him.
• Bridal Carry: A platonic male-on-male example; Superman lifts Jimmy under the knees and back when he's evacuating him before dealing with Parasite.
• Cassandra Truth: Jimmy suggests that Parasite might be hiding at STAR Labs, since that is the direction he's often seen heading. The others brush him off, given that it was already investigated when Parasite first appeared. Guess who's right?
• Cat Scare: Jimmy jumps when a broom from Rudy's old closet falls on him.
• Chekhov's Gun: The chunk of Kryptonite Hamilton used to demonstrate Superman's new protective suit ends up helping to shutdown Parasite.
• Chekhov's Skill: Parasite explains to his former tormentor Marty that his power doesn't just allow him to drain someone's energy. He can also hear their thoughts. This foreshadows the moment when he ambushes Clark as he comes home, having learned Superman's Secret Identity from their brief encounter.
• Crisis Catch And Carry: After momentarily distracting Parasite, Superman picks up the partially drained Jimmy Olsen and runs him out to other people nearby. He tells them to get out while he stays to confront Parasite.
• Death by Secret Identity: Parasite learns Superman is Clark Kent, and by the end of the episode is reduced to a vegetative state — though his recovery is, naturally, left open.
• The Dog Bites Back: Rudy Jones was constantly insulted and bossed around by Marty, culminating in being Left for Dead after the accident. Once acclimated to his new form, Parasite pays Marty a visit and proceeds to feed on him.
• The End... Or Is It?: Parasite is safely confined...but then he touches a cockroach and his eyes glow...
• Everyone Knows Morse: Superman was abducted by Parasite and held captive in the basement at Star Labs, where he kept draining Superman of his powers. Hearing Jimmy Olsen in the lab doing some investigation of his own, he begins tapping S-O-S on the pipes, which Jimmy luckily hears and recognizes.
• Explaining Your Power to the Enemy: Parasite does this not with Superman (who he does want to take by surprise), but with former tormentor Marty while getting back at him.
  Parasite: Don't you recognize me, Marty? It's your old doormat Rudy Jones.
  Marty: Rudy, you oughta be in a hospital. You need help.
  Parasite: Help?! I never felt better in my life! [taps Marty, draining a little energy]
  Marty: Ow! Hey!
  Parasite: It's fantastic, Marty. [keeps tapping him] I should be thanking you. When I touch somebody, I get strong. I absorb their energy. But more than that, I hear their thoughts. I know what they know. Really, words don't describe it. Here, lemme show ya! [picks him up while draining him]
• Eye Awaken: The newly mutated Parasite opens his eyes after draining energy from a nearby mouse.
• Faux Affably Evil: During the apartment ambush, Parasite says it's really great to see Superman again and asks if he can call him "Clark" instead of his superhero title.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: Rudy Jones. He goes from being kicked around by other employees to attacking and kidnapping Superman.
• "Hey, You!" Haymaker: When Parasite is distracted with Jimmy, Superman calls, "Hey Rudy!" and smacks him with a hanging hook.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Superman tricks Parasite into grabbing a lump of Kryptonite. Since he's been feeding off a Kryptonian, he has their weaknesses.
• Hope Spot: Upon seeing the cop that Parasite fed on is recovering, Jimmy muses that Superman must also be getting his strength back. Clark tests it by surreptitiously bending and re-straightening a metal bar. Unfortunately, Parasite is well-aware of that, too, and he knows exactly where to ambush Superman.
• Impairment Shot: Superman gets a "blink" shot as he wakes up after being kidnapped by Parasite.
• I Surrender, Suckers: Parasite pretends to see reason when Superman tries to talk him out of hurting a former fellow employee who mistreated him, which allows him to get the first taste of the hero's power.
• Kirk Summation: Superman tries to give Parasite a speech on how he's misusing his abilities, but his main motive is keeping the villain from draining him, which would alert him to Jimmy's presence in the room. However, this tipped him off when Superman started talking all of a sudden.
  What have you done with all this power, Rudy? Gave the world the raw deal they gave you? Feel like you've gotten even yet?
• Not Now, Kiddo: When Jimmy suggested Parasite is probably hiding at Star Labs after it was already checked out, Perry walks him out of the office so he can get everyone coffee. Jimmy swipes Perry's press pass.
• Shooting Superman: When cornered by Parasite, who's been showing off stolen superpowers, Jimmy swings a crowbar at him. Parasite responds, "Cute, kid" and pounces.
• Tough Room: As the ambulance carries away Parasite's first victim, the investigating officer says she claimed she had been attacked by a purple monster. Jimmy chuckles and asks if the monster was called Barney. The officer asks snappishly if Jimmy came to take pictures or do comedy.
• Trapped by Gambling Debts: The reason Rudy Jones became a criminal even before becoming Parasite.
• Vampiric Draining: Why do you think they call him Parasite?
• Voice Changeling: Unfortunately, Parasite can also drain his victims' voices, which lets him keep Superman captive for days on end because he can mimic Clark's voice to call in sick. Either that, or draining Superman's powers also allowed him to pick up his super-ventriloquism.
• Waking Up Elsewhere: Superman awakens in the basement of S.T.A.R. Labs after being kidnapped.
• Who's Laughing Now?: A major part of Parasite's motivation seems to be having power after being stepped on his whole life. He first encounters Supes while attacking his get-away driver who left him for dead.
• Would Hit a Girl: Parasite's first human victim is a policewoman who catches him skulking about on a bridge.
• Wounded Hero, Weaker Helper: The tied-up Superman can only partially recharge his powers before Parasite returns to drain them again, making it impossible to escape. However, he hears Jimmy investigating the labs and manages to get his attention by tapping SOS on the pipe to which he's chained. Combining his weakened heat vision with Jimmy's prying his bonds with a crowbar, he succeeds in breaking loose.

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