Back Issue Review: Action Comics #340

Just this week on the Supergirl show, Agent Jensen was turned into the Parasite to vex our hero Kara and the DEO.

Now most people, myself included, jump to Rudy Jones as being the Parasite. So when someone named Jensen was introduced on the show way back in the premiere, I didn't think to much of it.

Then Supergirl fan extraordinaire @kara_querl that the original Parasite, from Action Comics #340 was named Raymond Jensen. Supergirl staff writer Eric Carrasco confirmed this had been planned since the first episode.

Feeling myself like a bad fan for not remembering this on my own, especially given that I actually own the issue in my collection, I decided that a back issue review was warranted. So get ready to read about the first appearance of the Parasite!

The Power of the Parasite hit the stands in 1966. Writer Jim Shooter and artist Al Plastino put together a tidy little story in 14 pages, introducing the villain, having him go on a rampage, and then eliminating him all in neat and tidy tale.

It is always good to see Plastino's work. After all he drew Action Comics #252, the first appearance of Supergirl. Amazingly, this was Shooter's second month as a pro. His first story ever was a Supergirl one back in Action Comics #339.

And the splash does just what it should, explaining who the Parasite is and what his powers are. Superman looks afraid and he should be!

The story starts with Superman in a government lab, performing an experiment on extraterrestrial radioactive material. When he concludes, Superman puts the remnants in a lead container.

Meanwhile, Jensen is a lazy worker in the lab, always angry that everyone bosses him around.

Jensen, sick in his dead end job, thinks that maybe the container filled with radioactive waste is, perhaps, filled with the lab's payroll! So why not take a peek and see if he can abscond some of that cold hard cash!

Ahhh, the old days when payroll was actually doled out with paper money!

Of course, the container is actually filled with the 'strange alien' radioactive waste, bathing Jensen in its rays.

I do love the art here by Plastino. Artists back then didn't seem to put in the detail of the more current books. But that first panel really conveys how Jensen is blasted by the energy. And the purple and maroons of the second panel give an eerie feeling to everything.

When a co-worker comes to help him, Jensen drains the man of his energy, replenishing his own. He names himself Parasite.

But he still feels pretty awful.

Of course, Jensen isn't the brightest bulb. Instead of seeking true help from the scientists or even physicians, he decides the right thing to do is head home and get some rest.

I do like how the look of the featureless face and purple frame is immediately established.

Wandering through the lab, he begins to suck the life from all the workers there. In fact, he realizes that he can energize beyond human limits. But more than that, he also absorbs some of their 'mentality', increasing his intellect.

With his newfound intelligence he realizes that he is something if an atomic furnace. He needs constant fuel or he'll collapse.

Interesting that the idea of the Parasite gaining not just physical vitality but also intelligence and skills is also established early. Although it seems like things like intelligence are only drained after prolonged exposure.

Starving for energy in his apartment, Jensen gets a super-boost when Superman happens to fly by the building.

It doesn't take a high IQ to know that Superman could be the ultimate battery for the Parasite. Moreover, Jensen surmises that if he drains Superman entirely of his Kryptonian energy that the changes will be permanent. He'll never need to feed again and could rule the world.

And, as luck would have it, the Parasite knows where Superman will be.The Man of Steel will be building a new hospital on the north side of town.

At the hospital site, the Parasite awaits the arrival of Superman.

Instead, he begins to feel energy flood into him. At the same time, Clark Kent begins to collapse. Jensen realizes that he could only drain a powerful source like Superman from such a distance. And since Kent is the one looking piqued, Kent must be Superman.

Now the Parasite has another way to get at Superman, through his secret identity.

Incredible. We are only on page 7 of this story and already we have a new villain, an exploration of his powers, and his discovering who Superman is! No decompression here.

Later, he gets into a relatively prolonged battle with Superman. No matter how much the two batter each other, neither can get a true upper hand.

In the middle of the fight, Jensen decides to reveal who Superman is but he has drained all the bystanders to the point of unconsciousness. No one can hear him.

As happened back in the day, Lois just happens to be there. Who better to let know that Clark is Superman! But Jensen has to approach delicately. He doesn't want to drain her ... but he will if he has to!

Of course, Superman flies in and takes her away before any information can be passed on.

The fight goes on.

But eventually Superman becomes too drained to continue. It looks like the Parasite has won. Jensen moves in to drain Superman of all his energy.

Ahh ... but too late he realizes his fatal flaw. While he can draw in as much energy as possible, his frail Earth body isn't invulnerable. It cannot contain all this energy. He ends up exploding, a victim of his own greed.

Now I could begin a discussion of how invulnerability and strength have to be linked. (Ultra Boy shouldn't be able to lift a ton with his super-strength without it crushing his noninvulnerable body.) Or I could talk about the ending of Akira where Tetsuo tries to build himself a body big enough for his burgeoning mental powers. But instead I'll say this was a nifty ending to the story. My guess is no one thought Parasite would be coming back. And when he did, I wonder how they explained away his knowledge of Superman's identity.

So how did the show's Parasite fare in comparison to the comic's? My review of the show episode is up tomorrow!